|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 23, 2013 08:00 PM Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Dear Friends
We do not have any snow for Christmas this year in Gdansk but it is still very pleasant and important event...
My Christmas tree 2,5 m high is ready and bright - in the morning my two grandsons - Kamil and Kuba helped me to put on it the apples, sweets and ornaments. Soon we will wait for the first star on the sky to start the Christmas Eve celebration. We do hope that Santa Claus will also come this evening with his pack full of gifts.
Merry Christmas dear friends! Have a prosperous New Year. Happy travelling in 2014!
=================
==================
===================
====================
=====================
======================
=======================
========================
=========================
==========================
===========================
============================
=============================
==============================
===============================
|
Dec 09, 2013 08:00 PM Last beach walk in Miami
Strong sun was shining from the morning. I had enough time to take a long walk along the beach. At 9 am there were very few people but a lot of sea birds.
Last chance to swim - water probably as warm as the air, the waves were quite high so you have to take care - but it was the great pleasure. In Europe there is a snow!
Time to pack up. The last expensive way to go from Miami Beach to Miami airport is express bus 150 from Lincoln Rd.
For 2,65 USD they will take you to metrorail terminal (allow 30-40 min) and then there is a free people mover to the airport.
Do you know that you have to pay extra 25 USD even for the first piece of checked luggage? I avoided this taking my pack to the cabin as an carry-on. There was nice sunset on the air. It is evening and I am waiting for the flight to Europe in JFK airport in New York. They have free wi-fi access - but only 20 minutes - if you will give them any e-mail address. My voyage is almost completed. I think about white Christmas in Europe!
|
Dec 08, 2013 08:00 PM Everglades on Florida
I love the nature so I took my chance to see another National Park: Everglades on Florida.
What most of the hotels and agencies offer is a standard tour which lasts about 4 hours - they will pick you up from your hotel or agency, then there is 40 minutes bus drive to the park.
In the park you board the airboat. Wow! This was something new to me: can you imagine a noisy flat boat with a big air propeller in the back? They distribute earplugs before you go...
It can sail through the shallow waters and swamps of Everglades. But the standard tour takes only 35 minutes of sailing. We saw alligators, birds, mud turtle and water flowers... Then in the park ranch there is a kind of the show: the ranger is talking about animals showing them (12-years old resident alligator some 4 m long is showing himself). At the end you can have for 3 USD a picture with a young alligator in hands. And there are people who pay!
If you shop around in Miami this tour will cost you 35 USD including airboat and entry fee. Enjoy!
|
Dec 07, 2013 08:00 PM Miami after years,,,
At sunrise we already docked in Miami cruise terminal - a big place - there were 6 ships at a time!
Since I decided to spent another two nights in Miami Beach there was a problem how to get there from the cruise terminal. Initially I wanted to walk about 2 kms to the public bus 120. But at the pier there were private minibus drivers offering door-to-door service to Miami Beach for just 10 USD (bus ticket cost 2,65) so decided to go with them instead to carry the pack in the heat.
I booked in advance the room in Tropics Hotel/hostel on Collins Ave. They have free wi-fi, little pool and guest kitchen. It is only 70 m to the beach... Rooms are big, but take care about the excursions they offer - you can get the same trip few dollars less nearby.
Miami Beach is nicer then 20 years ago - many Art Deco buildings along Ocean Drive were renovated.
It is lovely 25 deg Celsius, warm sea and sun. Good time to relax...
|
Dec 06, 2013 08:00 PM We are close to the end of the cruise!
The sea is calmer today and they opened the promenade on the deck 7 for walkers. We are heading to Miami, Florida. It is the last day at sea. The cruise staff is delivering to the cabins the passengers bills. What do you think - how looks the backpacker's bill. I believe that they are always surprised by my bill: no drinks, no duty-free shopping, no shore excursions...
Balance to be paid: zero I am here not to be milked, but just to see new places on the route.
It is time to pack-up again my backpack. In the evening we had an interesting show in the ship's theatre. Russian artists were the best!!
|
Dec 05, 2013 08:00 PM It is rocking in the sea!
Already in the night after leaving Cartagena the Caribbean S Sea gave us a tiring lesson: high waves and strong wind from the east. The anchor was hitting the body of the ship from time to time - I did not sleep well. That's life in the sea...
|
Dec 04, 2013 08:00 PM Charming Cartagena - Colombia
As you know I visited all the countries in the Caribbean.
Today, after short visit in the Cartagena I can say - it is the nicest old town in the Caribbean - at least for me. UNESCO World Heritage site.
I am sorry that I haven´t been here before.
Imagine walled old town with old churches and plazas. Painted in bright colors houses with charming balconies, and it is all alive!
The only thing I do not like are street vendors and guides offering souvenirs, water, cigars and many other services.
It is very hot and the sun is strong - I make a lot of pictures and I plan to to publish them soon,so you will know how beautiful is old Cartagena. See my picture at the San Felipe castle :)
|
Dec 03, 2013 08:00 PM Great views of Panama Canal
They announced that the pilot will board the ship at 5.30 am. Get up!
Those of us who were on a deck at 6 am were awarded by the nice view of Panama sunrise.
Enjoying the Panama City skyline we sailed under the Puente Americas (bridge connecting north and south America) to the first Lock in Miraflores.
Years ago I was in Panama and visited the canal but the view from the tall ship is completly different!
We passed through the 2 locks in Miraflores heading to the third one in Pedro Miguel. It took the ship to the level plus 26 m. After there were some 13 kms of Culebra Cut -
the most narrow and most picturesque part of 80-kms transit. Hardest construction works took place here - more then 5000 people lost their lifes - mostly from tropical diseases.
Later we sailed through the Lake Gatun with many islands and many ships waiting in the line.
In Gatun Locks in three phases we descended back to the level of the ocean. It was 4 pm when we sailed offthe last lock. I spent almost all day on the deck. It was extremely hot and humid - I was forced again to protect my neck by scarf (see picture). But what a day! One more dream came true!
|
Dec 02, 2013 08:00 PM On the way to Panama
The sky is partly cloudy today and the temperature felt down to "only" 28 deg.Celsius.
I went to swim in the pool - it was not crowded today and I was delighted when the band from Jamaica was playing on the steel drums my favorite Carribean piece - "Island in the Sun".
They also serve here unlimited icecream - I like it with fruits and smuggled rum, but how much of the icecream you can eat? :)
In the early afternoon as a frequent NCL passenger I have been invited to the captain's party. The band was playing in the lounge, every guest received free coctail or the glass of wine. The captain had a 10-minutes speach and then escaped. Band was playing two more pieces and they escaped too. Cruise staff encouraged us to pay deposit for the next cruise with the same company
No chance to talk with the captain. Is he so busy? But not busy to pose for the 20-dollars pictures offered by the ship's Paparazzis!
|
Dec 01, 2013 08:00 PM Costa Rica
34 deg Celsius in the shade.
I am in Puntaarenas in Costa Rica. The little town is located on the peninsula. You can walk around to see all attractions in one hour. Beaches has black, volcanic sand.
Unspoiled nature is the main attraction of this region. Local operators offer the private tours to the jungle - the cost of transport is 25 USD plus 25 USD for the river boat. -There will be plenty of tropical birds to see from the boat. But they do not guarantee the crocodile.
I have been before to the Costa Rica so I prefere to save this money and to walk around watching the everyday life of the people.
The day after tomorrow we plan to cross Panama Canal!
|
Page:
166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176
|
|
|
