|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 03, 2025 12:00 AM In the mood!
Iberia is not my favorite airline but after sandwich and orange juice the plane landed on time in Madrid terminal T4S. We were running along the wing... At the end of the long walkways there was departures listing. Bingo! Our flight to Dublin is from the same terminal - no need to use the train! Second bingo - just nearby is IBERIA customers desk. No line. They ask for passport and 5 minutes later we have our boarding passes! Uffff! Now the security control (water allowed) and we walk to the gate S19. The world is beautiful!
Ryanair plane landed in Gdansk on time. The wonderful trip of grandfather and grandson to warm countries ended successfully. Tomorrow we have to go back to school!
|
Mar 02, 2025 12:00 AM Shame on you Iberia!
At sunrise we entered little La Romana port. There was no reason to rush: yesterday lovely girl from the crew made a checkin for us for today's flight Santo Domingo -Madrid. Iberia flight. But when today I asked her to check online for second flight - also Iberia (Madrid - Dublin). I was more than surprised - no online check-in. You have to check in the airport.
I am not sure if we will have enough time in Madrid...
Bloody Iberia!
At 10 am we went out of the ship to made immigration formalities. At 12.20 we said goodbye to the ship. Elegant bus for 24 euro) took us from the pier to the SDQ airport. I went to the Iberia desk, but they responsed that they van do nothing regarding second flight... During the bus trip we enjoyed once more the view of sugar cane plantations (see picture). SDQ airport is not well organized - the line to the security control was terribly long and they wanted to take off all shoes... Before going to immigrations you have to fill online the "eTicket" form.
OK. Take a breath! Please keep for us the fingers crossed tomorrow morning - we are going to M6 gate. :)
|
Mar 01, 2025 12:00 AM Cabo Rojo for the first time!
I am first time in this port on the southern coast of Dominican Republic. And what I see? The concrete jetty was build oin the middle of nowhere. At the jetty they created little, artificial island and on the island they build pools, bars, shops, adding implanted palms, noisy music and rude waitresses asking to order something to receive wifi password. If yo go out you pass first the Baby Beach - entry 35 Usd pp including beach chair and unlimited drinks... Then there is gate to the pawed road with taxi drivers waiting (30 dollars to the closest village) You have the option to turn right - to the gravel road passing army post and 100 m further if you will cross 20 m wide bush you will find the wild "public beach" to enjoy with a great view of your ship. Well, Cabo Rojo is one more tourist trap unless you want to spend the day on the beach...
|
Feb 28, 2025 12:00 AM Day at sea
We are sailing today around Hispaniola Island.. I had one more opportunity to meet our captain. It is time for jacuzzi, sunbathing and laundry... In the evening we have a great show performed by duo of acrobats. I had a good time!
|
Feb 27, 2025 12:00 AM Puerto Plata
It is the port on the northern coast of Dominicana. But take care: there are two cruise docks: one in the city (used by Celebrity line) and second - 13 kms away - on the road to Santiago. I am first time here and Disembarking in Amber Cove (second dock) I did a mistake. Once off the new tourist village taxi drivers attack you asking for 40 dollars to the city. Nobody will say that on the main road are operating the minibuses of Javilla Tours. This is not tour company but gua gua for local people. They will take you to the city for just 50 pesos or 1 USD. I didn't know that and paid taxi driver 20 USD!
In the city there were great manifestation related to tomorrow's Independence Day. They were walking with national flags along the coastal promenade. Ladies were wearing national colors too. Central Plaza with closed cathedral is worth to see with elegant houses as is Umbrella Tourist Street. On the end of the peninsula old Fuerte San Felipe is open as a museum (entry 100 pesos). We returned with Javilla Tours guagua. Hot, lovely day!
|
Feb 26, 2025 12:00 AM Grand Turk in the Caribbean
This place is little known! Little insular country consists onlly of two little island: Caicos and Grand Turk. They are member of British Commonwealth. Today I am on Grand Turk. They have here the pier housing maximum 2 ships... Paradise location - just steps from the beauutiful, palm fringed beach. I have been here already twice, but recently they built a huge commercial center near the pier. Nothing elce here except shops and bars... The main city of the island - Cockburn is 5 kms away. We were walking there passinng the airport and the salinas (they produced here salt in the past - like on Bonaire)
Very few monuments in the Cockburn. Kiosk with souvenirs on the short coastal promenade. Little museum. The HM Prison I visited in the past is now closed and overgrown. So what to see here? You will see wild donkeys wondering the bush and sidewalks. Lizards and flowers... But number one of Grand Turk are the extra beaches - so close from the ship. I am enjoying this hot tropical paradise...
|
Feb 25, 2025 12:00 AM Samana Peninsula
Samana - they say is the wildest part of Dominican Republic. We were anchoring again on the distance and tenders took us ashore to the little town of Samana. I wanted to go from here to the Las Gaglleras - settlement on the coast 30 kms away, famous for the nice, quiet beaches. First I found in the town estacion the gua-gua (public microbuses) then such a vehicle full like a can of the sardines took me there for 150 pesos. Beaches aroung La Gallera are really nice with the white sand and palms, especially Playita. We returned happy. Nic excursion for 5 USD per person!
|
Feb 24, 2025 12:00 AM Isla Catalina
This is small, uninhabited island at the coast of the big Dominicana. Our ship was anchoring in the distance and the passengers were transfered to the beach of the island by the ship's tender. 30 deg Celsius, blue sky...
Catalina is wild, forested by thick bush. Pnly one 300 m beach is cleared ip and it looks like tropical paradise. Ee spent there few jours before returning to the ship the same way... Sea Patru on the deck 9 at the sunset time. I liked Ladies- pirates.. Great day!
|
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!
|
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!
|
Page:
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
|
|
|
