We are still planning on doing this. We had a setback with my son this week. After an initial positive response with the Prednisone, his platelets fell again. We are weening him off of it(you can't just quit them). He is now going for a once a week for 4 weeks IV rituxan treatment. The firat one is 5 hrs long as they have to go slow to monitor for any kind of allergic reaction. My sis in law that was an RN at St. Jude is very familiar with this treatment as it is commong for cancer patients to get it and is explaining it all. The Hemotologist said it had an 80% success rate for remissions that lasts years at a time. Hopefully this works or we are looking at him losing his spleen. That will likely kill this trip. Like an idiot, I thought we were bulletproof and I never took out travel insurance policy right after I booked this cruise. So this is now a pre existing condition. However, through AAA, I got a policy that will pay 80% for cancel for any reason along with regular coverage for all the usually stuff. I am still booking things that have no cancellation fees for the most part.
So, XNA(6:10am)-ORD(very long layover)-LHR(+1 11:30)
1:20pm Cubs/Reds game at Wrigley
We are getting into London midday on a Sunday, I am still decided on just where but expect it to be an Apt, I got to pull the trigger soon. I suspect we'll be zapped and crash but if not, I would like to get a visit to the London Eye/Dungeon in. I would love get my hair perfect and to go to Trader Vics in my vintage Warren Zevon t shirt and have a pina Colada for laughs. Ah-oohhhhhhhhh........
Mon- Changing of Guards, Churchill War Rooms, other things in area, afternoon/evening free. Thinking a street art walking tour for the teens would be cool
Tue- Tower of London, British Museum, evening on Oxford High Street or something.
Wed- undecided, I've debated staying in London for a longer time, going for a Cotswold Drive to Bath, going to one of the parks between London and Salisbury or leaving London Early to get to Alton Tower's around the 10 am opening and then staying around Stratford upon Avon for the evening. (I wanted to start my trip at Alton Towers/Blackpool) via a flight MAN but I wanted no part of a bank holiday. I know nothing about those. We chose to get in Efteling and Phantasialand pre cruise and that airfare from Brussels to Barcelona was super cheap)
Thu- Salisbury area, Stonehenge. We have an Inside the Stones tour at 8pm
Fri- Back to London early, I have been told to take the train as much as possible by the wife. So... the Eurostar Chunnel train to Brussels is a no brainer, we'll rent a car from there, and check into Efteling that night. We'll do the park that Sat, take a day trip into Amsterdam on Sun. That Monday, we'll leave for Phantasialand. We'll get to the Park at or near opening, do it that Monday and spend the night at Hotel Matamba. That Tues, we'll take a drive to sight see and end up in Brussels for our flight that Wed. I didn't book a second night at Phantasialand as that Tue wasn't available for the 25% off early booking special. It is weird. That Mon that we are staying is as is the following Wed and Thur. That is not refundable so, I could get a 20% hit there if this falls through.
Pre cruise, We booked a room at the new Port Aventura Hotel Colorado River. It includes tickets for 4 with express passes and a visit to Ferrari World and Breakfast for 400 bucks. Used Chase Points to pay. This is fully refundable up till mid May.
We'll get there early and have them hold our luggage and they take it to the room like Disney and we'll hit up the park straight away. I didn't go for half board, thinking we'll go down to the coast for a late dinner. We couldn't book this room before this Friday, I think this is the first weekend it is actually open. So, we flipped our order for Barcelona., we'll get there mid day Wed. I plan on going to Tibidabo for the Sunset and the view, and then some late night tapas in town. That Thurs, we'll hit up our Gaudi site Parc Guell and La Familia Segura early and see what we are in the mood for.
We'll check out at PortAventura on Sat, Stop at the Aquaduct and other Roman sites near Tarragona and get into Barcelona noonish, turn the car in near the port and board.
We are not big, must get on to start eating types.
Cruise days
Off at Rome, haven't figured out how to get into town. I'd like to get Ostia Antica but we'll have done Pompeii the day before. I also thought about Getting in the things aling the Appian Way but we may just get into town and just sight see and get the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and a couple of things nit the Vatican or Colosseum out of the way.
Sat Morning, Vatican Tour, Our rental just a couple of blocks away. Sat Afternoon is open.
Sunday- a day trip to Florence. This is the only time we can get it in. As a Razorback fan and having a copy on campus here, I must see and rub Il Porcellino and the Statue of David of course. We'll get back to Rome 5ish and chill
We have a night tour of the Colossium that night at 9pm.
Mon- early train to Venice, sight see, evening tour of St. Marks.
Tues, Doges Palace early, after lunch train to Munich through Alps.
Renting a car one way from Italy to Germany was insanely expensive We thought about the NightJet train to extend out time in Venice but the wife and I want to comeback and cruise from there to Greece, Croatia, ect. This option gives me time to hit up a biergarten in Munich that evening.
We'll rent a car for a day and drive to Swagnau to see the Snow White Castle go back and catch the train to Strasburg. We'll stay Wed to Sat we will be at Europa Park at the new Rulantica hotel. Sadly, we'll miss the opening of the waterpark. Either that Thurs or Fri, we'll day trip to Rhine Falls or Holiday Park to get in Expedition Geeforce and back. That Sat is a super early train to Nantes for our stay at Puy du Fou. The walking elephant at Isle of Machines in Nantes we be closed that week, that is a major bummer.
We'll drive to Puy du Fou get checked in eat and have preffered seating for Cinescenie that evening.
Sun- spend the day at Puy du Fou
Mon- Drive to Mont St Michel and then Bayeux area
Tue- D-Day sites
Wed- Bayeux Tapestry to Giverny(Monet's Gardens Afternoon) to Disneyland Paris
Thu- Disneyland Paris. We got an apartment near the rer station right before Downtown Disney at Val de Europe. With the money we saved , we are getting the one fast pass for every ride add on. ($80) Couldn't bring myself to spring for the unlimited version that was over $125. We'll do only one day at Disney during the week(no Fri, Sat, Sun)
Sat- We are doing an afternoon at Versailles on Sat and have booked tickets for the Fireworks there the morning
Sun- Louve, d'Orsay, catacombs, Eiffel tower
Mon- Paris proper , no set plans, Monmarte area, Lux Gardens, Napoleon's Tomb at Invalides. Researching teen stuff/hip areas.
Plans not set in stone from here:
Tues- Paris to Copenhagen(fly)am, Tivoli Gardens Night.
Wed- Copenhagen to Stockholm (AM), Grona Lund (PM)
Thu- Stockholm, Vasa, other
Fri- flight home to XNA only a 14 hr affair.