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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Apr 06, 2024 08:00 PM Crossing equator again...
It was 11.30 am when the Neptune arrived aboard to give the captain the key to the north seas and the permit to sail the Northern Hemisphere. The volunteers were baptized. There were a lot of fun and for the first time during such a ceremony I saw the real ostopuses from ship's kitchen used to baptize the passengers... Dances in the evening... One more show. Two more glaces of rum... We are loosing one hour every second day...
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Apr 02, 2024 08:00 PM Rio - out of the beaches!
I woke up early to see the panorama of Rio once the ship will be entering Guanabara Bay. But sorry... too much fogg today in the morning! 29 deg. Celsius! Rio de Janeiro is famous for its beaches. Every time arriving here I was walking along Ipanema, Leblon, Copacobana. But today... On the shore, in the terminal (red-painted old harbour depots) local agents requested 40 USD for the minibus tour to Corcovado and Copa. Last time it was 30... And you have to pay extra for entry ticket...
So I decided to save the money and to walk first to "Museum of Tomorrow" beautiful sample of the contemporary architecture (pay 6 USD if you want to be also inside) and later to the colonial Monastery San Bento. I was here 6 or 7 times, but I didn't know about this jewel of the colonial architecture. It is on the hill, close to the port. The lighting inside is poor but you will be enchanted by the number of ornate altars... Entry is free.
Then I walked to Candelaria church (doors closed) and on this main street of Rio I watched the life: street kitchens and vendors, homeless sleeping on the ground and pretty Cariocas going to offices.
Back in the terminal there was strong anti- drug dog control.
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Apr 01, 2024 08:00 PM Buzios of Brigitte Bardot
Buzios, where I landed today lies on the hilly peninsula. It is well-known resort in Brazil. Bo you remember sexy actress Brigitte Bardot? Old generation remember! She was living here with her Brazilion boy. It promoted Buzios a lot. Today she has a momument on the coastal promenade. She is sitting on her suitcase, keeping a hat in her hand. The Brazilian boy is missing, but there is another man - can you recognize him?
Local agency organizes for 70 reais pp = 14 USD tour around peninsula in safari-bus. I went with them to the beaches and view points. Panoramas are beautiful but Buzios is crowded and bit noisy. Anyway I was happy to see one more new place.
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Mar 31, 2024 08:00 PM Through the jungle to Lopez Mendes
Ilha Grande, where I landed today is quite different. It is wild, has no roads and only limited amount of cars...instead it has green mountains on the interior and many nice, pristine beaches in the different bays. The bays are reacheable by water taxis ,- noisy speeedboats jumping on the waves. I had a backbone problem so I found other solution: at 10.30 am a slowboat (like old schooner) is feparting to isolated Praia Pouso. Round trip ticket costs 50 reais or 10 USD. After 1 hour sailing I disembarked in Pouso. There is clear path through the lush jungle, under the enormous bamboo trees to great beach Lopez Mendes. It took me 5 quarters each way to reach this paradise without any commerce or beach umbrellas. There were only a dozen people spread out on 1 km of wide beach. Real paradise. But bring enouch water!
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Mar 30, 2024 10:00 PM Island really beautiful..
Happy Easter dear Friends! Ilhabela means Beautiful Island. Here I am, at the eastern coast of Brazil. No port. We were using tenders to get ashore. Little, old settlement under the palm trees. Near the pier people from agencies offer inexpensive passeios - excursions in the safari - jeeps. Half day tour to the beaches and waterfalls cost 25 USD pp. I signed for and it eas good choice - we went along the coast where in total 23 beaches offer clean sand an water to Curral Beach (stop) and oneard to Tres Tombos Waterfall hidden in the tropical jungle. Entry is free. The path to the upper, 3rd cascade is temporary closed) then we turned back to the coast, made a stop at Goats Island and proceed to Acqua Branca Fall. I enjoyed the falls... On the way back we stopped at open - air gallery of the metal sculptures showing last days of Christ.
After return to Villa (old city) I was lucky to get free wi-fi at the one of souvenir shops. It is a problem in Ilhabela!
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Mar 29, 2024 10:00 PM Embarking Big Ship
I landed on Dao Paulo airport at 7.am. Tired,.. After immigrations I went from terminal 3 to terminal 2 (there is passage on the upper, departure level) then at the exit from the building on lower, arrival level there is little Cometa bus ticket office. One ticket to Santos fer 9.30 am! Sorry first avalailable seat is for 12.10! Sheet! It os result of Easter traffic!
I went to the platform anyway, waiting for the end of check-in and asking the driver for help. Yes, he found the space for me and soon we were passing green, picture mountains heading to the coast. Paying 50 reais a 2 hours I was in Santos. Friendly Brazilian couple (thank you VV!) called uber and soon we went together to the distant cruise terminal. The boarding was long, but due to my gold status I passed with priority. Welcome aboard "Grandiosa!"
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Mar 28, 2024 10:00 PM Two trains, two planes, one bus...
Bye, bye "Costa Fortuna"!! It was raining in the morning when we entered the port of Savona. But when I was disembarking the ship at 9.20 the rain stopped. Lucky me! I don't have umbrella and it is half an hour walk from the port to the station. Intercity train to Milan departed on time. Ticket cost 20 euro of you buy on advance. I do hope that the rest of the journey will be also smooth...
Later: I arrive to Milano Centrale at 1 pm. In the huge station building you have to go to platform 1 to catch the Malpensa Express train heading to distant Malpensa airport. Ticket costs 13 euro in the machine. Before 3 pm I reached the airport. I am waiting for the flight to Lisbon.
So far everything goes well! :)
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Mar 27, 2024 10:00 PM Sun over Marseille
The weather forecast for Marseilles I received yesterday was very pessimistic: rain. But when we arrived today it was sunny and I decided once again walk to the center of this interesting but a bit dangerous city. From the port gate they offer free shuttle bus to Joliet Square. Then I walked to the huge cathedral church Notre Dame de la Mayor. It is impressing! Then I folloved to the Old Port with a yachts and fishing boats and a great view of the basilica Notre Dame on the hill.
Today is the last day on this ship. I have to pack-up to be ready tomorrow morning for the long flight to Lisbon and onward - to South America! Please keep the fingers crossed for the connections! :)
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Mar 26, 2024 10:00 PM La Rambla is green already!
We stopped for just half a day in Barcelona. Sunny but windy day. I have a great pleasure to walk from the port through Europa's Bridge to the Columbus column and onward - with a crowd of tourists up the Rambla! Prices are growing: you will pay 20 euro fo return cable car journey from WTC or 22 euro if you want to visit ornste Palacio de la Musica. Sorry - I enjoyed only outside view and free wifi. But I was already here with my friend Jorge - outstanding Spanish traveller. Do you remember, Jorge? I like Batcelona. There is a Polish song "I know tiny street in Barcelona where you feel the smell of apple flowers" No apple trees in blossom, but Rambla is already light green!
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Mar 23, 2024 10:00 PM Palm Sunday in Santa Cruz
After 6 days in the ocean today in the morning we arrived to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. No wind, no rain. Opimistic sun is shining... At 9 am I was already ashore... To check my mailboxes and to response most important letters. They offer here free internet connection in the city tourist office, but not in the cruise terminal.
I was lucky to attend the procession around the old Concepcion church in the old town. The people was not carrying palm leaves, but the branches of olive tree.
I am optimistic - on Wednesday we will be in Barcelona and on Friday I will begin the third part of my epic journey...
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