Engineering a travel plan

USAF Academy Football Game

2012-11-17T09:29:00.001-05:00

Last night I had the opportunity to attend a USAF Academy football game (Falcons vs Hawaii) with some aviation/aerospace industry experts, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University leadership and faculty, and a retired four-star General. Thankfully, the Falcon's won: Go Air Force!

USAF Cadets gathered on field before the game

Wings of Blue parachute team

Falcons beating up on the Warriors

Live falcon that was brought into the VIP box

USAF Academy celebrating their victory

Preparing to Start a Parisian Thanksgiving Vacation

2012-11-16T17:02:00.001-05:00

It's been just over five months since I've last posted, but here I am two days away from a week long vacation in Paris. I'm sitting in a hotel room in Colorado Springs typing this up at the tail end of a three day work trip. Tomorrow I depart on a grueling series of flights (COS->DEN->PHL->ITH) to make my way up to my hometown in Upstate NY to meet up with my wife and daughter and see my family on my birthday. My wife, daughter, and I will then depart for Paris via Rochester (ROC->YYZ->CDG).

The last couple days have left me slightly stressed out. I've not been able to adjust to the two hour time change, which has caused me to wake up every morning around 4:30AM with no hope of falling back asleep. Last night I was only able to get about three and a half hours sleep. The travel to Europe will probably compound my lack of sleep, c'est la vie. Adding further to my current state was my six month pregnant wife's nightmare trip to Upstate NY with our daughter. She received notice that her flght had been bumped up from 6:50PM to 4:30PM, with less than an hour notice, while I was stuck in a critical work meeting. All I could do was read her panicked text messages. In the end it all worked out and she made it to her family's house unscathed.

Well now that I have some time to relax, I'm going to try to catch some Zs before I head out to a US Air Force Academy Football game (vs. Hawaii; man I thought I had it rough). Check back over the next couple days for some pictures once we get to Paris (Monday morning).

Weekened in Virginia

2012-06-14T17:15:00.000-04:00

After long neglecting my postings, I'm adding a short update about my weekend plans. My wife Mary and I will be heading up to Richmond, VA to attend a wedding. With a late night arrival tonight, we will have all day tomorrow to check out a destination I have long wanted to visit, Colonial Williamsburg. During check-in for my flight this morning, I also elected to spring for an upgrade from coach to business class. The way I look at it, $49 for drinks and comfort for our 2 hour flight is definitely worth it. Especially when the airlines credited $6 from a seat selection fee towards the total, meaning I actually only paid $42 for the upgrade. Look for more posts in the future, where I will be going over some of our travel plans for our updated European Christmas adventure.

Prepping for the Next Trip

2012-02-01T17:06:00.000-05:00

After a short haitus I've returned with details for my next big international trip. Instead of visiting new locations, my wife and I have decided to take our 12 year old daughter to revisit some of the places we've enjoyed, but this time in the winter. We plan on spending Christmas in London, post-Christmas in Belgium, New Years in Paris, and post-New Years in the English countryside over a 15 day period.

To kick of the process, I've begun my budgeting process including:
1) Lodging - Locating and pricing out lodging options for each of the itinerary stops (London, Brussels, Paris, Bath Spa, and Gatwick Airport).

2) Siteseeing - Identifying activities, sites, tours we want to do in each itinerary stop and locating alternate pricing options. In other words, I like to find a common USD price from a third-party reseller like Viator, which frequently offers coupons and discount offers. I also locate a seller or option in country using native currency (i.e., price in GBP for UK, EUR for Europe, etc.). Then when it comes time to purchase, I go with whichever is lower at the time.

3) Travel - Determining travel methods between itinerary stops, pricing, and locating alternatives. I continue my alternative pricing methodology by exploring pricing through typically more expensive third-party USD resellers like Rail Europe and directly from in country options such as Thalys, Eurostar, or National Rail. Usually the best fares are available three to four months in advance of travel.

4) Meals - Exploring the different restaurant and meal options available for each itinerary stop, including street food, cafes, and high-end dining. Being that we will be travelling during the holidays, it will be critical to determine if restaurants are open and make reservations when possible. To estimate costs, I'm using historically pricing from our recent trips and by estimating the high-end of menu selectiosn when they are available. This creates a best case scenario, when we do not overspend or a buffer in case we spend what I have allotted.

Now that I have the majority of our itinerary identified, with alternatives and options we wait until the purchase windows for specific items opens. For example, I cannot yet buy airfare so I will wait until it becomes available and then watch it for a short time to see if it fluctuates significantly. If it is stable, I will probably purchase in April otherwise I will wait as necessary. Once I have the airfare purchased I will have to purchase trip insurance, which tends to have a purchase window. The next thing to do will be to reserve the lodgings. The final thing to purchase during this window, will be any applicable prepaid tours, tickets, or costs. Then we will wait for the next purchase window, train tickets (four to three months before departure).

Back to Reality (and Port)

2011-12-31T08:15:00.001-05:00

We just arrived back into port. All the dock workers are connecting us up and preparing the offload of passenger bags. We are getting ready to head to our last breakfast before our 8:30 departure. I will say this cruise has been great and I look forward to cruising HAL again.

Day 7 - Halfmoon Cay

2011-12-31T07:38:00.001-05:00

Last full day of our cruise and we are sitting aboard the tender for Halfmoon Cay (pronounced key). Mary hates tenders. She gets motion sick very easily and they tend to move around quite a bit.

This is our final stop for our cruise, so we will be spending our day relaxing on the beach under a clamshell. I recommend reserving one early as they are very popular. We brought a bottle of Cote de Rhone and our snorkels/masks, so this should be a great last day.

Afternoon update
Had a great time on the island. The clamshell synshade we reserved really helped us make the most of our time by providing a respite from the sun. The bbq lunch was enjoyable and the clear water was refreshing (slightly colder than other ports).

Evening update
We decided to try out the free Canaletto restaurant last night. Considering there is no cover/up charge, it was great. The best part was at desert, when they brought us a huge puff of cotton candy with our deserts.

Day 5 - St Thomas USVI

2011-12-28T07:38:00.001-05:00

We just arrived into St Thomas, USVI. We slept in this morning and didn't see our arrival. We will be getting ready to head into Charlotte Amalie soon and then off to our Champagne Snorkel and Catamaran Sail. We're hoping to have even better snorkeling than Grand Turk.

Mid-morning update
While St Thomas is a beautiful island, I was very dissappointed with downtown Charlotte Amalie. It was nothing but cruise ship shopping, from Del Sol to Diamonds. I was hoping for a little more. On the plus side, the architecture is interesting, we were able to see a childrens steel drum band, and we were able to get a post card out (finally). For those interested in seeing CA, it costs $4 per person each way from Crown Bay marina, whether in a group taxi or a cab. If your looking for cruise ship shopping, that can also be had at the numerous shoppes in the marina. Keep your eyes peeled for the Iguanas, which like to sun on the waterside rocks.

Afternoon Update
Had an amazing time in the Champagne Cat snorkeling Honeymoon Beach and sipping rum punch/champagne. We saw a sting ray, numerous reef fish, and coral. I came very close to some fire coral thanks to a couple errant waves. I woukd love to come back one day for some more diving.

Day 4 - Old San Juan

2011-12-27T12:07:00.001-05:00

We just arrived into Old San Juan. Once the crew assemble the gangway, we can depart to explore the city, including the Castillo Del Morro. We will be keeping our eyes open for bottles of Sangria (finished ours during arrival to port). In the meanwhile, here are some pictures of us enjoying the last of our bottle from our balcony, while cruising past the fort.

Evening Update - Just back from a soak in the hot tub, which was great on our sore feet and muscles. San Juan was much steeper than I originally thought. We started out at the cruise terminal, winding our way through the blue furnace slag cobbles, until reaching Castillo San Felipe del Morrow. We stopped into a little cantina for lunch and then tackled the massive fort. The view is commanding and the esplanade is grand. After we made out way back to our floating home away from home, the Eurodam. Tonight we are dining in the Pinnacle Grill and tomorrow we arrive at St Thomas, USVI.

Still Have Data Access - Day 1

2011-12-24T15:04:00.001-05:00

Posting some more pics before we go into our data blackout. Merry Christmas and happy Chanukka from the Eurodam. By the way, we are enjoying our first bottle of rose champagne, while relaxing on our verandah.

Boarding

2011-12-24T11:59:00.001-05:00

Here we are, see you in 8 days

Embarkation Day

2011-12-24T06:27:00.001-05:00

It has finally arrived, Embarkation Day for our holiday cruise on the MS Eurodam. I'm so excited that I woke up early at 6:15 (alarm is set for 6:55). We packed the car last night, so all that is left is to shower, get dressed, fill up on gas, and hit the road for our 3.5 hour drive to Port Everglades. We've put Kibbuk in charge of the house, activated the security system, and made sure our friend JT has everything he'll need to keep an eye on the house. So everything should be in place for our New Year's Eve return.

I'll try to post some pictures from the port once we arrive. From then on we will be going into communications blackout until 27 Dec, our arrival in San Juan, PR. Merry Christmas and Happy Chanukka!

All Packed Up and Ready to Go

2011-12-22T18:40:00.002-05:00

For this trip we are ditching our traditional pack light philosophy. Because we are driving to the port and will not be subject to packing limitations, we've decided to dig the giant roller bag out of storage. This thing is seriously humungous. It's a massive bag. I actually think Mary can fit inside. We spent Sunday night packing everything we will need for seven nights at sea into this blue behemoth. Suits, check. Snorkel and masks, check. Swimsuits, check. Cash, check (this is a necessity above all else for unforeseen situations).

Holland America has a great wine carryon policy, there is no limit and you pay $18 per bottle corkage fee to drink your own in the dining rooms or bars. Wine/champagne can be consumed in your stateroom for no charge. Taking full advantage of this policy, Mary and I paid a visit to Total Wine and bought 12 bottles and a wine bottle carrier. Additionally, you are also free to bring as much water or soda as you want.

After a grueling week of work (last of 2011), finishing my data collection for my PhD, and completing my draft Dissertation Manuscript, I'm ready for this vacation. Check back from time to time, I will be posting updates when we stop in two US ports, San Juan and St Thomas. As Jimmy Buffet sings, "It's Christmas in the Caribbean."

Planning, it is an obsession

2011-11-02T11:25:00.002-04:00

This weekend I will be heading up to the big apple for a wedding and it got me thinking. I've had to do very little in preparation for this trip thanks to the due dilligence of the groom (Mar 12 correction, just found out it was the bride!). The best transportation options were identified or prearranged (car service), the hotel was reserved (with a good discount), and a exciting luncheon has been planned. This is one of my few trips where I have had to do very little leg work, which I am appreciative of.
In turn, I have been able to focus on planning my subsequent next big trip (not including the holiday cruise). For now, the plan calls for a return to the countryside of merry old England, urban London, and the enchanting city of light (enlightenment), Paris. The major decision will be whether to go at Christmas or slightly earlier in November 2012.
The impedus for this trip is the fulfillment of a promise to our twelve-year old daughter of a post-bat mitvah trip to a city of her choice, Paris. However, I'm not one to leave well enough alone, so I've tacked on a side trip to the Cotswolds (Bath) and London in pursuit of things Harry Potter (her favorite subject). With the opening of the new London WB Studios Harry Potter tour on the horizon, this trip is shaping up to be unforgettable. Now to get started on the details.
PS - I wonder if a flying charm can be applied to Virgin Atlantic airfare?

10,000 Free Airline Tickets to Japan for Travel Bloggers

2011-10-11T14:26:00.001-04:00

My wife just found an interesting story regarding free airline tickets to Japan for those willing to blog about their trip. Considering I have always been fascinated by Japanese society/history and my travel blogging experience, this would opportunity would be great. If your interested read the article here:
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/10-000-free-round-trip-tickets-japan-134142507.html

Weekend of Escapism at Disney

2011-10-08T08:03:00.002-04:00

In one week my wife, daughter, and I will be heading over to WDW for our annual birth-a-versary celebration (wedding anniversary and daughter's birthday is Oct 13th). Every year, for the past four, we have spent this event on Disney property. This time we will be returning to the Caribbean Beach resort (this was our first Disney resort together back in 2006).

On the docket will be walk around dinner at the EPCOT food and wine festival, a day at the resort pools, dinner at one of our favorite restaurants (the Liberty Tree), and a special halloween themed haunted horsecarriage ride at the Fort Wilderness (featuring the headless horseman). This is always my favorite time to visit WDW, as the temperature finally starts to drop and the parks are decorated for fall/halloween. It probably doesn't hurt my birthday is right around the corner too.

Interesting Read From a Cruise Ship Insider

2011-09-26T15:46:00.006-04:00

I stumbled across these two books last night while looking for new books for the Kindle app. I can honsestly say I have had problems setting them down. I read the first in one day and I'm already halfway through the second. The premise is very interesting and provides a rare peak into the innermost workings never seen by the average cruise ship guest. If you've ever wondered about who really keeps the ship running, where employees disappear to when in port, or what they really think of their American customers, you'll want to read these.

Cruise Confidential: A Hit Below the Waterline: Where the Crew Lives, Eats, Wars, and Parties. One Crazy Year Working on Cruise Ships by Brian David Bruns.
This book details Brian's experience as the first American to succesfully complete a cruise contract in the dining room of a Carnival Cruise line ship. It provides several eye-opening descriptions of how hard (or how little)some employees work for their pay, how hard they party, and how little sleep they get while making their customers experience memorable.

Ship For Brains: Cruise Confidential, Book 2 (Volume 2) by Brian David Bruns.
This is a sequel to Brian's first volume, detailing his experience leaping from an indentured servitude food preparation to high-dollar salesman in the shipboard artwork auction world. It contains closure to circumstances setup in the first book, while detailing the author's personal and career growth. If you have any interest in the greater world of cruise ships, these books will share the nitty gritty details and inside dirt, as well as some of the more personal moments of the varied international crew.

If you decide to purchase any of them, please use my links so I will get credit. Brent A. Terwilliger is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Additional Cruise Costs

2011-09-26T15:34:00.001-04:00

As my wife and I approach our holiday cruise (yes, I realize it is still three months away), I've jumped right into the only real aspect that requires any actual planning, shore excursions and shipboard extras. A week ago I submitted our final payment and also began to book the extras associated with cruising. In planning the financial end of a cruise, it is easy to overlook the additional costs, which include:
a) Prepaid gratuities ($11-$14 per person per day)
b) Supplemental dining cover charges ($15 - $39 per person, per meal)
c) Shore excursions ($10 to $5k per person per excursion, really the sky is the limit on the upper cost)
d) Pre-booked Spa treatments (massages, hair cuts, exfoliating treatments, etc...)
e) Pre-purchased wine/alcohol packages
f) additional ammentities/packages (unlimited laundry, suite treatment, spa packages, romantic packages)

All of these additionals can add up quickly, so I like to put a threshold value down for planning purposes. That way I reduce the potential for major surprises at the end of the cruise. I tend to alot $200 - $500 in incidentals in addition to pre-purchased items.

Before booking our shore excursions, I did some easy research on activities that are highly rated/recommended for a port. I started with the cruise line and checked what activities they offer for shore excursions. After, I checked TripAdvisor, looking specifically at the Things to Do category under each port. I also checked Cruise Critics forums and port reviews to find the top rated activities people talk about and recommend. Once I determined which specific activities looked interesting, I began attempting to locate private operators and their associated price.

What I found was that most private operators tend to be lower in cost and some, such as snorkel tours, offer more private experiences. The downside to using a private operator over the cruise line for booking excursions is that if the activity runs late, you run the risk of being held liable for missing the ship departure (and therefore you have to pay to get to the ship or next port of call). However, if you book through the cruise line, it becomes their responsibility to get you back on board. Ultimately, we opted to book two of our excursions through the ship, for a slight increase in price over the private operators, which will give us peace of mind (the point of the trip is to relax). The other two ports, we will disembark and wander around (Old Town San Juan) or relax on the beach (Half Moon Cay).

Our first excursion will be the Ultimate Snorkel in Grand Turk, which I've heard is an amazing experience. Our second excursion will be a Champagne Catamaran Sail & Snorkel to St. John. As a huge snorkeling enthusiast (dived Cozumel, Key Largo reefs, Dry Tortugas, Wekiwa freshwater springs, and various Atlantic seaboard beaches), I'm really looking forward to the crystal clear waters of the caribbean. I may even bring my own dive mask and snorkel (I spent the money I might as well use them).

In addition to booking our excursions, we also made our reservations for dining in some of the alterate dining experiences on board. These dining experiences can be popular, so I did not want to risk not getting in by waiting until the last minute. The downside of making early reservations, is that you have to pay up front for the cover charge. We booked the Pinnacle Grill ($25 per person), Tamarind ($15 per person), and an Evening at Le Cirque ($39 per person, offered a single night in the Pinnacle Grill).

Updated Blogger Interface

2011-09-02T08:03:00.001-04:00

Blogger.com has recently updated their online interface. While not perfect, it is an improvement for blogging from my iPad. In the meanwhile, I will probably continue to use BlogPress for offline writing on my iPad, computer, or Phone.

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, It's a Christmas Cruise for Me

2011-08-25T10:27:00.002-04:00

I am definitely a restless and obsessive travel planner. I always need to be engaged with planning the next vacation. We've been stateside for just over a week and I have already put a deposit down for our next travel adventure, a seven-day Holland America Caribbean holiday cruise.

I knew before we even departed for our European trip that I wanted to do something special for Christmas. We had been considering Ireland, a return to Paris, Quebec, the West Coast, and possibly a Caribbean cruise. After our 21 hour long return day, including 2 hours stuck on the tarmac 20 yards from the gate, all I could think about was relaxation. As my wife will happily attest, I'm not usually one to go somewhere to relax when I can do that at home for cheap. When I travel, I like to get in as many sites as possible (within reason of course). However, a seven-day cruise seemed like the perfect combination of the two, relaxation and site seeing.

First, a seven-day cruise includes two at sea days, which essentially demand relax or at least go find something to do on the ship, but absolutely no site seeing (besides the water extending to the horizon). Cruise ships usually contain a spa, hot tubs, adults only pool areas, and comfortable deck lounge seating. Couple this with a balconcy stateroom and we will have all the components necessary to fulfill all our relaxation desires.

Secondly, in the cruises we looked at, two of the port days would be to cruiseline controlled resort islands. These islands offer enhanced relaxation emmenities in conjuction with some more in-depth activities/excursions like snorkeling, horseback riding, and zip lines. The remaining two ports are historically significant locations containing very interesting sites, which should satiate my desire to be a tourist and sitesee.

Thirdly, the food options are vast. One of our favorite things about traveling is trying new cuisines, foods, and regional favorite items. Typicaly cruise lines offer widespread culinary options, often including gourmet dining options for an additional fee. Couple the varied options onboard with the options available while in port and the possibilities become endless. Holland America also features culinary features/demonstrations, which will be very interesting to my wife and I.

While researching all the cruising options, we stumbled across a video for Cruise Comptete, a website that provides a framework for travel agents and agencies to bid for your business. After performing some consumer report research, I found this website was definitely reputable with many positive recommendations from fellow cruisers. One thing to be aware of though, before making any deposits or payments, ensure you have done your own consumer review search on the winning bidder. I like to use Cruise Critic, Fodors (forum and reviews), and Cruise Addicts for my research.

After reviewing five different holiday cruise options, including cruises with Carnival, Norwegian, and MSC, we eventually found Holland America. Now to be honest, I thought these guys would be way to expensive and initially they were. The first cruise I found for them started at $2400 per person for a Balcony cabin, which was much more than we wanted to spend. However, upon further review I found they had a Dec 24th sailing that was closer to $1600 per person for a balcony. This number we could live with so I started researching reviews. My findings were that Holland America, hands down rated much higher than the other options we had been looking at. While their core customer base tends to be older, they have begun to expand into our demographic (30+, secondary-educated, beer and wine crowd versus hard liquor).

Once we had all our options identified, we requested bids through Cruise Comptete. We eventually received an offer for the Holland America cruise that was for $1383 per person plus an onboard credit of $50. That was almost $500 cheaper than booking direct with the cruise line. We did opt for a guaranteed balcony as opposed to selecting a specific room because there are only four of the specific class rooms we selected onboard, and will thereby have a very good chance of getting a free upgrade. Check in later, when I will discuss researching our excursion/port activities.

After Action Review of Trip

2011-08-18T16:09:00.003-04:00

I've now been home for almost 48 hours and my body is starting to accept that I'm no longer on European time (even though my mind wishes it was still). Yesterday I woke up at 4am, today it was 5:45.

I was really thankful that I took yesterday off from work to readjust because I was definitely feeling the effects of time dilation. For some reason I handle west to east movement much better than east to west, which is opposite of most others. That means when I get to Europe I'm usually fine, even with only an hour or two of sleep. Yet, when I come home I'm in a stupor for days.

Now that the fog has lifted I've begun to write the TripAdvisor reviews for the hotels, restaurants, and activities in each of the cities. These resources were important for my own research, so it is just as important to provide my own feedback in a timely manner. I've also begun planning my next two trips to combat post-trip depression (familiar to other obsessive trip planners out there, the only known cure is start planning another, bigger, better, more exciting trip).

The first I've started working on is a potential trip for Christmas. We are looking at returning to Europe or going to Quebec or California. The second is a Bat Mitzvah gift trip for our daughter, a year from this Thanksgiving. We are hoping to be able to take her out of school a week early and spend 14(+) days in Europe. Check back over the next couple days, I will be spell checking my trip posts, adding captions to pictures, and reordering pictures in an accurate timeframe.

On our way home

2011-08-16T17:06:00.001-04:00

This morning proved to be interesting. We awoke around 6 and were showered, packed, and ready to depart by 6:20AM. Eventually our shuttle driver showed up and we departed...to pick up two other families. The good news is our flight was the latest of the three. Our driver wasn't too helpful though. We have provided the company with all our flight information when we made the reservation, but he didn't know what terminal we needed to go to. After dropping off the second family, our driver wanted me to run into the terminal to see which terminal we needed to go to. Luckily, I had downloaded our boarding pass as a PDF on my phone. After some double checking we were able to determine that we needed to go to Terminal 1.

Upon checkin, the agent would only give us our boarding passes from CDG. We left our bags and made our way through the futuristic tubes of terminal 1 that take you to security. Our.experience with security and time for connections was not great. Mary was selected several time for patdowns and swabs, while I had my carryon inspected and had the magnetic wand used on me in Dublin. Eventually we did make it through though, even if we only had 15 minutes to spare before takeoff (that was takeoff, not boarding). We landed in Dublin with an hour and twenty minutes, but between needing boarding passes printed, clearing immigration, going through US preclearance, and finally boarding it came down to the wire for time.

Update - It is now 5:05PM and we are sitting on the tarmac in Orlando awaiting a gate. We are glad to be home, especially considering we both took tomorrow off the recover from any potential jetlag.

Vacation Day 12, Our Final Day in Paris.

2011-08-15T16:39:00.004-04:00

I'm writing this entry sitting in an amazing little courtyard at the western end (opposite from Notre Dame) of Ile-de-Cite, or the island of the city, while we wait for our dinner reservation. This island is where it all began for Paris, so it is somewhat ironic that it is where the end of our vacation will start. This dinner marks the end of our last vacation day, we depart Paris for home tomorrow morning.

The funny thing about this trip is, that while everything up to now has been fun, today has really been the most enjoyable . Originally, we were planning on seeing the Louvre, but after the crowds of the last few days, we decided to come back another time to see it and some other sites. Today, we decided, would be more about exploring old Paris and enjoying ourselves.

We started by sleeping in until almost 10, then we packed up what we could so we wouldn't need to worry about it when we get back. By 10:30 we were out the door, stopping around the corner to buy a baguet traditional and a pain aux raison (amazing!). Eventually, we found the Seine, which we walked along from Pont d'Alma to Notre Dame. As we approached Notre Dame, we began passing the famous Bouqanistas (booksellers).

Mary bought a map of the elevation of Paris from 1860 (it is a somewhat more recent print) for herself and a small poster of Chat Noir and a french version of la Petit Prince (the little prince) for our daughter, Rose. After some further walking we reached one of my favorite neighborhoods, San Michel in the Latin Quarter.

After taking photos of the San Michel fountain, we decided to sit down for lunch. I again had Croque Madame, while Mary went with Croque Vegetarian. We decided to ask for un pitchet vin du rose, or a pitcher of rose wine instead of a whole bottle. The pitchers are usually available in 25 or 50 ml sizes. We also decided to go for dessert and coffee. I had mint chocolate chip ice creame (glace) covered in creme du menth syrup, while Mary had profiterolles (ice cream stuffed cream puffs).

After we walked over to the Ile-de-Cite, where we saw pilgrims to Notre Dame in town for the Fete du Assumption (feast of the assumption). As a side note, during the research for this trip I had read that many local businesses shut down, I can say none of the tourist based businesses do. Many small markets, boulageries, patissaries, chocolate shops, and souvenir stores remained open on or near Ile-de-Cite.

The structure of Notre Dame is quite amazing and it was very moving to hear the choral movements eminating from the cathedral during the mass. We eventually sat down in a small park behind Notre Dame and watched people feed pidgeons. This was a very relaxing non-activity, which I would recommend to any weary traveler.

After the park, we began a walk through the small island of Ile-de-St-Louis, which is where we plan to stay on a future visit. We stood in line for Berthillon glace, bought some rose sparkling wine, water, a can opener (for foie gra we bought the day before), some macaroons, and a magnet of our favorite wine (Cote du Rhone Rose). Once we finished with purchases we settled down along the shady north bank of the Seine river on Ile-de-Cite.

We had a small picnic, while watching tour boats glide by and revelers enjoying the Paris Plage across the river. Our snack was delicious, I can definitely say the Foie Gra was worth the wait and the €1.35 spent on a can opener. The rose sparkling wine was very sweet and excentuated our experience with fine dining and living in Paris perfectly.

Eventually, we decided we would need to get up and move around to burn off some of these calories before our evening meal. We wandered through a small garden market, looking at plants and other items of horticultural interest. On the other side of the market was Notre Dame, so we decided to sit and soak up some music. After some further wandering, sitting, and milling about we found ourself here in this courtyard, which is where I began the post.

Tomorrow our vacation ends, but the planning of our next European adventure begins. So prost, sante, or cheers, whichever you prefer. Raise up a glass and toast with us to enjoying what the world has to offer.

Vacation Day 11, Another Bike Tour Another Blister

2011-08-14T13:53:00.003-04:00

Woke up this morning to throbbing feet, I've developed a deep blister down to dark red layer (not pink, not red, think maroon) and I've almost run out of blister protection. I've now resorted to using mole skin, which just slides off.

First thing this morning Mary and I walked, well I hobbled, to the La Motte Picquet-Grenelle Sunday Market. It wasn't as impressive this time because they were just starting to set up, but we did find warm pain au chocolate and almond pastry.

When we finished with the market we made our way to the Fat Tire Bike Tour office. We strolled in at 8:46 for our 9AM tour and were subsequently assigned to the late group, which was a very accurate description of our tourmates.

The tour started out with a short ride to the Javel metro station, where we had an issue with locating a station attendant to open a gate for us to walk our bikes through. In the end we resorted to lifting them all over the gates. Eventually we boarded a train bound for Versailles.

Once we arrived in Versailles we proceeded to a Sunday Market, where we were set us free to procure items for a picnic lunch. We had a little trouble purchasing items, I tried paying to early, and we ordered too much from produce vendors (.5 kilo of amazing marinated green olives and some tasteless apricots). We thankfully were able to purchase our bread (bagette traditional and frommage loaf) and wine (Rose) without issue.

Once everyone had their items we set off for the palace grounds, which were immense. A various points our guide would stop and provide history about the Chataue. Eventually, we stopped at the corner of the Grand Canal for our lunch.

After lunch, we picked up the pace, which consisted of climbing several large grades (tiring for everyone). After about 20 minutes of upward riding, we reached the front entrance. We waited in line for about 35 minutes, finally walking into the main courtyard. The opulance is very apparent from the start and builds even more as you make your way to the area dedicated to the rule of Louis the XIV. The experience crescendos into the Hall of Mirrors, which was used as a throne room. On a negative note, this place is definitely subject to crowds, especially pre-arranged tour groups. Plan accordingly, the crowds are evidently less in the spring and fall.

Before setting out to explore the Palace, our guide instructed us all to reassemble at the bikes by 5:15. Of course, one person went missing. The wife in an Australian couple came shambling back to the group around 5:35. According to her husband, she does this all the time and they do not carry cell phones. If it happens all the time, wouldn't that mean maybe you should stay together for the sake of the other 17 people on the tour? Oh well, we missed our train and ended up waiting an additional 20 minutes. We did not get back to the FTBT office until 6:45. Ce la vie, it's Europe, this is about enjoyment and culture, not about schedules. Well we are off for dinner.

Evening update - As part of our hotel reservation if I mentioned Rick Steves' Paris book, we would get free tickets for a Seine River cruise. After a long day Mary and I wanted to keep it simple for dinner and go somewhere close to the boat tour. We settled on a small super touristy location between Musee du Branly and the Eiffel tower. While our waiter was very busy and did not feel inclined to humor my bad french (he dealt with us in English the whole time), the food was good and we did not want for anything.

We decided to start with some appetizers (entree or starters in French). Mary had onion soup, while I elected for escargot, which was delicious. For our main plates, I went with a Croque Madame (ham, cheese, toasted with baked cheese and a fried egg on top), while Mary had a hamburger (chopped steak top with a fried egg).

After dinner we walked down to Pont d'Alma for our boat tour with Bauteux Mouches. While the concept is good, the actual excecution left much to be desired. The sites were excellent, but the only option to buy drinks was on the shore before we left. If they would have had a bar or if we had known we could bring wine, the experience may have been better. Secondly, a new trend is mass fast paced Chinese tourism in Europe. We went on a 10PM tour, where the boat was almost filled to capacity (1000 people max) with Chinese tourists. Halfway through the tour, many were falling asleep in their seats. Now I have no problem with a crowded tour, but I do have a problem with flash photography right in my face, crowding, and shoving/pushing to exit the boat.

Between our experience with the same behavior in the halls of Versailles and this boat tour, we are thinking of changing our tour strategy in the future to avoid a repeat of this bad experience. I have to wonder though, in the past is this how people viewed newly traveling Americans? We have definitely been described as loud, obnoxious, crass, and rude, it seems like now the torch has been passed to the new guys.

Vacation Day 10? Tours of Paris

2011-08-13T09:46:00.002-04:00

What day is it, Friday, no it's Saturday. That is the question Mary and I keep asking each other. I can't believe this is our tenth vacation day, we only have a couple more left.

This morning we woke and had cafe au lait, a crepe, and a cheese and salad baguet under the Eiffel Tower, while we waited for our Fat Tire Bike tour of Paris to begin. It took awhile to get everyone assembled and split into groups, but once we did we were off. First was a return to the Champ du Mars (field of war), at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

Next we visited the UNESCO world heritage headquarters, the Invalides, the Pont Alexandre, Concorde, Tuileries Gardens, and then the Louvre. We stopped for a sit down lunch at the Tuileries Gardens, where we had savory crepes with drinks. After visiting the courtyard of the Louvre, we speedily raced back to the Champ du Mars for more pictures and then back to the office to return the bikes. All and all a great experience, and our guide Jackson was great. On the way back to the office, one of the customer's bike chain fell off, Jackson gave her his guide bike while riding hers like a scooter for the remaining 5 minutes back.

We are now getting ready to depart for a walking tour of Montmartre, the romantic artist quarter of Paris. I need to get dressed and then wake Mary up from her nap. More to follow later.

Evening Update - Montmarte was beautiful, but the climb was steep and somewhat rough on my battered feet. I (without thinking) wore my dress shoes (with gel heels), which I had previously worn on previous day's walks. Unfortunately for me, this tour was too much. Maybe it was the steep hills applying pressure to the edge, maybe it was the heat, maybe it was the specific pair of socks I was wearing. Whatever the cause, my feet felt broken once we reached the top.

As a consolation, we now had sufficient cause to take the funicular down (future note, take funicular up, then walk down). By the way Montmartre has some very interesting sights, including a market, museum, basilica, view over the city, and the very first bistros in the world. Evidently the word bistro stems from Russian soldiers slammimg their fists on the bar shouting "bistra," which means faster. So faster Parisian food can be found in a bistro.

After decsending from Sacre Couer, I hobbled though three metro stations until finally reaching Ecole Militaire. We decided to try to eat dinner in our hotel neighborhood. We spent the next three hours enjoying an excellent dinner at Fountain de Mars. On a side note, President Obama and the first lady dined here while on a state visit to France.

The meal was delicious, I had grilled breast of duck, while Mary had lamb. We each chose house wines (Vin du Maison blanc/rouge) to go with out meals. We also opted for dessert, which was also very good. Mary had creme brulee, while I opted for an assortment of sorbet from Bertillon.

Vacation Day 9, Heading to the City of Light, Paris

2011-08-12T05:00:00.004-04:00

After a light breakfast we are preparing to depart for Paris on another high speed Thalys train. It is a gray, drizzling day, but the temperature is perfect. We've decided we must return to Brussels to see more of the sights, this trip was more about soaking up the atmosphere. I will miss our amazing view of the Grand Place.

Update from the Train - After checking out of our B&B, we decided to do some souvenier shopping before walking back to Gate du Midi train station. We bought four magnets for €10 and a cheap minature of the City Hall for my desk collection at work. The stroll to the train station was just what we needed before sitting for an hour and a half on the train.

Getting on the train and finding our seats turned out to be quite a challenge. The train was slightly late and once it arrived everyone jumped onboard at once (including me). Unfortunately, we boarded at the wrong end because there was a problem with the digital numbering displays on the ends of each car. Eventually, after dozens of excuse-moi and pardon's, we made it to our seats. Mary was upset that I charge into crowds, but then she hates when I place her in front of me and push her through like a cow catcher on the front of a train. Oh well, such is life, I think we need to invent the husband and wife travel leash, guaranteed to keep you together no matter how bad you smell.

Speaking of smelling bad, I cannot wait to check into our next hotel. While the last was great, it did not have shampoo and I can only get so far on hand or travel soap. Mary just returned from the dining car with water and Orangina, so I'm off to rehydrate and enjoy some of our Belgian chocalate.

Afternoon update - Made into Paris! I forgot how great this city is, I was like a kid in a candy store. The avenues are amazing and I'm overjoyed to get to share it with my wife (who is an urban planner). As we left the Gare du Nord train station, we followed the clearly marked signs to the taxi stand. After moving through a Disney like que (without the wait), we were assigned a driver and off we went. Explaining where we wanted to go took a little effort. Eventually, after mixed communication in french, english, and even some spanish, we were able to describe Place d'Alma, which is close to our hotel. After disembarking from the cab we caught our first glimpse of the Tour de Eiffel (Eiffel Tower). It is breathtaking, even when you've seen it before. We walked about ten minutes further, finally reaching our hotel.

When we opened the door to our room I was pleasantly surprised to find it exactly matched my expectations. Paris rooms are tiny, so small it is hard to judge scale from pictures. But I knew that ahead of time, so I was prepped.

The bed is very comfortable, with quality sheets, and not too firm or soft. The window opens out into a view of the street and the bathroom is tile with a towel warmer. But most importantly, we have air conditioning and WiFi in the room, two basic neccesities for me.

We have begun to develop a bit of an odor, so we decided it was time for a shower (with real soap and shampoo) and to do some sink laundry. Funny story, last year for our 14 day UK trip, we brought along a lot of quick dry clothing (t-shirts, underwear, and socks). During the course of the entire trip we never had to do it ourselves because the B&B owners qalways offered.

This time it hasn't been so easy, so we've decided it's laundry time. We washed our socks, underwear, and some undershirts in the sink, while we washed a couple of outershirts in the bath/shower. I put the towel warmer to good use drying my shirt, while we used our Rick Steve's travel clothes line for the first time ever. It's use is somewhat ironic considering not only does RS recommend our hotel, but his tours operate out of here too. Well that is all for now, we're off to see the Eiffel Tower up close and have dinner in one of the local cafes.

Evening update - We just returned from an amazing dinner at Les Ombres, a restaurant on top of the Musee d'Branly with one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower. Before dinner we decided to check out the museum. Unfortunately it did not captivate our attention. We would have been better off walking around the grounds, because by this point I was a little tired of artwork, even cultural items.

But back to dinner, it was delicious. We opted for the €65 prefix menu, were I had rabbit (lapine) and Mary had freshwater fish from Lake Geneva. We also ordered a bottle of Cote du Rhone white wine, which lasted the evening. While we started our meal inside, we eventually transitioned outside for coffee and the rest of our wine to enjoy the view of the top of Paris and the Tour Eiffel.

After dinner we walked back to Champ du Mars and caught a truck scooter (small three wheeled carriage tour). We chose the cheapest option (#1), a 30 minute cruise of the city for €40. It was a great experience, we saw the Invalides (where Napoleon is buried), Pont Alexander, Petit Palais, Champs Elyses, Arc du Triumph, Trocodero, and back to the Eiffel Tower.

On an interesting side note, when queried by the driver what type of music we wanted, we selected romantic. This consisted of 30 minutes listening to Boys2Men, 80s rock, and of all things Rap. I asked if there was any classical or instrumental, but our driver responded, "there is no good french romantic music."