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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 07, 2020 10:00 PM In Aswan after 44 years
In the morning I was walking the corniche in Aswan - again after 44 years. Sill nice place with the views of first cataract. Zero tourists and only few changes. One of them is huge Coptic cathedral built opposite historic Old Cataract Hotel. They charge 300 pounds to visit hotel, but the entry to the cathedral is free. the big church is worth to see and there is free voluntary guide.
In the afternoon I took the little boat to Kitchener Island to visit Botanical Garden. Nice, but 35 pounds entry..
The weather is like in the summer in Europe. I love that!
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Dec 06, 2020 10:00 PM To Kom Ombo
Wow. The result of PCR test was favorable for me!
So they woke me up at 4 am and I boarded the bus going through
the Egyptian Eastern Desert (5 hours non stop, partly gravel) to Edfu.
There I boarded the river boat and we sailed upstream to Kom Ombo.
In Kom Ombo there is ancient temple of the gods Horus and Sadek.
Impressive! In the evening we sailed further upstream to Aswan.
Wonderful day!
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Dec 05, 2020 10:00 PM Waiting for the result of the test (under blue sky) :)
They promised to send us the results of the PCR test today in the evening. So waiting we have the day at leisure. Strong sun is shining and the sky is blue. Tropical flowers around... Our beach hotel is amost empty... I like it, because I hate the crowd. Included food is not very sophisticated, but for me it is OK. Let's hope that the result of the test will be negative - in this case tomorrow I will take the bus to Edfu on thebank of the Nile where the river boat is waiting...
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Dec 04, 2020 10:00 PM Day on the plane
I spent the night in the little Airport hotel close to Chopin Airport. The advantage of this place is free transfer to the airport in the morning. The airport was empty except one long line in front of check in stands for our charter flight to Marsa Alam. They put us on the bus going to the distant park.... Cold morning... Departure was 20 min delayed and the 737-800 plane of Smart Wings was full. I was afraid about the space for my long legs, but it was not too bad. Food and drinks for sale only and rather expensive... Aha, they serve a cup of free mineral water :) Bring your sandwiches with you!
After 4,5 hours I saw the navy blue waters of the Red Sea and yellow desert. We landed in the sun in little Marsa Alam airport. They collected health declarations and allowed first to disembark people with Covid test ready. Then they took the rest of passengers to the terminal, copied our passports and collected the test material from the nose. Then we went through the passport control (to encourage tourists Egyptians temporary do not charge 25 dollars visa fee) Luggage pick-up. Buses were waiting in front of the terminal. Pleasant 24 deg. Celsius. We were driving north through the desert leaving people in the scattered hotels. We reached our "Pensee Hotel" at dusk. At 10 pm I was walking in the shirt only - the temperature of Polish summer!
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Dec 03, 2020 10:00 PM New voyage to the sun!
I am going to South Egypt to escape the December cold weather and the short, dark days - at least for a while! Traveling through a pandemic is not that easy, but possible nonetheless. However, it is associated with quite a high risk. It is not really known whether my plan will be successful. The host country requires a PCR test, for example, but they only do it after arriving in Egypt at the airport. If my test will be positive, I would be quarantined - fortunately in the sun and under palm trees! :)
Flying to Egypt is now possible only by charter plane. I was able to find a convenient date, which, however, was changed by the travel agency. Prices for travel events during a pandemic are very favorable as few tourists decide to go on a risky journey. But thanks to the fact that I am flying with a travel agency, I have a guaranteed return to the country, regardless of the changes of the situation. I was in Upper Egypt in 1976, entering from Sudan. I wonder how this region has changed in 44 years? There will also be an opportunity to see some new places, which I am very happy about. My route is marked on the map with a red line. Please keep your fingers crossed for me! :)
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Nov 28, 2020 10:00 PM 6 days till departure!
Gray, cold November around. I decided to fly on a charter flight to South Egypt... I have been there in 1976... For sure there will be a lot of changes, new hotels built in the desert... But the most important - there will be a sun, blue sea and a wind blowing from the Sahara! I paid for few nights in the beach hotel - see the picture. The prices are low because only few people travel during the COVID time.. We will see what else will be possible. :)
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Nov 23, 2020 10:00 PM I should be in the Antarctic today!
Bad luck! Bloody COV!D! Since years I was dreaming about returning to Antarctica. I booked the expedition, I paid the hardly saved money...
Today I should be on this ship... But the expedition was cancelled. They rebooked me for next November. Lets's hope!
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Oct 12, 2020 08:00 PM Flying home...
Surprisingly it was not raining in the morning when I was walking to the bus no.16 linking Bari central station with the airport. Buses are rare in the morning there is one departing at 7.05, the next is at 8.00. You have to buy the ticket in advance in the kiosk - it cost 1 euro.
The distance is not big, but the bus is sneaking to different small quarters and finally it takes 40 minutes to reach the airport. The procedures are standard, the waiting hall i Karol Wojtyla airport is very nice. But keep in mind that some gates are in the lower level. Wizz flight departed almost full with 15 min delay...
There were significant turbulences on the way and everybudy was happy when after 2 hours in the air we landed in Warsaw. Now I have to take a city bus 175 to the central station. I was waiting 10 minutes, 20, 30... Shame on you Warsaw transport! With the other traveller we decided to share the taxi (40 zlotys per cab) to go to the station. I was afaid that I will my train to Gdansk. OK... 3 hours on the train, 20 min on city bus and I reached my home. Home, sweet home! There is so much to do after 30 days of absence! Reflexion: It seems that if you are determined, you can travel to the interesting destinations even during the COVID era! :)
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Oct 11, 2020 08:00 PM Rain - hard to believe!
It was hard to believe after all those sunny days but it was raining when in the early morning I was walking from my B&B to Reggio Centrale station. Just in front of the station there is little square with the monument of Giuseppe Garibaldi - top Italian hero (see him on the yesterday's picture) -Bye-bye Mr Garibaldi, this will be my last day in Italy! I was surprised that my expensive, intercity train (avoid them, if you are budget traveller! ) consists only of two carriages and locomotion... We daparted on time heading to Taranto along the coast of Italian "boot". The landscape without the sun and blue sky was depressing.... Taranto is a huge harbour, almost empty now. I noticed three big MSC cruise ships parking there. The station is far from the city so I can say nothing about Taranto city. My second, regional train to Bari was delayed by 10 minutes, no ticket control... It was 4 pm when I was walking in the light rain to the well-known Cristal Hotel (no cristals or included breakfast here, but very reasonable price (26 €) for the room with bath, and Carrefour market is just round the corner! The receptionist was so nice to print my boarding pass for tomorrow. A toast of red Italian wine for such a successful voyage - do you remember? - I started from here one month ago!
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Oct 10, 2020 08:00 PM Back to Calabria...
I was not happy today leaving beautiful Eolian Islands. It was only 8 am when I was walking with my backpack down to Rinella village, to board the hydrofoil. Rinella, with the black-sand beach is also worth a stay (see the picture). Boat trip to Milazzo cost me hefty 17 euro - but I did not have a choice - the slow ferry do not oparate on Sunday.
At Milazzo station I bought the ticket to Reggio di Calabria. Italian State Railways operates also ferries going across Messina Straits. Once on the Messina Centrale station you should go to the end of your platform to get to Messima Marittima station. The big floating trams are waiting there on the other side of the street and this ride is included in your rail ticket.
Reggio di Calabria has nice and long pedestrian street Corso Garibaldi leading you to the cathedral and nice theatre. I experienced unpleasant surprise. The lady renting the rooms refused to check me in, even that it was paid in advance. Due to the covid - she said through the phone... Miserable! I found another accommodation, much more expensive...
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