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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Oct 25, 2022 08:00 PM My captain...
Day at sea. We have a long distance to sail from Tuamotu to Gambier Archipelago... I had a chance to introduce myself to our young captain Arnaud. Imagine that he arrived to Tahiti from France to perform the obligatory military service as a gendarme. Then he married a local lady, studied at maritime academy and now he is the madter on Aranui
Nice person!
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Oct 24, 2022 08:00 PM I love you, Amanu!
Imagine distant, flat atoll on Tuamotu. Only 174 people lives here... Barge took me here to the main motu through the narrow canal heading to the turquoise lagoon. At the entrance to the canal stands surrounded by the palms little church of St Paul from 19th century. Wow! The group of local ladies in the flower crowns were waiting for us with smelling lei - everyone got a smile and the flower necklace... The ukulele-guitar band was playing jyst nearby to make us happy... It was only 200 m distance from this pier to the village main square where they were performed polynesian dances. Playing this lovely music while we were tasting local food (what a tasty marinated fish in the coconut milk!). Then I was walking to the end of the main motu to discover paradise beach framed by the palms... Oh, what a paradise! And what a people! I love you Amanu!
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Oct 22, 2022 08:00 PM Sunday on Ana'a Atoll
First island on our route: Ana'a on Tuamotu Archipelago. Our ship is drifting in the sea and they are putting us into motorised barge to sail us to the small island. Locals greet us on the little concrete pier. Then we walk to the village Tukuhora, where most of the 600 inhabitants of the atoll lives. On the way I turn to the tidy catholic church, where Sunday service just goes. They are singing so beautifuly! On the shore of the beautiful, turquoise lagoon they prepared in the shade local meal for the lunch. I have a time to swim in the lagoon, take a walk to the end of the motu through the coconut grove or check the souvenirs made of shells by the local ladies - great, sunny day!
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Oct 21, 2022 08:00 PM Aranui5 - the legond of Polynesia
Polynesia is my favorite region of the world (excluding my home Poland) I have been here many times, traveling between islands by ferries, freighters, cruise ships, planes... Only once it was very special ship, run by the locals, offering not only the transport, but also meetings with the Polynesians, islands visits and regional music aboard. This was Aranui3. Recently the owners replaced this ship by also small, but more modern Aranui5. Aranui3 brought me to the legendary Marquesas. Now I sail to the Tuamotu, Gambiers and Pitcairn. I embarked the ship well before 8 am in the centre of the city.
Unpleasant event at the beginning: they lost my backpack between the port gate and the ship. I became very nervous until they found it two hours later in the other cabin on the other side of the ship.
For good bye fantastic dances on the deck performed by the group from the Marquesas. Bye, bye crowded Papeete!
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Oct 20, 2022 08:00 PM Papeete on Polynesia...
Hot and humid tropic. I live in the little private house of Opuhinano family, walking distance from the airport. The place is on the hill, with great view of the blue ocean and Moorea island. Since my last visit in the town few new and modern public buildings appeared. But Papeete still has the atmosphere of those old ports of colonial era. Local ladies wear wreaths made of tropical flowers. The groups of men are playing ukuleles under a shaddy trees. I just performed covid test required to board the Aranui expedition ship tomorrow. Thanks God the result of the test is negative! :) New adventure starts tomorrow!
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Oct 19, 2022 08:00 PM San Francisco after years...
I like San Francisco - its picturesque location is comparable only to Cape Town, Rio And Sydney! Today I had a stopover in San Francisco just to refresh memories. Great! I took a bus 292 from airport to the city (only 1,10 USD for senior) and then bus 130 to the bridge (2 dollars). Wow! The view is still great and you can see also Alcatraz Island. They should repaint the bridge - red color seems to be a bit dirty now.... Then I turned to Fishermen Wharf, smalling with fried fish... Why not to try again famous cable car? Years ago, in 1981, I paid for the ticket just a dollar. Today it cost 8 dollars! In the night I fly to Tahiti - 8 hours in the air and nothing for free aboard low-cost French Bee airline!...
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Oct 18, 2022 08:00 PM Rainy morning in Lisbon
Shame on you, TAP Portugal airlines!!. On the 4-hours flight Warsaw to Lisbon they did not offer even a free glass of water. You can have it for extra money 2,7 euro per 0,5 l bottle! Imagine that yesterday I reched my hostel near Lisbon airport only at 1 am. This is cozy, self- serve place - 20 min energetic walk from the terminal. It was 20 deg at midnight here. My companion in the room was terrible snorring in the short night. In the morning I recognized that there is heavy rain outside. Fortunately after shower and quick breakfast I found little window in the rain to walk back to the airport. So many controls on the way to the gate 45! Filling extra covid form... Finally I am at the gate! Just ready for the long flight to San Francisco! It is OK!
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Oct 17, 2022 08:00 PM Emotions from the beginning
It was lovely, stll warm autumn day in Gdansk. I went with my backpack to the city bus 122 heading to the airport. No bus on time! Fortunately it was possible to combine two other buses - 157 and 210 to be in the airport still on time. Bad news! My first flight to Warsaw is delayed and the staff doesn't know how big will be the deal. Uuuu!!! this must be something serious! Passengers are getting nervous. Some of them has short connection in Warsaw. Not me, I have three hours "pillow". The flight filally departed with two hours delay. Domestic flight: a glass of mineral water and a bun... Poor service! After an hour we landed in Warsaw. The TAP plane landed soon. Relax! I will be in Lisbon late in the evening. Because I had a pillow - I is worth! We will be boardind in 10 minutes...
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Oct 16, 2022 08:00 PM New grand voyage!
It's already autumn in Poland, and I am embarking on another great journey! In fact, they were supposed to be two separate expeditions: one in the spring and the other in the fall. But the covid-19 pandemic has ruined everything. When preparing this trip, I had to combine two expeditions: to the hot Polynesia and cold Antarctica. It will not be easy... But I believe that I will discover for myself new tropical islands and I'll make my dream of seeing the imperial penguins come true. See how it looks on the map. The grand voyage is planned for 40 days. The route is very complicated so please keep your fingers crossed for me! For the ice situation on the Antarctic waters and the weather in the Drake Passage. As long as I'll find free internet access (which is not so obvious on expedition ships), you will find "hot" messages from the road, as always in my travel log.
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Sep 24, 2022 08:00 PM F I love you, Amanu!
Imagine distant, flat atoll on Tuamotu. Only 174 people lives here... Barge took me here to the main motu through the narrow canal heading to the turquoise lagoon. At the entrance to the canal stands surrounded by the palms little church of St Paul from 19th century. Wow! The group of local ladies in the flower crowns were waiting for us with smelling lei - everyone got a smile and the flower necklace... The ukulele-guitar band was playing jyst nearby to make us happy... It was only 200 m distance from this pier to the village main square where they were performed polynesian dances. Playing this lovely music while we were tasting local food (what a tasty marinated fish in the coconut milk!). Then I was walking to the end of the main motu to discover paradise beach framed by the palms... Oh, what a paradise! And what a people! I love you Amanu!
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