|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Apr 08, 2013 04:00 PM This is not a cruiseship!!
To get to Takeshiba pier you have to take the monorail from Shimbashi station. Two stations to go and you will pay just 180 yen.... Train without any driver was full since all Japs in their dark suits and ties were just going to work... I dissembarked at the high sailing ship mast and just after I saw my ship. So little!! "Ogasawara Maru" is quite old with some visible rust... I registered my ticket at window 8 -they ask all passengers to fill an extra form. Then you have to stay politely in the line - first class has separate line and they go first when the ship is open at 9.30 am. In the gangway they collected ticket and gave me a piece of paper: C3 105. Nobody speak english, but they smile!
Where is my place?? Fortunately a young guy from the reception understand some english -he took me to c3 room and showed me my matress 105. Can you imagine a big room with 120 little matresses one by one on the floor? That's my home till tomorrow! Departing from Tokyo port we had a nice panorama of the skyline and bridges. Ahoy!
|
Apr 07, 2013 04:00 PM Landed in Tokyo!
After almost 11 hours on the plane I landed in the Tokyo Narita Airport. It is my fourth visit to Japan but everytime I am coming I am again impressed by the perfect organization and politness of Japanese people.
It is warm - plus 18 Celsius in the day and green around. Cherry blossom time is almost over - only the pink cherries are still in blossom.
In the afternoon I visited a Kannon temple out of the city.
Tomorrow in the morning I should embark a once-a-week ship to Ogasawara Islands. I hope that the ocean will be calm! :)
|
Apr 05, 2013 04:00 PM To the Laughing Islands! :)
I am departing to the Far East to discover Laughing Islands. One of them is called Chichi, and the other - Haha. You should know that in Poland we express laughing writing "chi-chi" or "ha-ha".
As you know few years ago I was traveling through Japan "end to end". But these islands are out of the main chain - in the Pacific Ocean - some 1000 kms from Tokyo.
Ogasawara Island are tiny, tropical and little-known. It is not easy to get there. No airstrip. Once per week a mixed passenger/ cargo ship is departing from Tokyo to these island. Japan is very expensive for the traveler so it will not be a long stay. But still long enough to explore Chichi-jima and Haha-jima. Please keep your fingers crossed my friends!
============================
============================
============================
|
Mar 07, 2013 08:00 PM Home, sweet home...
Approaching Gdansk airport I saw quite a lot of snow outside of the city. -There must be also sbow in Wojtkówka!
It was minus 1 deg Celsius when we landed.
So the next great voyage is over!
Home, sweet home...
Now it will be the time to work for the next air ticket, to prepare new slide- shows, to meet the friends. Then the spring for sure will come to my Wojtkówka.
I think that before the summer holidays I will still manage to see one more beautiful island (or maybe even two islands).
My friends are jocking: you will never stop!
I think they are right!
|
Mar 06, 2013 08:00 PM Flying to back to the Old Europe...
I use award ticket from Miles & More program to fly back home. The space on the planes for such awarded travellers is limited and that's they who defines the route. I started with Buenos-to-Rio flight. Then changed to Rio-Frankfurt 767. In Rio in the transit hall there is free wifi internet but before they allow you to enter the network you must give to the provider your data.
Buenos to Rio - it is 2,5 hours flight.
Rio to Frankfurt takes 11 hours.
Morning in Frankfurt was sunny. I had enough time to have few cups of coffee and tea in the airport... In different locations inside airport they installed free mini-bars with hot drinks...
|
Mar 05, 2013 08:00 PM Bye, bye Argentina!
The receptionist in my hostel is from Russia. I met also Russians on the ship... Russians learn languages and at least started to travel the world!
Morning walk through the crowded and noisy streets of Buenos Aires. Trees are in blossom here!
Then it is time to pack-up for my flight.
International Ezeiza airport is quite far from the center. Taxi will cost you like 130 pesos. But for the backpacker there is cheaper option: public bus no. 8 goes to Ezeiza airport from the Congresso Square. You will pay for one-way trip 5,50 peso - less then a dollar. Have the exact change prepared in coins! Bus goes every 20 min daytime, but it takes sometimes 2 hours to get through the traffic, so start early!
|
Mar 04, 2013 08:00 PM Buenos Aires, Florida Street
With 2 hours delay (shame on you Cannival!) I disembarked the ship and moved to the Sun Recoleta hostel, where you can have a single room for 28 USD.
When I was in Buenos last time - some 3 years ago a young couple was dancing tango on the Florida St - co nwerted into walking-only zone. Today I did not see any dancers on Florida. There are roadworks instead... I heard there many times "Cambio, cambio, cambio..." call. Dollar has here a value during the inflation - you can get on the street more then in official 5 pesos in the bank... The street rate is 7 pesos, but count the money carefully!
It was lovely, sunny day, some 25 deg Celsius. I was walking along my old trail visiting well-known places like Obelisco, Casa Rosada - presidential palace and Congresso. Buenos - the Paris of South America still has a charm, many theaters, cafes and...
police cars around the Plaza de Mayo...
It is still worth to see... It is me in front of Evita's balcony of Casa Rosada on the picture...
|
Mar 03, 2013 08:00 PM Walking around Montevideo
I am in the capital city of Uruguay. Strong wind from the Atlantic. Nice promenade along the coast. The old part of the city is compact enough to walk around in 2-3 hours.
Close to the port they charge 2 USD for 15 min of internet. But in the city in the side streets you can finnd public cyber cafe where you will have 1 hour for less then 1 USD (15 pesos). Exchange rate is 1USD-19 pesos.
I walked again around Plaza Independencia - the main square. There is big monument of the national hero Jose Artigas with his underground mausoleum. I cannot see many changes. The capital of gaucho country has a special, lazy atmosphere and a charm, but you can also see people sleeping on the sidewalks. Leather goods are cheap here. But I am not here for shopping... Tomorrow we sail to Buenos Aires and I will dissembark the ship there...
|
Mar 01, 2013 08:00 PM Puerto Madryn - Patagonia
Little port in the middle of nowhere. But there is a reason to land here - just nearby are the places where you can see great wildlife. I wanted to use the day to go to Peninsula Valdes famous for the penguins, sea lions and elephant seals.
Just after landing the local tourist office informed us that due of the heavy rains during the last days the ground roads in the Valdes are closed! We are not lucky again!
Instead I decided to go to the Punta Tombo penguin reserve. They say it is the biggest in the worls colony of the Magellanic penguins. The tour from the ship cost hefty 170 USD. But at the port gate I found the local agency ready to take us by taxi (3 pax) for 60 USD each. Plus 14 USD entry fee... Lets go - the penguins are waiting!
|
Feb 28, 2013 08:00 PM Captain was slapped by the lady...
We have day at sea heading south... It is big ship, but the news are going fast around, especially during the meals and in the bars. The is a hot news: Captain was slapped on board by the lady who was angry because he secretly escaped from the Chilean Fiords to the open ocean. She was feeling cheated. In the next port she went out ot of the ship.
In the afternoon we had a party for the frequent passengers - captain did not arrive to thank the passengers for their loyalty. Only our poor cruise director was dancing zumba dance on the stage with the most travelled people. What a invention!
|
Page:
176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186
|
|
|
