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Gail, I solved the cell phone problem by purchasing a Mobal GSM World Phone from Mobal before our last Europeon trip. Once you purchase the phone you don't have to change the chip every time you change countries. With this phone you only pay when you use the phone, no monthly service charges. The phone worked great on our recent Baltic cruise and we'll be carrying it on this cruise. The charges per minute vary by country. In Italy the cost is $1.25 per minute in country :smiley: and calls to the USA are $1.50 per minute. If you are interested go to [url=http://www.mobalrental.com/]http://www.mobalrental.com/ for details. oldefox With TIM through picell the rates in Italy are 10 cents/min. to the us from italy 21 cents/min. from other eu countries to us 99 cents/min

What time is it broadcast? I love football, but can't miss ruins and statues to watch it. GO CARDS (Louisville). :cheesy:

Gail R.- If you have a world band cell you can rent a TIM (italian cell co.) SIM chip to put in your phone and get cheap rates. Very easy to use. No looking for a payphone. Check out http://www.picell.com for chip and phone rentals. They have rate details etc. on the site. The last time we were there we did not have a world band phone and rented one from them. We had no complaints. This time we are just getting the chip.

gail r. Def doable. I usually take the subway and hike up the hill. It's a combo stop for the spanish steps and borghese. I get sick in buses. We will get the all day metro pass and run around the city like crazy people.

what are you waiting on Shannon? Joey- I am waiting for an agent with US Airways that can understand my travel requests. I am trying to book open jaw and use my FF miles for 1st class upgrade, but the reservationist are having a hard time figuring it out. I will try my TA and see if she has better luck. :undecided:

Shannon, There are two Gail's on this forum. Which are you addressing? I'm captaingail or Gail R. You, Gail R. I should have been more clear. Will this be your first trip to the Borghese galleries? If so, I wanted to make sure that you knew to get advanced reservations.

Gail- Will this be your first visit?

I haven't booked my flight yet. :undecided:

are you sharing? :grin: Links below to Hellenic culture site. 1st is the welcome page with a lot of interesting links. 2nd is the archeological link. Akrotiri and ancient thira are under this link, as well as the Athenian sites. There is a link on each site's web page with ticket and operating hours information. Speaking of tickets.... anyone planning on visiting the Borghese gallery while in Rome? http://www.culture.gr/home/welcome.html [url=http://www.culture.gr/2/21/toc/index.html]http://www.culture.gr/2/21/toc/index.html

I just found a greek website for akrotiri, ancient thira and the prehistoric museum of thera...... admission is free for the sunday we will be in port. Free cool stuff.....yahoo.

Joey- If you need help insulting that bag, give me a call. I don't have much experience with luggage, but I insult people all the time without even trying. :grin:

My how things have changed......fuel surcharges etc... preliminary results- To mail something weighing ~2.5 Kg from Nice, it is 12 euros To mail something weighing ~2.5 Kg from Italy, it is 52 euros( there is a disclaimer on this one) my Italian is not up to speed, so I may have checked a priority rate. I'll look into it a bit more. The ups rates were way crazy. I'm going to check DHL. It seems that an extra checked bag with foam or bubble wrap is in order. I'll put it together in a little more detail and get back with everyone.

Here is a link to a french online wine merchant. The prices are prob. a wee bit cheaper @ the vinyard. I have no idea what it cost to send stuff back from Italy, I just remember thinking it was reasonable. I'll do some research and get back with you. http://www.75cl.com

most vintners and olive groves will ship the products for you. I have found the cost to be minimal, and much easier than carrying all those bottles.

Jackie- It was supposed to be opened early 2006. I will double check.

Tonia- Ken and I are going to hike to Ia. There is a 6.2 mi. footpath. The views are supposed to be awesome over the caldera, esp. @ sunset. We will prob. take the bus back due to time constraints.That will be the last thing we do on the island. Santorini is going to be one busy,physical day. We are catching the bus to Akrotiri, then back to Fira for the museum to see the wall paintings that were removed from Akrotiri, then the bus to Kamali. We are planning to take the footpath from Kamali to ancient Thira (~40min.). That's the preliminary plan anyway. Does anyone have any suggestions for improvement? cautions? ideas?

No. There is a TGV station in Nice as well. We haven't yet decided to take the TGV to Marseille. We might take a slower means of transport along the coast. Speed will prob. triumph as our time is limited. So many possibilities....

whats tgv high speed rail (bullet train). they have service from marseille to avignon

Time for Shannon's daily question.... Provence...private tour or TGV? Chateau neuf du pape pont du garde nimes romainie(sp?)

space available upgrades

me too.... now if they could just scale back the number of people they allow on the ship.......

Thanks Jackie. I guess we will have to wear our wellies for the hike up the hill. We could make a game of it , hopscotch except with donkey poo.

Thanks Paula and Mary Ann. I think I will activate the world traveler option as well. Now for the next question... How far is it from the port in santorini to fira? How long does it take to hike up the hill? Does anyone know?

I'm trying to figure out what to do about cell service on the voyage. Last trip we rented a phone with a TIM chip, but we were only in Italy and the rates in country are really low. I could also sign up for the "world traveler" option on my Cingular service. Has anyone had experience with Cingular in Europe?

I'm afraid that if I wore one and it started beeping, someone might confuse it with the "backing up" beep on those big trucks.