Hi, Wendy, how are you? I have not been on AnD for a while, but still love this site. Long ago, you had mentioned a music teacher in one of your scripts. If you ever need to do some research, shoot me a message! I teach K-8 music in Cincinnati now.
Thanks Wendy it's been a pleasure knowing you,I can't believe it's nearly 2 and a half years now that we have been chatting on AnD for! I think 2010 is the first year that I don't really have any goals,perhaps learning to ride a bicycle and getting a novel published. Do you have any goals for this year?
You are too charitable, Wendy. :) I enjoy reading the responses to my blogs. I'd say I blog bc it keeps me from feeling isolated. AnD's been a good place for this. I don't have a lot of imagination and feel I'm a plain "documenter" more than writer. hehe.
You sound like you're really stressing. Can I help in any way?
It may have turned out to be a good thing that there wasn't a 2nd meeting with anyone out in ny. Something triggered a blow-up with Mr. P and he harped on things he had no reason to harp on. Him problem is that he can't bring himself to confront the real issue that's bugging him w/o dredging up a myriad of irrelevant things that he can find. So frustrating, tiresome. Always makes me feel like I'm at the end of my tether. Always makes me step back further and further from him, which is exactly what he's afraid of and unknowingly is causing.
Goat cheese & fresh bread, you're in for a real treat Wen. Actually, butter was fresh and eggs and like 10 types of cheese plus crepe and all the fluffy sweet breakfast treat. Its about 20-ish min from Mont Blanc. I have no idea where it is....kinda stumbled into it but I can dig out a few that I do know from Italy and south of France!
More when I get back in Dec., meanwhile, please rest as much as you can.
Feel better soon Wendy. If I know you're that sick, wouldn't ask about Beijing. I won't get there till the second half of Nov. though., last destination of my trip. But thank you for all those wonderful tips. I totally forgot you know the city so well....of all the people!!!
I'm glad you're realizing you need a break Wendy. I probably won't be able to write till I get back from China in another month but a few things so you can start looking into it...or at least something to look forward to :-)
1. Europe, always try to cover a few countries at once but pick a base country. I picked Switzerland but also hit 2 cities in Germany and a few from France. I was originally choose my base country, Italy, so the more flexible you are, the cheaper the trip will be because you can work with budgets base on promotion & deals.
2.http://www.europeandestinations.com/ is awesome when you book multiple destinations (ie.i fly into one country, out another) and it gives you pretty good idea/suggestion of where to go or how to group couple destination together.
3. Eyewitnesses Travel book series are my favorite above Lonely Planet and the like because their colorful pictures and I tested most of their suggestion from foods to sightseeing and the information are very accurate and up-to-date. This including places from Eastern Europe to Greece to Russia. The series also include really good, colorful maps that I found myself use a lot more than maps that provide by the hotel/tourist info. Good for research on trip and history of each place as you know I'm big on history!
4. Don't book tour prior to getting there. Things changed. Rolex museum closed on me even though I check 2 days ahead as well as I couldn't get into United Nation Tour. I used to plan everything ahead and it's not always good when you can't move things around. Tour provide and suggest by the hotel you're staying always better pricing and schedule and you're not booking blindly. The more flexibility you have, the easier you can bargain.
5. Mid-end American hotel chain is highly recommended when in doubt :-) They will surprise you with value added extra like breakfast (we're taking that for granted here because foods, coffee, etc. is cheap and easy to find). Example, in Europe, you will have to walk a lot on foot, you need breakfast to survive the day. Example, Holiday Inn, Munich ($54 bucks a night but I have better view, foods, room than 5 stars Swiss hotel I booked after Muchen) save me so much money on little thing that give me more room to balance a more expensive city later on. Believe it or not, save on foods actually save a lot when you have to use Euros as main currency!
6. Same for transits, most hotels give me free passes for city and it helps, between countries, try to get ticket when you get there. The less tourist-habits, the better :-) I usually also buy a train ticket 2 ways and hop on/off each major city along the way instead of plan city trip; you cover so much grounds, save time and money on transportation :) If you don't do this, you end up paying for train back and forth and inter-country is not cheap.
7. I just noted couple (prefer) places and stalk internet site for deals but do consider leaving some rooms for...surprises. For example, spending a night at Mont Blanc hotel easily cost about 500+ and good thing I didn't plan that ahead. When you cross over to rural side, there are other options...for me, I got a real experience sleeping in a barn with fresh hays , real breakfast, French style with fresh everything that you can't even order at the restaurant and cost 10 Franc for everything :-) Sometime you just go with the flow....leave some room, don't stress about logistic....I find I don't actually need a budget. I covered the same set of ground that cost me 10K couple years ago under 3K this time around and that also factor in everything needed for 2 as I assume you might want to travel with someone :)
That's all I can think of at the moment but as you lock down where you want to go, I can be more helpful from there. This is exciting...
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