Issue #15…

The Meeting of the Clan

Sunday, April 6, 4 p.m.

So far, everyone local who has responded has answered with a “Yes” to our meeting. Four of our far-flung travelers won’t be there, but I promise to bring you up to date. We’ll meet, greet, get to know each other a bit, then we’ll go over such things as rooming assignments, optional excursions, and I’ll do my best to answer your questions.

Please consider this a casual-dress affair..sort of a warm-up for traveling. I’ll have someone just inside the front door of the Country Club to direct you toward the Brit-Bound crew. Don’t tip them, they’ll just get spoiled.

Our hosts for the meeting: Keith and Nancy:

(They took this cruise on a Peoria Riverboat to see if Keith could tolerate moving over water.)

Bags..Bags…Bags (And Apples)

Most people have neglected the art of packing lightly. The airlines know this and are doing their best to make money off our excess. Yes, there are fuel-cost issues, but it’s mainly a way to make some more bucks. Until we get our plane tickets we won’t know which airline(s) we’re using, and since the restrictions vary from carrier to carrier, we know nothing specific at this time. HOWEVER.. many airlines who used to allow up to a 70 lb. bag without paying overage are now allowing only 50 pounds with a 100 lb. total for two bags.

A Few of Packing Tips

[Bring your oldest clothing and leave the duds in Europe. We’ll make a pact. I won’t tell anyone back in Jacksonville what you wore if you don’t tell on me.

[Create a packing list. The very act of putting things on paper will help you see what you’re missing, and will keep you from throwing in unnecessary items.

[Never, never, never, never, never pack your passport in your luggage.

[If you take medication, either bring a spare prescription, or an extra dose (packed in a separate place from your original.)

[A couple of non-wrinkle tips: put dry cleaner bags between your garments, and spread those drier non-lint thingies like Bounce all over your luggage. They prevent wrinkles and give your clothes a fresh smell when unpacking.

[The perfect toiletries bag: The soft-sided lunchbox.

[A small laundry kit would be a good idea.

[How about a packet of Clorox wipes? Don’t let your European adventure be hampered by a foreign-borne cold.

[Got an extra pair of glasses? Dentures?

[Many new digital cameras come without carrying cases. A toddler’s sock is perfect…You’ll be the talk of the pub as you pull out your baby sock to snap a shot.

[The tip to light-weight packing? ACCESSORIZE!

[Music is a great souvenir. The typical CD of local music takes up very little space in your luggage.

[This from a Chicago-area airline pilot, “The best way to avoid ear-popping upon arrival and departure is to pack an apple. Take out your apple about 25 minutes before the plane lands and begin eating. The act of chewing and swallowing will help keep your ear passages clear. I always take 3 with me on every flight and I have my flight attendants give apples to passengers who are concerned about the fluctuations in air pressure.”

[I expect the Transportation Security Administration to come out with a revised no-no list for the summer, but I’ve not seen it yet.

[If you intend to send postcards home, it’s just a dandy idea to take pre-addressed labels with you. Remember: every minute saved in Europe is a minute you could be out sticking your feet in the river Avon.

Above all! Please assume that we will NOT BE INVITED to a garden party with the Queen. There is practically nothing you can leave at home that you cannot purchase once you get there. Do not bring the drug store! A light suitcase means spiritual freedom! And remember: a heavy suitcase only gets heavier as the trip progresses.

Hiding Your Valuables…

Here’s a site selling under-the-clothing money belts, regular “belt” money belts, around the neck money holders, the type that attach to your leg, bra thingies, and even socks that zipper up to carry your passport.

http://www.letravelstore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?screen=CTGY&Store_Code=T&category_code=MB

This comes from LeTravel Store. They have everything imaginable for travel including good travel tips. They also sell electric convertors online as well as a bunch of pretty unique travel items like a combination travel clock/money convertor, a way to carry soap in your purse, a traveling wine glass (at last!), collapsible toothbrushes, quick-drying clothing, those cool pants that unzip at the leg to become shorts, travel vests, underwear with secret compartments, plus those cool vacuum thingies that suck your clothing down to zip-lock size to take up less space.

And by the way, if you’re an Amazon.com aficionado like me, you’ll find many of the same items there at cheaper prices. ..convertors, neck wallets, and collapsible dog bowls. Just type in “travel supplies.”

Not to Dwell on the Negative, But….

Here are a few of the biggest mistakes I’ve known my fellow travelers to make:

Buying new shoes before departure then “breaking them in” on tour. It hurts.

Buying a new camera for the trip, then spend the first week trying to figure out how the darned thing works.

Spending the entire trip calling home.

And probably the single-biggest tourist error: becoming flustered when a new country is not a large-scale version of your own living room, restaurant, and yard. Hey! We’re traveling to see different things, right?

Getting Around …

I know..I know…we’ll just learn to master one mode of transportation on this trip then we’ll have to learn another…The rule of thumb: Be adventurous and be careful.

Keep in mind: Much of our trip will be by escorted coach and we’ll be all together. However, during your free time you might want to take advantage of local public transportation to make best use of your time. Our courier…the person traveling with us… will be our main source of information on how to get around…But here’s a bit of a heads-up on each of the places where we’ll be spending the night:

Killarney: This one’s easy because Killarney has no public transport. It’s a pretty small town. Your feet will be your major means of transportation.

Dublin: As in most cities, it’s wise to ask the cost of the fare before you get into the cab. It helps keep everyone honest. Dublin also has a bus service which I’ve never bothered to figure out. I do know that you can pay on the bus but you need to use coins only.

Edinburgh: Although the population is less than half a million, the city seems much larger. However….most of the sights are in the City Centre and within walking distance. In Edinburgh the taxis are called “The Black Cabs” and their rates are as reasonable as anywhere else in Europe. Again, ask about the fee before you get in. They hold up to five people and of course the charge is based upon distance traveled and the number of riders. If you travel at night, it’s best to call a cab. If you see that the cab has its yellow “For Hire” light on, then simply flag it down. Heck, it’s fun.

Edinburgh has two bus companies: the LRT uses white and maroon double-decker buses and First Edinburgh uses green and white buses. They also operate so-called “Barbie” busses (pink and white) which are best for families with small kids or folks who have trouble getting around.

York: York's major sights are within a mere 20-minute walk of each other, but if you're footsore you can hop on a First York local bus and buy an off-peak day pass for under 2.00. Bicycles can be hired at the train station, and you shouldn't find it too hard to hire a taxi if you have to.

Stratford: Another easy-walking city with everything located near the city center. Since we’re opting for a night of theatre in London instead of Stratford, you may want to find something to do at this stop. The little town does have a taxi service and the taxis also rent out for city tours. Another option: a horse-drawn tour of the city.

London: Where do we start? My preferred method of travel is the Tube (which we’d call a subway, but remember: in England a “subway” is an underground walking passageway). Also: the double-decker busses, the city busses, taxis everywhere, and lots of walking. Since I’ve visited London they’ve come up with something called the “Oyster” card. This is sort of a pre-paid travel card which you use to buy Tube and Bus passes. I hear it’s a good deal, but we’ll have to find out a bit more about it.

It looks as if the “Travel Card” offered in our list of options might be the right way to go on this. I do know that the slowest way to use the Tube is to pay for each trip individually.

As I’ve stated before, I like the Tube because it’s nearly impossible to get lost as long as you remember the name of the station nearest our hotel.

A New, Hot London Guidebook…

Ideo Eyes Open: London by Fred Dust and Ideo (Chronicle Books), recently $16 at Amazon.com. (Promises to steer you away from the touristy places and toward the spots where locals hang out.)

A Bit More Info/Advice on the Optional Tours…

I’ve been trying to browse around the various travel websites to find information/reviews on the options offered. Here’s a scrambling of what I’ve learned:

---The Abbey Tavern Dinner Upgrade seems to get generally good reviews, both for the food and the show. And the price Passports offers seems to be in line with what you’d pay at the door.

---I can’t find any reviews on the “Mystery Tour” but the price quoted online is exactly what you’d pay on your own.

---Riverdance in Dublin. This is the 12^th year the show’s played there so it must be a hit. The price range online is from $50 to $110. Of course I don’t know where we’ll be seated for our $60. But frankly, where could you see Riverdance in a more authentic setting? Here’s a YouTube video of part of the Dublin show: http://youtube.com/watch?v=mD5lFbvy3ek&feature=related

---Loch Lomand and the Trossachs full-day tour. Here’s the website: http://www.lochlomond-trossachs.org

---The Windsor Castle website: http://www.royal.gov.uk/output/Page557.asp

--The Hampton Court Website: http://www.hamptoncourt.org.uk

---The Beefeater Medieval Banquet Upgrade. Frankly, the reviews for this event are all over the place. I guess you pays your money and takes your chances (or not). And remember, since our night of theatre is now in London instead of Stratford, this may automatically preclude another evening out.

---The London Eye. I’ve never done it, and I wanna! Reviews from travelers: http://travel.yahoo.com/p-reviews-2798387-prod-travelguide-action-read-ratings_and_reviews-i

---Thames River Cruise. A good price and a nice tour. ..but it does take a few hours.

From Fellow Traveler Tammy Winters…. .
I’d heard pieces of this story over the years, but Tammy sent along the official version.. Thanks, Tammy.

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog.
There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death.
The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.
'I want to repay you,' said the nobleman.

'You saved my son's life.'
'No, I can't accept payment for what I did,' the Scottish farmer replied waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.
'Is that your son?' the nobleman asked.
'Yes,' the farmer replied proudly.
'I'll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my own son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.' And that he did.
Farmer Fleming's son attended the very best schools and in time, graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.
Years afterward, the same nobleman's son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia.
What saved his life this time? Penicillin.
The name of the nobleman? Lord

Randolph Churchill. His son's name?
Sir Winston Churchill.
Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

A Delightful Surprise…

I was talking this week with Kathy Bernard, our tour coordinator, and asked her when we’d know which London show we’ll be seeing. She said, “I don’t know. Which show would you like to see?”

Huh? Most tour companies assign the show and the travelers have no input.

She said to send me a couple of choices and the tour company can usually get first or second choice…Wow! I’m drooling!

And a Final Message from Tammy..

An Irish Blessing…

May there always be work for your hands to do;
May your purse always hold a coin or two;
May the sun always shine on your windowpane;
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain;
May the hand of a friend always be near you;
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Me with my biggest catch of the spring.