[Idyllchat] RE: IdyllChat Digest, Vol 16, Issue 16
Olmsted, Sallie (LAN-RCN)
solmsted at rogersandcowan.com
Mon Nov 26 13:41:15 EST 2007
Veracruz is lovely, a tropical port with a lot of Cuban flair. The down
town area is well preserved and fun, the old fort is worth a trip, as is
a trip down to the resort hotel area to have a seafood meal. We stayed
in the old part of town at a hotel right at the tip of the port where
cruise ships and cargo liners unload which was fun to watch and also fun
to be able to walk most every where. Beware that while the weather is
sunny and warm, the beaches aren't the best to do oil residue from
offshore rigs and tankers coming in and out of port. Food good and
very reasonable, taxis cheap, people very friendly. We were the only
Americans there it seemed, so not a lot of touts chasing you around.
-----Original Message-----
From: idyllchat-bounces at lists.untours.com
[mailto:idyllchat-bounces at lists.untours.com] On Behalf Of
idyllchat-request at lists.untours.com
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2007 10:31 AM
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Subject: IdyllChat Digest, Vol 16, Issue 16
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Today's Topics:
1. (no subject) (ron at dworsky.net)
2. Re: (no subject) (pandjking at sbcglobal.net)
3. Veracruz Mexico (Steve & Kay)
4. RE: cash and credit cards (Irvjane at aol.com)
5. Re: Barcelona (pandjking at sbcglobal.net)
6. Re: cash and credit cards (Pete and Maggie Haggart)
7. Re: cash and credit cards (Irvjane at aol.com)
8. Re: Re: Barcelona (Michele Spann)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Message: 1
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 12:25:15 -0500 (EST)
From: ron at dworsky.net
Subject: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Message-ID:
<62340.70.100.125.202.1195925115.squirrel at webmail.binarystudios.net>
Content-Type: text/plain;charset=iso-8859-1
We are thinking of a untour trip for 2 weeks to Barcelona. Anyone know
about that area and is there enough to do for two weeks. ...Also,
suggestions for where to stay...........Thanks
------------------------------
Message: 2
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 13:11:21 -0500
From: <pandjking at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
To: <ron at dworsky.net>, <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Message-ID: <013801c82ec5$6b572f50$6401a8c0 at dell>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
We spent a week there in March, 2006 and didn't have time to see nearly
all
that we would have liked. Public transportation is very good
(inexpensive,
easy to use) within the city. Any good guidebook can steer you to the
most
interesting sights; we particularly liked the Gothic Quarter (maybe the
cathedral is rid of its scaffolding by now!), the Ramblas, the Gaudi
buildings, the beaches and marina, and Mont Juif. Many of the signs,
menus,
etc. are in Catalan instead of Spanish, but most of the people who deal
with
foreigners on a regular basis are reasonably fluent in English as well,
so
language wasn't a problem. Since we stayed with friends, I can't advise
you
about hotels.
Jane
Spring Lake, MI
----- Original Message -----
From: <ron at dworsky.net>
To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 12:25 PM
Subject: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
> We are thinking of a untour trip for 2 weeks to Barcelona. Anyone
know
> about that area and is there enough to do for two weeks. ...Also,
> suggestions for where to stay...........Thanks
>
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by IdyllChat.
> To reply or send a new message, email to:
> IdyllChat at lists.untours.com
>
> Visit the IdyllChat archives:
> http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/
>
> Search Idyllchat Archives for any subject at:
> http://search.dca.net/sites/untours/main.html
>>
> Read real Untourists' candid accounts of their Untours:
>> http://www.untours.com/triplogs.html To unsubscribe, change to digest
>> delivery, or
> temporarily pause delivery, visit:
> http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/idyllchat
------------------------------
Message: 3
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 17:35:16 -0500
From: "Steve & Kay" <hurley-bardige at comcast.net>
Subject: [Idyllchat] Veracruz Mexico
To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Message-ID: <000801c82eea$49807740$6401a8c0 at Home1>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
We are considering taking a side trip from Cancun to Veracruz this
winter. We welcome any recent experiences, easy of getting around for
English only folks, food, places to stay, safety, etc.
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Message: 4
Date: Sat, 24 Nov 2007 18:00:37 EST
From: Irvjane at aol.com
Subject: RE: [Idyllchat] cash and credit cards
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Message-ID: <c18.23587b7f.347a0715 at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
On the advice received herein several years ago we did the following and
enjoy no-commission use. (I don't know about the underlying exchange
rate vs that
offered by an issuer who charges foreign commissions or ATM fees.)
1) Capitol One Visa Card
We got one in Jane's name also, after reading a horror story in
International
Travel News magazine about a lady whose credit card was actually against
her
husband's account. He died on a French trip and American Express
promptly
closed the account. She couldn't use it to get funds for his cremation.
2) USAA ATM Card
We also now use USAA for our Internet banking, and find them very easy
to
use. One does not have to be a service member or retired military to
open a bank
account.
Irv Smith
**************************************
Check out AOL's list of 2007's
hottest products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop0003000000000
1)
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Message: 5
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 19:25:18 -0500
From: <pandjking at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [Idyllchat] Re: Barcelona
To: <ron at dworsky.net>
Cc: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Message-ID: <025401c82fc2$d36f3260$6401a8c0 at dell>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
Dear Ron,
My wife, Jane, has already responded, but I need to get my two
cents'
worth in, too.
We have been to Barcelona a couple of times. It is a lovely city
and
cultural experience. I can't imagine you will run out of things to do
in
two weeks there. Plus, there are lots of interesting things to see and
do
in the area outside of the city -- the Church of the Black Madonna
(Montserrat) and the amazing rock formations on the way to and from the
church, for example.
The tapas bars in Barcelona are excellent and provide a tasty and
inexpensive meal. There is a Cava (sparkling wine) bar not far from the
Port Vell Marina that is packed every night of the week. You can get a
good
bottle of Cava for 2 to 3 euros, plus they offer a menu of about 8
different
sandwiches, including hot dogs and hamburgers, which are also very
inexpensive. It is popular with traveling college kids, but a fun
experience -- standing room only.
We did go to a couple of expensive restaurants there with our
friends,
but their names escape me. Off the Ramblas about one street is a very
good
restaurant, Los Caracoles (The Snail) which serves typical dishes of the
region. Lunches there are excellent and not expensive.
On the Rambla is the Mercat St. Josef or "La Boqueria," a big
farmers'
market that sells fresh produce, cheese, breads, etc., etc. The market
also
includes a couple of restaurants that are popular with the locals and
inexpensive.
A big department store in the center of the city, El Corte Ingles,
sells
everything and anything (Including food and wine) at decent prices. If
there is anything you need in the way clothing, toiletries, and the
like,
this is the store to visit.
Bon Appetit magazine recently had an issue about places to visit and
stay all over the world. They recommended the Hotel Camper in
Barcelona,
which is either on or near the Ramblas (great location for tourists).
It is
supposed to be a small hotel with an all English-speaking staff and it
is
owned by the Camper shoe company. You might want to check them out on
the
internet.
Last, Barcelona, like any big city, has petty crime, but very little
violent crime -- mostly pickpockets who are very skillful. Keep track
of
your valuables and wear one of those under-the-shirt or down-the-pants
travel wallets to hold your credit cards, identity cards, passports, and
main stash of cash.
Hope this information is helpful.
Enjoy your trip. You will love Barcelona.
Phil King
Spring Lake, MI
----- Original Message -----
From: <ron at dworsky.net>
To: <pandjking at sbcglobal.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 8:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
> >
>
> Thank you for answering me. This was my first message and I didn't
know
> what would happen. The amount of information with untours is
remarkable.
> I have never been with untours but I think I will be in the future.
> Thanks again............................Ron
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> We spent a week there in March, 2006 and didn't have time to see
nearly
>> all
>> that we would have liked. Public transportation is very good
>> (inexpensive,
>> easy to use) within the city. Any good guidebook can steer you to the
>> most
>> interesting sights; we particularly liked the Gothic Quarter (maybe
the
>> cathedral is rid of its scaffolding by now!), the Ramblas, the Gaudi
>> buildings, the beaches and marina, and Mont Juif. Many of the signs,
>> menus,
>> etc. are in Catalan instead of Spanish, but most of the people who
deal
>> with
>> foreigners on a regular basis are reasonably fluent in English as
well,
>> so
>> language wasn't a problem. Since we stayed with friends, I can't
advise
>> you
>> about hotels.
>>
>> Jane
>> Spring Lake, MI
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: <ron at dworsky.net>
>> To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
>> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 12:25 PM
>> Subject: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
>>
>>
>>> We are thinking of a untour trip for 2 weeks to Barcelona. Anyone
know
>>> about that area and is there enough to do for two weeks. ...Also,
>>> suggestions for where to stay...........Thanks
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> This message was sent by IdyllChat.
>>> To reply or send a new message, email to:
>>> IdyllChat at lists.untours.com
>>>
>>> Visit the IdyllChat archives:
>>> http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/
>>>
>>> Search Idyllchat Archives for any subject at:
>>> http://search.dca.net/sites/untours/main.html
>>>>
>>> Read real Untourists' candid accounts of their Untours:
>>>> http://www.untours.com/triplogs.html To unsubscribe, change to
digest
>>>> delivery, or
>>> temporarily pause delivery, visit:
>>> http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/idyllchat
>>
>>
>
>
------------------------------
Message: 6
Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:16:38 -0800
From: "Pete and Maggie Haggart" <haggart at moscow.com>
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] cash and credit cards
To: <Irvjane at aol.com>, <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Message-ID: <022f01c82fd2$b0027d90$6401a8c0 at HAGGARTLAPTOP>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
While I agree with Irv about the Capital One card.............
I have to offer a correction/observation about the USAA ATM card.
That ATM card is no longer available to military service members or
retirees. In years past that card was available to non-service people
and those people can still use that card -but no cards are being issued
to folks like me. I confirmed this - some time ago - by calling USAA to
get the details. Irv and others have a good deal with that card.
Pete
in Moscow
----- Original Message -----
From: Irvjane at aol.com
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 3:00 PM
Subject: RE: [Idyllchat] cash and credit cards
On the advice received herein several years ago we did the following
and enjoy no-commission use. (I don't know about the underlying
exchange rate vs that offered by an issuer who charges foreign
commissions or ATM fees.)
1) Capitol One Visa Card
We got one in Jane's name also, after reading a horror story in
International Travel News magazine about a lady whose credit card was
actually against her husband's account. He died on a French trip and
American Express promptly closed the account. She couldn't use it to
get funds for his cremation.
2) USAA ATM Card
We also now use USAA for our Internet banking, and find them very easy
to use. One does not have to be a service member or retired military to
open a bank account.
Irv Smith
**************************************
Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop0003000000000
1)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------
_______________________________________________
This message was sent by IdyllChat.
To reply or send a new message, email to:
IdyllChat at lists.untours.com
Visit the IdyllChat archives:
http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/
Search Idyllchat Archives for any subject at:
http://search.dca.net/sites/untours/main.html
>
Read real Untourists' candid accounts of their Untours:
> http://www.untours.com/triplogs.html To unsubscribe, change to
digest delivery, or
temporarily pause delivery, visit:
http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/idyllchat
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Message: 7
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 09:27:07 EST
From: Irvjane at aol.com
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] cash and credit cards
To: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Message-ID: <d1e.12d9b8c1.347c31bb at aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
In a message dated 11/25/2007 8:19:03 P.M. Central Standard Time,
haggart at moscow.com writes:
That ATM card is no longer available to military service members or
retirees
Hi Pete. Thanks for the update to the list. You did mean "NON-military
. .
." I assume.
You're right, and I wasn't aware of the change but Wikipedia knew:
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAA#Banking_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USAA#Banking)
<<<
For many years, while USAA did not market to anyone outside its niche,
they
would open bank accounts for qualified customers requesting USAA's
services.
In July 2006 USAA chose to further focus on its target market and will
only
extend new banking services to people eligible to purchase P&C
insurance from
USAA. They continue to make an exception for residents of _Bexar
County_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bexar_County) (San Antonio, TX) and those
people
that already have a banking relationship with USAA.
>>>
Evidently that window doesn't work any more. I'm not sure what
"qualified
customers" means, but my 90 days active duty in the USAF Critical
Skills
Reserves Program back in 1960 didn't qualify me as a Serviceperson or
retiree. I
think only these good people are eligible to purchase the P&C
insurance.
At the time I signed up, long before July 2006, I was told that because
the
"USAA Federal Savings Bank" was a "Federal Thrift," they had to offer
the
service to all US citizens. Evidently that's changed, but here's more
on this
banking vehicle:
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_savings_associations_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_savings_associations)
<<<
Federal savings associations (also called "federal thrifts"), in the
United
States, are institutions chartered by the _Office of Thrift
Supervision_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Thrift_Supervision) pursuant to
the
provisions of the _Home Owners' Loan Act_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Home_Owners'_Loan_Act&action=
edit) , a U.S. federal statute. Although the
activities of federal thrifts were once confined primarily to taking
deposits
from consumers and making residential mortgage loans, federal thrifts
are now
authorized to offer a wide range of financial products and services.
Federal thrifts should not be confused with _national banks_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_bank) which are banks chartered
under federal law by
the _Office of the Comptroller of the Currency_
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_the_Comptroller_of_the_Currency)
. Although the differences between
federal thrifts and national banks have diminished as the authorized
activities of federal thrifts have expanded to include virtually all
traditional
banking activities, they are still distinct institutions subject to
different
regulatory schemes and supervised by different regulators.
>>>
I'll have to be careful not to let my USAA account lapse. My pension
check
gets deposited there and I pay most routine bills from it via the
Internet
(setting them up in advance for later payment) before we go on a trip).
Actually it was in ITN magazine that I first learned of the USAA ATM.
All
Untourists should think about subscribing to this excellent travel
publication:
_http://www.intltravelnews.com/_ (http://www.intltravelnews.com/)
Irv
**************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's
hottest
products.
(http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop0003000000000
1)
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Message: 8
Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 11:34:20 -0700
From: "Michele Spann" <spannrm at northlink.com>
Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] Re: Barcelona
To: <ron at dworsky.net>
Cc: idyllchat at lists.untours.com
Message-ID: <000801c8305b$034fd5a0$9b53103f at S0029566346>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=response
I simply cannot resist this. In 1963, when we were very young, we
spent a
week in Barcelona. We went to Los Caracoles where my order of caracoles
was
a whole platter - and that was just my appetizer. The whole fish came
later. If Los Caracoles is still in business after all these years it
is
not just an excellent restaurant, it is an historic monument! It is
most
surely worth a visit.
Michele
----- Original Message -----
From: <pandjking at sbcglobal.net>
To: <ron at dworsky.net>
Cc: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 5:25 PM
Subject: [Idyllchat] Re: Barcelona
> Dear Ron,
> My wife, Jane, has already responded, but I need to get my two
cents'
> worth in, too.
> We have been to Barcelona a couple of times. It is a lovely city
and
> cultural experience. I can't imagine you will run out of things to do
in
> two weeks there. Plus, there are lots of interesting things to see
and do
> in the area outside of the city -- the Church of the Black Madonna
> (Montserrat) and the amazing rock formations on the way to and from
the
> church, for example.
> The tapas bars in Barcelona are excellent and provide a tasty and
> inexpensive meal. There is a Cava (sparkling wine) bar not far from
the
> Port Vell Marina that is packed every night of the week. You can get
a
> good bottle of Cava for 2 to 3 euros, plus they offer a menu of about
8
> different sandwiches, including hot dogs and hamburgers, which are
also
> very inexpensive. It is popular with traveling college kids, but a
fun
> experience -- standing room only.
> We did go to a couple of expensive restaurants there with our
friends,
> but their names escape me. Off the Ramblas about one street is a very
> good restaurant, Los Caracoles (The Snail) which serves typical dishes
of
> the region. Lunches there are excellent and not expensive.
> On the Rambla is the Mercat St. Josef or "La Boqueria," a big
farmers'
> market that sells fresh produce, cheese, breads, etc., etc. The
market
> also includes a couple of restaurants that are popular with the locals
and
> inexpensive.
> A big department store in the center of the city, El Corte Ingles,
> sells everything and anything (Including food and wine) at decent
prices.
> If there is anything you need in the way clothing, toiletries, and the
> like, this is the store to visit.
> Bon Appetit magazine recently had an issue about places to visit
and
> stay all over the world. They recommended the Hotel Camper in
Barcelona,
> which is either on or near the Ramblas (great location for tourists).
It
> is supposed to be a small hotel with an all English-speaking staff and
it
> is owned by the Camper shoe company. You might want to check them out
on
> the internet.
> Last, Barcelona, like any big city, has petty crime, but very
little
> violent crime -- mostly pickpockets who are very skillful. Keep track
of
> your valuables and wear one of those under-the-shirt or down-the-pants
> travel wallets to hold your credit cards, identity cards, passports,
and
> main stash of cash.
> Hope this information is helpful.
> Enjoy your trip. You will love Barcelona.
> Phil King
> Spring Lake, MI
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <ron at dworsky.net>
> To: <pandjking at sbcglobal.net>
> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 8:00 PM
> Subject: Re: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
>
>
>> >
>>
>> Thank you for answering me. This was my first message and I didn't
know
>> what would happen. The amount of information with untours is
>> remarkable.
>> I have never been with untours but I think I will be in the future.
>> Thanks again............................Ron
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> We spent a week there in March, 2006 and didn't have time to see
nearly
>>> all
>>> that we would have liked. Public transportation is very good
>>> (inexpensive,
>>> easy to use) within the city. Any good guidebook can steer you to
the
>>> most
>>> interesting sights; we particularly liked the Gothic Quarter (maybe
the
>>> cathedral is rid of its scaffolding by now!), the Ramblas, the Gaudi
>>> buildings, the beaches and marina, and Mont Juif. Many of the
signs,
>>> menus,
>>> etc. are in Catalan instead of Spanish, but most of the people who
deal
>>> with
>>> foreigners on a regular basis are reasonably fluent in English as
well,
>>> so
>>> language wasn't a problem. Since we stayed with friends, I can't
advise
>>> you
>>> about hotels.
>>>
>>> Jane
>>> Spring Lake, MI
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: <ron at dworsky.net>
>>> To: <idyllchat at lists.untours.com>
>>> Sent: Saturday, November 24, 2007 12:25 PM
>>> Subject: [Idyllchat] (no subject)
>>>
>>>
>>>> We are thinking of a untour trip for 2 weeks to Barcelona. Anyone
know
>>>> about that area and is there enough to do for two weeks. ...Also,
>>>> suggestions for where to stay...........Thanks
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> This message was sent by IdyllChat.
>>>> To reply or send a new message, email to:
>>>> IdyllChat at lists.untours.com
>>>>
>>>> Visit the IdyllChat archives:
>>>> http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/
>>>>
>>>> Search Idyllchat Archives for any subject at:
>>>> http://search.dca.net/sites/untours/main.html
>>>>>
>>>> Read real Untourists' candid accounts of their Untours:
>>>>> http://www.untours.com/triplogs.html To unsubscribe, change to
digest
>>>>> delivery, or
>>>> temporarily pause delivery, visit:
>>>> http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/idyllchat
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> This message was sent by IdyllChat.
> To reply or send a new message, email to:
> IdyllChat at lists.untours.com
>
> Visit the IdyllChat archives:
> http://mailman.dca.net/pipermail/idyllchat/
>
> Search Idyllchat Archives for any subject at:
> http://search.dca.net/sites/untours/main.html
>>
> Read real Untourists' candid accounts of their Untours:
>> http://www.untours.com/triplogs.html To unsubscribe, change to digest
>> delivery, or
> temporarily pause delivery, visit:
> http://mailman.dca.net/mailman/listinfo/idyllchat
>
------------------------------
_______________________________________________
This message was sent by IdyllChat.
To reply or send a new message, email to:
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