A new Dawn around Europe Then the UK.

[drron]

In one weeks time we will be leaving on our first real trip in over 3 years. Can't wait.
All flights in J.
SQ. BNE-SIN.
SQ SIN-LHR.
BA. :LHR-BCN
BA . VCE-LHR.
SQ LHR-SIN
SQ SIN-BNE.

After landing at BCN we will pick up a car and drive to Bilbao with 2 nights in Zaragoza then 2 nights at the Hotel Marques Riscal that I am looking forward to.
Two nights in Bilbao at the Gran hotel across the road from the Guggenheim. Whilst at the Guggenheim we will have lunch at the Nerua restaurant.

Back in Barcelona for just 1 night at the Hotel Arts as it is not far from where we will board our ship -Silversea Dawn. And she is indeed new. First voyage 4 months ago. As well the CD will be one of our favourites -Miss Vicki.
18 days on board ending up in Venice. First time to Sardinia,Sicily,Malta,Kotor,Dubrovnik and Split.

Back to the UK and driving around England for 3 weeks including a stay with my sister. Staying in places from HIEs to upmarket boutique hotels.

 

[Quickstatus]

Popcorn ready

 

[tgh]

Have a great trip ; I will be following vicariously with just a tiny smattering of envy...

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

Good luck with the various airports. Right now, Australia and England seem to be having massive problems. I'm not sure about BNE, but LHR is a dog's breakfast.

 

[drron]

Less than 12 hours until we are off. We are definitely not "match fit" Plus all the new forms and requirements for travel. I am really keen to get back into match fitness, Mrsdrron not so much. The merchants of doom do not realise the price the innocents are paying.
First making sure we have paper copies of everything. We took a lot longer this time though I couldn't work out how to print our spanish Entrance QR codes. no worry they are in my Apple wallet.
Doing both the Singapore and Spanish entry forms was a bit of a hassle -but made worse by the fact I am not that up to speed with my new iphone. Never had to do tutorials for my old Samsung. Though I must admit getting more used to Apple and what it can do. For example our Mastercard was a victim of fraud. Didn't want to trust delivery times of a new card but on the iphone easy to turn the access to the MC on and off. Got an approval from the young waitperson at last Friday's lunch that i actually knew how to do it and i was using facial ID.

This morning I got a pat on the back from myself. I had aimed at getting down to 91 Kg by the time we left on this trip. That was the aim 5 months ago on my last day of work. This morning I was 88.5Kg. Down 18Kg. Really pleased with myself. Though know I will have gained many of those extra Kgs on the trip. Aiming for no more than 95Kg on return.

Alarms set for 0430 and limo booked at 0500.
Next report probably from the SQ lounge at BNE.

 

[zig]

Have a great trip ; I will be following vicariously with just a tiny smattering of envy...

I will be following with considerable envy. My return to Silversea in November has been cancelled. I now have to wait until March 2023 to do Puerto Williams to Buenos Aires (South Georgia being the focus)
Bon voyage - safe travels.

 

[craven morehead]

Dialling in early

 

[drron]

I will be following with considerable envy. My return to Silversea in November has been cancelled. I now have to wait until March 2023 to do Puerto Williams to Buenos Aires (South Georgia being the focus)
Bon voyage - safe travels.

As long as the weather gives you a couple of good days around South Georgia you should love the place.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

Have a great trip!

You'll be passing almost within sight of me between Sardinia and Sicily, but probably not close enough to see unless they swing past Naples to see mt Vesuvius.

Nobody has even asked about any additional documents in the UK or anywhere in Europe, so don't worry too much about those.

Edit: I see you're stopping at Sorrento, so you'll probably be in sight in the early morning if it's a clear day. I can just see the island of Ischia about 60km south of me when it's clear.

 

[drron]

Have a great trip!

You'll be passing almost within sight of me between Sardinia and Sicily, but probably not close enough to see unless they swing past Naples to see mt Vesuvius.

Nobody has even asked about any additional documents in the UK or anywhere in Europe, so don't worry too much about those.

We are going to see Mt.Etna this time. Vesuvius and Pompei are for next time when we really tempt fate with a 54 day Mediterranean cruise.

 

[ZigZagWanderer]

We are going to see Mt.Etna this time. Vesuvius and Pompei are for next time when we really tempt fate with a 54 day Mediterranean cruise.

Gorgeous.

Vesuvius is a slog in this weather. You have to walk up. I'm keeping pompeii for when I'm here in a cooler season, maybe April or October.

 

[drron]

We began a new tradition last night. The night before a long trip will begin with dinner at Nyugen Brothers at Maroochydore. For the first Mrsdrron had her usual lemongrass beef with vermicelli salad and I had a lemongrass beef banh mi all washed down with a sav blanc.







A recommended place. Good Vietnamese food.

 

[drron]

So up with the sparrows this morning. A good run down the Bruce until Anzac Avenue then stop/go until on the Gateway. Still only 75 minutes until we arrived at the airport. Sun still not up.
Check in had opened and quickly through to security. I did have spots on my right elbow and abdomen so a pat down but still much quicker than before the new scanners.

Next stop the TRS. Only 1 person in front who was just finishing. No problems and soon had our receipt for the refund.
Up to the lounge and the first to enter.

 

[drron]

Breakfast items.











Not bad.

 

[Quickstatus]

Not bad.

I reckon it looks really good

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Good luck with the various airports. Right now, Australia and England seem to be having massive problems. I'm not sure about BNE, but LHR is a dog's breakfast.

When we flew in to LHR on 17 June the arrival lines were pretty long (compared to our last pre-Covid LHR arrival), but they moved quite quickly.
The e-gates have sped up the processing.

 

[Pushka]

I'm so excited. You are going on a cruise! The Venice ports have changed, where does Silversea berth!

 

[drron]

Starting off in typical fashion for the times with a 2 hour weather delay due to this morning’s fog
Lounge now pretty full so wifi quite slow.

 

[drron]

Finally on board. A regional configuration. And who says you can’t have a champagne as a pre departure beverage.

 

[ellen10]

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I will enjoy following along.