A Day of Airports

Yippee!! We are on our way! We stayed at the Residence Inn in Morrisville near RDU Airport last night. It was fine.. Staff was great, service was great, we are able to park our car there free for the entire time we are away (15 days!), complimentary shuttle to and from airport, breakfast, and clean rooms. It's not the newest Residence Inn but certainly met our needs. Our first flight from RDU to PHL was on time and just fine. We are now enjoying vino and snacks in the USAirways Club before we grab a bite at perhaps Chickie & Pete's for dinner. Then we will board our flight for Venice. There about 160 cruise critic "friends" on this cruise and we have been a planning and corresponding for months so it will be nice to put some names with faces. Ok, signing off for the moment.. But I'll be blogging next from venezia!

I am packed and ready to travel!

Yep, I'm ready to go... why am I awake and blogging at 4 am?  I just can't sleep... most be excited.   My bag to be checked comes in underweight, e.g., less than the 50 pounds we are allowed for no fee.  My carry-on is packed with my Ipad, Ipod, camera, phone, sun glasses, and hand wipes!  Oh yes... my hair accessories are in my carry-on too!  Don't want to be without those... my new favorites are called "snaps"!  We will arrive in Venice at 9:15 on May 30th and will use Celebrity Cruises transfer to get from the airport to the pier where we will embark Celebrity Silhouette.  After we get checked in and find our room to deposit our stuff, we will hit the road (or should I say canals?) to find some "provisions".  What provisions will we be in search of?  Well to stay underweight on baggage, I didn't pack sunscreen, shampoo, conditioner, and such.  So we will go to the Coop Market near Piazzali Roma to get those things as well as the 2 bottles of wine that Celebrity will allow us to carry onboard.  We will also find a fun place for lunch complete with gelato for dessert. 

European Travel Tips & Practical Advice

Here are some recommendations and tips to help travelers to Europe prepare their trips & enjoy them safely.

Ø  Currency:  Euros are used in most every country except the United Kingdom.  We generally get some Euros before leaving home, but we also use ATMs in Europe (where the exchange rate is better).  American Express cards are not as widely accepted as they are in the U.S., but Visa and MasterCard are accepted almost everywhere.  Be sure to have a four digit PIN number. Many ATMs in Europe, as well as subway token dispensers, require a credit/debit card with an embedded chip.  Unfortunately, this type of card is uncommon in the States.  The only card issued in our area that includes a chip is from the State Employees Credit Union.

Ø  Notify your credit card company that you will be in Europe. 

Ø  Make copies of your passports and credit cards. Leave one copy with family or friends.

Ø  Pickpockets are common throughout Europe, especially in tourist areas.  Do not keep a wallet in your back pocket; wear a secure money holder. 

Ø  Toilets: In Europe the bathrooms (or WCs aka water closets) can be a challenge. Always have a few coins of local currency with you, as you may be charged for the privilege of using the WC.  Of course, my favorite option is to locate a cafe, pub, trattoria, or bistro and stop for a glass of local wine, beer, or caffe & then there is no charge for the WC!  You may find a toilet seat or you may find a trough type toilet that you are supposed to squat over. If you are lucky you will find toilet paper, but often as not, you must provide your own. I always carry a small pouch of Kleenex with me for this purpose. Once you complete your business, it can be a challenge figuring out how to flush the toilet. You may have to push, pull or wiggle any type of handle you can find within arm’s (or leg’s) reach.

Ø  Check with your insurance company to make sure your medical insurance covers out of country expenses.

Ø  Internet service:  Internet cafes are inexpensive & easy to locate.  Wi-Fi is generally available at McDonald’s restaurants worldwide.

Ø  Cell phone:  if you plan to use one, check with your provider regarding international calls.   We purchased an international cell phone online from Mobal. The cost of an international phone is as low a $29 and there are no further fees or charges unless you make or receive calls.  Note that this phone will not work within the U.S. and calling rates are reasonable. 

Ø  Clothing:  Comfortable shoes are a must.  You could walk a lot and there are many cobblestone streets throughout Europe.  In cathedrals, knees & shoulders should be covered; open-toe shoes and sandals are fine.  I pack a shawl in my backpack. 

Ø  Baggage Allowance:  Check with your airline; most airlines allow each passenger to check one bag of up to 50 pounds each and one carry-on. 

Ø  Packing:  What to wear for the overseas flight?  Be comfortable as what you wear will also be your jammies for the night!  Wear layers so that when you arrive at your destination you can be comfy there too!  (Your hotel room may not be ready).  Wear shoes that are easy to remove when going through airport security.  I generally take a large purse and a rolling carry-on.  Be sure to pack your medications, jewelry, airline tickets, passports, camera & accessories, laptop, Ipad, and other valuables in your purse or carry-on.  Take a book to read and eyeglasses; don’t forget your sunglasses!    Mark your checked luggage well with colored tape, ribbon, etc. so that you can easily identify it & be sure that your name & address information is on the bag. Don’t take good jewelry; it’s fun to purchase locally made jewelry as souvenirs.

Remember “The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”
St. Augustine

Koper, Slovenia

“My Homeland, when God created thee, he blessed thee with both Hands and said, Merry People will live here.” –Ivan Cankar, Slovenian poet and writer

 We will be in Koper on Saturday, June 2nd & plan to wander around on our own to discover this charming town.  Wandering around Koper's Old Town, all narrow streets and Venetian-style houses, you could be forgiven that you had indeed crossed the border into Italy. You are as liable to hear Italian spoken as Slovenian, there are Italian signs everywhere, and it’s all a reminder that the border between one country and another has never really mattered all that much in these parts. Always something of a blur, it disappeared forever three years ago when Slovenia joined the Schengen block.

From what I've read, on Saturdays & Sundays during the cruise season a small tourist train will transport you for free every half an hour around the perimeter of old town right from the cruise dock. There is also a narrated hop on/off bus making a loop through Izola, Portoroz and Piran, all three beautiful seaside towns.  The fare is between 15 and 20 Euro.  Check at the port kiosks.  Departure times:  10 am, 11:30 am, 1 pm and 2:45 pm.  The earlier you go, the more time you can spend in each town (about 1.5 hours in each)

 Koper, like all of the Slovenian coast, is blessed with some wonderful fish and seafood restaurants. Look out for Koper style fast food too, Okrepčevalnica bars: small, Italian-style places which serve great food of the primo, secondo piatti variety at lunchtime. You can usually eat very well here for a fraction of the cost of a restaurant.  That being said, I think we may have lunch at Skipper overlooking the marina.  The  reviews are quite good and we will get to try some Slovenia seafood dishes!  Here's  YouTube video of Skipper.  Now that I know where to sample the local cuisine, I am happy!

Ravenna, Italy

Where next after the big Italian cities?  Why Ravenna of course!

Having been to many of the major Italian cities, I am excited to be visiting Ravenna.  From what I’ve learned, we will see some of the finest mosaics in the world in some of the oldest churches.  Most everything, from Dante’s tomb to the best fast food around, is within walking distance in a pedestrian center, Piazza del Popolo.  We should be able to enjoy the best of what Ravenna has to offer… the Early-Christian and Byzantine mosaics of the fifth and sixth centuries featured in the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Museo Orcivescovile, Battistero Neoniano, Basilica di San Vitale and Mauseleo di Galla Placidia. 

A bit of trivia that I learned is that the mosaics at the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia inspired the American songwriter, Cole Porter.  In the   1920’s while honeymooning in Ravenna he wrote “Night and Day” remembering the beauty of the starry sky mosaics of Mausoleum of Galla Placidia.

Ravenna is in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and is sometimes dubbed “Italy’s Food Basket”.   It’s home to many of Italy’s most renowned foods:  Prosciutto di Parma, Mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and balsamic vinegar are a few.

Click here for a Rick Steves YouTube video of Ravenna... I can't wait to make my own video!

 

If you know me, then you know that I want to sample the local cuisine!  Where do I want to do my sampling?  Why Ca’ de Ven of course!    According to Lonely Planet, it’s a wonderful cavernous enoteca-cum-restaurant in a 15^th century palazzo with frescoed domes, vaulted brick ceilings and checkerboard marble floors.  We will be in Ravenna on a Friday so Ca’ de Ven will be open much to my delight!  If, however, you are in Ravenna on a Monday and Ca’ de Ven is closed, then Bizantino, located in the Mercato Coperto (covered market)  in the historic centre, has been recommended.  I also plan to make a stop at a piadinerie for piadina.  Piadina is thin Italian flatbread and it’s served with cold cuts, jam, Nutela or regional cheeses.  Tortellini and Cappelletti, Bolognese sauce, and local wines such as SanGiovese should not be missed!  Here's a YouTube video of Angela Schiavina's food tour to whet your appetite!

Ready for a quiet reflective moment?  Dante’s tomb is a quiet & restrained resting place for the author of “The Divine Comedy”.  Don’t miss the little oil lamp hanging above the tomb.  Burning permanently, it is paid for by the city of Florence in penance for ejecting the poet in 1372!