|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 28, 2024 12:00 AM 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! :)
|
Mar 27, 2024 12:00 AM 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!
|
Mar 24, 2024 12:00 AM 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...
|
Mar 22, 2024 12:00 AM Captain Andrea
I met my captain already few times, asking by the way for the informal picture. He was saying that he cannot do that because in his contract he signed that he will be photographed with passengers only with the professional ship's paparazzi's. They charge later for such a pucture 15 euro.
But today I as lucky to meet him on the deck where I was walking to stretch the legs. Here is the picture with my 39th captain...
|
Mar 21, 2024 12:00 AM Crossing the Tropic of Cancer
Our cruise director - pretty and elegant Sabrina announced that Neptune will come aboard to giva us a permission to cross the tropic (unfortunately we do not cross the equator). There was a lot of fun and the volunteers were baptized to have a picture... One more occasion to kill the time...
|
Mar 18, 2024 12:00 AM Rough ocean
Strong wind, high waves. I was crossing Atlantic many times, but I never experienced such a bad weather. They offered me to join galley tour to see how they are preparing the meals for more than 2000 passengers and the crew - quite interesting! I took with me my little laptop and I can work in my cabin or in the common lounges. Let's hope that the weather will improve!
|
Mar 17, 2024 12:00 AM Saying goodbye to America...
We are again on Barbados, but it is our last port in the Caribbean. In the evening we will start to cross Atlantic Ocean. The next port will be Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Canary Island. It will be Sunday, 24th March. Sorry, no free internet connection from the ship until this day!
I was walking again the streets of Bidgetown, enjoying frangipani flowers in blossom on the main square, black people passing by and homeless poople sleeping on the banks.
Until the next time, hot islands!
|
Mar 16, 2024 12:00 AM Hiking on Pigeon Island
In the morning we docked again in Castries. Saint Lucia. I decided to make the excursion by local microbus to see historic Pigeon Island in the north of the island. At the end of the St Lucia on the small, hilly islet Brits built there fortifications with cannons... They remained till now.
Behind the market in Castries I found a stop for 1A bus line to Gros Islet. Half an hour drive (depends of traffic jams) costs just 1 US dollar! Gros Islet is a picturesque fishing village cosest to Pigeon. From the tiny beach I saw Pigeon in the distance with its two summits - great view! Then I was walking along the beach, crossing without problem two elegant resorts: Landing's and Sandal's After Sandal's gate there is small wild beach and a fence surrounding Pigeon. Former Pigeon Island is now connected to the mainland by thick causeway. To get into the "historic landmark you have to pay hefty 10 USD. I paid. Inside there is a map to photograph and you see first buildings - officer's kitchen, gunpowder magazine, bakery.
The path to the top of the first, higher hill (140 m) initially is good byt the upper, stoney part require stronger boots. The view is great, but nothing on the summit. Then I went down and started to climb lower Signal Hill with little battery on the top. 3 cannons there, cistern and powder magazine are there. Again great views... Worth the effort!
This was an interesting excursion for 2 dollars! (Plus entry fee)
|
Mar 15, 2024 12:00 AM Last day on Guadeloupe
Last day... In this calendar year, I believe. Most of the local, black skin passengers is disembarking. Instead French from Europe and Italians are boarding the ship. I expect to find new friends!
I make the laundry and snake the streets for a new supply of rum. New discovery: Montebello 55 deg, 1 litre bottle for 8,95 euro in the U-supermarket 300 m from the ship. Strong stuff, but I mix it with the juice, producing the punch - very popular on the Caribbean! Tomorrow we will be on St Lucia and after tomorrow - on Barbados, before making 6-days jump across Atlantic...
|
Mar 14, 2024 12:00 AM 4 euro round trip to Saint Pierre
Oh yes, you can go to Saint Pierre by the tour organized from the ship, paying like 65 euro. But the budget travellers like me know, that there is a public bus from the coastal esplanade in Fort-de -France (Ligne 1 - big, a/c bus) which will take you there for just 2 euro each way. City bus tickets are not walid fir this bus - you pay directly to the driver - coins and euro 5, 10 banknotes are accepted only. On the way (it takes like an hour - 30 kms) expect nice views. Ask for the front seat like me!
Saint Pierre - tosay sleepy billage once was the capital of Martinique. Till 1902 when on May 8th eruprion of the volcano Pele destroyed and covered by lava and ashes all city. You can see the ruins, remains of the theatre and prison, where one locked prisoner survived. There is black sand beach, coastal esplanade and great view of the volcano, but come early as the the clouds cover the top in the afternoon - all for 4 euro!
|
Page:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
|
|
|
