Anyone ever flunk out of a Grand Circle tour?
Jun 14th, 2014, 08:30 AM
#101
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,025
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I truly hope this has all worked out for the OP. From her comment above about the td being concerned for her being a robbery target if she were to walk in Naples with her pronounced limp, I suspect there is more to her mobility issues than we know. Wishing her the best in seeing the sites she has come to see.
Jun 14th, 2014, 09:51 AM
#102
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,989
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
SOCALTRAVELER, I agree. Obviously, the tour company personnel realized, after all those conversations, that the situation wouldn't work. Also, if TWOTEACHERS, had taken a lengthy escorted tour in the past, she would have realized that there is little or no room for personal accommodation on such a trip.
Regimentation is what deters most independent travelers from taking such jaunt. However, I enjoy them because a) I am an early bird b) as a teacher I have always lived by the clock c) I am relieved not to worry about driving, luggage handling, and the like. Recently, I have added several independent days in a city before joining a tour - but that is another story.
Like all those who have responded, I really hope that TWOTEACHERS enjoys the rest of her trip. She sound like a really good gal.
Regimentation is what deters most independent travelers from taking such jaunt. However, I enjoy them because a) I am an early bird b) as a teacher I have always lived by the clock c) I am relieved not to worry about driving, luggage handling, and the like. Recently, I have added several independent days in a city before joining a tour - but that is another story.
Like all those who have responded, I really hope that TWOTEACHERS enjoys the rest of her trip. She sound like a really good gal.
Jun 14th, 2014, 12:37 PM
#103
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok, I did it. I actually went to Herculaneum AND Pompeii today! All of you helped me with your advice and encouragement . Thank you again. I know it was crazy to do both, but it was 2:00 when I
Was leaving Herculaneum and I wasn't sure when the museum closed and Pompeii is open til 7:00 and there I was already at the circumvescuvia. BTW, there is a shuttle from the train station to Herculaneum for 3E round trip, and I was grateful for it. both sites were wonderful, although I know I missed a lot. I planned to use an audio guide but holding it to my ear just doesn't work when I am also using a cane and want to take lots of pictures. I didn't leave Pompeii until 7:30'because a very nice man came out of his way to tell me the tunnel exit I came in was closed and i had to go a very long way in the opposite direction to exit. Alas, he was wrong and after a very long ways uphill his way, I found out the tunnel was NOT closed and I had wasted many steps when I could barely lift my feet anymore. I even passed on the information to others I saw, thinking I was helping them. I was close to a meltdown then, having previously felt somewhat smug because I had managed Pompeii when the td originally forbade me to even go on my own.... So a lovely pair of French ladies was helping me in the wrong direction, and they handed me over to a lovely family from Sicily headed for the same exit. I can't tell you how kind they were, now a favorite memory of Pompeii. The man carried my bag which felt extremely heavy at that point and insisted on taking my arm at hard points and escorted me all the way to the CV train station. I think I am in love with Salvadore and his family. I left Sorrento at 8:00 AM and returned at 9:00 PM, so it was an extremely long day with no time even for a meal, just a few snacks I had in my bag. I treated myself with a taxi to the hotel which was probably only half a mile from the train station, but that was a mistake because the minimum for a taxi is 10E in Sorrento , which I never guessed, of course, and that was a bummer of an ending after a very long day, but C'est la vie .... I took so many pictures I exhausted 3 batteries for my camera, and will treasure them on so many levels. I was the only person I saw traveling solo, and I only saw one other person with a cane, so I felt crazy but also victorious . Thanks again to all.
Was leaving Herculaneum and I wasn't sure when the museum closed and Pompeii is open til 7:00 and there I was already at the circumvescuvia. BTW, there is a shuttle from the train station to Herculaneum for 3E round trip, and I was grateful for it. both sites were wonderful, although I know I missed a lot. I planned to use an audio guide but holding it to my ear just doesn't work when I am also using a cane and want to take lots of pictures. I didn't leave Pompeii until 7:30'because a very nice man came out of his way to tell me the tunnel exit I came in was closed and i had to go a very long way in the opposite direction to exit. Alas, he was wrong and after a very long ways uphill his way, I found out the tunnel was NOT closed and I had wasted many steps when I could barely lift my feet anymore. I even passed on the information to others I saw, thinking I was helping them. I was close to a meltdown then, having previously felt somewhat smug because I had managed Pompeii when the td originally forbade me to even go on my own.... So a lovely pair of French ladies was helping me in the wrong direction, and they handed me over to a lovely family from Sicily headed for the same exit. I can't tell you how kind they were, now a favorite memory of Pompeii. The man carried my bag which felt extremely heavy at that point and insisted on taking my arm at hard points and escorted me all the way to the CV train station. I think I am in love with Salvadore and his family. I left Sorrento at 8:00 AM and returned at 9:00 PM, so it was an extremely long day with no time even for a meal, just a few snacks I had in my bag. I treated myself with a taxi to the hotel which was probably only half a mile from the train station, but that was a mistake because the minimum for a taxi is 10E in Sorrento , which I never guessed, of course, and that was a bummer of an ending after a very long day, but C'est la vie .... I took so many pictures I exhausted 3 batteries for my camera, and will treasure them on so many levels. I was the only person I saw traveling solo, and I only saw one other person with a cane, so I felt crazy but also victorious . Thanks again to all.
Jun 14th, 2014, 01:20 PM
#107
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 602
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Twoteachers please when you see the tour director just say "yah boo sucks" under your breath to her for me. Enjoy the rest of your trip. I know it's childish but these people make me sooo cross. I really don't understand how anyone can forbid you do a trip. That's a rhetorical question.
Jun 14th, 2014, 02:30 PM
#115
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the positive reinforcement.... Tomorrow is an included trip,up the Amalfi coast and I am finally allowed to do something. There is a trip to Capri , optional, that I am not allowed to do, so I will go on my own. It will be a piece of cake after today..... I am going to try to go to the museum when they go to Pompeii . I chose this darn tour because it included both sites and the museum.... She will never know the problems I had at the end in Pompeii . She will just hear about the good parts, so no telling, please. I emailed the td last night saying i wanted to leave the tour, I couldn't tell her in person because I would probably go into "the ugly cry," as Oprah says, but i get the feeling she doesn't check her email... If I can't leave , I have no idea what I may be able to get from GCT as compensation....pompeii is an included tour , but Herculaneum and Capri are optional, and they hadn't asked for the money yet. It is clear to me now that I am not a tour person, not only for physical reasons, but also because I hate being rushed and doing cursory visits. I like to try to soak it all in. On my own, I really have had quite a few really enriching and valuable experiences with people from all over the world, and I treasure them.
Jun 14th, 2014, 02:46 PM
#116
To reach the museum (8€), you would take the Circumvesuviana again to Naples Garibaldi (about 70 minutes from Sorrento and 20-30 minutes past Herculaneum). Then the metro (line 1) to the museum stop. It's only about 4 stops or so. Use a money belt if you have one and watch your camera on the train/subway and in the station.
http://www.metro.na.it/metro/images/...ropolitana.pdf
http://www.metro.na.it/metro/images/...ropolitana.pdf
Jun 14th, 2014, 03:16 PM
#117
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 6,025
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do you plan to stay and do the second tour with GCT? I am concerned that you may running into a similar situation. I will say that on the river cruise we took, with a demographic from 50's to 80's, and varying mobility issues, there was always one tour group designated for a 'slower, gentler' pace. You might look into that in the future.
