Travel progress

[dancerjodi]

We've decided to go for 10 days. We'll leave 4/6 (a Wednesday). We'll spend Thurs, Fri, Sat and Sun in London, the rest in Scotland. We won't be able to do it "all", but since we have to fly into London anyway and there are things there we want to see, its worth it to us to split the trip.

Brian's going to give AAA a call today to see how their travel agent services work. It doesn't hurt to meet with them if its free. I got free passport photos from them yesterday (since we're Plus members, its free) and if the post office is still open by the time I get home from work I'll drop in and apply (brought my birth certificate to work today). So now we just need to work on planning plane and hotels, and coming up with the $ for all of this. Hopefully we'll have the basics figured out by the end of the weekend.

The worst part of vacation planning is finding a pet sitter(s). THIS is why we never travel. Finding someone willing to come to your house at 6:30 AM to give your cat an insulin injection for 10 days straight . . . it will be a challenge :/. We've had 2 friends do this for us, and they are really great at it. However, I feel like an ass having to put friends out (I mean, we hate having to get up that early each day and he's our cat!). I'm not against hiring a petsitter, but most of them don't do insulin injections (if they do they are in Boston or Cambridge and don't want to come out to Waltham) and/or don't want to come out at 6:30 am on the dot each day. Blech!

Comments

[3ravensringo.livejournal.com]

Dancer, I'm Jim, a friend of DawnTreader. She asked The Gang to offer you help with your UK trip planning. My wife and I did Scotland about two years ago, and I'd be happy to give you info on Edinburgh, Glasgow, and little bits on St. Andrews. You're going to have an AMAZING time.
-Jim

Scotland

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Any info you have (must go places) would be awesome! It looks like we'll be there for about a week. Our plan would be to stay in Edinburgh and use the train to get anywhere we can't walk.

So what would you suggest? Or rather, what were the best highlights of your trip?

[julishka.livejournal.com]

i think my friend stacy who has a diabetic cat uses a mobile vet. she may be able to recommend someone to pet sit, too.

[legitimatelove.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I'd absolutely have volunteered to take care of Max for you (and give injections), but that is right around my due date :(

[dawntreader]

how long does it take to get a passport? i thought it was some long process!

[silentq.livejournal.com]

Hrm, I guess I never did finish typing up my travel diaries from my Scotland trip. Here are the photos I took at least:
http://silentq.org/photos/Whitby02/
My highlights of Edinburgh from memory:
- touring Edinburgh castle and getting tea and scones (mm, clotted cream) at the cafe there, then watching the firing of the 1pm gun
- Palace of Holyrood
- free museums and art galleries
- wandering along the royal mile from castle to palace
- climbing Carlton Hill, wishing I'd climbed Arthur's Seat
I also really enjoyed Glasgow, but I had more friends who lived there, so we went clubbing and shopping (I can dig up a couple of great used book stores). The Necropolis and Cathedral are definitely worth a visit. My sister spent a year on exchange in Dundee, I can ping her for things not to be missed there if you think you'll get there.

Take a look at http://www.silentq.org/diary and search for trips that include London, I gave quite a few details on shops and museums that I hit. I think you'd like the Victoria and Albert museum as much as I did. :)

Pet sitter

[dancer.livejournal.com]

If she knows someone willing to come out to Waltham, could you give her my info so I can get in touch with them? She can mail me at dancer at diabolis dot net.

I've had lots of friends recommend people - but they all live in Cambridge or Boston (and thus don't want to go "all the way" out to Waltham - heh) :)

Passport

[dancer.livejournal.com]

I've been told it takes 6 weeks, though one can pay more $ and get it in 1 day (as my husband had to), so I'm not too worried about it. We've got over 2 months till we go.

Travel tips

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was thinking of you actually, and meant to dig up that diary :)

I'm a total newbie at this. I can count the times I've taken trips that required a plane on 1 hand (and, don't even need to use all of the fingers for it either)! :)

Re: Passport

[julishka.livejournal.com]

i've gotten an expedited passport before. it's no problem. also the normal process is fine, too, if you have the time. they often get it to you earlier than you expect. plus on the form, they request your departure date to insure they get it to you in time.

Re: Pet sitter

[julishka.livejournal.com]

i know they used someone when they lived in watertown. i've emailed her to see if that person is still around or if she knows of anyone else & also about the mobile vet. i mentioned the bunnies, too. :)

[tiamatlady]

I'm happy to volunteer again. My bosses will be thrilled at anything that gets me up in the morning by that time during the Season.

Besides, it works around my own "get out of town free" card. I'm hoping to be able to scoot somewhere around the 15th, to NYC for the weekend, and/or to London myself. Obviously, that's flexible, AND I won't be making any firm plans til at least February.

The only thing I'd want to work around is going to my Cape client - it's a shorter ride from my house, than from yours.

We have more then enough time to work this out. Just do count me into the equation, I'm more than happy to help.

(PS- I looked at GoToday dot com last night - some NICE hotel packages, and there's one for 7 days in London with Airfare that's downright cheap, although it does boost up a little after March 31. If you can get most of your stuff via a package, it's just a matter of booking a jumper from London to Scotland. It was about an hour and a half - about the same as to Atlanta, As I recall)

Re: Travel tips

[silentq.livejournal.com]

I'll try to get the Scotland diary up sometime within the month, I started entering it via voice recog and got fed up with the program and gave up for a bit. :)
I still get a little thrill each time I show up at the airport or a hotel with just a confirmation number and find that they're expecting me, and everything's all set. The internet makes travel planning a lot easier, barring too many choices with flights. :)
Plus, once you get on the ground at your destination, you've got a lot of local knowledge to draw on, from the concierge, shop keepers, random people you can ask for directions on the street or in a pub. :)

Re: Pet sitter

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for asking for the pet sitter/vet info for me!

I know you mentioned your friend and her diabetic pet before (and, her pet sitter). Then 2 months later we moved to Framingham (which isn't local to Watertown) :)

Pet Sitting

[dancer.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer! We are keeping you (and K) in mind. I know it sucks to do it, so I want to check out all options before sticking one of you guys with it :)

I'll keep you posted.