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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 20, 2016 09:00 PM Those Airbus 350 to Milan....
Do you remember my airplane story from the beginning of this voyage? Latam brand new Airbus350 in Milan airport was going twice to the runway trying to start but eventually they send us bus to the hotel and we were flying only on the next day...
Now I was boarding similar Airbus350 of Latam in Sao Paulo. Everything was on time until... Departure to Milan was scheduled on 22.25 The boarding was completed and the doors locked. Why they do not taxing to the runway? 10 minutes, 20, 30. Finally captain announced that they must fix communication system... I was waiting next 40 min, 60 minutes. Can you imagine what I was thinking during that hour in the brand new Airbus350? Will they send us back to the hotel again?
Finally we left Sao Paulo at 0.30...
They served soon a hot meal (nothing special, but I appreciated Bavaria beer) and I found an interesting movie to watch.
After almost 11 hours in flight we landed on Milano Malpensa. With the delay of course, but my easyJet flight to Berlin departs at 6.40 pm.
If it will be on time I will catch in Berlin direct night bus to Gdansk. Let's hope!
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Dec 19, 2016 09:00 PM Buenos aeropuerto on strike... I am stranded!!!
I am forcibly in Sao Paulo waiting for the alternative evening flight. Yesterday in Buenos Ezeiza airport was during half a day on the "trial" strike. It was enough to delay my evening flight to Sao Paulo by 3 hours. The next plane did not wait...They sent us through Brasilian immigrations and customs (it takes a time!) - then at the "checking connections" desk just near exit we were waiting to get the boarding passes for the next day and vouchers for the hotel and meals.
Transfer to the hotel took us again 40 min... Once in the room I started to search for the new transport option on Milan - Gdansk segment. Not easy task just before Christmas, whern the ticket prices are rising!
Got it! - via Berlin... It was 3.15 am when I was finally in the bed. Boa noite, Mr Toptrotter, here is your another adventure!
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Dec 18, 2016 09:00 PM Buuuenos Aires!
Sunny, hot morning. After last visit some 4 years ago I am again in Buenos Aires. City is huge - they say 8 mln people live here, but it has a charm - at least the central part... It was a pleasure to take the morning walk to the well-known places. Casa Rosada, Avenida 9 de Julio - the widest street in the world. I did not see many changes. Only the traffic is bigger and also the city is more polluted... Shame...
Palm trees, beautiful women, flowers, cafes... and everpresent on commercial Florida Street "cambio, cambio..." In the cathedral there are still guards in the uniforms at gen. San Martin's tomb.
What a lovely day at the end of my journey! In ths afternoon I plan to take a cheapest public bus no. 8 from Avenida de Mayo to the distant Ezeiza Airport. I belive that three next flights will be on time! :)
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Dec 17, 2016 09:00 PM Along the Lake Nahuel Huapi
San Carlos the Bariloche lies on the huge lake Nahuel Huapi. The location is very nice. If the sun is shining the water in the lake has unforgettable deep-blue color. And the landscape is framed by the chain of the Andes with some snow on the peaks.
To enjoy the landscape in the morning I took the walk along the coastal road taking pictures in the best places. The most beautiful was kilometro 7,5... It took me some 2 hours to reach this place.
Then I started to hitchhike back to Bariloche but nobody wanted to take me... It seems that in Chile people are more friendly. Finally bus no. 20 arrived and took me to the center. It is comfusing, but to pay for the city transport in Bariloche you have to buy first SUBE electronic card (30 CLP) then put some money on it and than you can pay entering the bus. Standard fare is 13 peso, to the airport you pay 19. Let you know that you can use the same card in Buenos.
In the afternoon I took a flight to Buenos Aires. Latam flight was 40 minutes delayed but it took me to the AEP airport in Buenos, which is closer to the city. As you exit terminal turn right, go to the end of taxi lane and you will see city bus stop. I jumped on 45, which took me to Avenida 9 de Julio for just 7 pesos. Welcome to Buenos Aires!
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Dec 16, 2016 09:00 PM Through the Andes to San Carlos de Bariloche
From Puerto Montt, Chile to Bariloche, Argentina you have a choice of minimum 3 buses per day. I was travelling with Bus Norte, paying 18000 CLP (25 USD) for 7- hours trip. There is also much more interesting transfer by bus-boat-bus-boat-bus with the extra views on sunny day, but it costs 150 USD. I did it 30 yaars ago when it was cheaper... Bus goes via Osorno, there are nice lakes on the way but trees reduce visibility. We reached Chilean immigration post at 12. There was a line of buses but it goes fast on this side. Then we were climbing to the mou tain pass through the dead forest - sad view. Argentine post was 17 kms down from the pass and I must say that theviews on this side were great. Argentine customs were not so sweet - they took selected bagages from the bus and screened them. This takes longer.
After control we started a descend to the famous Lake Nahuel Huapi. Regular bus doesn't on view points but sitting at the right window you still have opportunity to enjoy the great views. At 4 pm I was at the Bariloche bus terminal it is 3 kms before thd center of this big and fancy resort town. 30 years ago it was more quiet... It still has great location but I do not like crowds of tourists, school excursions, and homeless people...
Apart from the lake and mountains Bariloche is famous for the chocolates produced here. In the town, especially around Civic Center (read: city hall square) you will find many samples of Alpine architecture. Bariloche has ambition to be the Switzerland of Argentina. Also so expensive...
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Dec 15, 2016 09:00 PM 15 hours delay! But landed in Puerto Montt!
Very stressing day... In the morning the ship was dancing on the waves in Golfo Corcovado. Grey sky, rain. According to the schedule the ship should reach the destination today at 6 am. Forget it! Our guide announced that we should be in Puerto Montt at 9 p.m. and we will land if... the wind which is now very strong will be reduced.
Some of my fellows are booked for the afternoon flights from Puerto Montt - it seems that they already loose their seats in the planes.
I gave myself 24-hours flexibility so I can still can be on my schedule. but what will happen if due to the strong wind we will be drifting all night? After 2 days they allowed me and few other fellows to see the bridge. The captain did not appear, nobody saw him.
Thanks God in the afternoon the wind almost stopped. On arrival to the port the company gave us opportunity to see how do NOT organize disembarking. Lorries are important to go out - passenger can wait! Finally they packed us up to 3 minibuses and sent to the town bus terminal - 15 kms away. Pier of Navimag is no longer in the town but far on the outskirts of Puerto Montt...
I found my guesthouse in the dark. The epic marine voyage is over! Tomorrow to Argentina...
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Dec 14, 2016 09:00 PM Stormy weather
On our route there is 18 - hours stretch through the open ocean. They call it Golfo Penas. The forecast was very bad - strong wind and waves up to 5 m. That's what we experience from the morming - storm! Some of my fellows did not appear for the breakfast. Zero activities. Fortunately I do not suffer - I do not know what is seasick. In the afternoon captain decided to escape to the first available channel between islands fo find the shelter from the strong wind. Much better!
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Dec 13, 2016 09:00 PM Patagonian Eden
Sailing the labirynth of the channels and fjords today we reached Puerto Eden - the only settlement on our Patagonian route. Little village and military post are located in the fjord, at the bottom of the snowy peak. No pier here so the ship is anchoring and the locals are coming on the little boats to collect all supply for this remote outpost and to take few passengers ashore. After an hour wecwere already sailing through the English Narrows - another dangerous place to sail with a statue of Virgin Mary located on the little, rocky island. Many rainbows on the way. Sometimes little rain, but it is not bad.
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Dec 12, 2016 09:00 PM Ha, ha... Chile - we are still in Puerto Natales!
I do not know - should I cry or should I laugh... In the evening Navimag shipping company wanted the passenges to come not to the port but tothe distant bus terminal. OK. They said that at 9 pm they will provide a bus to take us to the pier located in the center of the town. At 9.10 a driver appeared there just to say us that the transfer will not be now, but at 11 pm. OKAY. We boarded the ship just before midnight. Then in the dining room we had "orientation" meeting they said that due the low tide we will depart only in the afternoon... They do not know in advance the schedule of the tides?
At 1 am I went to the bunk bed in my 4-pax cabin. It was terribly cold there and nobody knows why the heating system does not work.
In the morning we got a standard breakfast in the huge dining room reminding rather the factory canteen. Porridge, fruit salad, rolls with cheese and ham.
I went ashore just to send this message because there is no internet onboard. So we have already 9 hours dalay on departure.
But the sun is shining over the snowy peaks surrounding the Fiord of Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope). Good name, isn't it?
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Dec 11, 2016 09:00 PM Ahoy! My ship arrived!
Sunny day but we still experience mucho viento - strong wind.
The main attraction in the neighborhood of Puerto Natales is Cueva de Miladon - The Cave of Miladon. 20 kms out of the town. No public transport, taxi drivers ask 20000 pesos for round trip with 1 hour waiting... Miladon was a prehistoric bear living in Patagonia some 12 000 years B.C. they found here its bones and he is now like a mascot of the town.
I tried to hitchhike, and it was not difficult. At the entrance they charge 5000 CLP from the foreigners and only 1500 from the seniors from Chile. Do you think I look like Chileno? You are right! I paid lower rate!
In fact there are 3 caves, the biggest where is thd entrance is really huge, but not high. To get to other two there is a path 20 min + 20 min easy walk. From the last one you can go directly to the rock formation Devil's Chair -another 20 min.
When I returned I saw my ship EVANGELISTAS fighting with the strong wind at the end of the bay. It arrived on time! I will be boarding in the evening. Do you know 4 evangelistas - the four evangelists of the bible? Let's hope it will be safe 4 days voyage on this epic route to Puerto Montt. Just for fun you can follow position of the ship on www.marinetraffic.com
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