Sept 18 2010 WB TransAtlantic Pirates/Capt Jacks Re-Repoing Repossession Cruise Pt.9

[birkner]

A couple of deer moved into the backyard next door this week. Well one of them pissed off my surfeit of skunks. The smell has come through my storm windows as if they were made of tissue.

Bambi is no match for Flower.

Not a nice smell for sure!!

 

[mdwoodman]

Not to mention the window displays.

DW and I were quite surprised by that one evening while walking to dinner - we weren't even in "that" district!

 

[birkner]

Sorry I had to end so abruptly yesterday but my laptop was almost out of charge and flashing warnings. I want to thank Noel for picking up the rest of the job of putting together the St. Martins trip as <i had to fly off to Chicago to help with DD´s wedding. It went off beautifully, everyone had a good time, and we returned to LA to pack to leave for BCN the following day. So thank you Noel for all the finishing details.

The problem with the wifi at the Pratik is probably due to the router. We are on the 4th floor and the computer is on the first floor. They have a lovely terrace on the first floor and I can mostly connect there, so email will have to be a daylight activity. Will post more later today. Questions welcomed.

Glad to hear the wedding went well and that I could help with the rest of the St. Maarten tour. What is the weather like in Barcelona for the next week? I have seen conflicting reports. Hoping for sun!!

 

[mdwoodman]

Yes, the real thing! I was hoping there would be at least one english speaking staff member at a store like LV. We are travelling through Singapore and London, but to my knowledge there is no LV store at either airport? I don't remember seeing one at either last year, If anyone knows different please let me know, I have googled....
Any which way, I'm gonna get my hands on one this trip!!!


Yep, the one I like is a couple hundred cheaper in Spain! Bargain!



Thanks Michael, Funny, I was just talking to my bestie (who is also on Dis and is meeting up with us at WDW), and I said 'I'll post a message to my cruise friends, I'm sure Michael or Noel will know' You guys are great!

You're quite welcome! Also, I'm sure there will be someone there who speaks English.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

We had a weekend there a few years ago and loved it. So much to see and do, and we walked miles and miles.




We ended up in that area by mistake.(Honest, it was me with the map not John) Couldn't believe my eyes, but I felt so uncomfortable and not really safe so we shot out as quickly as we could.

DW and I were quite surprised by that one evening while walking to dinner - we weren't even in "that" district!

Your right, anywhere, not just the red light district, I loved amsterdam but it made a little uncomfy too.
Suppose I should have had a smoke them I would have been comfy
What is it they say????????? oh I know.
When in Rome.

 

[birkner]

John's shirts get stained too!!! I found one on my favourite shirts of his had a stain last week! He forgets which are his good shirts and which are for work, and he seems to stain those. He uses wood stain, oils etc. So many have little blobs on. It is me who always get the tomato stains and splashes from pasta sauces etc down my front!!!
I also have a whole in my chin, another genetic flaw[/COLOR
My genes too Noel!!! Can't help it somehow.
Nice to know someone else suffers from the "what if" syndrome!!
Oh my goodness, Not just one skunk either.

We get them at our Lake House as well so we are very careful to avoid them!!

 

[granmaz]

Your right, anywhere, not just the red light district, I loved amsterdam but it made a little uncomfy too.
Suppose I should have had a smoke them I would have been comfy
What is it they say????????? oh I know.
When in Rome.

From what I remember you could smell it just outside the coffee houses, so perhaps you wouldn't need to actually have a smoke!!

 

[TotallyAngelic]

From what I remember you could smell it just outside the coffee houses, so perhaps you wouldn't need to actually have a smoke!!

From what I have heard from work colleagues you don't need to smoke at all ... you can just have a piece of cake !!!

 

[UKANGEL]

Up to recently shoes were a necessary evil. I have very wide feet and find it tough to get shoes that fit. Even Clarks Shoes do not usually fit me. A couple of month ago, somebody introduced me to Irregular Choice shoes. To my immense surprise a lot of them fit me and they are just so quirky and fun. At the moment I am lusting after this pair:

They would be perfect for the vow renewal, fit wonderfully and are really comfortable.

Corinna

Oh I must try some too then! love those ones too!

Thanks for all of your good thoughts and prayers for my friend Eric and his family. The surgery was delayed a day as the new hospital where he was transferred wanted to run additional tests. Tests showed an 80% blockage. Surgery was this morning and Eric is in recovery!!! After a double by-pass, the doctors are saying his heart is back at 100% pumping. No new meds will be needed. He is not out of the woods yet but things are definitely looking good.

I really appreciate all of the good vibes coming his way. They really worked and we are looking forward to alot more fun times for their family!!!!!

You guys are the best!

.

Oh thats good news Melodie, our continued prayers for him & his family

Any chance that he will get called in before your departure? I know you mentioned that there was a possibilty... Fingers crossed that he will not be.

No, thank goodness he should be fine, they're really quite understanding ...... and his phone is staying at home!

I will join your new girl at school group. Some day I will talk my hubby into meeting the group before the cruise. But I have 2 weeks to not be the new girl well come to think about it after 2 years guess I am not so new

What I am interested in is finally seeing the people listed on the web site that I have never seen post. So they are really the new kids

Yay! more 'new girls'!

My mother probably should have bound my mouth instead of my feet.

We are going to be at sea on International Talk Like a Pirate Day 2010 - Sept. 19th

http://www.facebook.com/InternationalTalkLikeAPirateDay

http://www.talklikeapirate.com/piratehome.html

Yay!!!!

 

[UKANGEL]

There was an article on the news today about the "roar" of the earthquakes which explains why some of them are so noisy. Its the noise I remember from last Saturday - waking up and having it sound like a freight train was coming through the house. Pure terror

Waves rushing through the ground are the cause of the stomach-tightening rumble that sets nerves jangling just before an earthquake hits.

The distinctive roar – half-vibration, half-sound – before each aftershock is making quake-weary Cantabrians jumpy.

GNS Science seismologist Warwick Smith said the sound could be loud or indistinct.

"Some of the noise in an earthquake is the noise of the buildings moving, but there is a low rumbling noise you often hear which is the vibration of the earthquake itself," he said.

"It's just at a high enough frequency that you can hear it. The sound waves travel through the Earth."

Immediately after a fault broke, P-waves (primary waves) and S-waves (secondary waves) radiated out from the rupture, he said.

"What is happening is generally you are hearing the P-wave and then feeling the secondary wave. Just like in a thunderstorm, with the thunder and lightning, the time between the P and S waves is a measure of how far away it is."

In an earthquake like last Saturday's, the second set of waves could strike quickly, Smith said.

"When it's that big, that P-wave is going to knock you around as well. It's faster than the speed of sound in air," he said.

"The P-waves travel at somewhere around five kilometres a second and the S-waves about 3km a second, so if you are a few kilometres away you will get the sound."

[/QUOTE]



This is really interesting, I shall pass it on to dd

We will miss the Hard Rock meeting too. Can I join the new girl at school group too?

Kristi

Of course! Should we set up another group meeting?

The more, the merrier .

Exactly!

My mama called. I think she is getting a little nervous that we are going to be out of touch for a couple of weeks. She lives in WA State very near my sister, but she always calls Dennis for advice so she is getting a bit anxious. She likes Dennis best! I told her I will call her for sure a couple of times before we leave the US and then as soon as we get back to FL. Dennis told her she should be going with us!

Aw, I'm seeing my mum and sister on Thursday before we go too, just to catch up...and give them the ship's details etc.......especially as they will be on hand for Becky.....

I really, really, like you Noel.

Ditto twinnie.....

Hello all....it is truly hard to believe that next week at this time we will be a couple of hours away from Barcelona....two years ago we booked this cruise and now it is here.....just cannot believe it. DW will begin packing tomorrow....and that is a major accomplishment since we usually never start packing until the day before....safe travels to all and will see ya real soon!

See you next Saturday!

Hi everyone!

I got a few things done today for the cruise including buying a new dress. My mom thought it was so cute that she insisted on buying it for me...however my sister can wear it too so it works out.

I'm hoping to work tomorrow - however, my track record for the last two Saturdays has been being sick. I'm HOPING that isn't the case tomorrow. I stopped the injections and I feel so much better so I'm glad.

I can't believe that next week we'll be getting on the Magic! It doesn't seem possible!

New dress is good!

 

[birkner]

Hey guys, I have been googling for hours and find any aswers, Can someone help me? I want to purchase a handbag from Louis Vuitton, I think it will be cheaper for me to buy it from Barcelona than USA.
So, the whole confusing VAT thing? Does anyone know if LV do the VAT refund cheques? And since we are not going back to the airport, where do I make my claim? Will I be able to commuincate all this to the staff at LV since I speak no spanish, or is it just too hard?
Help, my handbag addiction is getting antsy!!!!

My suggestion is upon reading all about the VAT and its problems if you are not going to the airport, is to send them an email in English and ask. Here is the Louis Vuitton website for Spain.

If you click on Contacto (contact) you will be taken to a form which you can have your browser translate (at least Chrome offers that option) which allows you to send a message in English. I suspect if there are people there who speak English, you will receive your answer directly.

As for the VAT, two websites have answers: First in blue then in red.

You can either go to the airport or submit a VAT claim form.
Instructions on both going to airport to get refund or submit VAT Claim form as we are not flying out of Barcelona:

How to claim the TAX back

When you arrive at the airport you must present you tax refund cheques at customs BEFORE you check your bags in. Customs may request to check the items before they stamp your cheques. Once your cheques have been stamped by customs you can cash your cheques at any Bureau de Change in your chosen currency.

Unfortunately if you are not actually flying out of Barcelona you cannot just go to the airport and cash your cheques. The cashing of the VAT cheques in Barcelona is a service only available for those that leave Barcelona by plane.

When you send back your VAT claim you have a number of options for obtaining your money. You can opt to receive a cheque, or choose a bank transfer or wire. These options are available on the form that you send back to the VAT reclaim office. It's best to opt for the direct transfer to your account as most banks charge a substantial fee for cashing international cheques - around 30 Euros in Spain.

It will take approximately 3 months to process your claim and for you to receive your refund.

You follow the same procedure as for the cruise if you are leaving Spain by any other means e.g. train or car. But in these situations your cheques are stamped at the customs office before you leave Spain.

Summary

You are entitled to claim a VAT refund on goods purchased in Spain if you meet the following criteria:

1) Your domicile (permanent residence) is outside the European community)

2) You spend more than 90.15 Euros on your items

3) You intend to take the items back to your country. This therefore excludes restaurant and hotel bills and general food.

4) You have all the correct paperwork completed - this is provided by shops that run the Tax Free Shopping Scheme - look for their logo in the shop window or ask in the shop (some shops do not run the tax free scheme)

5) You follow all the procedures detailed above in our article for claiming your VAT back before you leave Spain.

6) If you have any more detailed questions on Tax free shopping visit their website and post them a question directly.They have people that can respond to you in English.

Every year, tourists visiting Europe leave behind millions of dollars of refundable sales taxes. While for some, the headache of collecting the refund is not worth the few dollars at stake, if you do any serious shopping, it's hard cash — free and easy.
The process isn't difficult; you just have to get the necessary documents from the retailer, carry your purchase with you, and track down the right folks at the airport, port, or border when you leave. These days you've got to check in early at the airport; this will give you something to do while you're hanging around.
Ideally — if you're charming, lucky, and have your passport handy — you can talk a merchant into taking the tax off the price right there at the store. But even so, you'll still need to get the proper documents stamped when you depart Europe.
The standard European Union Value-Added Tax ranges from 15 to 25 percent per country, averaging about 20 percent overall. Rates change, so you'll want to check with merchants when you're there.
Unlike business travelers, tourists aren't entitled to refunds on the tax they spend on hotels and meals. Still, you can get back most of the tax you paid on merchandise such as clothes, cuckoos, and crystal.
Almost all European countries except Ireland require a minimum purchase for a refund, ranging from about $30 to several hundred dollars (Ireland has no minimum). You typically have to ring up the minimum at one retailer — you can't add up your purchases from various shops to reach the required amount — so you benefit from finding one spot where you can buy big. If you'll be on the road for a long time, shop near the end of your trip. You need to collect your refund within three months of your purchase.
Assuming you meet these criteria and you're still game, here's the drill. The details vary per country, but you follow the same basic steps.
Shop at stores that know the ropes. Retailers choose whether to participate in the VAT-refund scheme. Most tourist-oriented stores do; often you'll see a sign in the window or by the cash register (if not, ask). It'd be a shame to spend big bucks at a place and not have a chance of getting a refund. You'll also want to know whether the merchant handles refunds directly (which means a potentially bigger refund for you, but more hassle) or uses a service (quicker and easier, but the provider of this service takes a cut).
Get the documents. When you make your purchase, have the merchant fill out the necessary refund document, called a "cheque." You'll need to present your passport. Make sure the paperwork is done before you leave the store so there's nothing important missing. If they leave any blanks for you to fill out, be sure you understand what goes where. Attach your receipt to the form and stash it in a safe place..
What if the store ships your purchase to your home? You can still collect a refund, but the process varies by country. In Italy, the shipper gets your customs stamp for you and sends you the documents. In Germany, you take the documents home and then get a stamp at a German consulate or embassy once you receive the goods. Ask at the shop where you make your purchase how it works in their country.
Know where to get your refund. If you buy merchandise in a European Union country and you're bringing the goods home with you, process your documents at your last stop in the EU, regardless of where you made your purchases. So if you buy sweaters in Denmark, pants in France, and shoes in Italy, and you're flying home from Greece, get your documents stamped in Athens. Be aware that if the currencies are different in the country where you made your purchase and where you process your refund — say, pounds and euros — you may have to pay an extra conversion fee. And don't forget — Switzerland, Norway, Croatia, and Turkey are not in the EU, so if you buy in one of those countries, get your documents stamped before you leave that particular country.
Bring your goods — unused — to the airport or border crossing. You're not supposed to use your purchased goods before you present them at customs. Some retailers, particularly those in Scandinavia, will staple and seal the shopping bag to keep people from cheating. If you show up at customs wearing your new shoes, officials might look the other way — or deny you a refund.
Arrive early. You'll have to wait in a special line at customs and then, if you're collecting your refund right away, at the refund office. In smaller airports, ports, and less-trafficked border crossings, finding the right customs agent can be tough. If you run out of time and have to leave without the stamp, you're probably out of luck. A few countries allow you to try to recover the refund through the embassy in your home country. Regardless, it's a lot of trouble.
Get your documents stamped. The customs export officer will stamp your documents after you present your purchased goods to verify that you are, indeed, exporting your purchase (try to keep the goods in your carry-on). Some officials will stamp your documents even if you haven't got your purchase with you, but others are stricter. If you bought something potentially dangerous (such as a set of knives in Spain) that you probably wouldn't even be allowed to carry on a plane, chase down a customs official to have a look before you check your bag.
Collect the cash — sooner or later. Once you get your form stamped by customs, you'll need to return it to the retailer or its representative at the airport, port, or border crossing. Many merchants work with a service such as Global Refund or Premier Tax Free, which have offices where you present your stamped document. They'll extract about 4 percent for their services, but it can be worth it — often they'll give you your refund in your currency of choice, right then and there. Otherwise, they'll credit the refund to your credit card (within one or two billing cycles). If the retailer handles VAT refunds directly, it's up to you to contact the merchant for your refund. You can mail the documents from home, or quicker, from your point of departure (using a stamped, addressed envelope you've prepared or one that's been provided by the merchant) — and then wait. It could take months. If the refund check comes in a foreign currency, you may have to pay $30 or so to get your bank to cash it.
Don't count on it. My readers have reported that, even when following all of the instructions carefully, sometimes the VAT refund just doesn't pan out. (For example, they have all the paperwork ready when they get to the airport — but can't find the customs official to process it.) These problems seem most prevalent in Italy. Your best odds are for buying from a merchant who knows how to deal with the red tape for you — but even that is not infallible.
Only you can decide whether VAT refunds are worth the trouble. As for me, my favorite trip souvenirs are my photos, journal, and memories. These are priceless — and exempt from taxes and red tape.

 

[UKANGEL]

Can't believe that this time next week we will all be eagerly anticipating boarding the Magic the next day. We also booked this 2 years out, in fact we were onboard the Magic the day everything opened up! It seemed like an eternity 2 years ago until this day. Many of us will have met by this time next week at the Hard Rock. Looking forward to meeting everyone for the first time next week, and meeting Melanie at lunch tomorrow and talking about our exciting plans! For those of you starting your trips in the next few days....safe travels and I'll see you in Barcelona!

Lynne

See you soon!!!!!

After doing a weekly countdown for what seems like forever, it gives me great pleasure ( tinged with a teeny bit of sadness for some reason ) to present to my wonderful DIS friends ..... our last ever weekly countdown ...

WE HAVE ONLY 1 WEEK TO GO UNTIL WE BOARD THE DISNEY MAGIC !!!!!!

I know what you mean!

I wanted to share my txt conversation with my dad with you.
He is so funny, I love him, he cracks me up.

So I txt him,mum and len the exact same.

The countdown has started 44 and half hours till Im home and on holiday.


then I sent another txt.

Dont reply, this could get boring before the weekends out,lol.

len txs back..... not long, i love you bla bla.
mum..... no txt (thats normal)
dad... k


K


I mean where the heck did he even learn that, I dont write k on txts, he is so cheeky, wiat til I see him I wil k him alright

Brilliant! My darling old Dad rarely even remembers to turn his phone on!

That sounds very cool, Noel!!! Wish we had that here...

They do it here in Reading Kaz!

Mandy of the First Form... I shall feel like Kazzie Come Lately too...

Sounds like a proper old school story!

Hello everyone

Just wanted to check in to say to everyone who has been working so hard to make this a wonderful cruise for us all.

to everyone who has joined in the last few weeks.

to everyone who needs it now and to everyone else for safe journeys and arrivals before we meet everyone this time next Saturday

I've only got to work away in North London for two more days next week, if everything goes to plan: then two days working from home which saves me 2 hours travel time as I don't have to go to my office in Manchester

Ready to go packing Thursday night, stay safe and well see you all in Barcelona

Sarah & Elizabeth

Safe travels and see you both soon!

We had a terrific time in Amsterdam, visiting the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, the Rijksmuseum, Rembrandt´s House, and taking a canal boat cruise.

Bicycles are everywhere.

Looking forward to seeing everyone on board in one week.

Woody

Sounds very cool indeed!

 

[grmmybtty]

Glad to hear the wedding went well and that I could help with the rest of the St. Maarten tour. What is the weather like in Barcelona for the next week? I have seen conflicting reports. Hoping for sun!!

I asked the front desk to check next week's weather and there is a chance of rain most days, but then it was predicted to rain Friday and it only rained in the early am when we were asleep. The days have been warm and sunny with a few fluffy white clouds, some breezes. Many people are in shorts and sundresses. I think the weather is just like LA. It rarely rains when predicted.

We took the 24 bus from Placa Catalunya to Parc Guell today. This was suggested in tripadvisor. Glad that we did it this way. The bus let us off right in front of the park entrance. The HOHO drops people off at the bottom of the hill and it is a long, steep walk up. The park is beautiful and a "must see" if you have the time. We spent 3 pleasant hours walking around.

There are several good tapas places near the Pratik. Our favorite is Cuidad Condal, right across the street. Breakfast for 2 is under 10 euros. We've had lunch and dinner there too. The menu is in English and the staff super helpful. I recommend it highly. Taller de Tapas is also nearby, about 1 block away. Also very good.

The Pratik has a lovely terrace off the first floor where wifi connection is strong. It may be a very good place to meet for the fountains. The lobby is very small and the staff would probably not be too happy with a crowd of noisy disers packing the lobby.

Barcelona is great. Walking the streets feel safe. Don't stress about blending in. Every kind of dress is seen. If you are carrying a camera or checking out a map - you are a tourist no matter what you are wearing. That's OK. They like tourist.

 

[birkner]

So, Ive been for a run, had my shower and oatsosimple, now I am checking in with you guys and going for some food for the weekend.


I wanted to share my txt conversation with my dad with you.
He is so funny, I love him, he cracks me up.

So I txt him,mum and len the exact same.

The countdown has started 44 and half hours till Im home and on holiday.


then I sent another txt.

Dont reply, this could get boring before the weekends out,lol.

len txs back..... not long, i love you bla bla.
mum..... no txt (thats normal)
dad... k


K

I mean where the heck did he even learn that, I dont write k on txts, he is so cheeky, wiat til I see him I wil k him alright

He reminds me of how my Dad would have responded as he was just as laconic, a kind of Jimmy Stewart type!!

In defense of my Dad, he lived in house with 5 women so not easy to get a word in edgewise!!

 

[Steffy]

Hi Everyone.... I had hit the multi-quote to answer everyone, but if I did I would never get out the house to get to the DMV!

My eyes are so red, I need to stop and get Visine so my photo won't look like I'm possessed. Yes, there are several families of skunk out back. I think the entire clan hit that poor deer.

Well, off to do cruise stuff.

I can't believe I will see you all in a week!!!!!

 

[CustardTart]

Yes, the real thing! I was hoping there would be at least one english speaking staff member at a store like LV. We are travelling through Singapore and London, but to my knowledge there is no LV store at either airport? I don't remember seeing one at either last year, If anyone knows different please let me know, I have googled....
Any which way, I'm gonna get my hands on one this trip!!!


Yep, the one I like is a couple hundred cheaper in Spain! Bargain!

Which one are you after??? Do you know, I've never looked into the difference in cost between € and £ of a designer bag. I'm in lust with a Balenciaga bag which is a Spanish designer brand - wonder if they'd be cheaper over there...? Might have to see who stocks 'em in Barcelona and take a trip...

Your right, anywhere, not just the red light district, I loved amsterdam but it made a little uncomfy too.
Suppose I should have had a smoke them I would have been comfy
What is it they say????????? oh I know.
When in Rome.

 

[birkner]

Mandy of the First Form...

OMG Sarah!!! What size are you - just in case I need to shop for shoes!!!

So glad to hear you got sorted, Corinna! Tooth pain is no joke...

Lovely shoes! Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on!!!

I tried a pair of Irregular Choice shoes recently and they were a very poor fit for me BUT they fit my DD beautifully...

I will have to look for the Irregular Choice shoes here in the USA as I have Princess and the Pea feet. If the shoes don't fit perfectly in the store, I don't buy them as I will get blisters everywhere.

Especially like this shoe!!

 

[birkner]

Hello everyone

Just wanted to check in to say to everyone who has been working so hard to make this a wonderful cruise for us all.

I've only got to work away in North London for two more days next week, if everything goes to plan: then two days working from home which saves me 2 hours travel time as I don't have to go to my office in Manchester

Ready to go packing Thursday night, stay safe and well see you all in Barcelona

Sarah & Elizabeth

Don't work too hard!! See you on the Magic!!

 

[orlandothebeagle]

He reminds me of how my Dad would have responded as he was just as laconic, a kind of Jimmy Stewart type!!

In defense of my Dad, he lived in house with 5 women so not easy to get a word in edgewise!!

Your poor Dad.

Hi Everyone.... I had hit the multi-quote to answer everyone, but if I did I would never get out the house to get to the DMV!

My eyes are so red, I need to stop and get Visine so my photo won't look like I'm possessed. Yes, there are several families of skunk out back. I think the entire clan hit that poor deer.

Well, off to do cruise stuff.

I can't believe I will see you all in a week!!!!!

have a good day.

I will have to look for the Irregular Choice shoes here in the USA as I have Princess and the Pea feet. If the shoes don't fit perfectly in the store, I don't buy them as I will get blisters everywhere.

Especially like this shoe!!

very funky.

 

[LittleDisneyLovers]

My suggestion is upon reading all about the VAT and its problems if you are not going to the airport, is to send them an email in English and ask. Here is the Louis Vuitton website for Spain.

See, I knew you'd come through with the info! Thanks, I will get the 'cheque and envelope' from LV if they will do it and have it stamped at the port if I can, then post it when I get home. If LV don't participate, or I can't find the right people to stamp at port, Oh well, Bad Luck, No big deal.
It's not really a souvenir, I agree, my photo's and memories are precious, and if the ship was sinking I would take my camera before my handbag!!!