Shop Till You Drop…but know about the VAT by Karen V.

VAT, Value Added Tax…Some of you may find the shops in the Mediterranean irresistible. Others will buy trinkets and postcards at best. For anyone purchasing big ticket items, such as artwork or jewelry, know that most European Union countries automatically assess a Value Added Tax to your purchase – generally in the price. If you are taking a costly item home, you could get a refund on this tax (By the way. food and hotel charges do not refund the VAT). The VAT can be a pretty big ticket cost as well…almost 19% in many countries…so it may be worth the effort for you to collect a refund. Don’t despair, it does take much effort on your part. Here’s a Rick Steve's article on the subject and another link to one specific to Barcelona.

Whether you choose to try to obtain a refund or not, the purchases you make will be a very special reminder of your wonderful vacation in the Mediterranean. As the MasterCard commercials say, it’s Priceless! So keep your receipt just in case you want to follow-up. With that in mind, shop till you drop…..do I hear baubles tinkling, Diana?

Photo provided by Flickr: .zoe

Acqua Alta in Venice - Full Moon November 13

Did you know that while we are in Venice there is a very good chance that there will be flooding? I had seen this in a Lifetime movie, with everyone acting very nonchalant about the fact there was five inches of water in St. Marks Square. And then we started having a discussion over on Cruise Critic about this occurrence -- and what to do if it should happen while we are there!

Here is a quote from this Venice tour site:

“Acqua Alta” as its known by the Venetians is a regular occurrence in Venice. There are numerous factors that can play a role in creating the high waters that flood the city of Venice. The main culprit is the tidal flow of the Adriatic as it pushes water into the Lagoon. This tidal flow tends to be at its most influential at the beginning and end of the full moon cycle.

Although, typically, Venice if it does flood tends to flood around the changing of the seasons in the Fall and the Spring. November is normally the worst month for flooding in Venice...

Another reason for the flooding is the winds from the south and high barometric pressure pushing water up to the Venice area. Rick Steves reports that there is a measuring device you can see at the side of the Campanile in St. Marks Square. When the water level rises one meter, a warning siren sounds. Another good explanation is the article on Wikipedia on the Acqua Alta.

So you see the fact that the full moon would be November 13, and we arrive in Venice on Saturday, November 15, is important. But the website goes on to say that in one year in the third week of November the water was so low (and the temperature below freezing) you could almost walk across from the mainland.

So what to do? Venice for Visitors website provides great pictures of the flooding and suggests what to do. You could buy galoshes to take with you like these, which will probably be good enough unless there is extreme flooding. The flooding usually only lasts for a few hours, and the city does provide wooden walkways in some areas when this occurs. You could take some garbage bags and string from home. Or you could buy boots in Venice.

And here are more pictures,
by apollard17b.

Top picture courtesy of Flicker user Gweneal Paiser.

Don't forget to vote

Don't forget to get your "absentee"* ballot to vote in the general Presidential election. The election is November 4, 2008 (in case you had forgotten).

If you are in California you can send in your request at any time up until 7 days before the election (which is October 28 --please don't wait that long). You can get info about voting by mail (for Californians) at the Secretary of State website. I filled out the form to mail, but then I went to my local county website and it provided a way to electronically request a ballot to vote by mail! (We will see if that works.)

*Apparently "absentee" is no longer politically correct and in California such terminology has been changed to "vote by mail." Okay.

Map of Istanbul

Here is a map of the section of Istanbul that we will be in.


View Larger Map

The pink arrow is where there are some ships docked, at the tip of the "Golden Horn." There is a shuttle from the ship, plus trams and taxis located nearby.

The yellow arrow is the Hagia Sophia.

The green arrow is the Topkapi Palace.

The purple arrow is the Blue Mosque.

The aqua arrow is the Grand Bazaar.

The red arrow is the Basilica Cistern and the blue arrow is the Hippodrome.

See this review on Cruise Critic for a do-it-yourself tour of Istanbul.

SALE till September 15th...Garmin Nuvii 270 by Jim

For those who get lost a lot in new cities....

Could come in very handy for any traveling in Europe and North America.
Most of the other units I have seen charge you a very small fortune to add in maps of Europe.
Preloaded with maps for North America and Europe.

Check out the Garmin Nuvii 270 with 3.5" screen - Only $199 at Costco.com
Sale only through September 15th.

Jim

Barcelona - Montserrat & Winery Tour...info by June

Here's a wonderful option for those who want to take advantage of a shore excursion in Barcelona. One of our cruise guest that you have yet to meet (including me!) is June from the Big Island of Hawaii. June is a sister to Sue who you also have not met yet as she and her husband George lives in New York!

Roger and I met Sue and George on our China trip and having made a connection we invited them to our Mediterranean Cruise. Obviously Roger was surprisingly well behaved and they have decided to join us.

June is interested with her group in the Montserrat & Winery Tour by isango.com . You can double click and explore this and other tours offered by this website if you are interested.

Alex has brought to my attention that Celebrity cruise does not offer any shore excursions in Barcelona. Additionally, I believe there is only one port excursion for Venice through the Celebrity Cruise Shore Excursion and that is VE19- Padua &Airport Transfer.

If you are interested in contacting June for more detail, please feel free to reach either Alex or myself on how to go about communicating with June and her group or book directly on line as noted on the link for isango.com

Photo provided by Montserrat Barcelona, Flickr: Mauricio Pellegrinetti

The Metric World

Centimeters, Kilograms, Meters and Celsius...what do these mean? Feel like we're in another world? United States may be in Farenheit, Miles, Pounds and Yards...but visiting another foreign country is not always the same as back home.

Double click, World Wide Metric Conversion Calculator so you can begin to understand when you see that 70 degrees Farenheit means 21 degrees Celsius and 1 kilogram equals approximately 2.2 pounds (Therefore, 1/4th pound equals 1/10th of a kilogram...a handy hint for your cheese and ham purchases at the Boqueria and Campo de Fiori).

Not good with numbers like me? Be prepared and jot it down ahead of time. You don't want to make the mistake of ordering 22 pounds of Iberico Ham, do you?

Photo provided by Bludgeoner86's.Flickr

When in Rome… by Karen V

On this cruise we will have the opportunity to visit so many amazing places. It’s going to be a terrific time that we will never forget. There will be surprises around every corner and cobble-stoned alley, so have your cameras and sense of adventure in tow. And a sense of humor sometimes too!

Things may not be to our usual expectations or customary choices when we are visiting the beautiful places on this trip. Lunch at that outdoor café may not have your favorite diet drink or light meal. They may charge for water or add tips or taxes automatically. Service may take longer than you’d ever wait at home. Don’t let these things ruin a good time. It’s all part of the journey and experience.

Watch how the locals handle themselves when ordering food or drink. Mimic greetings and customs offered to you…even if you mess up the language. Keep that smile on your face and a ready laugh and things will turn out just great.

Written by Karen V.

Photo provided by flickr. photogourmand