Hi Folks,
Here is the latest entry in my travelogue for the European trip. For those folks I've added to the list, and don't know what this is about, I'm leaving for Europe on the 21st of September, and will return home on the 20th of December. I'll start in Berlin, head south until I get to Istanbul, Turkey. Then travel through Greece, Italy, and Switzerland. Sorry, Pepe and Magdalena, I can't make it to Menorca, although I wish I could.
I will visit relatives, on my mother's side of the family, in Austria. I wrote them, and received a call yesterday. We're looking forward to meeting sometime in October. They are near Vienna, very close to the Hungarian border.
I now have all my air and rail tickets in hand, as well as a hotel reservation for my stay in Berlin. Now just to make sure I don't forget to take them!!
For those who are interested, my BLOG has links to pages from each of the countries I plan on visiting. They are in the order I hope to travel, although there may be some changes, who knows? Also links to EuroRail and a site that discusses Visas for those who might be interested in foreign travel. If I come up with any more interesting sites, and time permits, I'll add them.
And for those who are wondering what a BLOG is, it's more or less an on line journal, diary, whatever you wish to call it. I'll post my travelogues on the BLOG as well as sending them via e-mail. Take your choice. Here is the address to go to for the BLOG:
http://dickstrip.blogspot.com
Just type that into the address bar near the top of your screen, and click "GO" or press "Enter". Hopefully that will get you there.
Enjoy life, I know I am.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Saturday, August 27, 2005
My second posting. WOW!
Just playing around. Nothing new.
I'll keep up the e-mails for those who prefer that. I have to input whatever is said, so it's just a matter of copy and paste from one to another. Time to go down to the driving range. Retirement is hell.
I'll keep up the e-mails for those who prefer that. I have to input whatever is said, so it's just a matter of copy and paste from one to another. Time to go down to the driving range. Retirement is hell.
Friday, August 26, 2005
August 226, 2005, 1st Posting
Well, here I am trying to post something on my brand new BLOG. Wonder why they named it BLOG? So did I. Or maybe you didn't. In any case, I tried to think of a better name for something that is a Web Log, which is what it is. WELO? no. WEBLOG? Why bother. WL? What could that mean? WLOG? How do yo pronounce it? So lets stick with BLOG. Works for me.
In any case, I have my airline tickets, and the rail passes I think I'll need. Tried to get the tickets directly through the internet. I found that they had some really good prices, or so it seemed. Then I tried to order them. Guess what!!! The ones with the really good prices weren't available. But, being the conservative, occasionally with a backup plan, I was on the phone with my travel agent, Lisa Jean Jones (always willing to give a plug, 800-520-9333 X121), and she was able to get me on the very same flight, at the same price as the net price (+ nominal agency fee).
Next, rail passes. Lisa sent me the brochure, along with mucho more brochures. From the brochure, I got to the web site and pretty well figured out what I wanted to do. The web site has maps of all Europe, as well as of each country, which are pretty helpful. Also was able to get the schedules for most of the routes I wanted, except for Turkey and Bulgaria. More later. Prices of individual routes were there, so I was able to compare costs of point to point vs. rail passes. When I ordered the passes, I told Lisa what page to go to. When she got there, she looked at the heading "Off the Beaten Track", and said "That sounds like you". Right.
As to Turkey and Bulgaria. An e-mail to Rail Europe was answered promptly. While they weren't able to provide schedules or reservations, they assured me that the pass I was considering would get me where I wanted to go. (and back).
Last, but not least, a place to stay in Berlin, my initial destination. Tried the net again. Guess what!! First choice wasn't available. Bait and Switch??? But the second was, and sounds pretty nice. (Of course, so did the last place I chose in FL, and ... it wasn't). Wish me luck.
So that's it for tonite. I'll send this as an e-mail, and give everyone the address of my BLOG. Let me know if you want to be on the active list (e-mail) or passive list (BLOG). I don't know how well it will work, but I'm willing to give it a try.
In any case, I have my airline tickets, and the rail passes I think I'll need. Tried to get the tickets directly through the internet. I found that they had some really good prices, or so it seemed. Then I tried to order them. Guess what!!! The ones with the really good prices weren't available. But, being the conservative, occasionally with a backup plan, I was on the phone with my travel agent, Lisa Jean Jones (always willing to give a plug, 800-520-9333 X121), and she was able to get me on the very same flight, at the same price as the net price (+ nominal agency fee).
Next, rail passes. Lisa sent me the brochure, along with mucho more brochures. From the brochure, I got to the web site and pretty well figured out what I wanted to do. The web site has maps of all Europe, as well as of each country, which are pretty helpful. Also was able to get the schedules for most of the routes I wanted, except for Turkey and Bulgaria. More later. Prices of individual routes were there, so I was able to compare costs of point to point vs. rail passes. When I ordered the passes, I told Lisa what page to go to. When she got there, she looked at the heading "Off the Beaten Track", and said "That sounds like you". Right.
As to Turkey and Bulgaria. An e-mail to Rail Europe was answered promptly. While they weren't able to provide schedules or reservations, they assured me that the pass I was considering would get me where I wanted to go. (and back).
Last, but not least, a place to stay in Berlin, my initial destination. Tried the net again. Guess what!! First choice wasn't available. Bait and Switch??? But the second was, and sounds pretty nice. (Of course, so did the last place I chose in FL, and ... it wasn't). Wish me luck.
So that's it for tonite. I'll send this as an e-mail, and give everyone the address of my BLOG. Let me know if you want to be on the active list (e-mail) or passive list (BLOG). I don't know how well it will work, but I'm willing to give it a try.
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