It came. The one thing that would potential keep me from going on my trip has arrived. It makes leaving that much more final and more of a reality.
I am going to Europe with Adam for 14 days. He surprised me with it even though we had talked about going on a cruise this year. We're going with some friends of ours to sail around the Mediterranean. We thought it would be a good way to see a lot of Europe quickly without having to worry about transportation. The only thing I'm not thrilled about is not getting to spend multiple days in one city, but if it's something I love, I know I'll be back.
We're visiting
Madrid, Spain
Barcelona, Spain
Nice, France
Florence/Pisa, Italy
Rome, Italy
Mykonos, Greece
Ephesus, Turkey
Santorini, Greece
Athens, Greece
Naples/Capri, Italy
I must admit I had several reservation about going in the beginning. It's so far away and I didn't know that I could leave my girls for so long. It's just so much to ask someone to do. Lucky for us Jill said she'd be willing to take our 3 and so I leave with total confidence.
Now I'm itching to go. I mean I can almost not wait I'm so excited to leave. The things I'm looking forward to the most are:
1) being with Adam for so long alone. I reminded him that we would be eating 42 meals without anyone complaining about the food...unheard of.
2) Finding myself in the cities, getting lost with my camera in the beautiful surroundings. Does it get any better than the sites of the ancient world?
3) The food. I cannot wait to taste each country.
So now that I have my passport I think I have everything I need. I think. Honestly if you have any advice for me for European travel or crusing please share. So far I've bought nothing for my trip. I heard Jenn say, in Paris at least, if you wear jeans you were a teenager. But what if I want to wear jeans? I think I also need to bring some sort of "formal" dress for the ship which I am not to happy with. Hmm. I think I have a lot of work to do. Please share any tips. I feel like I'm not ready at all.
24 comments:
Wow! That is quite a list of places to visit in such a short time. I would be bummed about not spending any amount of time in each one as well. But it sounds like a fun filled vacation with a taste of so many places. I am sure the Paris girls will share a lot of light with you on the dress matter. Good luck!!
This sounds really fun, minus the short stops. I think that you should pack the clothes that you are comfortable in. Although, I do think you will want some dressier clothes for the evenings onboard. GOod luck! By the way, 42 meals without children!! Sounds wonderful!
That sounds so awesome! I am really excited/jealous! What an amazing gift to give:)
the jean thing isn't just in paris. it's all over in europe. when i was in london it was just the sign to everyone that you were american/tourist.
i'm so excited for you to go! 42 meals to enjoy complaint free, now that's really something. (you should write adds for master card...priceless).
get shopping! ( :
I was concerned about wearing jeans in Paris, but I saw tons of people wearing them. Plus you're cruising with lots of other tourists who will be wearing all sorts of crazy get-ups (i.e., fanny packs) so no worries, you'll look fantastic. I can't believe you were even a little bit upset about Adam booking the tickets, you're crazy!
What a loving gift and wonderful opportunity! I have been to Nice ansd Barcelona and Barcelona is my favorite city that I have visited on this earth! (If you have the opportunity to visit Guell Park, you really should, the detail & color is amazing- Fabulous for photos!
Nice is also wonderful. I was there in off season so my experience was very different from what yours will be but I was very taken with the people, their habits, the men congregating to play les boules at a local cafe, the food, the wine...
Pick a table on la terrace, order a glass of wine or pastis, and enjoy it all, even in your jeans. Life is meant to be savored, no uniform required!
I agree with the other girls- who cares if you wear jeans? I wore jeans in Paris and the fashion police never stopped me! So what?! You are definitely a jeans girl so just take what you like/are comfy in. I have never been on a cruise, but I have heard that people usually dress up a little for dinner. So maybe some casual skirts that you could also wear during the day, if you feel so inclined. I can just see you wandering down a gorgeous road in Nice in a flowery skirt. You are going to have such a great time and your photos will be amazing. A once in a lifetime opportunity. The kids will be fine so just sit back and enjoy those quiet meals. Think of it... hot food and dinner conversation. What mother of three gets that?
call me crazy but i saw lots of jeans in paris and italy... and not just on teenagers??!!
i am so excited for you guys, you will have the time of your lives.
as far as the fancy nights on the cruise go you will for sure want something pretty dressy... people get decked, some even in tuxedos!!!
I think you should wear what you are comfortable in. No matter what you wear, people will know you're a tourist, so what does it really matter?? 42 meals without children -- I can't even imagine the beauty of that. And I can't WAIT to see your photos!!
My only tip at the moment is for Barcelona. They take a great pride in being part of Catalonia and speak CATALAN Spanish. Slight variations from your 'common or garden Spanish'. If you can take the time to master Catalan phrases, they will appreciate it much more.
So fun! I'm a little jealous.
I know it was 7 years ago, but when I was in Paris I saw adults wearing jeans. I wouldn't worry about it. You can dress up jeans enough so you don't look sloppy like the picture most people get when they say jeans and tourist in the same sentence.
When I pack, I always overpack. Make sure you have warm and cool clothes. You never know what the weather will be like. Make sure your shoes are comfortable; that may be the most important thing!
What a priceless gift! I am loving the 42 meals with no complaining. No doubt that IS unheard of!
I can't wait to see all the photos you take and hear about all the amazing cities you visit!
Wow, that sounds like a wonderful trip. You will love it. I have visited all those cities except the ones in Greece and they are all wonderful. Go to a Tapa bar in Madrid. SO yummy.
I was reading Kerri Smith's blog. She was about to leave on a trip to Spain and Morocco. She wrote:
"I have no idea who I will be when I return. travel always changes you and the new places fuse themselves into your being somehow affecting the way you see your life. But you can't know how before you begin."
It's so true. You will be changed. I don't want to write more--I may blog about that.
But, cruising tips:
--Bring Dramamine. I missed our first meal because I was throwing up so much! IF you do get motion sick, lay down. It really helped me!
--You will need a formal dress. But formal is realtive. Buy something silk and pretty. You should be fine. (Remember it just needs to look good with a suit!) OR you can skip your formal night. Does your cabin have a verandah? Order room service and eat dinner outside with a spectacular sea view. Romantic!
--Watch out for charging things to your room. I won't say how much we charged on our trip, but it was a lot, and very easy to do!
Have you ever cruised before? It's fun and addicting! You're definitely going to want to go again and again!
Hi!!!!..I found your blog through Amy's , and I'm from Madrid Spain!!!!..., and I can only tell you how much you are going to love it!!!!...Spain is sooo much fun, and you are going to go crazy taking pictures...let me know if you want to know something specific about Spain, but the best advice I can give you is about the food...try everything!...don't be scared by the way it looks!!!..Spanish food rocks!..Have fun!
42 meals with your love...ah what a joy and a favorite part of our getaways. no interruptions, no chicken fingers, wiggly worms next to you...
i am thrilled for you and can't wait to see the world through your lens.
oh and the attire question...
i worried endlessly about not looking like a tourist. once we arrived in italy i realized "i AM a tourist" and i will not fit in with the lovely italian women in their heels (seriously? everywhere and so beautiful!). i became ok with that very quickly.
i also realized quickly though i am tourist, and really, so many will be on your journey, i was ok with it since i was not a fannypack, shorts, black socks and tennis shoes tourist! i did see a lot of bad tourist fashion so i felt ok with my attire very quickly.
i did not wear jeans (too hot) but i wore everything from cargo/capri pants/tees to cute skirts/tees on our sightseeing adventures. a bit dressier for dinner.
i agree with everyone who said, wear what you feel comfortable in. there will be such a mishmash of attire that you may wonder why you worried about it to begin with...i know i did.
oh and in rome/naples-- it goes without saying but eat LOTS of gelato and lots of real pizza and panni oh to go back...the amalfi coast is the most beautiful place i have ever been and it fills my dreams often
oh so fun amy!
we are hoping our passports come back in time to leave in July. we just turned them in but did everything possible to get them in time, i just hope they come. so i can imangine how excited you must have been to see that arrive in the mail.
WOW! This is an amazing trip! I can't wait to live through you and your photos - just like I did with Jill!
Cruising - people wear all kinds of interesting things.I personally chose to wear something dressy and black - nothing fancy smancy - but nice, comfortable and me.
How exciting and what an amazing gift that Jill gave you - to watch your littles for 2 weeks! That is just so fantastic!
I am so excited for you. I cannot wait for my wonderful European vacation either.
The jean thing- it will be TOO HOT to wear them anyway. I recommend lots of skirts or shorts. I know Rome was really hot at the beginning of May, so I cannot imagine it in June. I will say- I have packed terribly my last two trips to Europe (backpacking did not allow for cute clothes) and was really sad about my clothing choices. But, if you love jeans and hate the thought of a skirt.. who cares if people know you are American. Just dress so you are comfortable. How absolutely fabulous.
You lucky girl! Knowing that you will be so close and yet so far..My heart ache! This is going to be a wonderful trip: so many nice places.
Ok for the attire. I'm French and we wear jeans a lot, even in Paris LOL. Definitely in Nice.. Italy will strike you as the place where everyone looks so classy and beautiful. Do you know Sofia Loren? Well this is Italy. Just class. Love it. Rome is my favorite city in Europe, everywhere you look is stunning. The Vatican is overwheleming, just being there. Santorini is so pretty. Lots of white and blue. This is a fabulous trip. Your DH is just something else doing this. If you had gone to Paris I'd have taken the train to meet you. It's only 3 hours from Rotterdam.
Having now been, I would say: Wear what you want! I wanted to dress up, it was fun for me. But I saw everything on people!
I agree with Lori- I might just hate you! 42 meals with no kids AND you didn't have to arrange a three ring circus to take care of your kids! Enviable to say the least!
Have FUN!!
You will, of course, love it. We did Europe on planes, trains, subways, and walking and walking and walking. My advice does not exactly apply to your situation, which is a great idea. Pack light, try new foods, and be sure to eat at a topas (sp?) bar in Barcelona.
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