The Paperwork Jungle

I noticed the other day that one of the ports we will stop at on the cruise is in Turkey. Maybe I should change the name of this blog? Emily's Italian/Greek/Turkish Blog. Well, the stop will only be for one day, so maybe not. The name's pretty long already.

Anywho... I started getting my paperwork together for my passport and stuff. I have to get a replacement social security card. The one I have is the original that Mom signed for me when I was little. So that makes it invalid now that I can write and think for myself. Did you know that to replace you SS card, you must have a certified copy of your birth certificate (with the raised seal), and in the State of Texas you must have your valid SS card to get a certified copy of your birth certificate? What do you do if you don't have either one? I have my birth certificate, so no prob, but it did strike me as funny.

I also need to change the address and picture on my driver's license. That picture still has me with super short hair! (It's past my shoulders now.) And, they would like to know where I live. :) Then I can get my SS card, THEN I can go get my passport. Sheesh! Why do they make it so difficult to leave the country? Well, I guess I could leave, I just couldn't get back in. And I would like to come back. So paperwork jungle, here I come!

Speaking of jungles, I have to get like 8 different shots before I go. I'm going to Italy and Greece. Not the Amazon. What the heck? These are both fully developed countries. I guess I should just be thankful I'm not going to the Amazon, I'd need about 8 more shots. And then a 2nd and 3rd round of hlaf of them. Of course I might just be complaining because I hate needles...

The M Word

Money.

There, I said it. I need money. And that's where you come in.

You're probably wondering, "Am I driving the get away car after you rob the bank?" Well no (shame on you!), I have planned a much more legal approach. Instead of presents for Christmas or my birthday, I am asking that everyone donate to this trip. I have set up an account with ChipIn.com to help me and everyone else see how close I am to reaching my goal.



It's safe and secure, and is the site recommended by the travel
company.

Thank you so much in advance to everyone!

Day One (or Two actually)

So here's the deal. I found out yesterday that Weatherford College is organizing a 13 day educational tour of Italy and the Greek Islands set to take off about May 18, 2011 (date might change). I've been all over the internet since then trying to figure out: money, passport and visas, cell phone, vaccinations, ...

So I have question for you. I've talked to the program director, and with the program fee (~$3500), tips (~$10/day, $130 total), the reccommended amount for food and spending money (~$45-$65/day), passport ($200), vaccines (~$ ?) . . . I'm coming to around $4500-$5000. Does that sound realistic or did I miss something here? Any of you folks that have travelled overseas, I would love to hear your wisdom.

PROGRAM FEE INCLUDES:
Round-trip airfare, bus transfers, ferry, (cruise with extension)
7 overnight stays in hotels with private bathrooms
1 night ferry accommodations (plus 3 nights cabin accommodations with cruise extension)
European breakfast daily
5 dinners
3 meals daily with cruise extension
Full-time EF Tour Director
Audio guide of Vatican City
Select guides and entrances to special attractions as per itinerary
3-day Greek island cruise with optional excursions offered by the cruise line

OPTIONAL:
Florence (by train)
Cape Sounion Sunset Excursion

The Lowdown

I know you want to know the day-by-day itinerary details. Here they are:

Day 1 - Fly overnight to Italy

Day 2 - Rome
Arrive in Rome

Day 3 - Rome
Take a guided tour of Vatican City:
•Sistine Chapel
•St. Peter’s Basilica

Take a guided tour of Rome:
•Trevi Fountain
•Pantheon

Visit the Colosseum
Take a walking tour of Rome

Day 4 - Rome • Florence
Optional: Florence by train

Day 5 - Sorrento
Travel to Sorrento
Take a guided tour of Vesuvius

Day 6 - Pompeii
Travel to Pompeii
Take a guided tour of Pompeii:

•Roman ruins

Travel to Brindisi
Board a night ferry to Patras

Day 7 - Patras • Delphi
Arrive in Patras
Travel to Delphi

Day 8 - Delphi • Athens
Take a guided tour of Delphi:
•Temple of Apollo

Visit the Delphi Museum
Travel to Athens

Day 9 - Athens
Take a guided tour of Athens:
•Olympic Stadium

Visit the Acropolis:
•Parthenon
•Temple of Athena Nike

Take a walking tour of Athens
Optional: Cape Sounion sunset excursion


Day 10-12 - Greek island and Turkey cruise
Cruise the Greek islands and Turkey:
•Mykonos
•Kusadasi
•Patmos
•Crete
•Santorini

Day 13 - Athens and Return Home