You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Feb 16, 2013 08:00 PM Arica in Chile
Thanks God I am in the different world... Chile is much safer and more european... Early in the morning we arrived to the port of Arica in the northern Chile.
I had a great view from the sea - the high hill of Morro de Arica still is the main landscape attraction here. It is 130-m high and it took me about 20 minutes to climb to the top. Arica is much nicer then some 20 days ago when I was here for the first time. On the hill there is a military museum (800 Chilean pesos entry fee - the rate of exchange is 470 pesos for 1 USD). It is worth to walk slightly up to the statue of the Christ - there is nice panoramic view of the southern coast from there.
Down in the city you can enjoy the cathedral of San Marcos on the main plaza. I as lucky to be there for the little show of the folk group from the countryside.
Old locomotion could remind you the old time when there was railroad from Arica to la Paz Bolivia.
Palm trees friendly people in the tourist office where you can have free internet - that's lovely Arica!
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Feb 14, 2013 08:00 PM Callao/Peru - dangerous port!
It was 9 am when I was waiting in the line to be taken by the shuttle bus from the ship to the port gate. The bus returned to the ship full of passengers.
What is going on? -It is to dangerous to go outside the port!-somebody said. I decided to go. Just outside the gate the police asked me where I am going.
-By the main street to Fortaleza Felipe Real. It is less the 1 km walk!
You cannot walk there - it is too dangerous!
Paranoid! Peruvian police instead to send few policemen to the main street press me to take a taxi! The Police cannot guarantee the safety even in the daylight and is warning the tourist!
Taxi cost me 2 USD. After visiting a little fortaleza I took a public minibus for just 1,50 soles (1 USD= 2,5 soles) to the Plaza 2 de Mayo in the center of Lima.
Lima after some 20 years looks much nicer. I was wandering along the bright Plaza de Armas, enjoying the colonial architecture of the churches Sto Domingo, San Francisco and La Merced.
And I saw the hundereds of policemen with Kalashnikov guns
around the ornate Palazzo de Gobierno.
It seems that Mr President do not feel safe.
How about the tourists coming to your country, Senor Presidente?
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Feb 13, 2013 08:00 PM St Valentine s day in the Pacific
Day at sea - we are heading south - to the Perivian waters. I saw plenty of little dolphins plaing around the ship.
In the evening we had a great show in the theatre - with American singer and band.
In the evenining dancing to the romantic tunes.
Happy St Valentine Day to all of you in love!
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Feb 11, 2013 08:00 PM Manta - Ecuador
Wow! I feel that I am close to the equator and on the sea level! It was 29 deg Celsius at 8.30 am when I dissembarked the ship in Manta port...
It is Mardi Gras today - the last day of the carnival and local people havean extra holiday - everything is closed - at least in the morning...
How to find the internet? I found the internet sign in the Parque - the main Plaza close to the cost but this means nothing here = no network. One friendly local told me the secret: take the local bus for 25 cents to the shopping center El Pueblo on the outskirts of the town and it the food court they have free wi-fi connection. Network to connect PUNTONET, same user and password.
Manta is the capital of tuna fish - You will find monument of tuna on the coastal street and many fishing boats in the port. I believe there will be also some carnival music and dancing in the streets in the late afternoon (it is difficult to dance in the temperatures above 30 deg!
Greetings from the southern hemisphere!
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Feb 10, 2013 08:00 PM I am crossing the equator again!
The ship does not go to Costa Rica or Panama - we are sailing directly to Ecuador. The open ocean is more rough because we are forther in the ocean. Today in the evening or just after midnight we will cross the equator. It will be my third time on the sea (plus many times on the air). The cruise staff s preparing the celebration but this will be probably pushed down to ne next daylight hours... I hope thet the Neptune - the king of the seas will understand that!
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Feb 09, 2013 08:00 PM Volcanos in the distance...
Guatemala is a country of the volcanos. You will see them in the distance already from the ship. Going from the coast to Guatemala Antigua you will pass
Volcanos Fuego and Acatenango on the left and Volcan de Agua on the right. Fuego - almost 4 kms high - is still active...
The ship is sailing today onward to the south. We had today the port talk - they were talking about 3 next ports within one hour
and most of the time it is sweet ble-ble-ble instead of valuable practicals. I have a feeling that the lecturers do not know the places they are talking about. Their prioryty is to encourage people to buy expensive tours they offer. Independent traveler should bring here his own guidebook, maps etc.
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Feb 08, 2013 08:00 PM Guatemala after years
For me Guatemala is the most colorful of the little countries of Central America. It is because its folklore and the variety of the handicrafts.
In the morning we landed in Puerto Quetzal - Guatemalen commercial port on the Pacific coast.
In the industrial environement they built here the cruiseship terminal - like a little oasis with palms, handicrafts stalls, post office and tourist info point. Just let you know that in the second rounded shack they offer free wi-fi internet connection.
There is nothing to see in the Puerto Quetzal settlement so everybody goes to the closest tourist attraction - the Antigua Guatemala - 1,5 hour drive uphill.
Tours offered on the ship are expensive, they want to mikl you up, but let you know that the local tour operators are also waiting for the ship and after some bargaining you can have the same tour by minibus for the half of the ship price (25 USD).
That's what I did to see again - after some 25 years - the charming city of Guatemala Antigua.
This little town once was the capital of the colonial Guatemala.
Cobbled streets, old, ornate churches, horse carriages - that's creating the atmosphere!
No wonder why UNESCO put Antigua on the World Heritage List.
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Feb 07, 2013 08:00 PM Huatulco - South Mexico
What a place! I never been here.
Can you imagine a little jetty hidden in the small rocky bay... Great white beach framed by palms and tiny restaurants. Mexican music coming through the open doors... That's Huaatulco in South Mexico.
Just after landing in the early morning we were greatet by the folk group of pretty senoritas and smart chicos too. They were dancing and singing and I had a lot of fun taking their pictures... In the main plaza I found free internet wi-fi so I can send now the best greetings to all my friends from South Mexico.
Thank you for your letters dear all!
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Feb 06, 2013 08:00 PM Going south...
We had the captain party yesterday. It is the ocassion to have a free drink and of cource to see the captain. Our captain is Italian. Not tall at all and not elegant (they should present him the white uniform since we are in the tropics. :) During his speach he apologies because the long line in Long Beach. Then we got second free drink...
It is getting more hot and humid. At the poolside there is enought space during the day because it is not easy to survive on the strong sun! - see photo
I try to work in the meantime during our sea days.
In the evening there are shows (poor so far) cinema on the open air and many dancing opportunities. Lets cruise!
It is OK!
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Feb 05, 2013 08:00 PM The backpacker on the cruiseship!
Yes, I am the backpacker... but sometimes after the studies I am coming to the conclusion that there no cheapest way to made specific routes then by the cruiseship. And some regions are not accessible by land. The main target during this journey are Chilean Fiords. Instead to flying to Chile and boarding the ship in Valparaiso I decided to sail to Chile for more or less the same price.
The backpackers secret is to avoid any extra fees once you are on the ship - do not buy drinks, photos, do not use expensive satelite internet. And you will be happy!
Today we had the first day at sea going down - along the Mexican coast. I saw few dolphins playing close to the ship.
It is sunny but I try to avoid strong sunburn... I hate those sticky sunscreens!
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