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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Sep 18, 2018 08:00 PM To the new islands...
It is not far from Poland to find interesting islands: The Alands - belonging to Finland, although the majority of the population speak Swedish there. I have wanted to go there a long time ago, but I always postponed this journey "for later" - because it is so close and you can always go there without long preparations... The gateway to Alands is a Finnish city of Turku, from where ferries depart several times a day to the capital of the archipelago - Mariehama. When on my account in the wizzair airline there was a enough bonus money to be used, I thought that it is worth using the opportunity: to fly directly from Gdansk to Turku, and then to the sail to Alands. After visit to Alands I want to add to the route a small bus loop through unknown to me Western Finland. Thanks to the internet, I managed to buy three bus tickets by paying 1 euro for each and also an affordable ferry ticket. The problem of accommodation, which in the Scandinavian countries is very expensive, remained. I decided to try couchsurfing. Finding hosts was not easy... The hosts from Finland read my my requests, but very few is responding. Shame... I am leaving tomorrow...
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Sep 12, 2018 08:00 PM Do you know Wagga - Wagga?
I have been to Langa - Langa, to Lapu - Lapu, to Bora - Bora.
Now Wagga - Wagga excites me. Why not to go to Wagga - Wagga? Do you know how to get there?
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Aug 28, 2018 08:00 PM Going home via Kaliningrad
Slava was so kind to deliver me in the morning to Nizhny Novgorod little but nice airport. Then I was flying via Moscow to Kaliningrad.
The bus from Kaliningrad airport to the city is more expensive now: it costs 100 roubles.
Once in avtovokzal (bus station) I bought the bus ticket to Gdansk - departure at 3 pm and safely landed in my hometown at 7.30 pm
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Aug 27, 2018 08:00 PM Nizhny Novgorod or Gorky
It is the big city (in the past called Gorky), with more then million inhabitants, located on wide Volga river. I said goodbye to the ship at 7.30 am. My new friend -Slava from Couchsurfing were waiting firm me just on the prier.
Slava is a perfect guide - we spent full day visiting city tourit attractions. First of all - the Kremlin or the castle overlooking Volga and the city.
Wechad great, sunny weather so I took a lot of pictures. The main pedestrian street 2-kms long is Bolshaya Pokrovskaya. Elegant theathre is located there and a lot of small cafes, shops... People are strolling around, smiling and enjoying the atmosphere. At the Gorky square you will find McDonald's with free, clean toilets (still rare in Russia) and free wi-fi - but to log in you have to have Russian mobile number. I asked the staff to help me and they offered me their phone :) - so nice!
We spend the evening in Slava 's home watching the pictures from all over the world. Thank you dear Slava for such a good time we had together!
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Aug 26, 2018 08:00 PM Republic Mary - El :)
Did you ever hear about Republic Mary - Ek? It is located on the both sides of Volga River. Our ship docked for the short time in Kozmodemlyansk - one ofthe biggest town in this Republic. Local people were waiting at the pier offerring their product: dried and smoked fish, vegetables, honey.... 200 m away in the impressive old merchant's hojuse they have picture gallery with quite impressive collection of Russian and Western Europe paintings. What a surprise! In the Republic Mary-El! Wonderful sunset on Volga and then full moon over the river... This is my last night on the ship. Tomorrow it will be the time to say goodbye to captain Ivan and other friendly people....
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Aug 25, 2018 08:00 PM Cheboksary in the mist...
At 6 am, when I wake up I saw through the window onlly the thick mist. According to the schedule we should be in Cheboksary - the capital of the Chuvash Republic. :)
Eventually after 2 hours the mist dissappeared, we went into the 15 m lock to be lifted 15 m up and reached Cheboksary at 10 am.
Wow! What a welcome in the Chuwash Republic! A group of young ladies and men in the national costumes was waiting on the jetty playing the local instruments and singing! The only and unforgettable such a event during this journey!
Chuwashia and Cheboksary are both small, so we had a walking excursion around the capital pleasantly located on the little hill overlooking wide Volga. There are orthodox churches, monastery, souvenir bazaar and high fountain. I was surprised to see tourist info office near the theatre. In Russia it is still rare!
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Aug 24, 2018 08:00 PM Kazan -Tatar Republic
After a all day sailing upstream Volga (our junk boat has a maximum speed only 23 km/h) we arrived to Kazan -the capital of Tatar Republic just before the spactacular sunset. Then we had an evening tour around 1,2 million city. This republic is rich in oil and you can see it in the streets. Nice lighting around, a lot of new, ornate, buildings. Huge arena, water stadium, theatres.... Warm evening, so a lot of local people in the streets... Illuminated Kremlin with the big mosque. Great place!
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Aug 23, 2018 08:00 PM Sailing Volga upstream...
It is very relaxing journey with wide panoramic views, quiet hours and shore visits... Today in the mid-day we docked for an hour in Vinnovka village located on the high bank of Volga. Elegant male orthodox monastery was visible from the distance. Local people were elling fruits and vegetables on the way up to the monastery gate. We spent there half an hour. Russians traveling on our boat buy the candles and pray inside in front of the icons...
Then in the afternoon we were sailing to Samara. Here I got a good news: they offer me last-second price for empty cabin to Nizhny Novgorod - I was ready to go there by bus in few stages. Boat travel is much more relaxing and comfortable. Lucky me! In the evening one more great sunset on Volga... We are sailing to Kazan now... :)
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Aug 22, 2018 08:00 PM Saratow - the jewel on Volga
Today we visited Saratow - the old city lovely located between two bridges. For many years it was completely closed for the foreigners! This city has no industry, at least from the front side and I think that it is the nicest place I visited on this trip along Volga. It is worth to go up to the Sokolnaya Hill overlooking the city and the river for the great view. Military museum is located there too to see for free the war time train and few "katyusha" launchers. Then they have nice pedestrian zone along the Kirova street with many ornate buildings of rich merchants. The real jewel of your visit could be nicely restored Troitsky Sobor - just near river dock. Lovely, sunny day!
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Aug 21, 2018 08:00 PM Kurgan Mamaya
In the morning our junk ship docked again in Volgograd. For me it was a chance to wake up early and to connect to the internet. Yes, there is wi-fi in the bar of our ship, but it works only when we are in the big city...
Why second time in Volgograd? First stop was long enough to walk around the center of the city (2,5 hours) Now we had organized, included in the ticket price bus excursion to the Kurgan Mamaya - the distant hill where during the Battle of Stalingrad were the heaviest fightings. Now on the top of the hill they erected huge, 85 - m high monument of Mother Russia with the sword in the hand. On the slope of the hill (102 m high) there are also other monuments. And you will see also the huge Hall oc Fame with eternal flame and the guards. There is ceremonial guards change on the hour. All of these is very impressive and important to thr Russians.... Weather during the day is hot, with the blue sky. In the afternoon we will depart to Saratow.
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