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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Dec 31, 2022 10:00 PM Dirayah - the cradle of dynasty
Today Jan 1st is a regular working day in Saudia so my host went to his work and I took a uber taxi to Dirayah - historic place located some 25 kms from Riyadh. No public transport, taxis only - I paid for the ride 50 SAR each way. The fortress on Dirayah is the birthplace of Saudi - Wahhabi dynasty. In the morning the entrance is free. If you go in the afternoon you should buy online the ticket for 100 SAR. But it gives you automatically credit in the restaurants and shops.
Well-restored Dirayah was placed in 2010 on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Turn left after the gate. Just after the bridge the will gove you the map and there is info center where you can try saudi coffee and dates. The master of calligraphy will write your name in Arabic - that's free and valuable souvenir. Then you will climb the labyrinth of narrow streets, walls and tiny alleys. Exhibitions are hidden between them. The place is well worth to visit. I met many friendly people. What an interesting, sunny day!
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Dec 30, 2022 10:00 PM Meeting New Year in Riyadh
Last day of 2022 was ver busy to me. Already in the morning my host Miteb took me to the old quarter of the 3- million city. We had a traditional Arabian breakfast (hobz and fool) an I had a chance to visit nicely restored Mismak Fortress housing excellent exhibition about the history of the capital and about saudi coffee production. Then we went to the nearby clock tower, market an the mosque. On the outskirts of the city there is a little dam and recreational area along the water reservoir with many people strolling under the palms. I met there a young local musician playing guitar. We had an interesting talk. And in the afternoon Miteb took me to the diplomatic quarter to see the embassies and beautiful plazas with the rows of palms... Uff... In the evening we had a dinner with Miteb's friends in the traditional Saudi restaurant. In the evening we moved to the city center - to the certified by Guinness "biggest cafe in the world" to enjoy from the the terrace the live concert of Arabian pop Stars. And to meet the New Year. Sorry, fireworks from the imposing Kingdom Tower were poor. In my country at 24.00 people are wishing each other, kissing, singing, laughing... Nothing like that here... Different world!
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Dec 29, 2022 10:00 PM Welcome to Saudi Arabia!
Already in the plane heading from Athens to Jeddah I saw many muslim pilgrims in white clothes... Some of them with their wifes in black. When we landed they were little bit lost: the aiport terminal is huge and the information signs are poor. Finally I reached the immigration hall. No worries - they check my visa, took my picture and my fingerprints. No passport searching, just stamp and go... It was 4 am when I was free to go. Mr Piotr - Polish significant traveller met on the plane rented a car and offered me a lift to Jeddah SAPTCO bus station. (Thanks a lot Mr Piotr!) Outside the terminal we recognised that in Jeddah there was heavy rain. Bus station was small and dirty. At 5.45 they packed passengers to the big, but not luxury bus and we started our 14-hours trip through the desert to the capital city of Riyadh. Only 4 stops on the route. It was dark in Riyadh when we arrived. With the help of local people I contacted my CS host. He explained taxi driver where to go. I have to rest!
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Dec 28, 2022 10:00 PM Gdansk to Warsaw to Athens...
You know that I am the budget traveller, looking for the last expensive air ticket solution. For the flight to Saudi Arabia I found last expensive flight of Aegean Airlines. But they operate from Warsaw! In the late morning I boarded in Gdansk an express train to Warsaw (they open the sale exactly one month ahead and on that day you can catch the best offers) It is less than 3 hours ride now. Then from Warsaw Central station I took 175 bus to the airport. Nice Christmas decoration is still here. I am waiting for my flight to Athens, where I will have just one hour for the connection to Jeddah. I hope that the flights will be on time!
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Dec 27, 2022 10:00 PM I am flying to Saudi Arabia!
I'm off to welcome the New Year in Saudi Arabia! In 2007, when tourists were not allowed in this country, I managed to enter Arabia only for 3 days to see Jeddah and the country's biggest tourist attraction - Madain Saleh. It is now easy to get a visa to the kingdom and I am going there to see more.
As you can see on the map my trip will be combined with a week-long cruise on the Red Sea, and I intend to cover the overland route by bus and a rental car. I'm going to stay with members of international open door organizations... If there will be free access to the internet you will find "hot" messages from the road, as always in English, in my travel log
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Dec 24, 2022 10:00 PM White Christmas Day in Norway
That's what they are singing about in the songs: white snow around, thick, silver hoarfrost on the branches of all trees and the landscape like from the fairy-tale. After breakfast my son Adam took me and my grandsons to the central Oslo to visit Christmas Market. There are many lights and tempting smells. Kids are enjoying bright merry-go-round and joyful music, free skate-ring is also wayting for them.. Like the kids we boarded Oslo-Eye to have for the moment bird-eye view of the university and all seasonal attractions on the square... Wonderful Christmas Day!
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Dec 23, 2022 10:00 PM Christmas Eve in Oslo
My direct flight to Norway departed from Gdansk at 10.30 am. But this was low-cost airline, flying not to Oslo Gardemoen capital airport but to Torp (they use terminology Oslo Torp, but in fact this airport is located 2 hours drive from capital's center. I was forced to take a train departing from Torp station. Shuttle bus will take you from the terminal to the station. What a beautiful winter scenery! They have really white Christmas here! I changed the train at beautifuly decorated (picture) Oslo S (Central) station and after 3 pm I met my son in the suburbs. We had really nice evening at the Christmas tree, enjoying traditional dishes, singing Polish Christmas carols and receiving gifts. Really white, lovely Christmas Eve!
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Dec 22, 2022 10:00 PM Merry Christmas dear Friends!
Dear Friends worldwide.... Merry Christmast and Happy, peaceful and full of interesting travels New Year 2023!
I decided to fly to look for white Christmas to Oslo, to my dearest son Adam and his family living there... It is only 1,5 hour direct flight to get there. In Gdansk it is grey with temperatires 5-6 deg Celsius. I hope to find the snow in Norway! Enjoy your Christmas time!
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Dec 20, 2022 10:00 PM One more interesting voyage is completed!
Air France send their big 777 to take me and other travellers from Santo Domingo to Paris. The plane landed in Santo with little delay but they were working without any enthusiasm and finally we started to Paris with one hour delay. Before during boarding I (why me?) had very unpleasant control performed by the guys from Dominican anti-drug brigade. Never more!
Thanks God flying to Europe we had tail wind moving us as fast as 1050 kms/hour. We landed in Charles de Gaulle 30 minutes after schedule. And... there was security control, immigration control, airport train from terminal E to F. I was running not to be late for my flight to Amsterdam. OK, this flight was also delayed so I boarded with the last passengers. In Amsterdam it was much better: I had even a time to shave myself in the toilet.. We landed in Gdansk at 5.30 pm. Only 3 deg Celsius. No snow! Uuuu! I expected to have white Christmas this year!
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Dec 19, 2022 10:00 PM How to get to the airport?
It is the problem, because Santo Domingo Las Americas airport is some 90 kms from Caleta. My black-skin host wanted to milk me: first of all he wanted 10 dollars extra for check-uot at 3 pm. Then he offered me private transfer by taxi to the airport for 90 USD. Sorry. I took the 1-hour walk to carretera Santo Domingo. There is something like little terminal of Sichoem bus company.
Nice, a/c bus took me for 250 pesos - 5 dollars to the outskirts of Boca Chica town. Driver left me there and I took a taxi for 8 USD to the airport. I was on time to check-in but why they were studying my passport so long time? Too many exotic stamps? Ok, but they do not weighted my heavy carry-on luggage! Santa Clause we as passing by when I was waiting for my flight to the snowy Europe. I am going home for Christmas!
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