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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Mar 28, 2006 02:00 PM Solar eclipse on the equator
I saw already solar eclipse in my childhood. Today I had new
opportunity: to see the total eclipse close to the equator in the middle
of Atlantic Ocean. We were equipped in special sunglasses. At 7.40 am
everybody was on the deck waiting for the moment when the shield of the
moon will touch the sun. But where is the sun? It is covered by
clouds! Fortunately after 5 min it appeared again and the main
spectacle begun. It took an hour until the total eclipse. Then we saw
for the moment a diamond ring around the black ball of the moon. It was
soon replaced by the silver corona lighting for 2,5 minutes. Darkness
was around. And immediately ? strong, white ray switched on up in the
sky? For me this wasn?t the most important day of our expedition but I
must say that it was unforgettable spectacle? Now - in the afternoon
we are expecting the visit of the Neptune hoping that he will allows us
to cross the equator in the evening. Our captain is sorry that the
equator will not be visible due to the darkness? BBQ on the deck is
expected and also some other funny events. How many times did I already
cross the equator?
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Mar 27, 2006 02:00 PM Day 33rd
It is 33rd day of our expedition. The horizon is empty again; only
flying fish and dolphins are jumping over the waves. Only six days left to the end? I
am busy doing laundry and completing my notes. The fellows discovered
already that we do not have in our passports stamps from Ascension
Island. For some of them stamps are very important. They prepared
special inserts to their passports. Our captain will confirm on these
pieces of paper that they visited Bouvet, Sandwich, Ascension? I have
quite different problem: the immigrations on Falkland and South Georgia
used blank pages for their huge stamps ? I'll be forced to obtain new
passport very soon.
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Mar 26, 2006 02:00 PM Turtles of Ascension Island
The landscape of this island is very different from the other ones. 44 volcanic cones dominate the moon-like views. There are flows of lave reaching the coast but there are also little sandy beaches where big,
green sea turtles lay their eggs. Ascension Island has important military airport and US Base. There is not much to see in the Georgetown - island's capital - you can complete the walk around the town in half
an hour. White St Mary's church, museum, fort... The main attraction is unique landscape of the island. I climbed the top of Green Mountain - the highest point of the island at 861 m. There are beautiful views from
the path. It is hard to believe, but on the high level there is lush vegetation: eucalyptus and banana trees. And the summit is covered with
thick bamboo forest. Back in Georgetown we spent the evening on the Long Beach watching giant sea turtles laying eggs. I saw them already in Comoros, but it was still interesting! When we returned on a zodiac back
to the ship fantastic spectacle took the place there: two dolphins were
catching flying fish - jumping over the surface of the ocean.
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Mar 25, 2006 07:00 PM Sailing under the Southern Cross
It is getting warmer and warmer. In the midday it is hard to survive in the strong sun on the open deck. The temperature of the sea water is 29 deg Celsius; the air in the shade has (surprise!) less - only 27, but in
the sun - up to 35. The ocean is so calm that the crew decided to serve our dinner at sunset on the deck. They are very nice - see Elena and Alyona on the picture... It was pleasant evening under stars. But sorry - no music. The food was OK, the only problem is shortage of the fruits: you should see my fellows fighting for them! I wish to trade my sausage for two apples from Wojtkowka. Soon, soon! Tomorrow we will reach another interesting place on the South Atlantic: Ascension Island.
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Mar 23, 2006 07:00 PM St Helena - island where the Saints live
It is one of these legendary islands with rich history, unusual
landscape and difficult access. The sun was just rising when I saw for
the first time high, rocky coast painted by nature in brown and beige.
No green color! Are we in the tropics? I expected to see lush, tropical
vegetation. The only human settlement was visible in the mouth canyon
descending to the coast from the centre of the island. This was capital
of the island ? Jamestown. On the mountain on the right ? Ladder Hill -
699 steps is climbing to the barracks located on the top. This is the
most popular city landmark. If you will decide to climb ?Jacob?s Ladder?
you will be awarded by fantastic view of the ocean, the coast and the
settlement squeezed in the canyon. Only 3800 friendly people live on the
island. They call themselves ?The Saints?. Narrow, windy road took me to
the interior. It is hilly and green. I visited empty tomb of Napoleon
and the house where he spent 6 years ? before he died. The most
impressive landscape I found in the southern coast ? do not miss Sandy
Bay, if you will come some day to Saint Helen Island? Lot and his wife ?
the lonely rocks will wait for you.
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Mar 22, 2006 07:00 PM Napoleon and the others - fifth day at sea
Every morning most of us is visiting the bridge checking the position
and the position and the distance to the next island. It was 210 miles
to St Helena in the morning so there is a chance that the next morning
we will land on the island where Napoleon spent his last days. We were
watching the movie about his life from DVD yesterday and today. They
announced organized tour around the island. It is always the problem: I
want to see as much as possible during our short stay on land. But
there are also people in our group with other orientation: for somebody
it is enough just to put the feet on the island and to get a stamp. For
others it is important to have fine dinner ashore. Others are ready to
wait an hour on the road just to see rare bird from the distance of 50
m? Any solutions? You can rent your private car with the driver-guide
but is cost extra 50-80 pounds.
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Mar 21, 2006 07:00 PM Capricorn Day
Do you remember that I am Capricorn? Today at 10.15 am we crossed the
Tropic of Capricorn passing to the tropical zone. I declared for myself
the Capricorn Day ? the day at leisure. It is breezy, strong sun is
shining since early morning. I hope that 30 min of sunbath on the top
deck per day will not be risky. Not more ? I do not like to use all
those sticky sunscreens. No whistling on board. Seamen are
superstitious. They believe that whistling on board will bring us
strong wind or storm. I am singing instead.
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Mar 20, 2006 07:00 PM Third day at sea
Days at sea are long? The leader of our expedition is trying to organize
our time. We have live lectures (1 hour per day) and movies from DVD.
Now, when the outside temperatures are higher people often prefer to
stay outside, enjoying the breeze and the sun. It is already quite
strong, the sunscreen is necessary. Unfortunately hey have not chairs
for the deck. Russian crew tried to find the solution, they installed
primitive timber bunks on the top deck, but they are not very
comfortable. This is not a cruise ship!
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Mar 19, 2006 07:00 PM The third drill
If you sailed before on the cruise ship you will know what is a drill.
On the signal everybody takes lifejacket and is going to the muster
station. Then they check if everybody is there and pack us to the
lifeboats. No, the lifeboats stay onboard? It was already third drill
on our voyage. Fortunately it is already warm and pleasant on the deck.
After weeks in cold Antarctica we wear now shorts and T-shirts. Today
for the first time we had our lunch on the open deck over the bridge.
Sun, breeze and a lot of fun?
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Mar 18, 2006 07:00 PM 1300 nautical miles to St Helena
Sunny weather, calm ocean but bad news, Due to the wrong calculation
made by the voyage organizer we will loose one day planed to be spend on
the island! Planning the itinerary they thought that we will sail from
Tristan to St Helena in 4,5 days. Weather is OK, but the captain said
that they overestimated technical capabilities of the ship. We need 5,5
days to reach St Helena. But they do not think about exceeding the
voyage; they will reduce by one day our stay on the island. Passengers
are not happy. They paid for the possibility to visit the islands, not
for the boring days at sea!
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