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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
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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Feb 04, 2013 08:00 PM Cabo San Lucas - Mexico
I did not sail before on such a big ship. Can you imagine 3000 people aboard?
I am a small-ship patriot but for such a route around Americas it was not possible to find a cheap small ship. Food is good. We have Philippino steward and in the evenings they offer free shows in the theatre.
We reached today our first port of call: Cabo San Lucas. I have been here few years ago traveling overland through Baja California peninsula.
Now it is a new view of the place - from the sea. They took us to the coast by tenders since there is no jetty
in Cabo San Lucas. I enjoyed again the view of El Arco - the stone arch rising from the sea.
In the marina pelicans are wondering around...
It is hot again and strong sun here - in the evening we are saling further south.
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Feb 03, 2013 08:00 PM A line 200-m long! - in Long Beach.
Long Beach is a lovely town located just south of Los Angeles. It has nice boulewards, huge yacht marina
and a old lighthouse with Shore Village around it. Shore Village is a complex of little old architecture
housing Cafes, souvenir shops, restaurants... Nice place...
From Shore Village I saw in a distance two passenger ships: Old transatlantic liner "Queen Mary" converted into
hotel/museum and much larger - my ship. It was a nice walk aroun the bay to those ships.
When I reached "Oueen Mery" (min entry fee 25 USD) I was shocked: there were a 200 -meters long line of
passengers waiting for check-in to my ship.
I saw such a long line only once in my life: In Moscow during the Soviet times there was such a long line
of the people to the Mausoleum of Vladimir Ilych LENIN.
200-m line in America! What should I do? I was waiting 3 hours staying in the sun to be checked.
They did not served any drinks... They said "We have a shortage of staff and our computers are slow today"
In the proud America!
I found my cheap, inside cabin in the aft. My companion was already there.
The ship departed from Long Beach with 4,5-hours delay. The ocean was calm...
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Feb 02, 2013 08:00 PM I am boarding the ship today...
In the morning I am driving the last segment of my car journey through the USA. At mid-day in Long Beach I should embark the ship. It is scheduled to depart a 4 pm.
Dear friends. Can you see on the map where am I? Thank you to those of you who sent me warm letters and wishes - I apprecciate them!
But now - from my experience I know that internet access from the ship is VERY expensive.
So it could be possible that I will not have a chance to write so often in my travel log. Do not worry about me if the messages will come late, please!
The life on the ship is much easier!... Ahoy!
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Feb 01, 2013 08:00 PM On the Route 66. Mojave desert.
Every child in USA knows what is Route 66 - historic trail to the paradise California where poor people were going to became rich. (Do you remenber Jahn Steinbeck's novel?)
I spent the night on Route 66 - in little Williams, where they still have saloons, stylish shops and old station... It is nice to stop here and took few pictures.
Almost all day I was driving to the west - After Kingman (last chance for inexpensive fuel - 3,09 per gallon) I crossed the border to California. Then there was long drive through the Majave Desert. Wow! It is warm here! Hard to believe after the frost in Colorado!
The desert, surrounded by mountains is completly empty - no settlements. American Army has here Combat Center. It was long and boring drive. I was happy to reach Barstow on the western edge of the desert.
Hard to believe: in 7 days I drove so far 2060 miles x 1,6 = 3300 kms. It was possible because US has a good road system and it is off-season - I did not see any traffic congestions. Tomorrow I have to return the car on the coast of California...
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Jan 31, 2013 08:00 PM Grand Canyon after years...
Years ago travel magazine asked med to list the seven wonders of my world. I put Grand Canyon on the first position.
I saw Grand Canyon already twice - last time some 20 years ago, so this was good opportunity to refresh the view of this marvel of the nature.
From Cortez in Colorado I was driving first to the Four Corners - the place where you can find border point of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Arizona. There is monument, flags and... Navajo Indian who charges for entry... :)
Then I was driving through empty and picturesque Arizona. Snow disappeared, replaced by the red colors of the desert...
I reached the gate of the Grand Canyon National Park at 3 pm.
I was lucky: it was sunny afternoon and I had enough time to drive along the rim - point to point and to enjoy the views... Great views. Just let you know that they cherge alredy hefty 25 USD for the entry (per car). Good price isn't it?
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Jan 30, 2013 08:00 PM High Passes and Icefall...
I am still in Colorado. Highway 160 takes me now to the west. Sunny day! Just after departure from Alamosa I started to climb to Wolf Creek Pass. More then 3000 m above sea level. Great views, but very difficult to drive. Up, near the pass I was driving on the beaten snow. They do not used any sand for to improove the safety of the passing cars. Shame on you!
I survived. Down from the Pass there was interesting Chimney Rock (like a chimney indeed!)
Then before Cortez I decided to make a one-hour detour to the lovely mountain village of Telluride. Why? I was reading that there is the highest waterfall in Colorado State - Bridal Veil Fall - 111 m high.
The mountain route offered again greay views. But in Telluride I recognized that in the winter it is not a waterfall but icefall. In the summer you can drive by 4x4 vehicle to the bottom of the fall. In winter I had only a chance to see it from the distance - the road is too snowy and rough! Just let you know that morning offers better light to photograph this nice fall...
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Jan 29, 2013 08:00 PM Black Canyon and... Sand Dunes
In Europe it is middle of the night and you sleep well, dear Friends, I believe. But I - in Colorado just try to prepare my late lunch after 9 hours of driving across Colorado.
I started early today driving up to the Black Canyon of Gunnison National Park. Let you know that I sleep here on the level of 2000 m above sea level and the canyon is still 500-600 m up.
Upper part of the road was snowy bu I managed to get to the first view point Tomichi and then onward to the tiny Visitor Center where I met the one lonely ranger. I took the walk through the snow to the balcony view point. The view was impressive! In black and white. At this point canyon is 200 deep... But the weather was cloudy. The other view points on the canyon rim were closed for winter...
After few hours of driving via the snowy and foggy North Pass I reached sunny San Luis Valley framed by the snowy peaks.
At the bottom of these mountains there are the tallest sand dunes in America - up to 250 m high! I reached Great Sand Dunes National Park (entry 3 USD) two hour before sunset. It gave me opportunity to take the pictures of the dunes and the mountans in the great ligthing. I hope you will like them. It is time for the rest... Busy but wonderful day!
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