Beautiful Budapest

This was the view from my bed this morning; we were berthed directly across the Danube from Parliament.

After a day touring the town, we're now on our way toward Bratislava. 

Most of the way there

We're about halfway through our layover at Frankfurt Airport, where it's a beautiful, sunny day.  In a couple of hours we'll be on the last leg to Budapest and our waiting ship.

We're on the way

All present and accounted for at Newark Airport and the hard part is over - getting through the massive line at security.  In an hour we'll be in the air and on our way.

Last minute thoughts

What's on your last minute list?

• Alert credit card companies and banks (if you will be using your ATM card to get cash) that you will be using the cards in Europe
• Make a list of numbers to call if credit cards are lost/stolen, carry one copy with you and leave one with someone you trust
• Send itinerary and flight info to family, put a copy in your checked luggage as well as carry on
• Send a link to this blog to family and friends
• Add international calling to cell phone plan
• Check the long-range forecast (www.weather.com or www.wunderground.com) and make sure you have appropriate clothing
• Check the camera batteries; put the camera manual in your bag and pack extra batteries or a battery charger
• Update voice mail and e-mail auto-reply message
• Charge device batteries (pda, iPod, mobile phone) and spares
• E-mail critical documents to your webmail account (for example, make a pdf file of your passport information page and mail it to yourself)
• Remove unnecessary cards from wallet (library, video rental, punch cards, extra credit cards 

Household stuff:

• Set heat and water heater at minimum
• Set lights on timers
• Turn off coffee pots or other appliances with automatic turn on
• Turn off ice maker
• Get rid of perishables in refrigerator
• Water plants
• Empty trash and clean kitchen
• Lock all windows and doors
• Power-off computer and other sensitive electronic equipment
• Return library books

Newark Airport Check-In

Our flight departs from Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday, October 20th, at 6:05 PM.

Newark Airport Logo

Check in is at Terminal B, level 3 (uppermost), door 7

Newark Airport (EWR) Map

Look for this over the door:

Please plan to arrive at the airport between 3:30 - 4:00 PM.

I'll be waiting at the check-in area, please be sure to let me know you're there BEFORE heading down to security and the gate.

A Prayer for Travelers

This Sunday, October 20th, everyone is invited to come to either the 8 AM or 10 AM service at Christ Church when there will be a special send-off for the group from Fr. Greg.  For those who haven't been here before, we're located at the corner of Franklin Avenue and Cottage Place in Ridgewood.

The 8 AM service is a simple, spoken Eucharist while the 10 AM mass will have music.  There will be food after both services so please join us!

Fr. Greg

 O God, our heavenly Father,

whose glory fills the whole creation,

and whose presence we find wherever we go:

Preserve those who travel;

surround them with your loving care;

protect them from every danger;

and bring them in safety to their journey's end;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Cruise Laundry

For those who would like to pack light, you can get laundry done on the ship.  Scenic has provided us with a list of prices for laundry (no dry cleaning).

There are three price lists: (1) washing and pressing, (2) washing only, and (3) pressing only.  Prices are all in Euros.  (sorry about the small font, I'm having trouble adjusting it)

Wash & Press Trousers          7.00 Shorts          3.50 Skirt          7.00 Shirt          5.00 Blouse          5.00 Pullover          6.50 T-Shirt          3.80 Pyjamas          5.20 Underwear          2.00 Pair Socks          2.00 Hankerchief          1.00
Wash Only Trousers          4.20 Shorts          2.30 Skirt          4.20 Shirt          4.00 Blouse          4.00 Pullover          5.00 T-Shirt          3.00 Pyjamas          3.50 Underwear          1.80 Pair Socks          1.80 Hankerchief          0.80
Press Only Trousers          4.20 Skirt          4.20 Shirt          4.20 Men's suit          9.80 Ladies suit          9.80 T-Shirt          3.00 Pullover          4.50

Getting Through Airport Security

The TSA (Transportation Security Administration) has a mantra to help passengers get through the security check as quickly and easily as possible:  Pack Smart, Dress the Part, and Have Your Documents Ready.

Pack Smart

   * Have your liquids, all less than 3.4 ozs, in a one quart clear plastic zip lock bag

   * Layer things in your carry on

   * Make sure your laptop (or other large electronics) are easy to pull out for separate

     inspection

Dress the Part

   * Remove everything from your pockets before you get to the head of the line

   * Wear shoes that come off and go back on easily

   * Take off your outer layers (jackets, bulky sweaters, scarves)

   * Consider wearing pants that stay up without a belt

  

Have Your Documents Ready

   * Boarding Pass (you will get this when you check your bags at the airport)

   * Passport

You can download TSA brochures on some of these topics:

TSA Travel Tips here

TSA Prohibited Items here

TSA Medically Necessary Liquids here

TSA Modified Rules for Travelers 75 years and older here

Luggage Information

 

Let's talk luggage.

Each passenger can check one bag free of charge.  This bag can be no larger than 62” (length + height + width) and weigh no more than 50 lbs.

For carry-on, you may bring one bag no larger than 21” x 15” x 9” and weighing 17 lbs. or less, and one “personal item” (handbag, camera bag, laptop, etc.)

You will not see your luggage during our 5-hour layover in Frankfurt, so if there is something you'll need or want during that time be sure to put it in your carry on.

What to buy - Part II Austria

Apart from pastries, the Von Trapp family, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, all three of which would be either difficult to acquire or hard to take home (in the case of the pastries), perhaps one of the best known products of Austria is Swarovski crystals.   Sure, you can buy it anywhere, but how many can say they bought it at the point of origin?

Loden wool hat

Loden cloth is another well known product of Austria (and Germany as well).  Loden wool is typically thick and heavy but it's also soft and extremely durable.  The wool comes from sheep native to the Alps and Tyrol regions.    Maybe a hat would be the perfect (and warm) reminder of our trip?

Trachten

While we're on clothing, how about trachten, the traditional Austrian costume?  I promise a payout to the first one who'll wear some lederhosen on the ship.

Augarten porcelain

Austrian porcelain is also highly regarded, with Augarten being the oldest and best known.

What to buy? Part I, Hungary

We had several questions at our gathering about what kinds of souvenirs are typical from the places we'll be visiting.  I've done some research on the the topic and here's what I've found:

Budapest

Paprika is the most often mentioned item to bring home from Budapest.  It's available in a wide range of  "hotness" levels.

Porcelain is a traditional Hungarian art form.  At Herend you can take a mini factory tour and/or visit a porcelain museum (web site and information here: Herend).

Halas lace is regarded world-wide as among the best and finest made anywhere.   By the end of the communist era this art form was almost lost, but is being preserved thanks to the work of the Halas Lace Foundation.  You can read more about it and see beautiful examples of their work on the foundation's web site here.

Handcrafted wooden folk art is another Hungarian souvenir staple.  At Hollo Muhely in Budapest you can see a range from small items (as in the picture above) up to large pieces of furniture.  Hollo Muhely blog

Hungarian crystal is another prized art form and Ajka is the best known manufacturer.  They have three store locations in Budapest (addresses on their web site:  Ajka crystal).

Weather & Packing

We leave two weeks from tomorrow, so if you haven't started to think about packing, now would be a good time.

I've checked the 15 year weather history available at wunderground.com for Budapest and Vienna, the two places we'll be spending the most time.  As there isn't a lot of difference between the two so I think either can serve as a good indicator of what we're likely to find.

There are two headlines for me from this data:

Expect some rain.

Over the past 15 years, on the dates that we will be there, it has rained nearly half of the time (47% in Budapest, 49% in Vienna).  That doesn't mean it rained all day, only that it rained at some point in those 24 hours.  Let's pray for overnight showers, but be prepared to stay dry while out touring.

Happy campers out for a stroll

Dress in layers.

The average temperatures over the past 15 years have been:

Budapest
	Lowest	Highest
Average high for the day	48o	69 o
Average low for the day	26 o	53 o

Vienna
	Lowest	Highest
Average high for the day	35o	68 o
Average low for the day	30 o	55 o

We'll be overnighting in each of these locations and you might want to go out for a stroll in the evening; for that you're going to want a light coat/jacket and maybe a sweater under that.

Granted this is extreme, but you get the point

I'm anticipating sitting outside on the deck in the evening, checking out towns all lit up as we float by.  I'm realizing now that my dreams need to include a pair of gloves so I don't drop my drink!

Emergency Contact Information

If there's an emergency at home while we're on the cruise, here are the phone numbers that can be used to reach us:

Cruise Director                 +49 162 2095 812

Hotel Manager                 +49 162 2654 765

Captain                                +49 162 2095 811

I can't stress enough that these are for an emergency only.

Prague Extension

For those going on to Prague, here's your itinerary.

Day	Date	City	Arrive	Depart
Monday	Oct. 28	Nuremberg	5:30	12:00
		Prague	15:50
Tuesday	Oct. 29	Prague	Full day tour
Wednesday	Oct. 30	Prague	Full day  on your own
Thursday	Oct. 31	Prague		8:50
Thursday	Oct. 31	Newark	16:06

On Monday the 28th we'll all tour Nuremberg together in the morning.  After the tour the Prague group will board their bus and head east, while the rest of us go south to Munich airport.

You will arrive at the Hotel Andels mid-afternoon on Monday and will be on your own that evening.  The hotel web site can be found here.

You'll have a full-day tour of Prague on Tuesday and a full day to explore on your own on Wednesday before your departure on Thursday.