TravelStream™ news feed for member rwpek on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/rwpek en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:27:50 -0500 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rwpek/1/1226343480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rwpek/1/1226343480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rwpek/1/1226343480/tpod.html Wed, 26 Nov 2008 06:27:50 -0500 2008 Travels

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Rome, Lazio, Italy

Rome was fantastic. Too much to do in two days. We were actually quite late getting from the Airport to our hotel. Apparently, there was a "Student" demonstration going on and our "booked" shuttle driver couldn't get out to the airport to pick us up on time and of course our flight from Frankfort was also late getting into Rome. We tried to get over the jet lag as quickly as possible so we unpacked, then went out for an early dinner (7:30 PM) and a cappuccino and a quick tour of the area around the hotel Trevi, Trinton Fountains and the Spanish Steps and of course window shopping for Italian leather boots and jewelry then back to the hotel for an early bedtime to be enable an early start on Saturday morning. Never leave a wife in charge of the alarm (we slept in) so much for the early start. Not Jet Lagged Anymore!!
We bought 3 day Roma/Metro/Public transit passes which allowed us unlimited travel and entrance to 2 major attractions not including Vatican City. After our first Roman Breakfast at the hotel just before closing (bread, meat, eggs, cereal and Italian coffee. We headed out on the Metro to Vatican City where if you were not on a private tour it would have been impossible to get in. We figured it would not be worth the wait and since the Pope didn't come out to welcome us we figured that a Private Tour was also not worth the cost of 26 euro entrance fee then up to 40 euros per person for tour. If we paid that you could skip the line-up that looked like it would last at least four hours so much for listening to tour guide books. Did manage to take many pictures of the outside. Even got a couple of bad ones of a couple of Vatican guards in their fancy uniforms. Also didn't feel particularly religious maybe because we didn't go inside St Peter's Basilica. Stopped for Lunch of Pizza, (have pictures doesn't look anything like Pizza Pizza. Mary got her Italian Leather purse from a street vendor. Spent about an hour there then decided to hop back on the Metro to go down to the Coliseum and Palantine Hill, the Forum, Circus Maximus and the Italian Independence Monument, etc. Took many pictures from the outside. On Sunday got lost going to the Metro and saw the Spanish Steps and a couple of minor monuments then caught the Metro back to the Coliseum where we used our Rome Pass to get entry to the Coliseum then paid 5 euros more each to be part of a guided tour which got us into the attraction ahead of the general rabble plus it got us the basic history of the building. We could have continued the rest of the tour but we had done that the previous evening because on Saturday we got there too late to go into the Coliseum and simply toured the outside. Then climbed Palentine Hill and took pictures of the all of the major monuments and historical sites, arches and buildings from the backside. Of course we had to go into a church (the one at the top of Palentine Hill) because Rome has more churches per square Km than anyplace else. If you can't get into the biggest one go to a tiny one (which is what we did).
Today we headed off to catch our cruise. First by Taxi to a Cruise Bus shuttle service from another hotel. Then by bus to the Port Civitavecchia where we boarded without incident and very quickly too. Grabbed my "Coke Card" cost of about $5.00 per day for all the soft drinks you can handle as opposed to spending $3.00 per each serving. Iced tea and water gets boring real quick. Next step was Muster stations - anybody who has ever cruised knows the routine but it is mandatory. Glad we went because we were able to see Robyn's Princess Roomie "Bernadetta" sic spelling. Attached picture from sail away party is for Robyn but you all can look. She has her Dad and Aunt onboard and we will have dinner with them later in the cruise. There was a lot of screaming and hugging going on. I'm just on my way to buy an overpriced Princess wireless Internet Access Package so that I can send regular email after some of our shore excursions.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rwpek/1/1225401180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rwpek/1/1225401180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rwpek/1/1225401180/tpod.html Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:15:59 -0500 2008 Travels

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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

I'll be home for Halloween by myself to face the horde of little monsters. Mary will be in Savannah, Georgia on her sister's weekend and Robyn will be out and about as they say in the Maritimes. At least I get to eat chocolate and lots of it because not many kids tend to show up at the front door. The rush is usually over by 8:00 PM
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Charles, Ontario, Canada

Just a quick 5 day visit to South Carolina. Not very good planning considering that we are leaving for Europe in less than a week after returning. We will be visiting on Seabrook Island with Mary's Sisters Joan and Paula. Marcia is expected to come to Canada for Xmas this year so we will not see her when we are down.
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Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Returned Home to the Wet and Dreary Ottawa Summer.
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Kenora, Ontario, Canada

Left Winnipeg to drive the Trans Can to Kenora. Expect to arrive at Dad's around 7PM
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Dryden, Ontario, Canada

We took Dad with us up to Dryden to visit Diane and Tom and to see their "new" to them house which they bought last fall. It is a very nice house. Unfortunately, it is decorated with a lot of Toronto Maple Leaf stuff which doesn't mesh with my Ottawa Senator's Hat. Maybe if we send SENS stuff for Xmas it will take over and multiply and get the Leafs out. or not.


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Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Left Ottawa to fly to Winnipeg to pick up a rental car to drive to Kenora to go to Sam's Wedding on the Weekend. It will be the W. Pekarchuk's first Grandchild to be married. Mark Carlson is the lucky groom. We should arrive in Kenora to stay at Dad's place around 7 PM
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Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany

Take the night train(plane) to Frankfurt. Our entry point into Europe then on to Rome. The adventure continues.
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Rome, Lazio, Italy

Finally, in Rome as a domestic arrival. While our shuttle awaits at the International side. When we finally find it they tell us that there is a "Student Disturbance" in downtown Rome and he is held up. Finally, two hours later he arrives to drive us the half hour to the hotel (which is near the Trevi Fountain and even closer to the Triton Fountain and Barbarini Square for those of you into "Angels and Demons") we were only two short streets over from this and if you took back alleys even I could reach it in 5 minutes.
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Montreal, Quebec, Canada

The first leg of the trip is starting. Robyn took us to the Airport. She will be gone when we return near the end of November
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