You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Apr 01, 2023 12:00 AM Heraklion, Crete
After six days at sea we finally reached first European port. Everybody, including the crew members was happy to step on the land... The day was sunny, ant the port in Heraklion is located just steps from the city. Picturesque Venetian Castle - the main landmark of the capital city of Crete was visible even from the top deck of our ship. I spend the day strolling the narrow streets of the old part of the town. Many cafes and taverns are waiting here for tourists. It is also a way of life of local Greeks... Heraklion didn't change sinse my last visit...
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Mar 30, 2023 12:00 AM Through the Suez Canal...
We started at 6 am as a third ship in the convoy. after Suez there was only desert on both sides of the canal. We were sailing the easter branch to Ismaila - open recently... Nice views but windy on the deck! The canal is almost 200 lms long. It took us 10 hours of sailing to get to the the morthern end on Port Said. The main attraction on the way was Al Salam high bridge - we were there at 1.30 pm. Now we are back in the Mediterranean Sea!
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Mar 29, 2023 12:00 AM We reached Suez..
In the evening our ship reached port of Suez located at the southern end of Suez Canal. Here we will be waiting till the early morning to start the passage of the canal. The captain told me that the fee charged for the passage of the ship our size is higher than 1 million euro! I see on the distance the mosque on the promenade overlooking canal in Suez...
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Mar 24, 2023 12:00 AM Hot Salalah
This is second port of Oman. Unfortunately the passenger ships are docking 9 kms out of the city center - in the dusty commercial port and then you are exposed to taxi mafia waiting at the port gate. There is public bus stop nearby, but for some reason the bus is not visiting this stop. I say goodbye to the taxi drivers asking 40 euro per ride and went out - to the main road. Some 200 m away, on the main road opposithe the little palm groove there was city bus no 20 waiting. He took me to the city center for just 1 dollar! Most of the shops were closed due to the ramadan but in the Garden Shopping Mall I had a chance to connect to the reliable internet for free. Tomorrow we are turning to the Red Sea and going onward to the Suez Canal!
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Mar 22, 2023 12:00 AM Oman - tomorrow ramadan starts!
Today in the morning our ship reached Muscat - the capital of Oman Sultanate. The port has picturesque location, surrounded by rocky mountains. It is my fourth visit here, but it is still nice to visit well known, peaceful places and to meet friendly Omani people. Taxi drivers offer an excursion s in front of the port gate they charge 25 euro per hour per cac - not a worst price! I found free, courtesy internet in the hotel. That's why I am able to send you few pictures. Tomorrow ramadan starts. We will be at sea again tomorrow. But the day after - In Salalah all shops and institution will be closed... :)
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Mar 21, 2023 12:00 AM Day at sea
Warm but cloudy day. We are at Persian Gulf. I do not care - I need some time to make the laundry, and to talk with a new friends. In the evening we have nice shows. Let' relax...
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Mar 20, 2023 12:00 AM A day in Abu Dhabi
I was here just one year ago. Our ship is docking in Zayed Port - there is a nice view of the skyline of the modern city from the ship, but if you want to go to the centrum it will be few kms walk in the heat. A year ago they provided free shuttle buses to the shoping mall, but today you have to pay 15 eiro for this RT transfer to Costa! The free onternet in the terminal is weak, some addresses are blocked.
In the midday I was lucky to find in the parking a new shuttle bus to the new-opened bright Galleria shopping mall located on the island. They took me there and that's why I can send you this message.
Tomorrow we have a day at sea on the way to Muscat, Oman...
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Mar 19, 2023 12:00 AM On the beach on Dubai...
It is very hot here - some 28 deg Celsius in the shade. It is difficult to survive long time in the sun but if you want to enjoy for free white sand and swim there is free option for the passengers and crew of the cruise ships docking in Dubai's Port Rashid port.
Take plenty of drinking water and board the free shittle going to Mercato Mall. Once you are there cross Jumeira Street and walk along about 200 m until you woll see little alley heading to the beach. It is uncrowded and near the "La Mer" hotel has a little palm grove for your romantic pictures... Enjoy the tropics!
Tonight we will be sailing to Abu Dhabi port...
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Mar 18, 2023 12:00 AM Dubai in the sun!
Our ship is docking full day on Dubai. Do not trust the staff offering you expensive excursions. You can visit Dubai on your own: in front of the cruise terminal minibuses are waiting offering free round trip transfer to the shopping malls like Dubai Mall and Merkato. Jump in and if you are a good walker you will be able to see all these famous skyscrapers including tallest Burj Khalifa. In the malls they offer free wifi connection. (In cruise terminal wifi is not reliable and on the ship it is very expensive). That's what I did today enjoying the sun and the temperature of 28 deg. Celsius!
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Mar 17, 2023 12:00 AM Embarking ship in Dubai
Midnight, 22 deg Celsius. Abu Dhabi airport. How can I go from here to Port Rashid in Dubai, where my ship is waiting for me? Terminal in AUH is cramp. I found information desk. They sell here tickets for the bus departing to Dubai Ibn Battuta metro station departing every hour on hour. It costs 35 dirhams. My departure is at 1 am...
OK - it took me 1,5 h to get to Ibn Battuta. Unfortunately they open the station only at 5.30 so I was forced to wait...
Once they opened the modern station I bought in the machine ticket to Al Gubaiba station (8 dirhams) - the closest station to Port Rashid. The sun was slowly rising when I was passing the centre of Dubai - full of skyscrapers. With two connections metro ride took me an hour. Once out of the station my ship was visible in the distance. Unfortunately between us there was huge construction work. Oh my God! Long walk around the construction field... But soon I will be resting in my cabin!
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