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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Mar 06, 2022 10:00 PM To the Caribbean!
I'm going on another trip - this time to the other side of the ocean! The month of February 2022 was terrible for me. Not only because of the outbreak of this monstrous war right next to Poland, but also because of the proverbial "stab in the back" from the US administration, which unexpectedly refused to allow me to enter USA without a visa. An interview with a consul that opens the way to the regular visa may not take place until April. My repeated requests for earlier date of this interview remained unanswered. I had to cancel flights and a cruise that was to start in Miami. I have suffered considerable losses. That's all because I was in Yemen and Iraq (and in all other countries of the world :)
This is why this trip will begin with a flight not to Miami, but to the Dominican Republic, where I intend to spend the first few days in the sun. Then I will get on a ship that will first visit a few Caribbean islands (most of them are already described on my website, but I will be glad to see if and how they have changed). And then it will sail across the Atlantic to Europe.
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Feb 28, 2022 10:00 PM I finally have my passport back!
What's going on in Ukraine is terrible and I worry about all my Ukrainian friends. Let's God stops this madness and undeserved suffering of people!
I have my little war too. I need US visa for my next journey. In the past I had more than five US visas including last two valid 10 years each. Now the introduced for Poles visa-free system (ESTA) and... I did not receive permit to enter USA because I have been to Yemen and Iraq (and all other countries of the world!) I applied immediately for the regular visa, but they say I must be interviewed by the consul. First available possibility: April 19th. They even did not responsed my polite request for the fast track. In addition they wanted to keep my passport till April 19th!. I went to Warsaw but they did not allow me to enter embassy. I made phone calls, I sent e-mails and courrier letters and the fax. Ufff... Finally after many nervous days I got my passport back. I am free to travel again! but so far not to the USA...
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Jan 26, 2022 10:00 PM Will I be on time for the second flight?
The other guests in our little hostel were still sleeping when I said goodbye to Giovanni - very nice and knowledgeable person and the real traveller. See us on the picture. Perhaps we will met a chance to meet again!
It was quite long walk along the Coastal Boulevard to the city beach of Arecife, and onward - to the Guagua Intercambiador. City bus 22 departs from here to the Lanzarote airport. They charge 1,40 euro per ride. Once in the airport I went through the security and (unvolytarily) through the long chain of the duty-free shops. EasyJet 4-hours flight was very pleasant. In Milan we experienced thick fogg, but the plane landed on time.
I had only 3 hours to get from Malpensa to Bergamo airport. It is 91 kms and no direct connection. Risky!
Fortunately they do not have any control on arrival! So why I paid for the test?
Train to Milano Centrale (55 min) cost me 13 euro. Then I was running across the huge station to the Bergamo bus. Ufffff! - I got it 3 minutes before departure!. In Bergamo very unpleasant lady at the gate packed us to the Ryan plane to Gdansk (she required special FFP2 mask, sending people back to the shops. 2 hours later, at 10 pm I landed in rainy, windy Gdansk. One more interesting voyage was over! I want to fly back to the sun! Soon, soon!
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Jan 25, 2022 10:00 PM Ferry to Lanzarote
Imagine that Ryan cancelled my flight from Fuerteventura. Fortunately I found similar from Lanzarote.
At 9.30 am I was already in the ferry dock in Corralejo, thevferry arrived soon and I boarded "Tindaya" for a 35-min journey in the sun. One way ticket cost me 24 euro. It is worth to know, that there is competitive company "Romero" offering the same journey for 18 euro on thevsmaller ship.
The view from the upper deck was great: Corralejo, Lobos Island them Playa Blanca on Lanzarote. Once disembarked I walked 500 m to the main road to find the stop of guagua. It cost me 3,60 to the capital of the island - Arecife. Lanzarote has not as many colors as Fuerteventura. The landscape is less dramatic, valleys are more wide and flat.
In Arecife I found little and crowded hostel "Casita Arecife" to stay for 18 euro in 4-bed room. Cramp but nice atmosphere and new friend - Giovanni from the Italy - the real traveller.
New carrier informed me that I must have a covid test to land in Italy. Giovanni helped me to find the BioLab on Argentina Street. It is worth to recommend - they made the test in 15 minutes for only 20 euro!
Fthen I was free to walk again the beautiful bouleward - againn after 7 years. They build new complex near marina.. Palms, little caste St Gabriel on the island, white boasts in the inside port. I am happy to be here again!
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Jan 24, 2022 10:00 PM Walking from Caleta de Fuste to Salinas
If you will be looking for the beach accommodation close to the airport and the capital of Fuertewentura Caleta de Fusre will be probably your best choice. Guagua (city bus) goes there via the airport and the fare is just 1,45 euro. There are many aporthotels and pensions but the exhibition window of the Caleta is the coastal Boulevard, going initialy on the rocks (hotels in this segment do not have beach access but the pools). Once you will reavh little cape protecting yacht marina you will see huge bay and the big, wide beach open to everybody.
Clouds arrived when I was resting there and I experienced also light rain, so it was a time to continue my coastal walk further south, by gravel path to Salinas. Nobody but me was there, I passed few stoney towers remained on the rocky, unhospitable coast. In Salinas there is Salt Museum (entry 6 euro) Since ages locals were producing here salt from the sea water. little ponds of different size still exist and you can see the piles of white salt ready for the transport. Saying the truth I saw more impressive such instalations on Sal Island (Cabo Verde) and in Lac Assal - Djibouti. But for the beginners it will be OK!
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Jan 23, 2022 10:00 PM Morro Jable - empty beach paradise
Today I took excursion to the south of the island. It is far way: 96 kms each way from the capital of the island. It takes 2 hours to reach the destination. But on the first leg I decided to make the stopover in Costa Calma - lovely beach resort somewhere in the middle of the route. Ticket cost me 7,55 euro. When I was departing from Pto Rosario it was cloudy. But in Costa the sun was already shinning and I enjoyed the beach walk. The beach in Costa Calma is divided by two by the black rocks, but they are passable.
Second bus took me to Morro for 2.,80 euro. From the seat behind the driver I had a chance to appreciate the views of the hilly coast and unusual colors of the water. The lighthouse was welcoming us in Morro - fancy resort township with elegant and expensive hotels, great beach and superb sidewalk along the beach full of flowers, cacti, palms. Very little amount of the people on the beach! Imagine that those hotels are almost empty - due to covid tourists are afraid to come! No crowd in this paradise! Is it the best beach on Fuertevenura? It could be!
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Jan 22, 2022 10:00 PM The colors of Fuerteventura
This island has many colors: red, brown, black of the volcanic cones, orange, yellow and white of the sands, green of palm trees... Today I saw a lot of them on my excursion to the interior.
Betancouria - the first capital of the island was my target. Guagua is departing to Betancouria at 11am costs 2,80 euro each way. The bus doesn't go directlu to the destination - it is sneaking and making detours to the side villages giving you extra occasions to enjoy the views. The highlite is the mountain pass just before Betancouria. with excellent view to the north. once down in the valley you will see charming village full of palms and flowers. In the center there is white church of Santa Maria - now the Sacred Art museum (entry 1,50 euro). in the upper streets you will find Ayuntaniento and little restaurants located in the traditional buildings made of stone... . One hour is enough to see everything worth. There were only two of us in the return bus. Tourists are afraid of covid... Thanks God this was sunny day with the temperature like during Polish summer.
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Jan 21, 2022 10:00 PM To the north of the island!
Lovely 21 deg Celsius and blue sky from the morning. at 9.30 am I was already going to the guagua station. Waiting for the bus to Corralejo I went to the upper level of the sation building to see the Farmer's Market (works on Saturdays mornings only) . Do not expect any folklore there. I found there a dozen of stalls maybe. Tomatoes 1.20 euro per kilo. The most exciting was goat cheese and aloe vera products.
Once on the bus I paid 3.40 per ride and catch a front seat becaise the landscapes with rhe volcanic cones are great on the way. Few kms before Corralejo we crossed Dunes National Park. What a view! Piles of white sand (so far I saw on Canaries only the white one) blue ocean...
Corralejo is a tidy township with ferry dock and a marina. Locals offer trips to the small and visibe Isla Lobos (15 euro round trip)
No old town here so I decided to take linea 8 bus to El Cotillo (3,10 euro one way) If you take the front seat it is like excursion - you can film the landscape of volcanic cones of different size and shape, cacti gardens, small villages. El Cotillo has a beautiful, small beach - one of the best on Fuerteventura to enjoy. What a day!
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Jan 20, 2022 10:00 PM Shame on you, Binter Air!
The bus stration in Santa Cruz de La Palma is located along the street near main Correos - Post office. Bus or guagua no 200 goes from here to the South of the island where you can find former volcanic craters of different size. There are trails to climb them and enjoy the views. Saying the true, I saw many nicer places like that spread around the world. But if you didn't see such a cones before it could be attraction. The destroyed area of the recent volcanic activity is off limits to the tourists.
In the evening I was already in the airport, ready for the interisland flight to Fuerteventura with connection in Gran Canaria
- Your Binter Air flight to Canaria is delayed 50 min, but do not worry, the next plane will be waiting for you! When I finally landed I saw my plane already taxing to the runway. -Why, they promised to wait! - I became angry! -Do not worry, you have next flight in two hours! I asked the saff to make a phone call to Fuerte, announcing that I will arrive later. No, we cannot do that because the Covid! Carramba! Shame on you Binter!
Finally I am on Fuerteventura. After few busy days it is time to make the laundry tomorrow!
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Jan 19, 2022 10:00 PM Caldera de Taburiente
In the middle of La Palma island there is huge caldera of the ex- volcano Taburiente. It seems that it is the main attraction of the island. You do not need a car to go there. Bus no 300 from the guagua station will take you the for 2,60 euro. Ask the driver to drop you at the National Park Center. Already from here the view of the green range is great. But to enjoy in full the beauty of pine forests and the caldera you have to walk 4 kms up to the rim of the caldera. There is a view point called La Cumbrecita just on the rim with a nice rock formation hanging above you. I was lucky to be taken there by car hy the nice couple from Salamanca. Thank you dear friends!
The view from the level of 1287 m above the ocean is unforgettable. There is a trail going on the rim around the caldera, but at the moment it is closed. You can still make a short walks from La Cumbrecita. No rain today. Just few dropps on my way back :)
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