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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Nov 24, 2013 08:00 PM Sailing south - to Mexico
We have lovely sun in the morning! The ocean is calm... The music plays and we are sailing south...
Full relax after those busy days in California. It is time to discover all secrets of our ship. First one is not positive: on the open decks there are installed glass screens to protect people from the wind. But they are not photographer-friendly, because the dirt on the glass you must keep your camera above them to take better picture.
In the morning we had a lecture about the ports. In fact it was a lecture about the expensive tours they offer in the ports. They do not care about independent travellers.
The society in the self-service dining room is noisy so I have to find for myself a quiter place to eat. They serve tasty strowberry icecream and awful coffee. And the fellow passengers eat, eat, eat... Today we have full day at sea. Mexican coast is visible on the east. Tomorrow we will reach our first port.
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Nov 23, 2013 08:00 PM In the labirynt of Los Angeles freeways
Where is the cheapest fuel on the coast of California? In Oxnard - 3,27 per gallon - in Los Angeles
expect to pay even 3,70! take a chance to save few dollars!
We started from Ventura already at sunrise expecting traffic jams in LA. First stage was smooth: we reached the Pacific coast before Malibu, enjoying the views of the coastline. But the coastline here is not as dramatic as between Monterey and Morro Bay. Beaches are wide and hundereds of campers stay here just on the beach. Then we passed through legendary Santa Monica and turned inland to drive Santa Monica Boulevard - it goes to Hollywood. On Sunday monrning there was little traffic on Hpllywood Blvd so it was a good chance to see again The Walk of Fame, chinese Theatre and a rows of palms... Then we entered the jungle of the LA freeways. 101 - done, 5 - done, on 710 we stayed in the traffic jam - fortunately only 20 minutes. I reached Long Beach Avis station at 11 am to return the rented car. Bus 142 took us to San Pedro passenger terminal. Our white ship was waiting there.
We enjoyed great sunset sailing out of Los Angeles port around 4.30 pm.
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Nov 22, 2013 08:00 PM Blue California by car...
I spent the night in Morro Bay - little fishing port with a great view of El Morro Rock (see the picture). Before US took the California it was Spanish possession. Spaniards built hehe as much as 21 catholic missions - they still exist and I had a chance to see some of them.
First in San Luis Obispo... Then we drove to the Pismo Beach where Monarch butterflies come in thousand to winter. After that going 5 miles off highway one we reached Guadalupe Dunes on the Pacific coast - up to 160 m high. Second Mission today was Purissima - very well reconstructed - you can see here all aspects of the mission's life, even the animals... It was already late afternoon when we reached Santa Barbara - it has also the mission beautifully located at the bottom of Santa Ines Mountains.
I am spendind the night in motel in Ventura. Tomorrow will be busy day - I have to reach Los Angeles to board the sip in the afternoon. Internet on the ship is very expensive so do not surprised that the next message I will post few days later.
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Nov 21, 2013 08:00 PM Greatest vistas of California
When I was a boy I was watching on black & white TV screen a series "The sign of Zorro". The action was in and around the town of Monterey. Today I am in Monterey. Is this the same Monterey? Some historic buildings survived - like the Mission of San Carlos Borromeo in Carmel (entry 6,50 USD).
But the nicest part of today's Monterey is Lighthouse District with old Cannery buildings, little beach ant many restaurants. 17-miles Drive goes from Monterrey's Lovers Point to nearby Carmel. there are beaches along with seals on the rocks, forest and nice views. But they charge for driving this scenic road 10 USD,
Carmel is little atmospheric town with fancy shops in the low Spanish-like buildings. After short visit in Carmel I started an epic drive on the famous Highway 1 - along the coast of the Pacific. There were many great view points. Most of them up on the high cliffs. The distance is not big but the road is very windy and challenging. At the end of the day we reached the elephant seal colony at Piedras Blancas near San Simeon. I was convinced that the only place to see eeaphant seals is Antarctica (where I saw them many times) But now I know one more place. Hard to believe! Did the smart Americans imported them? :)
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Nov 20, 2013 08:00 PM Sunny California
The sun was shining already in the morning in San Francisco. No rain! I took a walk to photograph again ornate building of San Francisco City Hall. Opera House and Philhamonic Hall are nearby...
Then I walked to the AVIS office on Post St to collect booked car. Little ford fiesta is enough for two people.
We started our car adventure with the little excursion to the Golden Gate bridge. Golden Gate is in my opinion one of the nicest bridges in the world. It has also spectacular location at the entrance from the Pacific to the bay. Once in San Francisco I am happy to see it again and again.
Then we took the highway no.1 sneaking along the coast of California heading south.
It is hard to describe all spectacular views on this route: cliffs after Pacifica, Half Moon Bay beaches, Lighthouse at Pigeon Point... Coming closer to Monterrey we enjoyed the great sunset. In Monterrey we stay at the Fireplace Inn - little motel worth to recommend. They charge only 45 USD per room and breakfast. And in the roomy room there is gas fireplace to warm you up. Very atmospheric place!
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Nov 19, 2013 08:00 PM On the hills of San Francisco
Never rains in California - says the song. But today it rains since the morning! This is my fourth visit in San Francisco. Three times I had a beautiful sun, but now...
1,5 liter bottle of Californian red wine cost just 7 USD - to improve the situation. Then you can walk up and down the hills. I took once again the unique cable car to the Fishermen Wharf - it cost hefty 6 USD. The regular bus/tram fare is 2 USD and you can make as many transfers as you want within 2 hours. I visited again Mission Dolores - the oldest church in SFO, then I passed along Philharmonic Hall, Opera House and City Hall.
How did I find SFO after 20 years (my last visit was in 1993)?
I am sorry to say that: more garbage on the streets, more homeless people and noisy black citizens sometimes blocking the sidewalks... But it is still exciting city! In the afternoon when the rain stopped I took a walk to the Chinatown - very atmospheric place. Tomorrow I plan to drive along the coast. Please keep your fingers for the good weather! :)
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Nov 18, 2013 08:00 PM From Nevada to California
We enjoyed desert landscape in the morning with Sierra Nevada mountains in the background. We are in Nevada State and our train no. 5 is already 30 minutes late. It is cloudy, but when we reached Reno at 9 am I saw also some sunshine.
At least now we have more info about the route we go: volunteer guided boarded the train to explain in the observation
car the nature and the history of the area. Our train goes up the mountain valley. Then again up and up until we will see again the snow around the track. 7000 feet above the sea level. Then through the tunnel and slowly down...
Welcome to California! But where is the sun?
It took us few hours to come down to the valleys where orange trees grow. It was almost dark when we reached the end station Emeryville - the rails do not go to San Francisco but they take passengers by bus through the Bay Bridge. Soon I started to climb steep streets looking for my hostel on Bush Street. The bed in "Encore" is hard, but after 3 nights on the train it is like a paradise!
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Nov 17, 2013 08:00 PM 2500 miles to San Francisco...
The name of the train is California Zephyr and it should take me from Chicago to San Francisco.
It will be another 2500 miles on the rails! I was surprised when I saw this train yesterday: huge, silver, double-decker
cars. Yesterday we crossed flat Illinois and Iowa on our way to Nebraska. Morning found us in Colorado.
The weather was clear and from the tiny railway station I saw Rocky Mountains. Wi-fi signal at the station was weak, but I managed to send one message. Sorry - no Wi-fi on our long-distance train. Shame on you Amtrak! Soon we started to climb the mountains with great panoramas. Unfortunately on they do not distribute on the train any maps pointing places of interest so you don't know what you see. Bring your detailed map with you! There were more then 30 tunnels before we reached Fraser Station completely covered
by snow. Smokers had their 1o minutes on the platform an me - 10 minutes to stretch the legs and to take few pictures. Then there were 10-kms long tunnel under the Continental Divide and picturesque ride down Colorado River to Grand Junction. Even further on we still had interesting views - till the sunset.
This is definitely the most interesting day on our rail journey across America!
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Nov 16, 2013 08:00 PM 960 miles on rails to Chicago
It will be my first ride on US Rail train - Amtrak. At Pennsylvania Station you have to go underground - like to the subway to see the table of departures.
They announce the number of the track only 10-15 minutes before the scheduled train departure time.
Once on the tiny platform you have to check for your coach class car. It is free seating - they say but the attendants make the the selection: Chicago passengers to this car, Albany to the other one...
Lowest coach class has no compartments, but the rows of airplane seats. Seats are wide and comfortable and they have extensions for your legs.
We departed to Chicago on time. Since the day was sunny until the dusk we enjoyed the views of wide Hudson River including the spectacular sunset. In the night the train stopped many times - often
in the middle of nowhere. At 6 am it was still dark and we enjoyed the full moon.
Then we organized our breakfast (there are 120 V outlets in every seat row - be discrete making your coffee). Of course there is dining car in our train and also "cafe lounge car" but they charge 2 USD per small cup of weak coffee and 6 USD for sandwich. The time goes 1 hour back! And they announced
that we are delayed 45 minutes. Not a good introduction to Amtrak!
After some 960 miles on the rails we reached historic Union Station in Chicago (see picture). It is conveniently located in the downtown. I left my luggage in the locker - you will find it in baggage claim room - not easy to find (they charge 4 USD per hour) and before afternoon departure there was enough time to see again the highlights: Skyscrapers on Chicago River, Magnificent Mile and Millenium Park.
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Nov 15, 2013 08:00 PM New York, New York!
This is my 6th time in NY if I count well...
Every time it fascinates me again.
In the yesterday's evening we took a walk to the 42nd Street and Times Square - full of people, full of lights and yellow cabs...
Today the sun is shinning so it was a good time to go to the vieving platform on the 67th floor of Rockeffeler Center.
They charge 27 USD, but the view is really great!
Then St Patrick Cathedral, United Nations and lower Manhattan with the great views of the bridges... Long walk through Chinatown...
NY Budget Inn where we stay (bookable via Hostelworld) offers relatively inexpensive accommodation on the expensive Manhattan. Relatively, because Central Manhattan is VERY expensive. It is located
on 200 East 34th street. No sign on the building - just unnamed entrance. See the white entrance on the picture - it is there! Everything is crampy here to maximize the profit: no lift, narrow stairs and corridors. In the basic twin room you have bunk bed, metal locker, flat TV on the wall and 2 square meters to live. But the shared restrooms are clean. Towels are included but they charge 5 USD deposit for towel. -Check out is early: 11 am and if you
want to leave your pack for another hour or more you have to pay (!) 5 dollars per pack, even if you are the guest. In the morning at the entrance they put the coffee and some small donuts -
you can treat it as a breakfast.
At 3.40 our train to Chicago departs from Pensylwania Station. So after a lovely day we will have a night on the train. Lets go!
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