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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 13, 2014 08:00 PM Long Miami walk...
USA became more expensive. Expect to pay 3 USD for the loaf of the last expensive bread 600 g. In Poland it costs less then a dollar! So if you - budget traveller - are debarking the ship it is worth to take with you the things you did not eat there. It is forbidden to take ashore fresh food, fruits, meats and dairy. Just think...
The lovely sun was shining over Florida when I started my Miami walk - Art Deco quarter along Ocean Drive in Miami Beach is still one of my favorite places in Miami. Stylish houses with rounded corners, painted in pastel colors. Can you believe that similar architecture I saw in Africa? In Asmara, Eritrea. Go and check! :)
Then I walked as a lonely, crazy walker all MacArthur Causeway. It is a narrow, natural "bridge"connecting Miami Beach and Miami. Nobody was there except of me and herds of roaring cars, but it was worthbecause the views ofthe downtown and cruise ships alley are exceptional from this side. In downtown Miami I visited Freedom Tower - probably the best known old building in Miami. Once housing the daily paper agency, then Cuban immigrants, now it is exhibition place.
The famous Little Havana around 8th St looks different now - old houses were replaced by skyscrapers and they still built there new ones - it is only the tourist trap now:) Bayside Market and Miami River mouth are the nicest places...
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Dec 12, 2014 08:00 PM Back in Miami...
They always photograph me once again each time I am entering US territory. There must be a quite big collection of my pictures in their computer! Sun was shining over Florida when I dissembarked the ship at 10 am. I am not in a hurry - it is time to save some money on transport. To get to Miami Beach where I stay overnight you can take a taxi or a shuttle bus, but the last expensive method is to walk through the bridge to the public bus stop in front of American Airlines Arena. Sorry, no public pus at tbe cruise ship terminals....
From the bridge there is nice view of the city. AA Arena is just after the bridge on Biscayne St. Bus stops are not well marked, no timetables. C experess bus is a good choice. As a senior I paid only 1.30 $
It was only 2 blocks walk from the bus to the well known Tropics Hostel.
Welcome to Miami!
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Dec 11, 2014 08:00 PM Sailing the Blue Caribbean
Day at sea - we are sailing back to Miami... The outside temperature is lower, the wind - stronger.
Carnival is a cheap cruise line, but you should not expect any super entertainment aboard. The evening shows are miserable. I like most the duo from the Philippines "Take Two" who plays good, old standards at the christmas tree. Yes, we have already huge christmas tree in the lobby...
My cabin is over the theatre and the accoustic isolation is so bad that I cannot sleep without the earplugs. Bring a pair for youself just in case!...
The biggest positive surprise I experienced on this ship was... Miss Gosia from Guest Services. Imagine charming young Polish lady from Wroclaw working here since 9 months. She has warm Polish heart. I was really happy to meet her!
In the evening most of the people went to pack their stuff because passengers should put their luggages for collection on the corridod before midnight. Not me - I have only one carry-on pack...
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Dec 10, 2014 08:00 PM Grand Cayman
It is little insular state, famous for the stingrays. I was plainng with them in the water when I was here for the first time - some 20 years ago. On the international market Cayman is better known for its banks, used to avoiv high taxes.
No dock on Grand Cayman so passengers are tendering obligatory on this island. It was great view when five big passenger ships arrived here on the same day. And a fleet of tenders was taking passengers to the land and back.
The capital of the island is little, color city - especially the waterfont is attractive for photographer.
I took an hour walk to the so-called Seven Miles Beach (in fact it is shorter) taxi drivers organize transfers to this place charging 4 $ per person each way. The beach is nice but gets crowded when 5 ships is arriving.
This is also the effect of the mass tourism - you better go to the smaller, less known islands :)
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Dec 09, 2014 08:00 PM Roatan Island - Honduras
It is my new island... Unfortunately the weather was not clear when in the morning we docked in Mahogany Bay. What they prepared here for the tourists dissappointed me: fenced tourist village with souvenir shops, beach and the chair lift. I went out of the gate to find the driver who was ready to take me for just 10 USD rountrip to the biggest village on the island - Coxen Hole. There was not much to see except the everyday kife of the local people. Clock tower, little shops, vendors, church. Driver took me also to the viewpoint over the airstrip (they call it simply VIEW) fot the panoramic view. Twice we were stpped by local police, asking for bribe... That's how it looks here in Honduras!
The main attraction of Roatan Island is coral reef. If you do not dive you can stay on the tropical beaches - one of them is just at the dock in Mahogany Bay - but the best ones - in West End. Tour by car around the island costs 40-50 USD after bargaining.
One more lovely, tropical island...
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Dec 08, 2014 08:00 PM Mayan ruins in Belize
Once I crossed Belize going from Mexican Yucatan to Gwatemala. At this time Belize did not offer jungle-cleared Mayan ruins. Now they do. So I decided to go to Xunantunich (good name to pronounce isn't it?)
Xu... was built near border with Guatemala - 2 hours drive from Belize City so I decided that it will be cheaper to sign for the excursion offered by ship.
We went through the wetlands, then selva, then the thick jungle appeared in the landscape. Just after the little town of San Ignacio the main road meets the Mopan River. Here the bus will wait and you have to cross the river by hand-powered ferry. On the other side ir is still like 1 km uphill walk (minibuses are available) to the park gate. They charge from foreigners 10 USD entry fee. Then you climb onwad to the pyeamids.
Well, it is worth to be here. Just to compare: here you will see bigger monuments then in Copan (but Copan has famous stellas) but less then in Tikal. I recorded a Nice view from the top of the central pyramide - the Castillo.
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Dec 07, 2014 08:00 PM Isla Cozumel - Mexico
It is quite big island with a lot of tourist traffic and high prices. Just let you know that there are two docks for the cruise ships. Punta Lagosta is just in the downtown. But we are docking some 4 kms south at Puerta Maya.
Palms, flowers, sun and heat!
I took a pleasant walk along the coast, bothered by the people who offer car rental - 60 USD er day plus fuel plus insurance, of scooter for 35 or island tour by taxi for min 70 USD.
This is different Mexico - affected by mass tourism. By I found the internet cafe used by locals where they charge less then 1 USD per hour - some 500 m inland from Lagosta Dock.
Tomorrow we will visit Belize...
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Dec 06, 2014 08:00 PM Sailing the Caribbean...
The moon was full when we were leaving Miami. Now Big blue is all around. People ask me why I travel also on the cruise ships? Because it is the cheap way to get to the different islands and ports. You avoid the cost of flights, you have full board and you do not spend money for the hotels...
Carnival is not expensive line, if you travel with somebody else the cost is even lover...
I must confess that I smuggled to the ship 1l bottle of Captain Morgan rum, bought in the duty free for just 8 $, so it is also time to celebrate 2 weeks of the happy voyage through the islands.
We are sailing west. Nice music around.
In the evening we attended nice show in the theatre (Fiesta Latina)
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Dec 05, 2014 08:00 PM Flying to Miami
Sun was rising over St Kitts when I was walking from Fern Tree B&B to the airport. It took me 25 minutes - taxi drivers ask for 10 USD for such a distance :)
At check-in there was a surprise: I had award ticket from American Airline but they said that I have to pay anyway for my backpack: 25 $ Shame! I decided to take it to the cabin as carry-on. Fortunately security did not discower any sharp things in it!
Then there was lovely 3-hours flight with a great aerial views of the Virgin and Bahama Islands. In Miami I took a shuttle minibus from the airport directly to the port. Two hours before the departure I was already aboard the Carnival Glory...
Last expensive inside cabin is comfortable enough. It is time for rest...
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Dec 04, 2014 08:00 PM Hiking around Nevis Island
Columbus named this island Nuestra Seniora de las Nieves - Our Lady of the snows because the eternal white cloud covering the top of the volcano remained him the snow. Nevis is 13 km by 10 km. Thereis a road going around the volcano - almost 20 miles long.
I decided to go around the island to see main attractions: old stone churches, beaches concenteated on the NW corner and just to see, how do the locals live here.
Officially published taxi rates list says that Island tour costs 75 USD. With some effort I did it for free - yes, it is possible! Walking and hitch-hiking....
On the eastern side they have a heritage center in the old cotton and sugar estate. 4 USD entry fee. Botanical garden is well out of the main road and keep in mind that it is private institution - they charge hefty 13 USD for entry but in my opinion it is not worth the price.
Then in the Fig Tree I visited nice St John church where Nelson's marriage with a lady from Nevis was registered.
But the best know son of Nevis was Alexander Hamilton. Adiutante of Washington and later - treasure secretary. You have his face on every 10-dollars banknote. His museum is in the town.
In the afternoon I am coming back to St Kitts by ferry hoping that in the morning I will fly on the award ticket to Miami to board the cruise ship.
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