Plan…Travel…Repeat

Finally made it to Copenhagen late in the afternoon. The overnight flight seemed much harder than it used to. The Jettime flight from London was an adventure (and if the name sounds cheesy it was – like a hotbox with wings) the seats creaked and there was this crazy curtain that separated our row from the first class seat right in front of us that was exactly like ours. I bet those people felt stupid for paying an extra fee for nothing but an extra bag of chips. We had a little time to look around Copenhagen but not much.

Our hotel was pretty much in the middle of town so it was convenient (within 15 minute walk to most of the highlights) but the room was tiny and hot. They did give us a free glass of wine but I don’t think Margaret thought that made up for no air conditioning and noisy neighbors (oh and some crazy lamp post thing that stuck out about 6 of the 10 inches you had to get around the bed).

We tried to make it down to the waterfront for dinner but gave up before we got there when it started raining and headed back to a bar/ restaurant by the hotel. What we thought would be a good local place really only had a few things on the menu. Margaret who was starving (I ate a wrap at the airport ) ended up having a burger I ordered the goat cheese salad which turned out to be grilled goat cheese on a piece of toast over lettuce delicious hers was just a burger.

After dinner the rained had stopped so we tried again to make it to the waterfront area but again got turned around and decided to head in early since neither of us slept much on the flight.

We should have stayed out hot room, windows opened with noisy family in the next room and a court yard that stayed busy all night long (they had to have taken out the recycling 5 times during the night), and too much light since we couldn’t close the curtains didn’t lend itself to the best night of sleep. But is was so much better than the night before I wont complain, Margaret had a different opinion.

But we survived and woke up to start day two….

Margaret and I have arrived in London. The first leg of our trip completed. The direct flight from Austin is really nice. I always hope to sleep on the plane but it never seems to work out. I paid an extra $70 to have an exit row seat which was nice for leg room but not the best seat very narrow and arm rests don’t move. I did agree to switch to a different exit row seat which got us passes to the admiralty lounge with free beer and snacks before the flight. So that switch was totally worth it.

Ran into Martha waiting at our gate and was surprised that she was also going to London with a friend. I sat beside her friend and had I not upgraded to the exit row I would have been beside Martha. Sometimes it really is s small world.

I don’t know why I didn’t post for my last two trips. I didn’t go out of the country but they were still great vacations. Spring of 2015 I went to Nashville and Louisville, country music, horse races and bourbon and last fall I did the Grand Canyon and Sedona, great views, great weather, and some of the best jewelry shopping outside of Santa Fe I have ever had. But still somehow I didn’t do my blog. Looking back I really wish I would have. I had a great time on both trips and would love to be able to go back and read about all the fun. Oh well this trip is going to be well documented.

In a little over an hour I head out to take the direct flight from Austin to London and then on to Copenhagen to begin a Baltic cruise. I am excited about the nonstop flight to London. (FYI on the flight you can book with American and get better value on miles than using your AA number on the BA flight. The cost comes out the same because on BA you pay at least e$43 to pick any seat and only pay on AA if you want exit or upgrade) Who would have thought we could get from Austin directly to Europe. However, generally you have fly out early on the day to catch the flight over but today I have found myself with extra time waiting for the trip to begin. But it gives me time for a pre trip post.

For those that didn’t know I was heading to Europe this summer, since last you heard I was talking about my big London trip with Allison Weir next fall, this one just fell together perfectly.

It all happened in mid- June on a conference call which occasionally can be very technical and have no real need of my attendance. However in case something legal comes up I dutifully listen in. Anyway checking my email while on the call I saw a cruise sale, with the 12 day Baltic cruise for $999. Saint Petersburg being on my list of must see destinations, I have tried several times to get my sisters to go on this cruise with me. They always seem to want to go but never seem to commit. After checking to see when Margaret’s Jester King carribean cruise was leaving I texted her to see if she wanted a pre cruise cruise. Being retired has its perks, availability for last minute vacations is one of the best. She immediately responded yes but wanted to check with Clark who was napping before totally agreeing. I think she woke him up because we were making plans within the hour. The total trip was booked 3 hours from the time I saw the email. I have never had a trip come together so easily.

We will be making several stops and have great excursions planned in all. We will see hamlets castle, have beer at a monk’s brewery in Germany, have vodka at an ice bar in Helsinki, and see Swan Lake performed at the Marlinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg.

My bags are all packed and have been for a week except for all those last minute things I through in since there was extra room. I bought some of that new super light luggage so that I could bring back all sorts of goodies. I have know idea what they will be but feel sure that I will find all sorts of things I cannot live without.

Well it is almost time for Margaret to pick me up so I will get this posted. Next time you hear from me I will be in Copenhagen and yes everyone we will be careful.

The day started with another spa treatment. I spent more on massages then I did on the cruise. I had pre order one before getting on the ship for early the first day. I am quite the sucker for the up sale and ended up with not only a facial but another massage. So I had my second massage today. Not that anyone would fall to the same fate but if I cruise again and want a massage then I will book for the lat day so they won’t be able to hit me up for another in my weakened and relaxed state. I don’t even want to admit how much I spent on the products that they recommended. I bought them all after the first massage and had every intention of refusing everything after the facial but I wasn’t successful. My only small win was that I didn’t buy the $185 wrinkle cream and $145 for something that would help the discoloration on my face. But really the second massage was a waste. I couldn’t relax while knowing I was going to be hit up for product. I spent the whole massage/facial mumbling don’t buy anything,don’t buy anything. I wish I can say I held firm but at least I didn’t buy it all. Be sure to tell me how good my face looks so I will feel like I didn’t waste my money.

After brunch deanna and I tried to watch the cowboys game on the big screen over the pool but the rain pushed us to our cabin. Where we order cookies and hot chocolate.

The night is just getting start and I am heading out in search of a beer.

Reliving my trip through my blog and I found a page I had forgot to post.

Also noticed that for the last three I posted I went back to bad habits and posted as pages and not posts. So there are three other posts you might have missed if you were waiting for notices before reading. I didn’t leave you hanging and blogged about my last day in Milan, a shopping recap and returning home safe and sound.

Anyway hope you enjoyed reading my adventure. Until next time…

… I can hardly wait to start planning.