Big Bus … Hop on, Hop off

John and I like to do this sort of tour, particularly when we arrive in a new place.  It is always a great overview if you don’t have much time in a city and likewise if you have a few days there you get a great overview and orientation and you know just where you want to further explore.  I got this great site:  Big Bus Tours off the Cruise Critic board for this cruise.  Interesting…

Gathering Information

This morning I am downloading Rick Steves Spain information.  John and I plan to take along reading materials/maps and perhaps plan much of the trip while we relax up in Ketchikan, AK for the month of July.  Hmmm… side trip to Morocco, we’ll have to see if that is doable!  I better get a grip on reality here and take care of my real life!  LOL

Rick Steves

Today we received the Snapshot: Barcelona guide book we ordered from Rick Steves – ETBD (Europe Through the Back Door).  We can really trust his travel materials and admire the philosophy of his type of travel.  I think I will take this little guide book along when we go to Ketchikan so we can read up on what we want to do.  I just glanced and already saw a few “must see” things that we should not miss before leaving on the cruise out of Barcelona.  I also got the Snapshot: Madrid and Toledo, though I am not sure we will make it up to Madrid or not. 

Wondering…

I went on Cruise Critic to check the board for this cruise.  Seems there is a lot of controversy about what port stops will remain the same or change again at a later date. There was also talk that Egypt might be put back into the itinerary, but not until after their elections in September.  Time will tell and we did purchase insurance so I need to double check that to be sure it is “cancelation for any reason” as well.  There are some interesting ideas about a back to back cruise that is 7 days round trip Dubai.  Of course this might be cheaper than staying a few extra days in Dubai…thinking about that.  Some speak of flying into Egypt for a quick stop on their way home as well.  Maybe I will get to see a pyramid that way???  There’s a lot to think about! 

Booked!

Just booked an 18-day cruise from Barcelona to Dubai!  Yahoo!  Cruise dates are Nov. 3 to Nov. 21, (Happy Birthday to me!) but we will leave around the last half of October and no doubt return after Thanksgiving.  Now there is a LOT to do with airfare and hotels before and after.  Possible visit to cousins and seeing Barcelona, maybe Madrid?  Feeling pretty excited about this!