Gate 1 River Cruise

So, just a few more days before takeoff on May 11. So many little things to remember. Fortunately I still use Evernote (www.evernote.com) and have packing lists, etc still stored away there, so that has been easy to pull up and update. Interesting how many things get crossed off and how many new things get added. Just think in a few more years, all of this stuff will be on a chip in my brain and I won’t need to do anything but show up! :)

Realizing a bit late that maybe we should check on tickets to places like the Louvre and the Musee d’Orsay for our final 3 days in Paris, I discover that they are sold out for the days we could possibly go. But all is not lost! Thanks to having downloaded an European ticketing app (https://www.tiqets.com/en/) while in Paris some years back, I was able to find it on my phone (don’t even ask me how many apps are on my phone!) and lo and behold, found tickets for the days we needed and even paid a few euros extra to make them cancellable if things changed at the last moment. Got audio guides as well for just a few more Euros each. That was after Viator failed me which usually comes through. There were a number of guided tours, but they cost big bucks, so this saved us all of that.

Also looking at many different city map touring apps (Lonely Planet’s Visit My City - https://www.visitacity.com/en/amsterdam?src-sha… ) Also GPSMyCity (https://www.gpsmycity.com). However, may in the end return to Rick Steve’s Audio walking tours which we used in Greece. (Rick Steves Audio Europe organizes Rick's audio content into geographic playlists. http://bit.ly/hr2O2q ) Download the walks, the maps and just listen to Steve and natives talk about Amsterdam, Paris, etc as you walk. Janet and I will probably share my AirPods and that way we are on the same page. So one way or the other we will figure it out. We also use Google Maps to star a lot of things we want to see - also nice for Metro.

Although we plan to walk most of the time, we might also jump on the trams, etc to get a taste of the local travel and save the woofing footsies! This site has great info on buying tickets for the trams, etc - https://www.amsterdamtips.com/transport-tickets

Saved some money on parking at Charlotte airport by remembering my days at AAA (shout out to the gang!) and the app The Parking Spot (https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-parking-spot/…). Got a nice discount for being a AAA member (thanks T-Mobile for the free 1 year membership, now that I’ve retired!).

Interestingly, National Geographic is airing a new film on Anne Frank. Strange coincidence. 3 episodes are currently up if you happen to have NationalGeo TV. https://variety.com/2023/tv/reviews/a-small-lig…

Updated some of our electronic gear so we would have some decent portable chargers while on the move. Like them because they have android/apple cords built in, so no need to carry along extra cables for that. Both are 10000 mAH which will charge our phones at least twice from dead which should be plenty while we’re out and about. Our phones are 2 1/2 years old now and the batteries are starting to dim, plus when traveling we both tend to take a ton of photos/videos and that really drains the battery. This is one of the chargers we bought - https://bit.ly/3pi6hwj . Also bought a new wall plug charger with E/F adapter which seems to be used in the Netherlands/Belgium/France quite a bit. It’s nice for all the outlet possibilities it has. https://bit.ly/3nwAaZu, Also bought an Apple Watch charger with multiple ports for charging other things as well, which saves me dragging along two Apple Watch charger cables. https://bit.ly/42DN8n3. We shall see how all those work out. Also bringing along two tiny little standard Euro adapters just in case some things fail.

Decided to forgo lugging the bigger camera, which normally I like for the super zoom it has (up to 600mm), but my back has been tricky lately, so the less I have to carry the better. The Phone will have to do the trick.

In case you have absolutely no interest in any of this gibberish, you have to remember that this is a personal journal so I’m trying to remember things for myself when I look back 10 years from now. :). Hopefully the links though might be helpful to some of you inveterate travelers. That’s all for now folks!Læs mere