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Welcome to my travel log! You will find here a lot more than in the travel reports, stripped from political correctness. Enjoy! 
Nov 08, 2008 07:00 PM Six days and counting - Ustka, I'm coming
It has been several months since I was in Ustka, the place on the Baltic coast, where I grew up. This time, I am coming in the colder months and during the storm season. The sea can be very rough reducing the beach to a tiny strip of sand, if at all any is left.
I will be leaving on a very early flight on Saturday. I mean the hour of the flight's departure is so unsociable that it will make no sense to go to bed on Friday night at all. I booked my trip to the airport at 3 a.m., which means that I will have to leave house at about 2:15 o'clock in the morning. Well, at least the flight was... free. Almost free.
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Nov 04, 2008 07:00 PM An Historical Day - Will We Travel Again?
A wonderful thing has happened today. A great Democrat from the Windy City of Chicago was elected the 44th President of the United States of North America, and a black one (technically a mulatto - a very technical anthropological term and not a pejorative!), whose difficult job is to restore normality in the economy, so we can travel again. I mean travel a lot. No-one wants recession, depression or deflation, which mean reduction of flights, bankruptcies of airlines and travel agents, less competition, higher prices for tickets, etc. And meeting many unhappy people everywhere.
And Mr Obama sounds like he can turn things around. For all of us! Hopefully we will not need to wait until the next election to see the change he promised. Fingers crossed.
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Oct 30, 2008 07:00 PM Halloween in Birmingham
I was in Birmingham once before. I did not like it much. So, I was not overly excited to be going to Brum (as we affectionately call it) this time round. However, the city has been undergoing major 'refurbishment' for a number of years, and I was curious how much difference it has made so far.
Well, not much, I'm afraid. The shopping centres now integrated with the New Street train station is rather impressive and the Ring building looks futuristic alright. But shouldn't there be something more to Birmingham than just shopping? I took a stroll in the centre looking for something to catch my eye. And yet, I did not even take my camera once.
Fortunately, I was in the city for a party. Halloween fancy dress party. It was a great fun and frankly it could be just anywhere. It did not matter I was in Birmingham.
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Oct 18, 2008 02:00 PM Lago di Como (IT) - boat trip
On Sunday, I went for a boat trip along the lake. I had an objective. I wanted to see the finish of the cycle race - Giro di Lombardia, set up in Como. The sailing, which took an hour (but can take two hours on a slower boat) offered incredible views of the villages and town at the lake shore. Some of the villas (one featured in 007 Casino Royale, and one inspired George Lucas for a villa at a lake on Naboo in Star Wars) were so great that I started worried about the batteries in my camera. They held on well, though.
Some of the towns were perched on the slopes of the Alps at an impossible angle. And some at the shore had more visitors than others, but I knew that Lake Como might actually be one of the prettiest lakes on the planet.
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Oct 18, 2008 02:00 PM Lago di Como (IT) - Como
The town of Como surprised me. It was much larger than the villages I visited along the lake. Yet, it had a magnificent cathedral (duomo) and narrow lanes, and small piazzas scattered around the old town, and some buildings dating back to the 11th century. I definitely did not expect that. My friends never told me about it and I never enquired about Como before myself.
There were so many cafes and restaurants around the town, that it surely felt like the perfect place to hang out. The cyclists, who participated in the race Giro di Lombardia were everywhere. This a little distracted the peace of the town, but added this extra colour.
Weather was great, so I could just sit at a cafe and sip my coffees and martinis. What a perfect conclusion of the weekend. There are no words to describe it.
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Oct 17, 2008 02:00 PM Lago di Como (IT) - Varenna, in the morning
The view from my friends' flat is perhaps the most spectacular one at the lake. Their terrace's position is overlooking the confluence of the Lago di Como with Lago di Lecco - it is the same lake, of course, but its three-legged starfish shape allows for that naming. I was surprised that the third lake did not have its own name, actually.
In the morning, I took a hike in the village to take some pictures. The air was not clear. It was somewhat misty and hazy. Of course it impacted the quality of photos, but created an unforgettable atmosphere. I sat at one of the cafes at the old part of the village overlooking a small harbour, the lake and the Alps - all the way to the Swiss border. It was a great morning. I could stay in the village forever.
Varenna was well connected with a few other villages and towns at the lake. I decided to visit Bellagio, which gave its name to one of the most flamboyant and famous casinos in Las Vegas.
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Oct 17, 2008 02:00 PM Lago di Como (IT) - Bellagio
Bellagio was really nice and colourful. But it was such a touristy place. Packed with tours from around Europe and the USA. It appears that in the vicinity, a few American film stars got property nearby and visitors kinda hope to spot some.
The town had plenty of expensive shopping, restaurants and hotels. Views of the lake were perfect, and the tower of the church on the hill added for more spectacle.
There was not much to do there, though. I was not interested in shopping and having had a cup of coffee and a glass of Martini bianco, I thought I had enough. I went for a stroll about the place, twice and that was it. I wanted more. Sure, I loved the architecture and took hundreds of photos, but still wanted more...
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Oct 16, 2008 02:00 PM Lago di Como (IT) - Varenna, here I am
After about six hours (door to door) of travelling, I was at the spectacular Lago di Como in one of the most picturesque villages - Varenna. When I drove into the old town, I new that I almost regretted that I was not colourblind. I could swear that Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroiani in their thrities would suddenly appear from around the corner. Imagine this, narrow, cobble stone alleys and stepped lanes leading from the church to the lake, subdue street lighting, old houses, little squares here and there... Unbelievable. And the little harbour, mainly occupied by ducks, complete with a petite pebble beach. Plus, of course the mountains surrounding the lake. They do not do landscape like this one anymore... :) As I arrived at night, there was so much mystery in the air.
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Oct 15, 2008 02:00 PM Varenna (IT) - Lago di Como, packing up
I have started to pack up for the trip. I also need to charge batteries for my camera, otherwise I will suffer buying AAs all the time as in Switzerland earlier this month!
I do not have much to pack. I am only going for a weekend, but I have not been to Italy for years, and from memory, it is rather a fashion-aware country. So, I better pack something neat, as I think we have plans to go out in Como or somewhere nearby, and of course in Varenna. We might also take a hop across to Bellagio, and that is rich!
Earlier this evening, as I was waiting for my boat home, I snapped this picture of London by the river. It was a lovely evening, after the Olympians and Paralympians parade, and I do hope weather will be similar in Varenna and area. I will try to snap something similar there and show you.
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Oct 14, 2008 02:00 PM Varenna (IT) - Lago di Como, checked in
I have just checked in onto my Ryanair flight to Bergamo, on my way to Varenna on Lago di Como. I have only just realised that the online ckeck-in for Ryanair flights is now open from 5 day to 4 hours before departure. And apparently they are incredibly strict about it, my friends told me. If you fail to check in onlie 4 hours and 5 minutes before departure, you will need to check in at a desk on the airport. I think that there might even be a fee involved!
Anyway, the online check in is very easy. They ask for the booking reference number, and either last digits of the payment card or the email address provided at the time of booking. Then, there are a few question regarding hand luggage and details of the identification document, be it passport or identification card.
Once the check in is completed, the flight cannot be changed. You can print the boarding cards immediately or at a later stage. Even once printed, the cards can be reprinted subsequently.
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