Lake LBJ

Truly one of my favorite places in Texas is Lake LBJ.

My favorite part of the trip:

PaPa: fishing with Hunter & Summer
Fran: eating good food
Summer: boat ride
Granny: visiting with family and eating good food
Sheri: boat ride to Horseshoe Bay
Roxy: snacks & treats dropped by Hunter & Summer
Hunter: waverunner
Mel: being with family
Derek: waverunners with the kids
KV: no phone, no e-mail, no internet, no TV; swimming in the lake

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Pictures: Mediterranean Cruise

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Final Update: Mediterranean Cruise

I am back on U.S. soil and trying to recover from jet lag, lack of sleep and the 8 hour time difference. On the day I traveled back to the U.S., I was up 1 hour shy of a full 24 hours. Although the "recovery" going both to and from Europe is difficult, it is still well worth it. I know that for me I need a full 48 hours to feel like myself again so I try to plan accordingly.

Announcing the Blog Contest Winners: Hunter & Summer!!
Thanks to Hunter & Summer for entering the contest! Your entries were original, truthful and humorous! For your prizes, you will be treated to your favorite meal at the Mexican restaurants mentioned in your entries. (See 'Blog Contest' post below with the associated Comments to view the contest rules and participants.)

Keep checking back for pictures I will add once I get back to Dallas (I'm on U.S. soil but haven't made it back to my house yet.). I will not have a chance to download them until I get home.

For each trip I take, I plan to add a countdown timer then update this blog on a daily basis while on the trip (if possible) so tune in periodically so you won't miss anything! And speaking of my next trip, I am already planning it. I have been doing a lot of internet research and looking at my 2008-2009 calendar. If anyone wants to go with me, send an e-mail or leave a comment. The sky is the limit!

KV

Update # 5: Mediterranean Cruise


The cruise has ended. I said my goodbyes to Paul & Paula. They're starting the 2nd half of their vaction in Sardinia and I headed back to Rome.

THE CRUISE: The verdict is in and I officially love cruise life!! As soon as I get home I am going to start searching the internet to get my next cruise planned. It may not be my next vacation but I am anxious to see what other parts of the world I can explore by boat. We traveled 2,162 nautical miles in 8 days and had 1,697 passengers and 600 crew members on board. I am absolutely amazed at what Costa Cruises can accomplish with so many passengers on board. They make it look easy but I'm sure it is not. Everything was so well planned and organized. It really allowed me to relax knowing that all the details were taken care of. My cruise experience was not only enriched by Paul & Paula but also by our dinner mates - Scott, Helen and Virginia. We all enjoyed each other's company, had some lively conversations and also attended some of the cruise performances as a group. I feel very lucky to have met them as I was able to learn about their native countries (England & Canada) and customs, their careers and also their personalities. I also have to mention that the reason Paul & Paula were headed to Sardinia is because Paula took the top honor in her company as the Top Salesperson in North America in 2007 and was rewarded with that trip. After working with Paula for 3+ years at Ernst & Young, I am not surprised. I love to surround myself with happy, successful and positive people and this cruise allowed me to do just that with the people in which I spent the most time.
P.S. I never found Julie McCoy but did see a lady that had her hair.


AT SEA: Our last day on the ship was another full day at sea. I had previously posted that I wanted to go, do and see as much as possible so I didn't think I was fond of days at sea. After a full week of being on the go (and sometimes having to wake up early), I have to say it was very nice to have a completely relaxing day of lounging on the outside deck reading, eating gelato and napping.

ROME (again): I hit the ground running today after disembarkation. I checked into my hotel (I love early check in) then took the hotel's shuttle into Rome and spent the full day touring. I hopped on an open-air tour bus that made stops at all the top tourist attractions. I won't get in to all the details of what I saw because I saw A LOT and I'll post pics later but I will say that Rome ranks up near the top of the places I have visited. The city provides a great mix of the old and the new. The history is so rich and it is absolutely everywhere but it's a modern day city in that you see all the current things a large city has to offer. I thought the city was pretty clean too considering its age and the number of people who pass through on a daily basis. As I rode on the top level of the bus and passed by attractions such as the Colesium and The Vatican, I noticed that the locals in the surrounding cars didn't notice the historical sites. They were carrying on their daily lives - most of whom were trying to get to work, to lunch, or home from work. I guess it is almost like people in my building at work (myself included) not really noticing or caring that the Dallas Cowboys headquarters is right next door. It might have been exciting for about a day, but that's it. I mentioned in a previous post the The Vatican seemed smaller than what I expected. I assumed I was the only one who had that thought. Apparently not. During the bus tour today, the guide mentioned that because of the massive architectural elements, most people believe it is smaller than it actually is. I also must mention the Trevi Fountain. I spent more time there today than any other place (except the bus). I could have never predicted the number of people that would be there. It was almost too much but after a while I got used to it and really enjoyed the area. Do you realize how famous Sarah Jessica Parker is? Her picture is plastered all over the city advertising the May 30 release of the "Sex and the City" movie. I guess I never truly realized how wide the audience is for such big movies; thus, making the stars famous worldwide. Do you have your ticket for opening night? I do and I can't wait! I hate to disappoint you but there wasn't any "drama" today while touring. Well, at least not with me. A guy from our hotel lost his wife at The Vatican. Without cell phones and in a foreign country, there was panic all over his face. I think I'll ask the front desk personnel later if they ever found each other. Another travel tip: ALWAYS plan a meeting place in case someone in your group gets lost. My hotel - I am staying in the Rome Marriott Park Hotel which is very nice. The furniture in the rooms is of top quality and it has 2 bathrooms (partial baths) which is great if you have multiple people staying in 1 room. The bed looks extremely comfortable and I know I need a good night's sleep. I would highly recommend this hotel but must tell you that it is not in downtown. If you want to step right out your front door and be in the middle of everything, this is not the place for you. I primarily chose it because I like to stick to Marriott so I can continue to accumulate points and because it is about midway between the airport (FCO) and downtown.

VACTIONING: One of the things I look for in a vacation is the ability to get away from EVERYTHING! I cannot tell you how nice it has been to not have a cell phone, a newspaper, a radio, a TV (we had one on the boat but it was mostly the cruise channels showing you the location of the boat) or rush hour traffic. I have had no idea what day or time it is. I have no idea what's happening in the news. The other half of the world could have come to an end and I'd never know it. It's so nice not to have your life dominated by a cell phone, TV, e-mail or a computer. (although I do miss American Idol, Regis & The Young and the Restless)

Thanks again for tuning in. KV

Update # 4: Mediterranean Cruise

Since I last posted, I have now visited what I consider the most beautiful place in the world - Santorini, Greece. Water makes me happy. I love to see it, bask in it, boat in it and swim in it. This destination provided me the opportunity to do all of those things.

SANTORINI, GREECE: Breathtaking and magnificently beautiful! The villages are perched at the edges of tall cliffs so when the boat arrived, we were floating in the Aegean Sea several hundred feet below the city. Volcanic eruptions have left behind the stunning geography of the area with the active (but sleeping) volcano of Kameni being one of the most famous attractions. The only cruise excursion I signed up for was the Volcano Hiking. (The other ports I ventured out on my own.) When the boat docked bright and early in the morning, the persons taking the Volcano Excursion were shuttled by boat to the volcano. The hike was strenuous but well worth it once we reached the summit and were able to see the volcano's crater and areas where sulphur steam emerges (that's when you truly realize you're on an active volcano). At one point, our tour guide stopped and dug a 6-12" deep hole in the ground, scooped up the rock & dirt and passed it around for us to touch. To our amazement, the rock was very hot and he told us the temperature could boil an egg. The next leg of this excursion took us to a nearby area of hot springs for swimming. The boat could not get too close to the hot springs because it was close to the rocky shore so it stopped several feet out in the sea. Those of us who decided to participate dove into the deep waters and swam approximately 80 meters. I love the water so I was all over this. The water was extremely cold where we dove in but was a nice treat and warm up in the hot springs area. After I got back on the boat after having hiked up a volcano and swam such a distance, I thought "What am I doing? A bi-athlon??" This was to turn in to a "tri" athlon - keep reading. After we left the hot springs, the boat took us to another shore where we could tour the village. Since the villages are on cliff tops, the only options for getting there were by cable car, donkey or walking. I didn't want to hike again, wasn't in the mood for a stinky donkey so we opted for the cable car. When we got to the top, we went to a restaurant overlooking the entire area which provided a spectacular view of the volcano we just hiked, the sea and the city. I ordered the best chocolate milkshake I've ever had. It was so relaxing and refreshing to sit at one of the highest points in the area, taking in the sun (and trying to get my hair dry), looking out at the water and sipping on a milkshake. Life does not get better. We then started shopping with the little time we had remaining. The village was quaint, clean and the shops were nice. We looked at our clocks and noticed we had 35 minutes to get back to the shuttle boat which gets us back to the cruise ship. It is well posted and advertised that if you miss the boat, you are on your own to get to the next destination to meet the cruise ship. So we had a split second decision to make on taking the cable car, donkey or walking down. The cable car line was very long as everyone was trying to leave at once, not only to get on our ship, but others too. We passed that up, took one smell of the unruly donkeys and decided to walk down. No problem, right? We had just hiked UP a volcano, swam several meters, so how hard could it be getting down this cliff side? Very hard! The steps were man made so that was a plus but it was very steep and certain areas were slippery because of the marble rocks mixed with the donkey dung. I slipped & fell twice so I decided to walk at a much slower pace. The clock was ticking and we now had only 15 minutes to catch the boat shuttle to the ship. I told Paul & Paula to go on without me (they weren't slipping as much as me) and that I would find my way to our next destination if I missed the boat. The other complicating factor in getting down was the donkeys. In Spain, you can run with the bulls and in Greece, you have to dodge the donkeys. There is a constant flow of these animals taking people up and down the mountain. They definitely have the right-of-way and they will run you over. So while trying to keep from slipping and trying to hurry at the same time, you're constantly dodging the donkeys. And the tourists riding them have no idea how to control them. I got some hilarious video footage of the donkeys coming at me and trying to run me over. Anyway, with zero minutes to spare and sweat pouring out of every orifice of my body, I made it to the bottom and Paula was waiting for me to show me to the shuttle (there are so many, you need to allow time to find the right one.) Paul was holding down the fort at the loading dock and had a nice cold Coke waiting for me. We made it on the shuttle then back on the ship. I can now say I've done a triathlon (sort of). I would have never guessed that the most difficult and strenuous part would be coming DOWN a cliff. When I got back to the room on the ship, I sat outside on our balcony taking in the beautiful sunshiny day, read my book and fell asleep. I was absolutely exhausted! Since I have been providing weather reports - Santorini was the warmest place we have visiting with temperatures in the low 80's with low humidity. Very pleasant.

THE CRUISE: There are only a few things that will keep me up past my bedtime - two of which are Abba and Elton John. The evening entertainment night before last was a band that played the tunes of Abba. It was great and the group of people we sat in the lounge with had all seen the Broadway musical "Mamma Mia" so we talked about what a great show it is and how we are all looking for to the movie this summer. The next night, the entertainment was a guy who sat behind a piano and played various tunes. We put in one request of Elton John and he proceeded to play only Elton John songs through the remainder of his set. It was great! Since this is an Italian cruise line, much of it is geared toward Italians and their traditions. We had "Italian Night" for dinner which was a lot of fun. I cannot write intelligently about what all we participated in (I'll have to google it later) but before dessert the wait staff broke out in to several traditional Italian dances. It all started with everyone twirling their dinner napkins in the air, which led to dancing, hooping and hollering! It was a lot of fun. Most people knew exactly what do to. We just sort of followed along. To put it in terms that the Texas can relate to, it would be like if the "Cotton Eyed Joe" started playing overhead and everyone got up and danced to it. I have decided that I need to meet some full blood Italians in Dallas then try to get myself invited to their parties. They really know how to have a good time! Have I mentioned that our room is the closest one to the buffet? Just thought I'd mention that. We couldn't have planned that any better if we tried.

KV

Update # 3: Mediterranean Cruise

Since my last update, we have now visited 2 Greek Islands (Patmos & Myconos) and are currently in Izmir, Turkey. Paul has been crowned champion of two more contests - the Classical Music contest and the Cinema game. In addition, he really was the king of the ship yesterday as we celebrated his 45th birthday. Like me, we'll celebrate for more than 1 day.

GREEK ISLANDS: One 5th of Greece consists of 1400 islands. 170 do not have habitants. The major part of the Greek Islands are volcanic in origin. Patmos & Myconos are mountainous islands surrounded by crystal clear dark blue waters. It's not the turquoise of the Caribbean. It's more of a majestic, rich royal blue. Beautiful!

Patmos - My first comment when I opened the door to our balcony and saw the breathtaking view is "I have arrived!". That view is why I'm on this vacation. Our cruise ship was not allowed to sail to the port so we were shuttled to the island by small boats. It was about a 5 minute boat ride. The town itself is very slow paced, small and quaint. We saw lots of pet dogs and cats running free throughout the town and even saw a set of roosters taking a stroll (I took a pic). The weather was perfect - 75 degrees, sunny with not a cloud in the sky and very low humidity. Paul, Paula & I walked from one end of the island to the other - which probably was about 2 miles. This is a place where you want to sit outside in a cafe overlooking the water and relax which is exactly what we did once we toured. I was also able to log on to the internet at an Internet Cafe to find out that it is going to be a David & David finale on American Idol. Did someone vote for David Cook for me? I hope so! By complete accident, we met up with our dinner table mates as we were sitting in the seaside cafe and we were able to have drinks and visit which was nice. Patmos is the place where John wrote the book of Revelation. One of the cruise excursions was to tour the site but I opted not to. I was satisfied enough by knowing that I was in a historical place. It's still so unbelievable to me that biblical people walked in the same places I am walking today. I just can't fathom how old these places are, especially living in Plano where people won't go to a mall when it nears 25-30 years of age.

Myconos - This island was much like Patmos but a little more hapnin'. We were there during the late afternoon and evening so that could be why the place seemed to be more lively. Again - pure beauty and low humidity. We spent most of our time shopping along the narrow streets then had Paul's birthday dinner at an outdoor restaurant overlooking the sea. We all agree that it's the best meal we've had. We tried some authentic Greek cuisine which was fabulous. The chocolate brownie covered with chocolate syrup and ice cream was to die for! Coincidentally, the restaurant was next door to a Roxy (Quicksilver) store. I got sad because I miss Blue.

IZMIR, TURKEY: Today we spent a full day in Izmir. In fact, we are still here but I'm back on the boat after touring for about 6-7 hours and walking 13,371 steps (I'm wearing a pedometer which also serves as my clock/watch). I believe Izmir is the 3rd largest city in Turkey so it was back to city life again. They do have a nice, large area lining the sea with sidewalks and grass which reminded me a lot of walking down Lake Shore Drive in Chicago (just not as upscale). So you can escape the big city within just steps if you wish. Like the 2 Greek Islands, Izmir is also mountainous so it's really pretty. The Bazaar. What a place! I was told this was a must-see so that's where we went first. I can't even describe to you the size but it makes shopping in Canton, TX seem small. The vendors are all over the Americans like dogs on bones. In fact, as we approached the Bazaar, a vendor basically escorted us to "his shops". We made twists and turns and it felt like we were being taken through a never-ending maze. I kept thinking to myself that we'd never be able to find our way out. Without typing all the details now (maybe later), he ended up taking us to his final shop which had been built up as the best. When we rounded the corner and I looked inside, he was selling water bongs! What the heck? He escorted us to a 'head shop'!! Of course, he was really proud of his merchandise and even introduced us to his family but I let out a big crack up over his store. Customs & immigrations would have loved that! Before I move on to the next topic, I have to tell you about something they were selling at this Bazaar. I kept seeing this very ornate outfit for a young boy (think of a matador outfit - sort of). I wondering why there were so many and what it was all about. I asked our vendor escort. In his thick Turkish accent, he started describing a custom and he kept repeating "coot pennies". By the puzzled look on my face, I obviously didn't understand. Paula, who comprehends everything much more quickly than me got it so she told me "cut penis". What??!! Muslims circumcise boys between the age of 6 - 12 and for this "ceremony" they wear this fancy outfit. Holy Cow - we have to get out of here!! So we finally found our way out of the Bazaar but our "road block" ended up being the praying Muslims who had all suddenly fallen to their knees to begin their afternoon worship. I learned that Friday (today) is their Holy Day, whereas Sunday is ours. It was very interesting being in the midst of this religious chanting which was loudly playing over the Bazaar loudspeaker and watching the men (men only) lay down their mats or cardboard boxes, remove their shoes and begin praying. I have seen this before in New York City but it's usually only 2-3 people, not every man within my eyesight. After this, Paul, Paula & I made our way to a big city park which was really pretty and such a sense of relief after the Bazaar. We had to go to the bathroom along the way which was another real experience. First of all, I had to pay 75 cents. Then when I walked in, I was in shock over where they expected me to pee. Picture a shower stall but with the drain fully open (no cover). Basically you walk in to this stall and try to pee in the hole (there is no toilet) knowing that you are standing where others have done their business and if they were sloppy about it, you were standing in it. Toilet paper.....none! Thank goodness Paula had kleenex. This almost makes the port-a-potties seem glamorous. Of course, I took a picture. The remainder of our time in Turkey was spent walking along the seaside and strolling through the streets looking for shopping bargains. The weather was perfect again! It was a little warmer than yesterday - probably 80 degrees, not a cloud in the sky and very low humidity.

THE CRUISE: After previously traveling to multiple locations in 1 vacation and dealing with making the hotel arrangements for each city, making train or air travel plans to get to each city, then trying to make your way around via taxi or subway, I have decided that taking a cruise is absolutely the easiest way to do it. I don't want to limit myself to places that are near the water, but I can assure you that if it's on the water and I'm going to multiple locations, I'd opt for the cruise. I haven't really gotten in to the 'cruise life' like I thought I might. It basically serves as a place for me to eat and sleep and gets me to my next location. Paul, however, has made the absolute most of 'cruise life' and the destinations. I will say that it is completely relaxing to sit outside on the boat on one of the upper decks and soak in the sun (in a low humidity environment) and do my word puzzles or read. That's living the good life. I'm feeling absolutely great and haven't had any hints of sickness other than the 1 day I already mentioned. I really think that was a combination of jet lag, lack of sleep, and the boat. I have decided that it takes me a full 48 hours after traveling overseas to recuperate and really be myself again.

EUROPEANS (except Great Britain - Paul clarified that for me):
- Cut in line (oh and it's not discreet; they'll walk right in front of you and squeeze in)
- Still smoke like chimneys (the boat is non smoking except for 1 lounge area but when you get off the boat it's puff, puff, puff)
- Don't wash their hands after they use the restroom (What? Did I see that correctly? I kept seeing these ladies walk straight from their stall to the door; I have seen it on the ship and on shore in public restrooms; and, yes, it is a fact, they don't wash their hands; you can always tell who the North Americans are because we're scrubbing at the sink afterwards.)

Since I started this post, the boat is now at sea and we're headed to our final Greek Island of Santorini.

Thanks for tuning in! KV

Update # 2: Blog Contest

Okay bloggers, I know you're out there. I have had 50 hits on this site since I left Texas. So, if you want to enter a contest to win, you have to identify yourself.

Contest # 1: Write a comment telling me what your dream vacation is, who you would like to go with, why you want to go and anything else of interest. The prize winner will receive a restaurant gift card of their choice -OR- I'll take you to lunch or dinner at that eatery (if we see each other often). Be sure to name the restaurant in your comment. The entries will be judged by Paul, Paula & me and the deadline is by midnight on Monday, May 19. Judging will be based on creativity, interest and how compelling it is. Winners will be announced on the blog and we might even have runner-ups.

To enter a comment, click on "comment" immediately below this entry. You can sign on as "anonymous" but at least include your initials, first name & last initial, or some way that I'll be able to identify you within the comment itself.

KV

Update # 1: Mediterranean Cruise

I can't believe this is the first chance I have had to sit down and blog. Since I last posted, I have visited the world's smallest country, am rooming with our cruise ship's "Mr. Costa Romantica" and have survived the mafia in Sicily.

ROME: Magnificent! It's better in person and definitely a place to see. The good news is I am going back and will get to spend another full day there after the cruise. The highlights of Rome were the Colesium and The Vatican. I think we have all seen numerous pictures of the Colesium but the cameras and TV do not do this historical site justice. It's something you have to see in person to fully realize the size and its historical value. The Vatican is the world's smallest country and has an onsite post office. I mailed a postcard to myself which will have The Vatican postmark. Paula asked if that was my ticket to heaven now that they have my address. (Ya see, that's how she gets me giggling in these religous establishments and why we have sworn off touring cathedrals, chapels and churches.) Don't get me wrong, The Vatican was really something special, but since we've seen it so many times on TV, it seemed smaller to me in person. But it's still a phenomenal place and the detail is so intricate. If I can, I want to go back on Monday.

SICILY: Not until I set out on foot completely alone not having a clue where I was going or where I wanted to go was I informed that Sicily is the birthplace of the mafia. As random people realized I was wondering around alone and expressed their fear, did I realize that maybe I should tag along with a group of strangers so it would appear I was in a group. Ignorance is bliss! Anyway, I found a Piazza with a lot going on that had a tour train I hopped on and was able to see the city of Catania. Most of the places we travel are so commercialized but Catania was not. I did see a McDonalds but that's about it. It's a really old place with a lot of history.

THE CRUISE: The cruise has been great! I have heard that you either love them or hate them. I think I'm leaning on the side of loving them but I won't know for sure until the trip is over. We have a great suite with floor to ceiling windows across the length of our room and a private balcony. It's so nice & relaxing to sit on the couch and look out the windows. We were greeted with champagne and chocolate covered strawberries upon arrival then were next presented with the Pillow Menu to select the pillows we wanted for the week. The one I selected is heavenly. We look so forward to receiving the next day's itinerary under our door each evening so we can plan our day and select the activities and classes in which we will participate. In fact, this has really become one of the highlights of our day. Paula & I practically sit and watch the bottom of the door in anticipation of that magical piece of paper to arrive.
The Food - Plentiful and delicious!! The restaurant's food is exquisite and a real treat each evening. I have eaten so much but it's so hard to pass up such delicacies. Our table mates are quite nice and interesting people so it has been fun getting to know them. The buffets are nice too but I'm not a real fan of the buffet scene with people running and grabbing and zigzagging all over the place. It's so chaotic but the food is good so I join the rat race for breakfast and lunch. My favorite place to eat is out on the terrace deck. It's so nice to sit outside overlooking the ocean. Gelato: I have eaten more Italian ice cream on this trip and it's so good!
The Activities - I have participated in the daily Arts & Crafts activities (is anyone surprised??). I have learned the art of making paper flowers and folding napkins. I know, Hobby Lobby will probably want to hire me. Of the 3 of us, Paul has taken in more on this cruise than anyone. We've only been on the boat 3 days and he has already been named the cruise's Dart Champion and Mr. Costa Romantica. While Paula & I were fast asleep last night, we had no idea that half the boat was cheering on Paul as if he were a rock star! The story goes like this (according to Paul) - he was grabbed out of the audience completely sober, brought to the dance floor to compete in an elimination contest for Mr. Costa Romantica (the name of our ship). In the first round, he won a dance competition, then proceeded to the stripping round. After winning those rounds, he made it to the top 3 which required him to play a game (too many details for the blog but it involved tying a tennis ball to a string like a tail and using it to skoot a football past a certain line). The final round for the 3 contestants was dressing like a ballerina with a wig, full make up and a lot of body glitter and dancing like a ballerina across the stage. By audience applause, Paul came out the winner!! He didn't know a soul in the audience (remember Paula & I were asleep) so he was truly the champion and won the hearts of the crowd!
Motion Sickness - I really didn't know if I would be impacted by the boat's movement. I can ride rollar coasters and sit in the backseat of a car and read. I can withstand hills, valleys and a lot of turns without being affected. But yesterday, I could really feel the movement and could feel myself starting to turn green. Luckily I brought some nondrowsy dramamine and took one. It worked instantly and now I'm taking 1 per day. I don't know if I need it, but I have decided to be cautious.

AT SEA: Today we are at sea. We are cruising from Sicily to our first Greek island of Patmos. Although cruise life is fun, I am ready to get off the boat and embark on a new adventure in a new country. I can't wait!

USA: The only 2 things I miss about the US are Roxy and American Idol. I logged on to the internet as fast as I could this morning to read about the final 3 competitors in the performance show. I will miss the elimination show tonight but you can be sure I will log on first thing in the morning to read about who makes it to the final 2. I'm predicting a David and David finale. I am a big fan of David Cook (I love rock stars!) and am disappointed that I won't be able to cast my vote for him. Someone please do me a favor and vote for him! I am getting e-mail updates from my parents about Roxy. She seems to be doing fine.

P.S. I haven't seen Julie McCoy but I'm still looking.

KV

Getting Closer:
Mediterranean Cruise

Greetings to everyone from the Admirals Club at Chicago O'Hare Airport. I woke up this morning at 4am, was in my car by 4:20am and headed to Houston Intercontinental Airport. I was so sad to leave Roxy but I know she'll have a great time in Lake Jackson while I'm gone. I have a long layover in Chicago so I'm trying to make the best of it.

I don't claim to be a travel expert but I have quite a bit of experience so I thought I'd pass on some of my favorite travel tips (TT) to you:

TT 1: If everything goes as planned, consider it a bonus; Don't ever let it be the expectation

TT 2: Be patient; Basically everything is completely out of your control once you leave your house (airlines, security check, baggage claim, trains, traffic, hotel, restaurants, etc.)

TT 3: Save your money so you can make the most of your vacation; Plan ahead; Pay in full for as much as you can before you get there

TT 4: Plan your connecting flight (layover) in a city where you don't mind getting stuck; I look for an airport that is clean, has good restaurants and enough good shopping to keep me occupied; I also consider the area immediately surrounding the airport in case I get stuck overnight and need hotel accommodations; In addition, I think about the things to do in that city should I have the time to take a taxi or the train in to town

TT 5: Find multiple uses for your toiletries; I try to cut my toiletries in 1/2 from what I use at home; Shampoo also makes great soap & detergent; Facial moisturizer can be used on your legs

TT 6: I always stick to the 2 oz. rule; Never bring any toiletries or larger than 2 oz.; I followed this years before the airlines created their rules

TT 7: When packing, roll all your clothes up like tight little sausages; Roll the day's underwear inside the shirt

TT 8: Take clothes that are so lightweight that the circumference of the "sausage" is no larger than the small end of a baseball bat; Avoid packing jeans unless absolutely necessary - they eat up so much space

TT 9: Make sure all the clothes and shoes you pack are tried and true; If you have new clothes, wear them at least once before the trip; Something that was great in the dressing room could be a nightmare when worn for 12 hours

TT 10: Accessorize! Instead of bringing dressy clothes, think of all the ways a plain black t shirt can be dressed up - necklace, sash, etc.

TT 11: Leave your purse at home; Bring only what you would need out of that purse - 1 lipstick, debit card, credit card, pen, phone, camera; That's the limit!

TT 12: Don't bring "just in case" items; Anything you might need can always be purchased unless you're visiting a third world country; Most of the time, you'll make do with what you brought anyway; The JIC items could be what pushes you over the limit and causes a hernia

TT 13: Shoes - strive to bring only 1 pair but the absolute maximum is 3

TT 14: During your trip, leave things behind once they're used so you don't have to carry them home; I always leave my books with the flight attendants, hotel concierge or housekeeping staff; Chances are you are going to purchase items while on vacation so this will buy you some space; On this trip, I am bringing the new Barbara Walters autobiography "Audition" and I can't wait to get that thing read and donate it to someone in Europe; That book is heavy!!

TT 15: Travel with people who have the same travel philosophies as you; Consider the above plus tips of your own to determine who you will be compatible with

Well, in less than 3 hours, I should be air bound to Rome. Before boarding the plane, I'm going to get my last ice cold Dr. Pepper (ice is the key word - why is ice so hard to come by in Europe??). I had breakfast at the Burrito Beach so I've had my Mexican fix.

Thanks for tuning in!! KV

INTRO: The Mediterranean Cruise

It's almost time for my vacation and I am getting more excited by the day! This will be my first cruise. I've always been indifferent about taking a cruise but if that's the mode of transportation that will best get me to the destinations I've dreamed of visiting, then put me on the boat!

This week I purchased a FLIP video camera. I learned about this from Rosie's website. She always raves about it and now I'm jumping on the bandwagon. I have never had an electronic gadget that is so easy to use. For those who know me well, I'm all about compact, small things so that was the first feature that caught my attention. This thing is the size of a kitchen sink sponge! You can either purchase the 30 minute or 60 minute model. I opted for the 60. It doesn't take a memory card, CD or tape. There is no software to download. You just record the video then plug the camera in to your computer's USB port and your video downloads. The other feature that I'm really, really happy about is that it operates on 2 AA batteries. How easy is that??? No hassel with packing a charger and trying to find an adapter/converter to get your US electronics to work in Europe. The FLIP is not recommended for those who need a powerful zoom. The zoom is 2x digital. I think my biggest challenge on the trip will be to determine what is "video worthy". With only 60 minutes and no ability to download, I have to carefully select.



On this trip, I plan to once again eat my way through Europe. I love food and I love to eat so a big part of any vacation is trying new foods, experiencing new restaurants and taking in all the dining customs of each country. Who knew Paula & I would discover the world's best macaroni & cheese at Harrod's in London?

I love to learn. For me, travel has always provided the best educational experiences of my life. No offense to BISD or SWT, but I'm a hands on learner and not until I see it or experience it, does it sink in. I have yet to take a vacation that one would call "relaxing". I'm an on-the-go kind of vacationer. I feel like I can't miss an ounce of anything a city or country has to offer so each day I pack in as much as time & my body will allow.

Each of the 3 countries we will visit have piqued my interest in different ways. Rome, Italy - although I am not Catholic and don't fully understand everything, I can't wait to visit The Vatican. Izmir, Turkey - I know the least about this country so I can't wait to find out more when I get there. 3 Greek Islands - I have heard the beauty is breathtaking. I want to take that in.

Spending time with Paul & Paula is always a treat. We are a great team to pull off mischievious acts without really causing too much harm and (hopefully) without ever pushing it too far to be jailed. Not many can say they were able to snap a picture of the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in France. Not many can say that they were almost denied admission then risked being kicked out of one of the most famous cathedrals in Milan, Italy. Paula & I have sworn off touring cathedrals and churches but we are considering The Vatican an exception and plan to be on our best behaviors.

I'm also looking forward to seeing what a cruise is all about. My only point of reference for "cruise life" is watching The Love Boat in the 70s & 80s. I am going to be highly disappointed if I'm not greeted by Julie McCoy when I board the ship.

Tune in to my blog for daily updates then check back once I return home for pictures and video. If you want to take it a step further, click on this link to Costa Cruises. Once you're in the website, click on Webcam, then click on my boat - Costa Romantica (you will have to move the mouse over each boat until that name appears). It will show you where the boat is at all times. Once you get to this point, you can click on the boat again and it will provide the current data from the onboard instruments such as speed, temperature, wind speed, etc.

Welcome to my Travel Blog!

Travel is my passion! It doesn't have to be far from home. Going somewhere is going somewhere! Anytime you leave home, there is a potential for adventure!

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.” ~Martin Buber

I decided to create a blog that will countdown my upcoming vacations and will also provide a place for daily updates when traveling (technology permitting). I'll also be posting lot's of pictures.

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." ~Mark Twain

Most of you know that I have a goal of "50 for 50" which means that I want to visit all 50 states before I turn 50. I'll use this blog to continue shading in each state I visit. (I'll post the shaded map later.)

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.”

Who knows.......this site could even turn in to a "Travel Club". If we can create a Dinner Club, why not a Travel Club too?!?

“Experience, travel - these are as education in themselves.” ~Unknown

I welcome your travel tips, stories and pictures. Send them my way and I'll post them on this blog. Guest bloggers are always welcome!

"When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money." ~Susan Heller

I can't end my first blog entry without the quote below that is so very true. To my dear friends Paula & Paul, here's to many more trips together! Bon Voyage!

"I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them." ~Mark Twain