Keroppi2011

Before I discovered cruising my travel song was "Leaving on a Jet Plane".

We had a great day in the rain in Ketchikan. Because we were totally dressed for wet weather, our granddaughter could wade right into the creek to have a closeup look at the salmon, we could see rain forest around Totem Bight Park as the original inhabitants experienced it. Totem Park museum is indoors for a respite. And there is always shopping! You will still have a great time.

I'm sure you packed your "shoes just made for walking" (sing along now) - not to mention a few other pairs. Have a wonderful time. Such a special trip to enjoy with your DD.

My first visit was as a 15 year old on a school trip with 200 teenagers and 20 chaperones. Simpler times. The most adventurous thing we did then was break curfew to cross the Prom, slide down the pebbled beach and dip our toes into the Mediterranean. Several subsequent visits. On the last one we visited the market and rode the carrousel. While we have grown much older, still haven't really grown up.

Thoughts and prayers to the people of Nice and all who have been touched by this horrific event.

On our first visit, sunlight through the stained glass window lit up a small patch of one big column in bright jewel colours and I was mesmerized by the beauty. The second time we went, the entire interior was blazing with reflected colour everywhere - on the floor, the pillars and walls. It is a sight I will never forget.

Hey Awhfy,

I love my bernie mevs too - I have several colours and heel heights. Cute, comfortable and they weigh nothing for packing.

IrishLassie,

I think we all have a pair of "sitting" shoes to own up to. Mine are a pair of brightly patterned patent flats with a gaudy rhinestone bar across the vamp. I found them in China where everyone has smaller feet than me and bought them even though they were a little snug, knowing I would never see anything like them again. Just looking at them brings a smile to my face.

I heard a lady tell her friend she was wearing her "standing" pants. Very stylish, but so tightly fitted she couldn't sit down. Similar concept I think.

If you can manage one day for each side you will have a far more enjoyable - and memorable- experience.

We researched many variations for accommodation. Took awhile to justify the expense of the Sheraton Iguazu, but we were so glad we made that choice. Sheraton is the only hotel actually within the park on the Argentine side so we could stay later on the trails and squeeze in one extra walkabout on our last morning. We could hear the falls and see the spray from our balcony. Colourful parrots swept through the lush gardens and landed on the railings.Priceless. Sheraton also has a very nice pool - a real bonus in that climate.

A small train runs from the tourist entry beside the hotel out to the head of the main trails. Easily walkable for most, but a boon to those with mobility issues.

BTW, we simply booked a bus tour from the Argentine side to the Brazilian side through the hotel. Much more reasonable than a fully guided tour. Easy to follow the walkways on your own.

Maybe we should put on our most comfortable running shoes for a walk around Mundy Park or our most stylin' heels for a visit to Coquitlam Centre. There is more than one shoe store there where we could get into trouble!

Hey, notsoredhead,

What part of Coquitlam?

Digging out my RED sandals in preparation for July 1st and 4th. Have a great weekend, everyone.

vkb - drop off and pickup for the public bus is right in front of the main park gates. However, actual park entrance has been relocated a very short distance to the right.

Escalators? We have followed a variety of paths and staircases, but never saw any escalators.

We spent the day with Spencer and his daughter and travelled by speed boat around to Jalousie Beach. Fabulous day! Lunch is included in this excursion. It is provided as a box lunch from a local restaurant - authentic, plentiful and very tasty.

We used the model number on the combination machine in our apartment to "Google" the instruction handbook. Easy after that.

Best value item on the ship is LUNCH in the Pinnacle Grill. We try to go the first sea day to be sure we fit it in to the busy schedule.

Irish Lassie - With the wedding over, you can certainly wear those shoes with a nice short dress to really show them off. So cute!

Yes, just a couple of blocks away.

BTW, the pier itself is an interesting architectural feature. Looks like a park with rolling hills. Be sure to spend some time out on deck at sailaway. The bands and crowds will give you quite a send-off.

Within walking distance of your ship:

* interesting collection of boutique shops and restaurants in red "barns"

* Yokohama Tower for scenic panoramic views

* doll museum

* noodle museum

* historic trans Pacific ship, permanently moored

* sizeable Chinatown

* Motomatchi - main shopping area

* government building housing Governor's offices - rooftop garden open to public

*public gardens along the sea front

* art gallery with good collection of Ukiyoe -traditional woodblock prints

* McDonalds - don't laugh - many countries have a specialty item available nowhere else and the Japanese shrimp burger is well worth a

try.

In my experience, 6 has been the best. Seems like everyone has a chance to participate - both listening and speaking - in the same conversation. With 8, the tendency seems to be to break into 2 separate but simultaneous conversations. I often cannot hear well enough to catch the one at the other end of the large table and I hate to feel I'm missing something.

We took our grandaughter to Alaska last summer (Vancouver - Vancouver) armed with a notarized letter signed by both her parents, her passport and birth certificate. HAL rep asked for the letter and passport and made photo copies of both. US officials in Vancouver also asked for letter and passport.

We will be crossing the border by car with her next month for a road trip down the west coast and I will have an updated letter, passport and BC for her again. Vancouverites of a certain age well remember when crossing into Washington state for a day of shopping or a cheap gas fillup was as easy as going to the corner store. We often travelled with another family and the kids freely moved from one vehicle to another so we might not even have our own aboard as we reached the customs station. How things changed after 9/11.

On our Volendam cruise earlier this month, thick pea soup was served on the bow deck between 10:30 and !!:00 am as we enjoyed the magnificent views of Glacier Bay. A nice tradition.

...and bags and hats and dresses... When I grow up, I want to be just like her.

Budget Queen - You have been an invaluable source of information for Alaska. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences. It made our trip so much more informed. Dave mentioned he had taken you out just the week before us. Sorry that we missed you. I would have been glad to treat you to soup at the Carcross Bakery.

Your dresses are fabulous. Congratulations on your marriage.

BTW, have you come across the thread titled Shoe Divas' Club? You are a perfect candidate for "membership".

Maggiemou _ I have a chartreuse BCBG cocktail dress that has a wide band of the exact same beads that are on your lime sandals. The dress is short and swirly and I found a simple pair of lime patent ballet flats to match. But your shoes would have been KILLER.

BTW, ladies - when it comes to shoes, follow the motto "When in doubt, buy them both !"