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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 17, 2021 10:00 PM Long-distance low-cost
Wizzair flight from Poland arrived with one-hour delay. What's happened later was a show of disorganization: waiting in front of the gate, waiting in the bus. waiting in front of the plane. Fortunately in this "bordello totale" nobody took care about my oversized luggage. The plane was cramp and full... We spent long 6 hours in the air, landing in Katowice airport at 4 am. I had all paperwork ready (vaccination pass plus 24 h PCR test recently introduced by Polish authorities) so half an hour later I we as already in the advance-bopked guesthouse near the terminal. ALDA - recommended!
Only 2,5 hours left to sleep, then city bus A3 took me to Katowice station. But where is the snow? Comfy express train meeds 5 hours to get to my Gda?sk - enough time to complete my travel notes... It was an iteresting and relaxing journey. I saw new landscapes and met interesting people. Now it is the time to think about the next one! :)
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Dec 16, 2021 10:00 PM Exotic Dubai after years
I have my flight home late in the evening. So I decided to book the tour, which terminates in the airport in the evening. In the morning I was still sunbathing on the deck 15 with the nice view of the Dubai skyline. Packing mu luggage didn' take me much time. Cruise line was so nice and organnized for all guests covid thests required now by all airlines.
At 1.30 pm I was ready to disembark.
Big bus took us to Jumeira quarter to see fajcy hotels and ine mosques. Then were driving to the oldest part of Dubai, to see old, mud- made houses with wind towers in the narrow streets. Dubai Creek with the souks (bazaars) was the highlite of the day. I liked like years ago noisy abra boats sailing with the people across the river. We sailed too - to see Gold Souq and other parts od the lively market. Picturesque sunset found me on the bank of the river - they were just calling from the minarets. Great moment! It was 7 pm when the driver drop me at the peripheral terminal 2 of Dubai airport. It is not very impressive, but it seems that only low cost airlines use it. I have 4 hours waiting for wizzair flight to the cold!
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Dec 15, 2021 10:00 PM Crawling World Expo in Dubai
In the night we were sailing to Dubai. I woke up early to be on the open deck at the sunrise, when we were entering the Dubai Harbour. I had a great view of Dubai skyline while we were approaching the new terminal.
OK - I never had opportunity to visit the world expo exhibition - what a chance I have today! I decided to maximize the period of the visit paying 12 plus 12 euro for the direct bus transfer from the ship to the EXPO Village.
30 min drive to the desert and... from the distance it is not impressive, but oce you get in (seniors have free entrance) you can be fascinated!
It is separated, elegant town with shady streets and pavilions of many countries presenting their culture, resourcers and landscapes. Often they offer also typical food, but you have to pay for it. Great architecture of different styles and really a lot to see. After two hours of walking I am a bit tired, but I will take the rest, eat my sandwiches and start again! :)
I returned to the ship after dark, there were nice dron - povered light spectacle in front of our ship.
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Dec 14, 2021 10:00 PM Great day in Abu Dhabi
The port Authority offered us free shuttle bus going from the cruise terminal to World Trade Center Mall in the heart of the city. Itook it and then I was walking along the chain of the well maintained public beaches to the Emirates Palace - once king's palace, now luxury hotel. On the way I had many great views of the modern architecture, turquoise lagoon, palms and flowers... On the island near the high flagpole I visited the Heritage Village with the samples of local art (entry is free). Friendly local took me later some 30 kms away to the Grand Mosque of Sheik Zayed. It was worth! This mosque is one of the most beautiful I saw in my life! Entry is free but covid tests are checked at the entrance.
I returned to WTC by city bus 94 in the evening - tired but happy!
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Dec 13, 2021 10:00 PM Qatar cancelled, tested in Abu Dhabi!
Due to covid spread our visit to the port of Qatar was cancelled. Every passenger got a 50 euro back - not enough in my opinion!
At sunrise time I saw for the first time from the sea the skyscrapers of Abu Dhabi - the capital city of Arab Emirates. Nice view! But after docking at the big terminal we were not allowed to go ashore: the local health service workers arrived aboard to perform covid tests on all passengers and crew members! Ufff! We were waiting till the evening, like in the cage for the test results. Goi it! Now it is 8 pm and I am already on land - in the cruise terminal using the weak free internet. Tomorrow I plan to walk around the city.
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Dec 11, 2021 10:00 PM The capital of Oman
I remember Muscat fro the first visit more than 20 years ago... But the view from the 15th deck of our ship is much more impressing, vith the frame of picturesque mountains around. We docked at 8 a.m. and an hour later I was already ashore. They took us by the free shuttle bus to the little, new terminal building - just for security control and then to the port gate where herd of taxi drivers was waiting. They asked for 25 euro or dollars for one hour tour to the new mosque and new opera house, both located well off the town. I prefere to walk the old streets by myself and for free. We have enough time - the ship will be departing only at 8 pm. :)
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Dec 10, 2021 10:00 PM In the better cabin...
This is first case in the history of my travelling when they gave me the upgrade! I was complaining about the noise in the night (fellows were dancing above my head) ant they mpved me for free to the cabin with a window! So now I live up on the deck 14 - with a wide view and in serenity! Well, it is the long way to the self service restaurant now, but I do not care. I have new friends from Slovenia and Romania...
Hot day at sea - many people use the little swimming pools we ave on the deck 10... Let's cruise!
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Dec 09, 2021 10:00 PM Salalah in Oman
Happily we passed the Suez Canal and Bab el Mandeb.
Today we dock in the first port after 7 days at sea. I am happy in Salalah in Oman, where the day temperatures exceed 30 deg Celsius, palm, flowers and nice people. Greetings from Arabia Felix!
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Dec 02, 2021 10:00 PM In the shade of Acropolis
How many times I have been in Athens? Four, five? But it is always nice to refresh the memories... Espcially because the presence of covid the number of tourists visiting Athens so little. I took a electric train to Omonia Square to enjoy the fountain and the Christmas tree. Then I walked the busy streets to Syntagma (Parliament) square where the funny guards in the historic uniforms stay near the unknow soldier tomb... Then I continued walking to the temple of Zeus (imposing colums are still under restoration) Then I crossed the Plaka district of narrow streets, cafes and restaurants... It still has its atmosphere! Finally I climbed to the entrance of Acropilis. Regular ticket cost 20 euro, if you want to see also side archeological sites thehy will charge you 30 eu. Thank you! I took some pictures listening to the tunes of buzuki music. The place not to be missed is little rock on the western side of the hill which opens the view of the Acropolis, but also a wide, panoramic view of Athens - see picture... I went down to Monastiriki station to get back to Piraeus.
We are leaving Piraeus in the afternoon expecting to reach the Suez Canal tomorrow evening. No wifi till the Salalah in Oman. Be patient, dear friends! :)
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Dec 01, 2021 10:00 PM The children of Piraeus
The sky was clear an blue when we docked at 9.30 am in Piraeus port. I was here many times - this is important hub fo ferries going to the Greek islands... Do you remember the lovely song of Dalida "Les enfants de Piree"? I was singing it in 1974 - embarking here the junk ferry heading to the Cyclades...
They were begging, and some of them were barefoot.
You cannot see such a scenes now...
Good new arrived after breakfast: they will allow us to go to the port individually! There is hop-on, hop-off bus going to Athens, but it costs 16 euro! I decided to use the old method: to walk along the coasral street (some 40 min) to the station of electric train and go to the centre of Athens for just 2,30 euro one-way.
Piraeus has few churches - the biggest is probably Holy Trinity. Around it in Dec 2nd you can see the ripe orange fruits! There is swon already in my Gdansk...
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