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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Nov 13, 2011 07:00 PM Sailing the ocean
Our captain is from Norway. At noon he always addresses to the passengers announcing where we are. Today he announced that the closest land is Santo Antao Island on Cape Verde. This brought me memories from this little but exciting island: the grog story and my solo moutain walks from Ribeira. It was quite different world!
We had today an interesting lecture about The Caribbean Islands. Unfortunately the ship company cares more about onboard sales that about the lectures for the passengers:
There were no port lectures related to the Lanzarotte, Las Palmas and Tenerife. They deliver to the cabins a lot of commercials, but do not print the basic maps of the visited ports. You better bring them with you!
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Nov 12, 2011 07:00 PM Night wake up in the sea
Our first day at sea. There will be six days and seven nights until we will reach St Thomas - our first island in America.
At breakfast I met an interesting couple from San Francisco. I told them that I am convinced that in the USA there are only two cities with a special atmosphere: San Francisco and New Orleans. It seems that they love their place on earth and they were very happy to hear that. Then I asked them if they know that there is also a city called "Russian San Francisco" They did not know Vladivostok so I had a chance to share with them my knowledge...
TV set in my last expensive inside cabin swithes on at 4 am. It is not a timer, but probably effect of the broken switch.
I reported this to the guest relations desk. So far no reaction. I am disconnecting power for the night.
Good night!
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Nov 11, 2011 07:00 PM The best of Tenerife.
Ship was sailing all night. At the sunrise we were already in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Once on the deck I saw sharp mountaine just opposite to our jetty...
Tenerife is the biggest island in the Canary chain. I book the tour to the north of the island - just to see more and expecting that there will be aview of the volcano Teide - more then 3700 m high. They took us to some view points, but sorry - the sky was cloudy and the view of the Teide summit obscured. Instead I saw the banana plantations, historic town Puerto de la Cruz and the impressive sea cliffs of this volcanic island.
The guides do not write about this, but you can easily go from Santa Cruz to the colonial city of San Cristobal de la Laguna - listed
on the UNESCO' World Heritage list. It is located about 500 m above sea level so it is hard to believe that they built the tram line to La Laguna. Yes, they did! Trams go every 10 minutes, the trip takes half an hour and is dirty cheap: 1.35 euro each way. La Laguna is a great complex of the old architecture. St Augustin church is in my opinion the most picturesque!
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Nov 10, 2011 07:00 PM National Day in Las Palmas...
It is our National Day in Poland today. I celebrate it in Las Palmas - the capital city of Gran Canaria Island we are docking close to the downtown it is walking distance. Las Palmas is a huge city sprayed out on the slopes of the hills. But I want to see more than the city. The bus takes me first to the Maspalomas Dunes - the miniature desert at the end of the island where tourists can take a ride on the real camels. From this area a narrow and windy road climbes to the center of Gran Canaria.
The scenery of the quite big canyon is great. The road finally goes to the Winery where they explain the production process and you have the chance to taste 3 different wines. In the afternoon I visited the old town of Teror - first capital of the island established in the interior. With cobbled narrow streets, basilica and the museum in the old mansion it is definitely worth a visit. I returned to the ship only 15 minutes before sailing out at 5 pm. Why dont they dock longer?
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Nov 09, 2011 07:00 PM Canary Islands - Lanzarotte
We were sailing all night to be in the Lanzarotte in the morning. After a lush green of Madeira volcanic Lanzarotte looks very dry. But it offers great Timafaya National Park with some interesting demonstrations (blowing steam, hot ashes, fire in the hole...) They have a blowholes on the coast, plenty of cacti and volcanic cones. This was busy day. At the end I walked to the the capital city of Afecife - on the main commercial street you will find internet facility in the game room. One hour cost just 2 euro so I can wite now that everything goes well. No rain, not too hot and I have a lot of fun. It is easy trip (so far).
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Nov 08, 2011 07:00 PM The cliffs and wines of Madeira
It is my first time here. It was cloudy in the morning. To see as much as possible in one day I signed for full day tour... They took us to the western part of the island taking from one view poin to the other. The car was climbing the highest cliff in Europe. Unfortunately it was foggy there so I saw nothing. Then we drove to the plateau and Porto Moniz - for the great views of the northern coast and a mesl with the tasty local wine. The landscapes of Madeira are amaizing... I had a front seat in the car for the best video recording and pictures. Hope to show you some of them!
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Nov 07, 2011 07:00 PM Day in the ocean
The ship is nice, even my inside cabin is comfortabe... But from my experience I know that you have to take care because they want to milk you as much as possible.
In China or other Asian countrie you pay 1 USD for one hour connection to the internet. Do you know how much they charge here? 55 USD per One hour internet package...
We have a lot of attractions and 8 meals a day :) I eat only
three times... Passengers are from all over the world - I met coulple interesting people.. The ocean is smooth.
Tomorrow Madeira - I hope the weather will not be bad!
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Nov 06, 2011 07:00 PM Malaga in the sun
I have been to Malaga for the first time in 1971, then in 2005 starting to my transafrican journey. But it is still nice to see again the old places.
I spent the night at cozy, old-fashioned Hostal Larios - perfectly located at the beginning of Larrios pedestrian mall. I pay 30 euro for single with shared bath. They offer free wi-fi internet.
The cathedral is just 200 m away, Alcazar - the castle is just next to. I had a pleasant morning walk around the old town with old churches and narrow streets. Strong sun, 20 deg Celsius. Malaga is famous for its sweet, dark and thich wines. The bottle cost 5-6 euro.
I see my ship in the port. There is a private "Portillo" bus (2 euro)going to the maritime terminal from the tourist office at Plaza Marina - just nearby. But as a backpacker I prefere to take a pleasant walk to the port passing Plaza de Toros.
The ship is sailing in the afternoon. Tomorrow we will have a day at see. And the day after we should reach Madeira. I am afraid about the weather - the Madeira forecast for Wednesday says: chance of rain. We will see! I have a feeling that it is the end of free internet on this jouney...
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Nov 05, 2011 07:00 PM Four flights to Malaga
Early wake-up. I reached Gdansk airport only 30 minutes before flight departure but it was still enough to check-in for the LOT flight to Warsaw... 50 minutes in the air and I landed in Warsaw. Close to the information desk in the departure hall you will find free wi-fi connection! Then I boarded my senond flight Warsaw - Madrid. Also LOT.
Four flights to move from Gdansk to Malaga? Sounds strange, but for the budget traveler the cost is main factor. Reliability is also important for me because my ship will not wait for the dalayed or cancelled flights... LOT + Spanair was the offer the best solution...
Barajas airport in Madrid is wide and pretty well disorganized - we were waiting 40 minutes for the luggage. If you plan quick connection you can have the problem. At the Spanair desk I checked again my luggage for Madrid to Barcelona and Barcelona to Malaga flights. Departure from Madrid was delayed, also the second flight from the brilliant terminal in Barcelona. Spanair is not low-cost airline but do not expect any free water on their domestic flights. A cup of tea will cost you 2.50 euro!
In Malaga airport like years ago I catch the same city bus no.19 to get to the center. It cost 1.20 euro now but still is the best solution. I found my hostel on Larios street, Welcome to Malaga!
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Nov 04, 2011 07:00 PM To the Caribbean! By ship will be cheaper!
Could you believe? The one-way flight from Europe to the Caribbean is more expensive that the voyage aboard the ship! Of course you have to know when and where buy your last-expensive inside cabin, and have the companion... :)
So I set out on another voyage! You know how much I like the islands, particularly those ones in the warm climate zone. It will therefore travel to new, unknown islands. At the beginning I fly cheaply to Malaga, Spain. There, I get on the ship, which with stops in Madeira and the Canary Islands sails across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. It will be great chance to escape the wet and cold European autumn, but I also know that I am going to the Caribbean in the hurricane season :) Please keep you fingers crossed! Thank you!
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