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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Jan 28, 2013 08:00 PM To the snowy Colorado...
The sunrise here was at 7.30 am. Strong sun was shining into my room. First thing I saw through the window was that it is white all around. Then I recognized that my car is cowered by frozen snow. (see photo) It was snowing in the night. I went to the reception of "Rodeway Inn" for breakfast - it is always included in the room rate.
It is good occasion to recommend you this chain of the US motels. Before I used Motel6 chain, but this year I recognized that "Roadway Inn" offer for the same price is much better. Wi-fi internet is always free (that's why I can write for you every day) rooms have carpeting and have nicer decoration plus usually there are tea-coffee making things in the rooms. And a breakfast consists of 2 boiled eggs, cornflakes, breads, cakes, juice and sometimes yoghurt - it is buffet so you can eat as much as you want (backpackers do!). In motel 6 you are getting in the morning coffee only.
I was waiting till 10.30 am until they cleaned road from the snow. And let's go. First leg was to Moab - little town like from the western famous of the beautiful rock formations. National Parks are around, but even from the road you have great views. Then I turned to the Interstate 70 - this freeway took me to the next state - snowy Colorado. The fuel has the lowest price here: 2,81 per gallon. In Arizona I paid 2,15-2,19.
I stay for the night in the next Rodeway Inn in Delta. I hope that tomorrow the weather will be also good and I will see Black Canyon...
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Jan 27, 2013 08:00 PM One more dream, or even two!
Cold, only 2 deg. in the morning but sunny weather. From Page, where I spent the night it is only few kms by road 98 to the Antolope Canyon. It is in Navajo Indians country and they offer tours to the canyon. It cost 31 USD including transport from the highway to the canyon by 4WD truck (some 6 kms each way).
It was my dream to see this canyon.
But when we arrived to the entrance I was surprised: upper canyon you are allowed to visit is only 400 m long and very narrow! The colors of the rocks are still great!
In the afternoon I drove to the famous Monument Valley. Sun was shinning and my second dream came true: the unusual rock formations near Kayenta (you pay there 5 USD entry fee) are worth a long drive. You probably know them from the movies like "The stagecoach" with John Wayne...
Great day! I am driving north... Hoping there will be no snow...
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Jan 26, 2013 08:00 PM Driving in the snow storm...
I rented a compact car in Las Vegas and drove north with the intention to visit again the Canyonland. Cedar Breaks Monument is closest. But when in Cedar City I turned to the mountains I came to the conclusion that it will be not easy to get to the parks. It is January and the administration does not care much about the side roads. The scenery was nice with the white snow on the rocks but it was not easy to drive my regular car on the white and slippery mountain road.
When I reached upper part of the road 14 it was already snowing and visibility was poor. It became windy. Stormy. -No reason to drive to the top! I will see there nothing!
Slowly, with a lot of care I was sliding down in the direction of Page. I reached motel after 6 hours of driving. I pray for the weather for tomorrow...
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Jan 25, 2013 08:00 PM Viva Las Vegas!
I did not have any problem with immigrations or customs arriving to the USA... But American Airlines were not perfect - my flight to Las Vegas was delayed 90 minutes due to the problem with the toilet on their 757 airplane.
Finally I landed late in the evening in the sin city...
Wow! Last time I have been here some 20 years ago and I see thet they built new hotels on the Strip. They have more call-girls (starting from 35 USD) and new technologies like sky train were introduced...
Lights, casinos, gambling...
The bus shuttle for 7,50 will take you from the airport to any hotel on the strip. For the budget traveller The Quad is enough - booking via expedia I got huge room with buffet breakfast and 20 USD to spend in their shop for just 60 USD...
No, I do not gamble... But I like to see... This is theatre...
It is nice to take a walk in the daylight and then in the evening along the strip. I met there pink angels - see the pictures. They earn money posing for the pictures...
But the nicest thing I saw was the dancing fountain in front of Bellagio Hotel. Viva Las Vegas!
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Jan 24, 2013 08:00 PM Negril - on the Seven Miles Beach
Some 75 kms south of Montego Bay on the west coast of Jamaica lies famous Negril - little settlement famous for the sandy, 7-miles long beach. Along the beach there are many tourist resorts, tourist ghettos - as I say - with security guards and high fences.
To get to Negril from Montego Bay you have to catch first a shared taxi to Lucea (180 JMD) and then to jump on another one to Nagril for 200.
Negril River divides The site by two: on the north side there is long beach with the resorts. Beach is nice, but I was dissappointed because it is narrow. Truly - we have nicer beaches in Poland (but not such a azurre water in the Baltic Sea)
South of the river there is a little "downtown" and onward - few kilometers of rocky cliff with elehant villas and cafes on it. - Do you want ganja?- localls bothered me two or three times... I was walking south to the Rick's Cafe on the cliff (they say it is one of the 10 best bars in the world - famous for the spectacular sunsets) and onward to the picturesque lighthouse. Flowers around, many african tulip trees in blossom (see picture) Tropical paradise for vacationers...
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Jan 23, 2013 08:00 PM YS waterfall - biggest in Jamaica?
Our host - Josef offered a tour to the interior of Jamaica. 50 USD per person for the full day tour by private car - good price. Josef, 63 lives here since 1977 and knows the island well.
We started at 8 am climbing green hills by the narrow, bumpy road, full of holes. Side road - but it gave us possibility to see the real Jamaican countryside: little coffee and pineaple plantations, farmer's houses. Huge palms and breadfruit trees. After 2 hours we reached YS falls . named after estate owners.
You have to pay 17 USD entry fee here then they will take you like 1 km away on the platform driven by track - to the fall.
YS waterfall is not powerfull, but it is picturesque. Surrounded by the lush forest it has 7 cascades and total height of 40 m.
Comfortable stairs take you up to the 6th, the highest cascade and then to the 7th - reminding me the water courtain.
You know that I love waterfalls - so this was one more to my collection.
From the fall we went to Appelton rum destilery (hefty 25 USD entry fee) and Black River - little fishing harbor in the mouth of the river.
Nice day but very hot and humid...
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Jan 22, 2013 08:00 PM Montego Bay - Jamaica - friendship for money!
Montego Bay is the second largest town in Jamaica. It is hard to say it is a big town. The old center can be visited in an hour. I cannot see many tourists there. Streets are crowded. Therea are many stalls with food and fruits. Can you imagine that fruits here are more expensive then in US supermarkets?
North of the downtown on the coast are beaches, limited hotels and tourist shops along the coastal street - they call it Hip Strip. On a hip strip I met David - the friendly local. Since we were going the same direction I was talking and joking with him. You are my friend - he said. He show me the tiny lane in the city where they sell marijuana. Thank you, I am not interested! Finally... he asked for the tip. So as you can see Jamaican friendship is for money.
I stay on the outskirts of the town in the colonial villa with tropical trees around. They have also 15m pool and offer tours. Josef - and old Austrian run the place. They charge 55 USD per huge fan room with great breakfast. Highly recommended! The only disadvantages are barking dogs at night and 10kms distance to downtown. (Share taxi charge 100 Jamaican dollars one-way)
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Jan 21, 2013 08:00 PM I survived Kingston...
Few travellers go to the capital of Jamaica. The "Kingston town" from Bob Marley song has high crime records... 1/3 population of Jamaica live in poor Kingston.
Just let you know that this sad city has a good and inexpensive public buses. They have a/c and you pay to the driver 80 Jamaica dollars per ride. Useful bus 98 will take from the North Parade to the airport and Port Royal. Taxis are expensive - they charge from the foreigners "special rate".
There is still Queen Victoria staying on the monument in the Grant Park. From this place you can walk to the white Kingston Parish Church and then down the King Street to the Ocean Boulevard. King street seems to be the main street of the capital with shops, banks and few post-colonial buildings.
People seep on the sidewalks.
Then I walked up the Duke street to see the new and old parlament and St Andrew Church.
I did not see any other white people on the streets. Black people bother you asking for money, and sometimes shouting something you cannot understand... In the daylight I was not feeling safe. But I survived... And I took some pictures too to show how does it look like...
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Jan 20, 2013 08:00 PM On the footprints of Captain Morgan
I am already in Jamaica. Few people go to Kingston - the capital of the island with a high crime record...
Did you watch the "Pirates of the Caribbean?" Some 20 kms from Kingston on the long peninsula closing the bay lies Port Royal - the nest of the Caribean pirates. Now it is sleepy village with the nice Fort Charles built by Brits in 1656.
I reached the fort early in the morning and the charming black lady decided let me go there for free. Officialy the open at 9 am and the foreigners pay 10 USD entry fee...
Brick walls, cannons and history...
Port Royal was not lucky: there was heavy earthquaque in 1692 who destroyed 3/4 of the town and the next one in 1907.
But with some imagination... looking at the remains of the sin town you can feel the atmosphere of the old pirates times... Do not you feel? Buy the bottle of Captain Morgan rum for 900 Jamaica Dollars (like 10 USD) and I am sure you will feel better!
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Jan 19, 2013 08:00 PM Highest waterfall of Tobago
You know that I am a waterfalls fan... The highest waterfall on Tobago Island is Argyle Waterfall. 54 m high.
To get there I took a public bus (4 TTD - one hour) to Roxbourne - picturesque village on the south coast.
Then there is like 600 m walk to the little lodge where you have to pay 40 TTD entry fee. The guide is not obligatory since it is only 20-min easy walk onward by path through the thick tropical forest to the fall.
The waterfall has 4 tiers. At the bottkom there is 6-m deep pool to swim (it is hot and humid!) and the I was climbing uo to the bottom of the upper tier. It is short but steep climb with the rope installed.
It is worth since the upper cascade is most picturesque!
Now it is time to pack again because in the afternoon I am depadring to Jamaica. New adventure awaits!
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