Can Time Really Fly?

It sure seems like time is flying by. Shame on me for not posting here since the middle of April. How can that be?

I've attended a couple of travel conferences since I last posted and everyone talks about social networking. Facebook, Twitter, blogs, My Space, LinkedIn and more. I already think technology is going to be the end of me. I fear that my last words will be something like, this ##@#%^&*&!!! computer is making me nuts!!!!!

But here I am blogging, something I actually love to do and am really going to try to do more often. I'm also changing my website and this blog will be incorporated in that. It will still be www.uniquetravelplanners.com but will have a new look and have some great and timely information.

There will be news of our new Getaway Golf Travel Club -- this should be a ton of fun so stay tuned. Also, check out my Facebook Fan page under Unique Travel Planners LLC. I try to give weekly travel tips and other useful information. See, I'm trying.

I will continue to try to embrace technology and maybe it will be my friend. But do I have to Tweet? Please don't make me. I have trouble saying anything in less than 140 characters!

That's it for now. Keep traveling. And call Unique Travel Planners when you are making your plans. Life is too short for a bad vacation.

The Oasis of the Seas: WOW!!!!!!

Tom and I had the wonderful opportunity yesterday to tour Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. If you watch t.v. at all, you've seen this ship advertised. It's the huge ship that has "neighborhoods," a zip line, two rock climbing walls, two "Flow Riders", two mini golf courses (one just for kids), incredible kids areas, even more incredible "adult only" areas, a carousal, beautiful lounges, stunning dining room, a million hot tubs (ok, I'm exaggerating a bit), and way too much more to get to right now.

Now, is this ship for everyone? I can't honestly say it is. It is huge and seemed hectic to me. Of course all ships seem hectic as passengers are getting on the first day and they always seem to calm down by day two or three. But is the Oasis for most people? Yes, I think it is. There are so many options in activities, dining and types of cabins. No one could ever get bored on this ship. I have a feeling that when you leave the Oasis, you might need another vacation just to relax. Such a problem.

Well, I need to go, because I am doing laundry at the hotel and then I have to pack and then I have to get on the beautiful Celebrity Solstice. It's a difficult job I have!

Don't forget, life is too short for bad vacations.

Off to the Caribbean soon...

Tom and I will be boarding the beautiful Celebrity Solstice on Sunday. We are really looking forward to it, especially after sitting inside the Ft. Lauderdale convention center for three solid days. I hear the weather was beautiful while we were here -- I sure wouldn't know. I'm not complaining --the conference I attended was excellent. It was the CruiseWorld 2010/Home Base Travel Agent Show -- so energizing to be with 1000 other travel consultants. I have so many new ideas to think about, all with the bottom line of helping my clients plan their perfect trips.

But I digress -- back to the upcoming cruise. I am so fortunate that I get to travel as part of my profession. I will try to post here if I have e-mail access. If not, I will write when I return. I am determined to be more faithful to my blog. By the way, we are going to San Juan, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Keep your fingers crossed for sunny skies.

I forgot to mention that tomorrow I get to tour Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas. I would love to sail on it but a few hours on it is better than nothing. I will let you know what I think of it tomorrow (hopefully).

Happy travels.

Finally some photos...

Life on the Seine

Hello from the Viking Seine. I know I have been negligent in my posting, but I'll blame it on the internet connection on the ship (or lack of it). We boarded the ship on Sunday and it is now Tuesday afternoon. Time is wooshing away. I absolutely loved every minute in Paris, but I was ready to leave, similar to the feeling I get when I'm in New York. I love it but it exhausts me. We did so much and took many pictures, which I'm going to try to get on here eventually. I need to do a lot of editing first.

We are now in a small town called Confleurs, only 14 miles from Paris, a small, quaint old town with the best pastries I have ever had (I have my priorities, you know). We had a nice walking tour and then had time to explore on our own. The ship leaves in an hour for our next stop (which I can't remember right now -- good travel agent I am) and then we are docked for the night, so hopefully we will explore at night (aka find a bar and enjoy a Pastis with the locals). The people on the ship are very nice and the service is great. I'm hoping the food improves a bit, but trust me, I'm not starving.

Our cabin is tiny, but most river boat cabins are and the shower is a challenge. I know I'm complaining, but I really am having a great time. I better go as I'm getting weird messages from blogger.com. I hope I can publish this. Au voir.

Springtime in Paris ...

Springtime in Paris is everything you imagine it would be. The days are comfortable and the evenings are cool. Trees and bushes are in full bloom and there are tulips, crocuses and other flowers everywhere. There are young lovers strolling hand in hand -- it is a very romantic place to be. And it is crowded wherever we go. Tom I have been using public transportation everyday, both the busses and the subway. They are efficient and easy to use -- I highly recommend this.

I know I skipped posting yesterday -- it was the second day of our two-day museum pass so it was another packed day. We went to the Orsay which is in an old train station and houses a famous collection from the Impressionist period-- my favorite. We went to Rue Cler, Napolean's tomb, the Picasso museum and more than I can recall right now. I do know that we walked and walked and walked.

Today was a slower pace and we went exploring via bus. We had a delicious noodle lunch at a Chinese restaurant. We went to Lafayette Department store and went crazy in their food area -- I thought Harrod's was incredible -- this was ten times better! And it was all French.

We went to the Arche de Triumph which is stunning and we walked and walked and bussed. This is a fantastic city -- I am so glad we did this trip. Tommorrow we get on our river boat and I don't know what my internet access will be but I'm sure I'll figure something out. Until then...

The Louve, St. Chappelle and a French Keyboard

Since I have no access to my laptop (or too cheap to pay for it at the hotel), I am at the mercy of the hotel's computer and the keyboard is completely different. So if there are a few typos, please bare with me. We woke up very early today, had a delicious fresh baguette and took the subway to the Louve. We bought our museum pass and joined all of the school field trips to explore this magnificent building. Of course we had to see the Venus di Milo and the Mona Lisa but also explored less viewed parts of this palace.

We then went to St. Chappelle and Notre Dame (no wonder my feet are killing me). I am not sure why we packed so much into one day but we did. I had taken my then eleven year old son to St. Chappelle twelve years ago and loved it so much. I had such vivid memories of it, with its floor to ceiling stain glass windows and its serene atmosphere. Well, it was beautiful, but not like my memory had envisioned -- very interesting. I still enjoyed it -- just different. I am going to write more about these places when I have my cheat sheets with me, but Tom is waiting patiently for me to get ready for dinner -- we are going to try to find a restaurant where the locals go. Wish me luck.