|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 16, 2022 12:00 AM Dominica, not Dominicana!
At 8 am we docked at Roseau - capital city of independent Dominica. Only one ship can dock here - the country with 72000 citizens is poor, but picturesque. High hills covered by lush green vegetation form main element of the landscape. I eas alreaady twice here, but long time ago. Already from the upper, 12th deck I was able to see, that not much changed here. Yes, between the old wooden, colonial houses new, modern buildings appeared. Both cathedrals, anglican and catholic are still in ruin after famous Maria cyclone. Once ashore I was walking again narrow, crowded due high amount of cars streets. I went to botanical garden with nice samples of travellers palm and then I was hitchhiking to the Trafalgar Falls, hidden 7 kms away, in the mountains. You know that I am great fan of the waterfalls - I eas happy to see the new ones! The car left me at Papilotte little power station. Then there is a tiring 10-min walk up the very steep road to the ticket office where you pay 5 USD or 13 caribs for entry. Then it is 10 walk on the path through the lush jungle. At the end of the path there is a view point under the roof - both falls are visible. The left on - higher but weak is 53 m high, and the right one carrying more water is 23 m high. Great view! I returned to the ship by hitchhiking: the car took me after 2 kms walk. Blue sky, hot sun - the best if the Caribbean!
e
|
Dec 15, 2022 12:00 AM Barbados on the horizon!
Today in the morning after 6 days at sea I saw again the land. This was Barbados - former British colony. Last time I was here at the beginning of this year... I know very well the capital of the island - Bridgetown. where we dock. Just after breakfast I crossed the port gate, politely saying thank you to the hindered or so taxi drivers hunting for the ship's passengers. Than, after some 500 m I had a look to the market, where they sell mostly fresh fish, including big mahi-mahi. Finally I passed the parliament and crossed the second bridge to the Golden Park. Free Internet here still works! My mailbox after 6 days at sea is full. It is time to response the letters and to enjoy the news from friends! Welcome to hot but breezy Barbados!
|
Dec 13, 2022 12:00 AM Crossing the Atlantic once again
There is a lot to do on our ship. Trivia, quiz. Sunbathing. Reading. I brought from me my small laptop to prepare the travel report from Antarctica and my presentation. In the evening we have every day new show in the theater and plenty of good music in different locations. I like most the performance of charming Nastya from Ukraine. She is very talented, playing on the violin not only standards but also classical musis. And of course there are at least three dance floors to dance. The ocean is not rough and I have a good time!
|
Dec 08, 2022 12:00 AM Immaculate Concepcion
I am again in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. It is holiday here - St Mary's Day... I decited to jump on the tram ( just 1,35 euro each way for more than half an hour ride) and go to the first capital of the island: historic town of San Cristobal la Laguna. It is even nicer now with the labyrinth of narrow, pedestrian streets and restored cathedral. Unexpectedly I had a chance to see the great procession going out of the Concepcion church with the statue of Virgin Mary. Two Brass bands were playing the music and the city and clergy officials were marching along. Very nice celebration with the bells ringing and people watching the once-on-the-year event.
Back in the Santa Cruz I visited for free Casa de Carnaval - a kind of the museum where they keep nice costumes. Great day!
|
Dec 07, 2022 12:00 AM Captain Valentino
Day at sea. Warm but windy. In the evening we (the frequent passengers of Costa) had a party with the captain... I remember him fro the cruise to Buenos Aires 3 years ago. But Captain Valentino do not remember me! :). We had a good time listening to the nice music and sipping the wine... I have also new friends from Bulgaria...
|
Dec 06, 2022 12:00 AM Sunny Cadiz
I was here few years ago... Today there are 4 cruise ships in the Cadiz port. They offer free internet in the cruise terminal... Much more noise, much more traffic. But it is nice to walk again the promenade to the old City Hall, the Cathedral Square and the waterfront. The sun appeared in the afternoon and temperature raised to 22 deg Celsius. Imagine that ladies from the city info office did not hear Leo Delibes' song "Girls from Cadiz". What a shame!
I saw today something new in Cadiz: going to the end of the long causeway I found myself at the gate to the Castillo San Sebastian - lottle fortress built on the islet. The waves were high generaring quite high blows...
Torrow we have another day at sea and after we will st of on Tenerife - Canary Islands.
|
Dec 05, 2022 12:00 AM Sailing south...
Relaxing day at sea. Mediterranean Sea is very calm - I feel in my cabin like in the hotel, not like on the ship at sea. Good food, new friends, a lot of good wine and music... In the evening captains coctail with the presentation of all ship's managers. Wie will pass Gibraltar's Straight in the middle of the night.
|
Dec 04, 2022 12:00 AM Flying to sunny Barcelona
I was walking on the snow to the terminal of Gdansk airport at 5.30. They improved the service opening more security check points - no jams at all! We started to Frankfurt with little delay because the plane required to remove snow and ice... 1.5 hours in the air - they offer passengers water an small chocolate candy. In Frankfurt no snow - I was forced to take long walk through underground passage to get in Terminal 1 from wing B to A. I was just on time at the gate A1 for boarding tthe plane to Barcelona. 2 hour in the air - another water and candy.
Welcome to Barcelona! The cheapest way to go to the port is to take bus 46 to Plaza Espana (2,40 euro - card only) an then walk about an hour via Europa Bridge. That' s what I did, enjoying views. From the bridge my ship was already visible. No crowd, but they check covid test. I am in my cabin, after drill. We will be sailing at 6 pm. Everything goes well. Sun is shining in the afternoon! Ahoy!
|
Dec 03, 2022 12:00 AM New voyage - running away from the winter!
After the hardships of the last voyage to Antarctica, I think I deserve some relaxation and rest in decent conditions? Escaping from Europe's short, dark and cold days in December, I will fly now via Frankfurt to Barcelona and board a ship to sail from there to the Caribbean.
It will be a relaxing journey to the sun, I hope that already in the Canary Islands I will be able to sunbathe on the open decks of the ship. I also hope to meet some interesting fellow passengers. I am taking a laptop which will allow me to work during my days at sea. There are several travel reports to work on And in the ports that I know from previous cruises, it will be worth refreshing memories. I expect to return by plane just before Christmas. I want you to know what's going on... As long as I'll find free internet access (which is not so obvious on the passenger ships), you will find "hot" messages from the road, as always in my travel log. :)
=========================
===========================
|
Nov 27, 2022 12:00 AM 14th flight - end of the epic journey...
My flight from Lisbon to Milan Bergamo was delayed 40 minutes so I was afraid if I will be running in BGY to the security control and the gate. But the situation was not so bad due to the new shortcut offered in Bergamo to the passengers in transit. If you are transiting from EU country to other EU country you go now to the gate without any control - just take the stairs on the right side once you will enter terminal building!
My flight to Gdansk (14th flight of this journey) was on time. But once they closed the plane doors we were waiting more than 30 minutes for the permit to start. Shame on you BGY! I landed in cold Gdansk at midnight. My epic voyage to the Pacific and Antarctica is happily completed! It was one of the most impressive journeys of my life. It is time to think about the next one! :)
|
Page:
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
|
|
|
