The Logis agent finally tracked down the owner of our first Paris apartment choice. He was on vacation so didn't check email or vmail. How about that.
Anyway, almost got another apartment. Totally enchanted with some apts. in www.rentparis.com Almost went for it. Then when I tried to show Song the site, it was down. Down for two days. Then Logis called and said our first choice was available.
Athens is finalized too. So was Civita. It was an unbelieveable town. On top of a hill with one bridge out. I had a choice of visiting Ovieto. But I thought it was too much for one day visit.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Friday, August 27, 2004
Paris apartments
Paris apts. are pain in the neck. Found http://paris.lodgis.com/ a very good site where you can search by your criteria, has good images and pretty detailed descriptions, including location ranking, etc.
Found two candidates. Faxed over applications to the agency, who'd take a cut from the booking. Then they would look for the owner, bridge up the two parties. Except I have been waiting and waiting. Called and left a message. B/c timezone differences, you have to pretty much wait for a day for reply.
I'm looking for others in the meanwhile. But not sure if Logis all of a sudden replied that they've already booked for me, I could end up owning two Paris apartments for 2 weeks.
Athens apartments going well. They all seem to speak/write English so well I was wondering they are expats over there. First one is www.viviun.com/AD-11538 Not sure it is the best I can find though.
Took some test shots with D70. Still not 100% happy. But Nikon can't be an Emperor without cloth ... everybody loves D70. What did I do wrong?
Found two candidates. Faxed over applications to the agency, who'd take a cut from the booking. Then they would look for the owner, bridge up the two parties. Except I have been waiting and waiting. Called and left a message. B/c timezone differences, you have to pretty much wait for a day for reply.
I'm looking for others in the meanwhile. But not sure if Logis all of a sudden replied that they've already booked for me, I could end up owning two Paris apartments for 2 weeks.
Athens apartments going well. They all seem to speak/write English so well I was wondering they are expats over there. First one is www.viviun.com/AD-11538 Not sure it is the best I can find though.
Took some test shots with D70. Still not 100% happy. But Nikon can't be an Emperor without cloth ... everybody loves D70. What did I do wrong?
Monday, August 23, 2004
Good start, mishaps ... not bad after all.
I snore too much. So Song insisted we find separate sleeping areas at long stays.
Hotels are pretty expensive if you want a suite or even two single rooms. Rick Steves and other tour books do have a lot hotels listed but none of them was cheap. At least by looking at the Internet price listings.
I wonder if you can get a better deal if just walk in and bargin. But it is our first trip so ... no.
Anyways, Song thought about renting apartments. Since we will stay at least 4 nights or more in Rome, Florence, Athens and Paris, it was a brilliant idea.
Paris is abundant with apartments. Rome is a little harder to find at first. Then if you try the 2nd or 3rd pages from Google's return, you will find more and better fits. Don't try their "Sponsored links". Not all are relevant.
We found and settled for two apts in Florence and Rome first, actually. The hosts/owners are pretty nice. Quick email reply and pretty clear rules and very good English too.
Nikon has been returned. UPS said Ritz received it. It was a pain to ship via UPS: since I insured the camera for $1500, I was told to hand the package in. I went to a UPS Store (formerly mailbox etc.) they said they couldn't take it. I had to drive to their DC instead.
Hotels are pretty expensive if you want a suite or even two single rooms. Rick Steves and other tour books do have a lot hotels listed but none of them was cheap. At least by looking at the Internet price listings.
I wonder if you can get a better deal if just walk in and bargin. But it is our first trip so ... no.
Anyways, Song thought about renting apartments. Since we will stay at least 4 nights or more in Rome, Florence, Athens and Paris, it was a brilliant idea.
Paris is abundant with apartments. Rome is a little harder to find at first. Then if you try the 2nd or 3rd pages from Google's return, you will find more and better fits. Don't try their "Sponsored links". Not all are relevant.
We found and settled for two apts in Florence and Rome first, actually. The hosts/owners are pretty nice. Quick email reply and pretty clear rules and very good English too.
Nikon has been returned. UPS said Ritz received it. It was a pain to ship via UPS: since I insured the camera for $1500, I was told to hand the package in. I went to a UPS Store (formerly mailbox etc.) they said they couldn't take it. I had to drive to their DC instead.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Nikon mistake
Nikon was a mistake. I bought D100, what I meant to buy was D70---who would've thought Nikon would model their product downward?? Thanks heaven I complained to Steve. I've reordered the D70 and returned the D100. Hopefully, Ritz (www.ritzcamera.com) will give me a break. Man.
I took some shots with the D100. Not very impressed though. I don't have a lab to test shoot, of course. But the results were kind of dull and grave looking. Steve did mention the "intended" under exposure problem. But the images were never that sharp to begin with. Is there any problem with my lens?
Ritz already shipped my new D70. Oh, gosh. Much lighter.
I took some shots with the D100. Not very impressed though. I don't have a lab to test shoot, of course. But the results were kind of dull and grave looking. Steve did mention the "intended" under exposure problem. But the images were never that sharp to begin with. Is there any problem with my lens?
Ritz already shipped my new D70. Oh, gosh. Much lighter.
Friday, August 20, 2004
Preparation Days
We just got a new Nikon camera today. We've made most of the hotel reservations today. Lots of work. We've been to 2 Rick Steves' travel class, also consulted David for trip planning last week.
Rick Steves shop is so socialistic that is true European. The name is startling: Europe through the Back Door.
But people there are incredibly helpful. You walk around and they'd approach you to offer help. You ask questions big or small and they were happy to answer for free. Apparently they all enjoyed travel fervently. Although the selling point has always been thrifty and and homeliness, you can feel a touch of loftiness when you hear them talk.
Anyhow, after sitting through two free classes and wandered around in their shop long enough, when we finally met the consultant, we already had most of the questions answered. No laptops, no Zermatt. Interlaken instead. And so on. In the end, we were still pretty happy to pay $40 for a 40 min session.
Rick Steves shop is so socialistic that is true European. The name is startling: Europe through the Back Door.
But people there are incredibly helpful. You walk around and they'd approach you to offer help. You ask questions big or small and they were happy to answer for free. Apparently they all enjoyed travel fervently. Although the selling point has always been thrifty and and homeliness, you can feel a touch of loftiness when you hear them talk.
Anyhow, after sitting through two free classes and wandered around in their shop long enough, when we finally met the consultant, we already had most of the questions answered. No laptops, no Zermatt. Interlaken instead. And so on. In the end, we were still pretty happy to pay $40 for a 40 min session.
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