Meander Ingwa

Yellow cab does have flat rate. If you are staying at a downtown hotel to start they can pick you up there https://seattleyellowcab.com/rates/

Whats life without a little whimsy? It is not like the workplace where you are forced to participate in "fun and bonding" activities. I will likely play along because all of this is built on a sense of fun and wonder. Otherwise you will find me in the library

this is a quiet forum but I have just discovered it and the cruise line. I have contacted them for trips in late 2024. As a solo traveler, the price seems reasonable when compared to the up-pricing single supplements encountered. You cannot deny the huge plus of the small group and unique destinations. The challenge now is choosing and waiting. I had long planned a ramble around Scotland using a rail pass and a cruise seems a great way of ending that journey

Thank you for your thoughts. I actually contacted Hebridean Island Cruises due to a few posts here on CC and got a nice, prompt reply. It may re-ignite my plan to tour Scotland by rail with an island hop bonus at the end! Thanks for the tips on the Observation lounge, Since the idea of sitting outside , on a balcony on the Salish Sea and Inside Passage in October sounds pretty horrid, having good viewing areas is a must. I will explore Oceania and their offerings more closely. Right now I am thinking towards winter 24/25. If I bounce on to this Scotland idea it will be winter 25. The idea of a southern hemisphere ramble appeals.

if you take the train, I would favor the left side for views of the Sound

you can check Google Maps and look at the area near your hotel. There are not a lot of them downtown, since rents are so high Usually, thrift / second hand stores will be out in the neighborhoods Value Village is the largest. You might find all your needs in one spot. There is a cluster of stores at the intersection of the 1A and East Broadway. If you can find Eddie Bauer items check carefully Some of them are designed to be packable, They usually have a tag that says. They fold away into their own pockets. I love them! Worth paying a little more

Uber and Lyft are always my go to in urban situations. I use Lyft the most You can book ahead but I have never encountered big waits, even at 4am in Cincinatti where the wait was 15 minutes. You can track the car on your phone (lyft) and they will ping you when they are 5 minutes out . When you request a car you also request the size of the vehicle. A van might take longer than two smaller cars. Not can contact them about booking for an airport arrival, I have never done it. But if you want everyone to stay together and you need luggage capacity thus a bigger vehicle, then booking ahead may be a good idea. You want to secure your bags before you request a car. Around airports the Uber/Lyft drivers are usually staged and they can respond quickly. If a savvy driver knows a ship is due in , they might stage themselves near the port.

I saw that Cunard deal and thought it looked great but I am not a dress up gal. But for that price I could swing a dress or two. Not sure I fit the Cunard mold. I will keep an eye on this trip for next year. I am new at this and I think studying trends is important for me this next few months. I have a Northen Lights booked for January, I am keeping an eye on South America /Antarctica late 2024. Nice bookend set of trips for the year

@Sthrngary thank you for your kind reply. I am not a Go Large person. I dont need floor shows , water slides or staff that breaks into song. I dont feel happy with a mega ship and under 2000 is more suited I am an independent traveler and do not need to be hand carried from here to there. I do know when to pick my poison as far as staying in group safety. I appreciate an included tour option I am not given to beach life or think that cruising someplace just to get off a ship and sit on a beach is really experiencing the reason I travel. I am a nature nut and also have interest in culture cities and the human story My next booked trip is Northern Lights with Viking. They showed no love on single supplement. That is OK in this situation, but something I wish to keep to a more seasonable minimum. I may grab a last minute Alaska as I live in the Seattle area and it is an easy last minute do in Late Sept or Oct.. A reasonable way to test out NCL I am free to go so I am stalking the last minute deals. That is where my questions arise. When so many lines do somewhat the same trip(s) the choice becomes more about the ethos. Feel pulled by a great last minute opportunity but on a cruise line that has formal and gala evening nights right and left. I am not impressed by posh frocks and the people who judge them. I am taken aback that there are lines that allow smoking. My idea of a good evening is some trivia in the bar, good conversation (even though I am an introvert) and diverse people. So many choices makes me feel I might have to kiss some frogs as I dip my big toes into this adventure travel

is there anywhere you can see the lines, side by side, with checks and nos on culture, costs ( all inclusive vs ala carte) style ( dress codes etc) and amenities? As a solo cruiser, I'm trying to find deals where you dont get absolutely gouged on supplement but want to have some span of choices.

Only time I have had my card refuse is in a gas station in Florida. My card worked for everything in Papua New Guinea, let alone Europe. They are way ahead in becoming a cashless society

One of the most popular To Dos is the Blue Lagoon. Check their web site. They provide luggage storage and it is a common connection from the ports and airport. I spent a very fast 4 hours in the pool and sauna. The also have cafe and restaurant

Reykjavik is expert at getting visitors from hotels and out to tours then to airport. Search any tour company. The usual plan is pick you up at hotel in small van then drop you at central station where you get your tour bus. Return and off you go to airport. I did Blue Lagoon which is on eay to airport. I didn't think it would enjoy it but the time flew by. Still dream of the waterfall massage They have bag storage at the spa. See their web site for details and info on private transfers

For sure, candy is always fun to shop for. Lingonberry jam and other fruit spreads would be good.

Both Susan Fosse and Husfliden have on line shops with prices starting around 200 . I suspect there are likely more unique pieces will range to higher. Husfliden shows nice dress jackets around 460. I am prepared for pieces with nicer buttons or clips to be on the upper end. Remember your VAT refunds

I have used Capital One for the last 6 years, overseas, and have never needed a pin. I was happy when CO finally caught up with Europe and did the cards with chips and tap Only my ATM debit needs one and it is the same as at home

I can appreciate the fidelity to an airline, but this is one situation where I would split the trip between two and fly direct into Vancouver out of a major west coast city like LAX ( I hate LAX but it is non stop from ABQ. would you have to repeat your journey coming home?

the other option is a day car rental which might be less expensive than U/L. About 2 hour drive

A friend of mine said a haircut he had in India was the most amazing one ever. The cut was good and came with a scalp massage which really impressed him. Seems like potential for a unique culture interaction. I refuse to pay such high prices for a womans short cut and would likely seek out a shop. It is only 1/2 hour at most

Oh my have not seen a banana popsicle since the 60s. Trader Joes had bars they called Floes and the banana was tops. Fresh banana ice cream uses bananas like you would use in banana bread. so the color is not glamorous but that yummy flavor is true and you should have chunks. An acceptable alternative is a fresh milkshake made with banana and why not throw a slug of chocolate fudge in there. A banana shake at DQ is just the thing is you are suffering on a hot summer day That good potassium and calcium, dont you know

I have not had it in a while. Best PB ribbon (chunk, slab oh mercy save me) out there last I had it.

that French menu sounds wonderful. I also love indonesian so that would go up the list. I agree that creole / cajun would be amazing. They could also do some of the African flavors; Morocco, Ethiopian spring to mind. The ways and flavors of west African are heavily present in Soul Food.

I was doing the Coast to Coast path in England and in one book I had it mentioned a restaurant in Richmond ( in Yorkshire, not in London) as the best Indian on the trail. Being the first sizeable city on the trail I went there for dinner. I could not make a choice from the extensive menu and selected the last thing on it. It was what the chef made for the workers before they started their shift that night. I cannot remember what they called it on the menu. It was absolute heaven. If you love Indian food and movies, look for a sweet movie called The Lunchbox. It will make you wish for some good home cooking 😅

Coffee Mate does not make a half and half product. CM is water, coconut oil, sugar, and Sodium Caseinate , which is derived from milk and lactose free. I am a Land o Lakes Mini Moo gal, myself. Just one in a 24 oz coffee is enough. I rather use a jot of regular milk from the buffet than a CM product. Real good coffee doesnt need cream, but I do like taking some acid edge off and I like the mouth feel of a little touch of milk. Many baristas dont know the measure "a plop" so I now ask for a teaspoon of milk.

attached to, in or at a regular bank. Your bank debit card , if it is a VISA/MC allied card will be adequate. You will see the symbols. You can use google maps for the area around your hotel to find ATM and banks, just click the search bubble the large Alpha , Bank of Greece, Eurobank and National Bank of Greece are major players. There are major US banks in Athens but you might have to search for them. You do not have to use only them . There is an Alpha Bank at arrivals in Athens and all over the core of Athens