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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Feb 23, 2025 12:00 AM To Santo Domingo by local bus...
Our ship after one- week loop around Caribbean returned to La Romana. Webhave fill day free before late evening departure to other islands for the second week. I decided to take my grandson to Santo Domingo to show him historic capital of Dominican Republic.. it was 4 km by foot to the bus station Espresso Romana on the outskirts of the town. We noted by the way few places of interest, eg Plaza Duarte. The bus ticket to Santo Domingo (1,5 h ride) costs only 225 peso - they happily accept 4,50 USD pp!
In the strong sun and 30 deg Celsius I was guiding Kuba to the Zona Colonial, enjoying narrow streets full of flowers. Old churches and palacios. We visited panteon nacipnal and mausoleum of 3 fathers of Dominicana. The route ended at Palacio presidencial. With some effort we catch the 3.30 return bus... We missed the lunch, but the tasty dinner and evening show is waiting on the ship!
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Feb 22, 2025 12:00 AM Tortola - British Virgin Islands
Today we are docking in the beautiful Tortola, where port Roadtown is surrounded by picturesque green hills 300 m high.. After breakfast with a view we went ashore. Since my grandson is here for the first time I wanted to take excursion around the hilly islan in the safari bus - many of them are waiting at the port gate, but the price for the 3-hours tour, 1h on the Cane Garden Beach cost now already 30 USD. We paid this amount because we had some savings as a result of hitchhiking yesterday. The bus took us up to the Bellevue view point - some 250 m above sea. Then we were driving narrow and steep roads among mango and breadfruit trees to the other view points and finally to the beach. You never know there were unexpected 15- minutes warm rain - enough to make you wet. We were drying fast. Tortola has still the charm, but is even more expensive!
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Feb 22, 2025 12:00 AM Tortola - British Virgin Islands
Today we are docking in the beautiful Tortola, where port Roadtown is surrounded by picturesque green hills 300 m high.. After breakfast with a view we went ashore. Since my grandson is here for the first time I wanted to take excursion around the hilly islan in the safari bus - many of them are waiting at the port gate, but the price for the 3-hours tour, 1h on the Cane Garden Beach cost now already 30 USD. We paid this amount because we had some savings as a result of hitchhiking yesterday. The bus took us up to the Bellevue view point - some 250 m above sea. Then we were driving narrow and steep roads among mango and breadfruit trees to the other view points and finally to the beach. You never know there were unexpected 15- minutes warm rain - enough to make you wet. We were drying fast. Tortola has still the charm, but is even more expensive!
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Feb 21, 2025 12:00 AM Antigua - to Nelson's Dockyard
Blue sky and strong sun over Antigua island... From the dock I wantes to go to show my grandson famous admiral Nelson maritime base. The taxi drivers ask for 200 USD for the raundtrip. But I remamber the way to the western bus terminal near the market. I found there a junk microbus taking local passengers for 3, 75 caribbean dollars (like USD 1,50). It was a hard ride on the bumpy road, but finally after 40 min we reached the legendary site. Sorry, no discounts for the foreigners - you have to pay 15 USD entry fee. At least you have free reliable internet in the bar. The stoney buildings surrounded by palms have great historic significance! Nice landscape around, interesting museum and mand many tall yachts in this natural harbour... Nice to refresh memories after more than 20 years!
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Feb 20, 2025 12:00 AM Guadeloupe - in the warm rain...
I have been here many times but is was never raining. We went ashore at 10 am, but half an hour later it was raining cats and dogs. - Be patient! - say local Afroamericans...
Aftr an hour the sun returned - we were strolling the narrow streets of old part of Pointe a Pitre full of little shops and murals. Covered market was full of product and there were color fish on the fish market where they sell also whistling shells. Nor far from this pier there is eastern bus terminus.
We boarded there a bus to Sainte Anne. Sainte Anne has opinion to have the best beach on the southern coast of Guadeloupe. Driver collected 3 euro in cash for the ride but didn't give the ticket.
The bus was broken in the middle of the route and we were waiting to board the next one.
Sainte Anne Beach is really nice with white sand and palm trees.
Before return we enjoyed the street manifestation of local school with costumes, dances and steel drums. Lovely, but hot, wet and little tiring day!
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Feb 19, 2025 12:00 AM Champagne Reef. Dominica
In the morning we docked in the only port of lush green Dominica island. Warm rain... But our plan was to go to the Champagne Beach - some 7 kms east so my grandson can try snorkeling there. The name of the place "champagne" comes from the bubbling water in this place (Dominica is a volcanic island). There are corals, color fish and turtles... To save money (the tour from the ship costs 60 USD) we went out of the city of Roseau and started to stop microbuses - they act as public buses here - the fare is 3 Caribbean Dollars per ride. Soon we were in the junk vehicle headind uphill and downhill. The last stop was in the village on the coast. From here we walked around 1 km to the black sand/stoney beach. They charge 2 USD for the entry to the reserve and 5 USD for the rental of mask and snorkel (and fins if you wish). It is worth! There are corals and turtles/fish underwater but you must swim from the beach in the direction of little rocky islets. We returned the same way in the afternoon...
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Feb 18, 2025 12:00 AM The palms and beaches of St Maarten
At 8 am we already docked in picturesque Philipsburg, in the Dutch part of the island. Breakfast with a nice view of the bay surrounded by green hills.. Caribbean! One hour later we disembarked and started the walk to the town. Palms, rododendron flowers... Nice promenade along the clean city beach. I decided to take my grandson to Maho beach - the rare place where landing planes are passing over the white sand. From my experience I knew that there is public bus heading there and it costs only 2 USD pp. That's whet we did! It is very nice spot. There is sunset bar on the other side of the beach with a monitor showing plane arrivals. People are waiting with the cameras.... They also swim in the crystal clear waters. Lovely place!
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Feb 18, 2025 12:00 AM The palms and beaches of St Maarten
At 8 am we already docked in picturesque Philipsburg, in the Dutch part of the island. Breakfast with a nice view of the bay surrounded by green hills.. Caribbean! One hour later we disembarked and started the walk to the town. Palms, rododendron flowers... Nice promenade along the clean city beach. I decided to take my grandson to Maho beach - the rare place where landing planes are passing over the white sand. From my experience I knew that there is public bus heading there and it costs only 2 USD pp. That's whet we did! It is very nice spot. There is sunset bar on the other side of the beach with a monitor showing plane arrivals. People are waiting with the cameras.... They also swim in the crystal clear waters. Lovely place!
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Feb 17, 2025 12:00 AM My 45th captain!
It was sunset yesterday when we boarded without any problems our ship in La Romana tiny port. A friend from the crew recognized me already on the gangway.
Today we have day at sea - sailing to St Maarten Island. Lovely sun, many attractions. I have been invited to the captain's cocktail. Italian captain Enzo de Nunzio was greeting us at the lounge door. I introduced myself, receiving congratulations for my travellers output. We took a souvenir picture...
In the evening there was fantastic gymnastics performance in the theater. They payed the live music in several different places. What else should I expect?
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Feb 16, 2025 12:00 AM On flight to America
Lovely, sunny day in Madrid. All Iberia flights are departing from new, huge terminal 4. Allow a lot of time to go there - you will use crowded shuttle train. We have 9 hours flight ahead. And in Santo Domingo 30 deg. Celsius!For some reason it was not Iberia plane put the airbus 320 of charter company Priviledge Style. Thr flight was full. They served 2 poor meals. For lunch there were choice of chicken and pasta. For me in in the last rows only pasta left: noodle and sauce. No bread... They offered cerveza and wine instead... One hour before landing we got one sandwich with drinks. After 5 hours time difference we landed in Santo Domingo just before 4 pm. But the ship is more than 100 kms away. How to get there?
Katiuska with Costs logo in hand was waiting at arrival hall for all inclusive guests. Yes, we have the space and we can take you for 24 euro! Good deal! Soon we were on the bus driving east along the blue Caribbean Sea!
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