June 22, 2015 - Tanya's Europe "pre-trip" begins - Day 1

Tanya's Daily Scoop
TRIP COUNTDOWN
Next Trip Departs: Today

Time to say my farewells

Well the day has finally arrived! 
Who can believe that it's already June 22nd?! 

The Summer has officially begun and I'm leaving today to start my "pre trip" portion on the bigger and highly awaited Cousins Rail Trip to Europe!

What a morning it's already been...

I hope that everyone had a lovely weekend!
We did! But it wasn't without it's stresses.

And if you've been following our lives this weekend, you'd know that there was a hiccup that was caught on Saturday - causing me to go into an absolute frenzy. 

Luckily I didn't completely lose it (although I know that I was close), and was able to hang on until today (when Elisa was finally able to speak with Stephan - the Travel Agent/Friend who booked our rail passes).

As of this morning due to the conclusions of the conversation that Elisa had with Stephan, we have decided to leave things as is, and to make the necessary changes to the hotels - which I just got finished doing. Whew! 

Although the prices do go up at the last minute (which this basically is) I'm just so glad that we still got the hotels that we wanted and have planned to stay at - rather than starting all over - which would've been very disappointing and a HUGE pain in the butt.

So anyhow, at this point I am a bit dizzy from all of the accounting and number crunching with the adjustments to the overall budget. And that is where I am at. 

Later on today, I will be saying my "good byes" and "see ya laters" full of hugs and kisses - as I head out en route to the airport and leaving SoCal.

As my beloved Grandfather always said!

I will miss these guys terribly and be counting down the days until I see their beautiful faces next (at the airport on July 11th)! 

I know that they will be missing me too, and I hope that we will all distracted enough and keeping so busy that we can each focus on the fun that I'm sure we are all going to have over the next few weeks! 

With my kids staying at home with my mom, their dad, and the rest of the family here under this one roof in SoCal as well as having Dave keeping them busy and providing laughs; And with Elisa's girls staying with Denise, I am very confidant that all of the kids will be fine! 
Plus they can always be in touch with their mommies as well as with each other for support!

Thank God for technology (although we all know that it can be a big pain in the butt sometimes), I don't know if I'd be able to go some trips if we couldn't text, call, email, FaceTime, etc...

As far as yesterday went, we had a really nice day and just about everything went according to plan, we had a nice breakfast and then spent the day at The Getty. 

We couldn't have asked for a better day. 
It was bright and sunny, making for a beautiful clear day with blue skies as the back drop to this artistically designed museum complex.

Sporting umbrellas for the sun

Happy Father's Day!

That's a big URN!

The Cactus Garden

The only glitch was that the chosen movie time for Jurassic World was sold out and we needed to go to a later showing. 
It all worked out, aside from that my mom was too tired to join us for the later showing...not quite sure that this was her "type" of movie anyhow.

As for today, I'll just be hanging out with the kids and family before I leave. I'll be seeing these kiddos in 17 days, but the rest of this clan I won't see until July 30th! 

I have worked out all of the meal plans for while I'm away and have packed all of the kids bags for their portion of the trip. All I have left to do is toss in my late minute items to my carry on and I am all set to Rock and Roll!

And speaking of Rock and Roll - if you recall, the kids, Dave and I ran in the Gladiator Rock 'N Run last week. 
Well we finally got some of the professional pictures - check 'em out! 

I'm swinging like a monkey!

We are a muddy mess!

That's about it folks! I'll catch ya back here tomorrow from the BIG APPLE on my way to OSLO!!

Safe and Happy Travels,
-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
TRIP COUNTDOWN
Next Trip Departs In: 2 Days

Lots to Do Pre-Travel

Hello, Hello!!!
A new week and a new travel adventure!!

Today, Tanya leaves for Europe to begin the "pre-trip" segment of our Eastern European Trip.

She will arrive in Oslo, Norway for her connection to Prague, but not before, she takes a day of touring the city first!!  

While Tanya is making her way around Oslo on Wednesday, I'll be getting ready to make my way to Prague.

Thursday morning, the cousins will re-unite in Prague to begin our amazing Eastern Europe Adventure!!

I do need a little venting session before I go on... This is the first time in five years that I have left my girls to go away.  In 2010, I traveled solo to London and Paris to visit my eldest daughter, Rebecca, who was studying abroad for the Summer.

At that time, Gianna and Kelsey were much younger and for some reason, while I missed them terribly, traveling to see one kid, made it a bit easier to leave.  

This time, the feeling is quite different.  As excited and thrilled as I am for my birthday trip, (albeit, 8 months after my birthday), I'm very nervous about being away from my babies for 16 days.  

Me & Rebecca - my first night in London circa 2010

Rebecca overlooking the Seine in Paris

Le Tour Eiffel, Paris

At Versailles

What can I say about my bestie, Denise!! My girls wanted to stay with her and her amazing family while I'm away.  The girls will be staying with Denise Sunday through Friday for the two weeks I'm away.  

I can't tell you how blessed I feel to have such a loving friend who is willing to support me by taking care of my girls.  I love you Denise!! 

Me and My Bestie Denise (Nov 2014 - Rock Center Cafe, NYC)

So, what's on my agenda today? Well, as you might have read in Tanya's blog yesterday, your's truly screwed up majorly with our Rail Tickets!!!

I am so horrified about this screw up.  If it wasn't for Tanya, we would have had a terrible surprise while in Prague this week.  

I inadvertently gave Stephen, my travel agent, the wrong dates to book two rail segments of our trip.  And of course, wouldn't you know, it was the two overnight trips!!! Prague to Krakow and Krakow to Budapest.

When Tanya made me aware of this on Saturday, I immediately emailed Stephen, but, today, first thing, I will be calling him.  It's a phone conversation I'm dreading, because I know he is going to be aggravated with me (justifiably so) that I waited this long to alert him.  UGH!!  

Well, Tanya checked the train schedule online and saw that the dates we need for these trains, still have availability.  Let's hope that Stephen finds out the same thing when he goes to change the tickets.

I think, other than that, we are in good shape. 

I also have to call Sprint to make arrangements for my international calling and texting while abroad.

Lastly, I'll be making a trip over to the bank to arrange to get some Euros for my trip.  Exchanging money while there can be more costly.  

Now, if that wasn't enough to do, my plan is to take Gianna, Kelsey, Nolan and Julian to Adventureland today.  At least, that is the plan.  My sister, Danielle, wasn't sure if Nolan was going to be able to come due to having an orthodontist appointment.

I sincerely hopes she can change this since we started a tradition of going to Adventureland each year, on the last day of school.  Unfortunately, I'll be heading to Prague this year on their last day, so, that's why I wanted to take them today.

I'll let you know.  Incidentally, please CLICK HERE to read all about Adventureland, a 50+ year amusement park on Long Island.
  

Adventureland, Farmingdale, NY (click image for more information)

Last June (2014) Annual Trip to Adventureland

Time to get myself moving!  See ya back here tomorrow with the last of our Travelin' Tuesday features about the great places we will be seeing in Vienna, before live blogging from this amazing part of the world!!!

Till tomorrow,

-E
xoxo