June 16, 2015

Tanya's Daily Scoop
TRIP COUNTDOWN
Next Trip Departs In: 6 Days

Looking forward to LOTS!

Well Hello There!

Welcome back. 
If you are addicted to anything and everything travel (just like us) then Tuesdays here at Travelin' Cousins are made just for you!

Travelin' Tuesday is when and where we share all of our latest plans, bookings, etc..

Hopefully you have been keeping up with our upcoming plans for our next and very exciting trip to Eastern Europe! 
And this week Elisa has shared all about Bratislava, Slovakia with you! 
This will be our 4th out of the 5 cities on this wonderful trip. Be sure to check it out!

And while reading Elisa's side you'll also realize how badly us mommies feel about leaving our big babies behind - we are completely guilt ridden, and so sad that we will be without our angels for a couple of weeks. 
I know that although Dominic and Cosette are older than Gianna and Kelsey it is still very difficult for me to be without them and for them to be without their mommy. 

*It's almost as though for me it is even more difficult to be without them nowadays then when they were a bit younger (and begging me to stay at home).

And just like Elisa, I have told these kiddos that they can contact me night or day - whenever they need to!

I'm super glad that Dave is gonna be picking up the slack and covering me while I'm gone - taking them to all of their classes, rehearsals, and keeping them busy with lots of fun activities planned. I really appreciate it.

While Dave is at work they will be at home with the rest of the family - but I know from past experiences that nothing can or will replace having their mommy around. 

I just hope that all of this helps the time go by faster for them, as I know how much we will be missing each other. 
I just can't bear thinking that they are ever sad. It truly breaks my heart. 

Yup - you found me out...
I'm nothing but a big softie and I love my kids with all my heart!

Okay okay, let's finally talk some travel here!

Obviously as you know that I leave in 6 days and head to NY before heading to Europe. 
I'll have the one day in NY to situate my luggage. As you know I'm packing for several trips in one and I'm definitely NOT lugging around everything with me through Europe!

I'll be leaving for Europe one day ahead of Elisa, and spending that extra day touring Oslo, Norway.

Oslo is the oldest of the Scandinavian capitals, founded in the 11th century, sitting at the head of a 70 mile fjord and surrounded byevergreen forests. 

Here are some of the sites that I'll be checking out:

1. Oslo Cruise Terminal & Akershus F.
2. Bjørvika Viewpoint
3. Oslo Opera House

creidt: iflyoak.com

4. Clarion Royal Christiania Hotel
5. Oslo City Hall & Tourist Information
6. Stortinget, The Norwegian Parliament and Karl Johan Street

7. Hard Rock Cafe Oslo and The National Gallery
8. The Royal Palace and The Ibsen Museum
9. The Vigeland Sculpture Park

credit: visitnorway.com

10. NorskFolkemuseum, The Norwegian Museum of Cultural History
11. The Vikingship Museum

credit: visitnorway.com

12. The Kon-Tiki Museum, The PolarshipFram and The Norwegian Maritime Museum
13. Aker Brygge, Tjuvholmen
14. Christiania Square and Akershus Fortress

credit: terella.no

Then within hours upon returning to the states, I'll be meeting the kids at JFK (as they will be flying there with Dave) and the travels will continue...
In the early part of the day we've got a jam packed schedule of fun in NYC (which I'll go into with you as the date gets closer). 
After that Cosette will be staying with my dad and grandma until Elisa picks her up to have fun with the girlies while I head out on an MLB ALL STAR Road Trip with Dave and Dominic! 
*Cosette was of course invited, but opted to not participate in all of the baseball fun!

Again, I will go into further detail about this Road Trip as it gets closer.

But one thing that I am VERY EXCITED about is the Statues on Parade!!!

After much research, it was finally unveiled and released that the Cincinnati statues are 8 feet long, 2.5 feet high and 850 pounds Mustaches!  

The MLB started the statue program at the time of the 2008 All-Star Game at Yankees Stadium by placing 42 replicas of the Statue of Liberty (officially 43 when including the replica found at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center) at various sites throughout the city. And since then each hosting  city has come up with their own design.  

There will be 20 giant mustaches placed around the Queen City. 10 were put up on June 12th and the remaining 10 will go up on June 22nd. 

And in my own tradition I can't wait to go see them all and get pictures of each and every one! 
I'm looking very forward to this!!

2008 Statues on Parade (NYC)

2010 Statues on Parade (Southern California)

2011 Statues on Parade (Phoenix)

2013 Statues on Parade (NYC)

I also managed to purchase our MLB ALL STAR GAME FanFest tickets yesterday - which is usually quite a blast of fun to go along with the rest of the ALL STAR GAME events!

2013 FanFest - Jacob K. Javits Convention Center

In other travel news...
I'm working on taking care of the booking for Breckenridge (ski trip). 
And being that I'm on the travel committee for the IPC (International Peace Choir) I need to get a proposal together for their trip to Washington DC next April. 
I say "their" trip because due to the dates of America Sings falling on little Chaplin's birthday there is a huge conflict for us and we will not be going to DC with the group - there is a chance that we will meet them other the event for sightseeing and then we'll stay behind to visit family... 
This is still up in the air.

I'll keep ya posted!

As for my packing progress, I am almost finished with Cosette's luggage (she still needs to try on a few items before it's 100%), and today I should really tackle most of mine...aka ONE VERY HUGE CHORE! So I better get to it...

Hope you have a great day and I'll catch ya back here tomorrow!
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
TRIP COUNTDOWN
Next Trip Departs In: 9 Days

Travelin' Tuesday Spotlight: Bratislava, Slovakia

Good day dear friends!!

My favorite day of the week, here on TC!!

Before, I get to talkin' about Bratislava - the fourth city on our Eastern European Rail trip (which departs in 9 days!!!!), let me give you the low down on the start of my week yesterday.

It was a bit of a hectic day.  I had a great deal of running around to do - errands here and there, phone calls, etc., before the girlies got home from school.

Unfortunately, I didn't get it all done prior to getting them from the bus (insert annoyed face).  I really can't complain, because I did accomplish a lot - just not as much as ADD Elisa would have liked to.

I'm actually writing this blog today from the hair salon - getting a few treatments done to my hair so it is all ready for my big trip next week.

I'll be honest with you folks, I am stressing a bit about leaving Gianna and Kelsey home for the 16 days I'll be gone.  I know they will be in the best of care, but I still get plagued with guilt and worry about leaving them.

The plan is for them to stay at Denise's house during the week, where both girls will be picked up and dropped off daily by the day camp bus. Then on the weekends, they will be with Tedd, hopefully having a blast out in Remsenburg romping in the pool and doing outdoorsy stuff.  

I told the kids they could FaceTime me ANY time they want.  Hopefully, that will comfort both of us!!

Bratislava Old Town Square (credit: www.fotolia.com)

On Day 11 of our Milestone Birthday Eastern European Rail Trip, Tanya and I will be boarding an early morning train from Budapest, Hungary to Bratislava, Slovakia.  

Yes, unlike our other two train rides between Prague and Krakow; and Krakow to Budapest, we will be traveling by day because of the short distance between Budapest and Bratislava.

We will be staying three days and two nights in this lovely capital of Slovakia.  Bratislava is the country's largest city and is located in the southwestern part of Slovakia, occupying both banks of the Danube River and the left bank of the Morava River. 

Primatial Palace, Bratislava - (credit: www.fotolia.com)

We'll be hitting The Old Town (Stare Mesto), which is Bratislava's social, political and cultural center - not to mention, the tourist center!

It is ironically, the smallest part of Bratislava, with the highest population with approximately 4,000 inhabitants per kilometer.    

Filled with shops, eateries, pubs, it is also home to the Eurovea Shopping Center, which possesses a beautiful river promenade.  

Bratislava Castle (credit: commons.wikipedia.org)

Among the many sights in the Old Town, we'll be visiting the following recommendations from Bratislava-Slovakia website:

St. Martin's Cathedral - the largest and one of the oldest churches in Bratislava, it is a former historical spots for Royal Crownings.   


St Michael's Gate and Tower  - The history of St. Michael's gate dates back to the end of the 13th century and first written document about its existence dates to 1411. 

The focus of coronations of Hungarian kings during the years' 1563-1830 (19 coronations in total).  The new ruler would enter with his coronation entourage by way of Vydrica gate, get crowned at the St. Martin's Cathedral and during the procession following coronation, he would stop at St. Michael's gate and the new King would pledge his king's oath to the hands of the Archbishop.

Bratislava Castle - it is the most prominent symbol of Bratislava.  The castle hill was populated as early as the late Stone Age and its first known inhabitants were the Celts, who founded a fortified settlement here called ‘Oppidum’. With centuries of history, it was renovated in 2008. 

Primate's Palace, Old Town, Bratislava (credit: tripadvisor.com.au)

St. Michael's Gate, Bratislava (credit: virtualtourist.com)

Original and the New Slovak National Theatre
One of the newer buildings in Bratislava, it is a center for cultural events, theatre and opera. 

Medical's Garden
Beautiful public garden located near the center of the Old Town.

From the center of the Old Town, Tanya and I will walk towards Primatial Square, which is considered one of the most lovely squares in the city. Primatial or Primate's Palace is the seat of the Mayor of Bratislava, and is considered one of the most beautiful buildings in Bratislava with its  pale pink and white exterior.  

The Palace covers the vast southern part of the Primatial Square. Built between 1778 and 1781 on the site of an old Archbishop palace, the front wing faces the Primatial Square.  The Palace houses a unique collection of Bratislava's tapestries from the 17th century, which originates from England's Royal Manufacturer in Mortlake. These are on display for viewing, along with crystal chandeliers and portraits of the Hapsburg Royal Family. 

St. Martin's Cathedral, Bratislava (credit: theworldinbetween.com)

From the Town Square, we will take a short walk over to Bezrucova Street, where we will visit 
St. Elizabeth's Church or "The Little Blue Church" (Modry Kostolik). Designed by the Hungarian architect Odon Lechner, it was built from 1907-1913.  It is most known for it's Art Nouveau style and the decorative, vibrant blue majolica tiles. 

Majolica is a tile indigenous to Slovakia and is manufactured in the city of Modra, located in  Western Slovakia.

St. Elizabeth's Church "The Little Blue Church", Bratislava (credit: tripadvisor.co.uk)

During our second day in Bratislava, we will be venturing over to Devin Castle, which is about 10 km from the Old Town Square.

We are excited to take the 90 minute boat ride to Devin Castle. It is situated on a massive cliff, approximately 212 meters above the ground. Today, the castle serves as a museum with several exhibitions.  This ruin has become a symbol of Slavic fellowship and unity. It is a National cultural monument, depicted on Slovak stamps and old coins.

The ancient name of this castle is called Dowina, which originates from the Slavic word "deva", which means girl. The watchtower, the most photographed piece of the castle known now as the Maiden Tower, serves as a basis for legends about beautiful virgins, imprisoned in the tower, eventually jumping for their deaths.
 
Later in the day, we'll head to "Novy Most" or New Bridge. This is a road bridge over the Danube river in Bratislava. 

The bridge was built in late 1960s and early '70s at the height of Communism in honor of the 1944 resistance movement against the Nazi forces. The futuristic, UFO structure houses a restaurant reached by using an elevator, with a beautiful panoramic view of Bratislava!

New Bridge, Bratislava (credit: dot.ny.gov)

On Day 3, Tanya and I will be on our way via rail to Vienna, Austria!  

The rest of my day I need to get to the phone store to work out the details for phone service during this 5-city, 5-country trip.

I forgot to upload this picture the other day of me and Gianna hanging out in West Hampton.  She hung out with me while Kelsey was at horseback riding. 

Me and Gianna hanging out in West Hampton Beach Saturday

Don't forget to meander over to Tanya's side to read about all the packing she needs to do for her numerous upcoming trips.  
She'll also be chatting about Oslo today!

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Toodles for now!!!
-E
xoxo