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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Jan 18, 2010 07:00 PM Landed on Robinson Crusoe Island!
When I was a boy I was reading the book about the adventures of Robinson. I saw this island in my dreams. Did you also? This island exists! And some 50 years later the dream came true...
After 2.5 hours from the start in Santiago our little 32-years old plane landed on the isolated airstrip in the southern tip of the island. It is arid area – nobody lives there. Only twoo dozens of fur seals and little open boat was waiting in the bay. The boat takes all passengers to the other side of the island, where the only settlement on the island – San Juan Bautista is located. If the weather is not too hard – this is exciting tour in the bottom of high cliffs. The boat trip is included in the price of the air ticket.
In the settlement I found accommodation in the Hosteria Martinez-Green – just in front of the jetty. They charged 10000 pesos per room with bath (but you have to bargain). I have great view from the window..
I must say –Sorry to the patriots of Easter Island, but Isla Robinson Crusoe has much nicer landscape then Isla de Pascua (but of course does not have those exciting moais).
People here are nice and helpful – they greet even strangers: OLA! , but the only person in the administration of the island who can speak some English is Calos Sato Varas, his phone /32/ 275 10 45 or 275 10 01. e-mail rrpp/at/comunajuanfernandez.cl
Big fish for the dinner today, lets have a good rest before tomorrow,s adventures!
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Jan 17, 2010 07:00 PM Santiago de Chile - how to get to Robinson Island?
It was minus 10 when I started from Gdansk, then 28 deg Celsius in Buenos Aires and 30 in Santiago.
In Santiago Airport there in no tourist information but the crowd of taxi drivers is hunting for you... Gracias, gracias... Yo soy mochilero (the backpacker). Un mochilero viejo!
The last expensive solution if you want to get to the city is Centropuerto bus going from the airport to Heroes traffic hub in the downtown. Do not change money in the airport - they will give you the worst rate in the city (473 pesos per USD)
At the Centropuerto desk in the arrival hall they accept payment in dollars ( 3 USD one way or 1400 pesos). Once in Heroes you can take subway to your place.
I stay in House Santiago Hostel booked via hostelworld.com - it is little and silent family hostel located just 200 m from Manuel Montt subway station. The best rate for the dollar I found in the casas de cambio in Augustinas Street - 491 pesos...
Bad news: the next ship of Armada de Chile to the Robinson Crusoe Island will sail in March. Tomorrow there is a little 7-seater plane flying to the island (very expensive solution, but what should I do?) - I will try to get a seat...
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Jan 14, 2010 07:00 PM New voyage, new challenge...
I am just setting off for a new, long voyage. Few years ago I was invited to attend "Award of the traveler of the year" ceremony. I met there Mr Jaroslaw Kret - well known Polish traveler an TV presenter. Talking about my numerous solo round- the- world voyages I said that it is harder and harder to set up a new, original and interesting route. Mr Jaroslaw said that instead going east-west direction I should travel south-north around the globe. It was a joke... But... Two years later I started to work on such an option. I found two scheduled flights over the poles. Then combine them with an inexpensive RTW tariff. And... an idea was born -just see the map.
It is just not only about flying above both geo poles... During this voyage I want to visit still unknown to me spots of the world. Robinson Crusoe Island, pueblos around Salta, some new, picturesque areas in New Zealand... I want to cross Australia by train and then Japan end-to-end. The challenge will be to get Russian permit for visiting Chukotka and to cross Bering Straits. I do not know if I will manage to execute all this crazy ideas - please keep the fingers crossed for me!...
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Dec 22, 2009 07:00 PM Merry Christmas, dear Friends. Happy traveling!
It is very special time - days in Poland are dark and short. But it is also the time of hope...
To all my known and unknown Friends scattered around the world I am sending my best wishes: have a Merry Christmas time and a Happy New Year 2010!
Happy traveling to the most distant countries!
I am working hard planing my next big voyage and collectinng money to buy air tickets. I hope to start soon my 2010 expedition. I wish to have a chance to visit some of you en route...
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Dec 10, 2009 07:00 PM I got my backpack!
Good news! I received an e-mail from friendly staff of Gdansk airport. They just received my backpack... I am going to the airport... They write that they have not agreement with American Airlines for the home delivery and I should collect my luggage from the airport...
So I hope that it will be the happy end of the Mexico'09 expedition. Now lets work on the next one!
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Dec 08, 2009 07:00 PM Home, sweet home...
After 3 weeks on Mexican trail I landed in Gdansk... Cold and cloudy... I dream again about Acapulco's sun...
It was another interesting journey to the new places... I met a lot of nice people. I have new friends. I saw fascinating landscapes and gain a lot of new experience. Everything goes well, except... the lack of my luggage. Sorry, no news... I would like to say: never more with American Airlines and their ignorant staff... Well... We will see - please keep your fingers still crossed! Maybe they will find it anyway... I need my old tried and true backpack for the future expeditions!
You say it is too early to plan the next one? I don't think so... Our fascinating world is waiting for me!
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Dec 07, 2009 07:00 PM I am back in Dallas, but where is my backpack?
I took a cheap American Airlines flight to get from Mexico to Dallas USA. I wanted to collect my backpack checked only to Dallas to take out warm clothes before departure to the cold Europe. Sorry, I did not see ma pack on the baggage belt... It is hard to say that the bagggage service of American Airlines is professional. They sent me first to Mexicana, then finally entered my address and phone to their system...
-If we will find your luggage we will send it to your address. No other compensation... No further disscusion. Bad luck...
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Dec 06, 2009 07:00 PM Last day in Mexico...
Beaches and the landscape are here over all... Acapulco has few attractions to visit. One of them is old Fort San Diego located on the little hill over the beach. Built in 17th century by Spaniards and restored now it is housing the museum - they charge 41 pesos entry fee plus 35 if you want to use video camera. Other attraction is Rocqueta Island - they offer the RT tour to this island for 70 pesos but believe me - it is just tourist trap. Sailors are telling jokes in Spanish, one of them is diving to feed the fish and through the bottom glass you can see very limited sealife. The submarine chapel is just a bronze statue of Virgin Mary in the water - it is very hard to see and to photograph through the bottom glass of the little boat.
Of course I saw the show performed by the famous Acapulco divers - the clavadistas. They jump into the ocean from the rock up to 35 m high (there are different levels). There is only one show during the hot day - at 12.45 pm (they charge entry fee 35 pesos). They performed the same show at 7.30 pm and later in the night. I definitely prefere daylight - you can see the full scenery...
It is my last day in Acapulco and in Mexico... Time to get ready for the return flights...
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Dec 05, 2009 07:00 PM Hot Acapulco
I am almost off all my pesos. It is time to change few more dollars - some casas de cambio are open on Sundays here, but not the banks. In my country in exchange office they pay little more then in the banks for the foreign currencies. In Mexico -surprisely they are giving more in the banks, but it takes a long waiting, copying passport - you have to bring it with you...
It is very hot and sunny here so everybody escapes to the shade - hard to imagine that in Europe there is probably snow.
I stay in the k3 Hostel - on playa Condesa. It is overpiced. Cubic rooms without the windows and very bad light are 2,5 by 3 m only. I made the reservation expecting that the only hostel in such a popular place could be full. But it is almost empty - only 4 visitors. It is still low season and you can find easy for the same price other and better accommodation. Just shop around... I took a long walk along the bay enjoying the views, sun, warm water. At the end I took some good pictures fron the 23rd floor of Grand Hotel - you can go there - nobody care.
In the evening Acapulco is still hot, vibrant, full of music... I saw few processions in the streets - they celebrate the festival of the Virgen de Guadalupe... In the evening, sitting on the beach I enjoyed another great sunset. Can you believe that it is possible to drink 1 litre of cold juice in 10 minutes? An it was not enough...
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Dec 04, 2009 07:00 PM Naked man under celling fan!
You know I am writing as a freelancer for the press. Those guys from the magazines and newspapers often change the names of my chapters - just to make them more sensational. I do not like it but maybe it pays... *Naked man* sounds good, do not you think?
It is so hot and humid that I sleep here without any clothes and sheets...
After the morning swim it is the time to pack the backpack again and to go to camionera. I am going to Acapulco... Camionera in Zihua is located about 2 kms from the beach - going uphill it is better to teke local bus no.2 from the end of Juarez street - for just 5 pesos. Remember - I carry 16 kg backpáck and camera bag...
Segunda buses to Acaplcogo almost every hour - you pay 111 pesos and jump on the next available bus. They say i will take 4 hours - do not trust them - Mexican drivers are too optimistic and there is no fixed timetable - add an hour. On the bus you will meet a lot of localpeople and the real folklore: crying kids, men playing guitars for the tip. Old ladied goin to the market with their products...
Well - we were driving 5 hours through the greet hills to Acapulco. Taxi drivers in the littke VW cars were ready to deliver me to Condesa Beach but I preferred to take two city buses one by one - 5 peso each. I am in legendary Acapulco!
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