|
|
You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Dec 06, 2024 12:00 AM New escape voyage! :)
December 2024 - in Poland a dark and wet month I intend to spend on warm seas and in warm countries. I fly for little money to Barcelona and there I'll board a ship I know well, sailing to Tangier, Canary Islands and then across the Atlantic to the Caribbean. From there I will fly straight to Norway to spend Christmas with my son and his family. Merry Christmas to you already now, dear friends, wherever you will be then!
********************************
*********************************
**********************************
***********************************
|
Nov 29, 2024 12:00 AM 14th RTW is now completed!
On the 9-hours lomg distance NORSE airline flight they do not serve even a water! Bring your own! It was 6 deg Celsius when we landed in Berlin. I had enough time to went through the passport control and wentto the distant gate to board next flight to Copenhagen. We landed in Copenhagen on time, bu I had there only half an hour to go to gate F8 to boaard next flight - to Gdansk. It was already dark when we landed in my home town. !4th Round the World Voyage was completed!
Believe or not - now I have 10 days for laundry, publications and preparations for the next trip. No, it will not be another RTW Voyage, I do not want to beat any records. But it is nice in the cold and dark December to go to the warmth and the sun! :)
|
Nov 27, 2024 12:00 AM Walking through Miami Beach
From downtown Miami where I stay to the famous Miami Beach you can go by the bus no 100, paying 2,25 dollars each way. It is convenient to disembark on the first stop after the bridges. Easy walk will take you to the little cape at the exit from Miami port. Right here is the beginning of the long beach - it is great place to photograph the landscape... I took from this point the walk along the beach to the Art Deco quarter of Miami - full of music, bars, cafes. And of course the palms. Great time!
In the afternoon I returned to the hotel where they kept my luggage for free. Orange line train took me for 2,25 dollars to the airport. The line to the check-in for Norse flight to Berlin wa not long but my backpack was geavier than 10 kg. No mercy!! They sent me three times to unload the excess. I put my all warm clothes on me. Uff! I have the boarding pass. I hope that there will not be more problems. Please keep your fingers crossed!!!
|
Nov 26, 2024 12:00 AM Florida Keys
If you are in Miami and you have enough beaches there is an option to go for the day tour to Key West. At least four different companies offer to take you in the morning (like 7.30) and drive you on their big bus to the end of long island chain, giving you 6 hours of free time in Key West and returning to Miami after 9 pm. That's what I did today, paying 70 USD for the round trip.
I have been to Key West alreaady twice (by car and by cruise ship) but it was many years ago. Key still has its exotic charm with elegant, colonial houses, boat piers, bars, museums. A herd of cats still occupy the house of Ernest Hemingway (but they charge already hefty 18 USD entry fee - no discounts!) There was long line of tourists waiting to make a picture in front of "southernmost point of USA". Lovely, sunny and interesting day!
|
Nov 25, 2024 12:00 AM 10.30 to Miami...
Do you remember famous western 15.10 to Yuma? In the past I have been to Yuma to see famous prison but today i was waiting in Tampa Marion St station for the bus to Miami. No office, no timetable, no info. But the bus arrived! Much worse then European Flix buses... No wifi, no TV, no curtains in the windows...
I spent 7 hours on the route enjoying tropical landscapes of flat Florida. In Naples we turned to the east coast. Lucky me! In the YVE hotel in Miami they gave me a room with a port view! The hotel is just 5 min walk from the bus stop!
There was a nice view from 17th floor after dusk. Welcome to Miami!
|
Nov 24, 2024 12:00 AM First time in Tampa!
The sun was rising above Tampa Bay when I found myself on the open deck. The passenger dock in Tampa port is conveniently located on the edge of the downtown, near Florida Aquarium. I said goodbye to the crew and went down to the terminal building. There was passport control, but the officers did it quickly and professionaly.
How to get to my Best Western last expensive hotel? I crossed the river and found the 19 bus stop. The fare is 2 USD - they do not respect overseas seniors!
After check-in I took this bus again - back to downtown. It is clean and bright. The Tampa Theatre built in 1926 is the main attraction, but I loved most the old (and free till the end of 2024) old tram line operating every 15 minutes from Franklin St to Ybor City. Ybor is a restored part of the Tampa from the 20ties and 30ties. Practically there are two parallel streets with bars, shops and balconies overlooking the streets. Many people in the sidewalks cafes smoke cigars... This creates special atmosphere... I like Tampa!
|
Nov 23, 2024 12:00 AM On the way to Florida...
There is no hurricane expected in the coming days in the weather forecast. It was rocking a bit yesterday in the evening but today we experience only light breeze. The sky is blue again, giving still the last chance for the sunbath. This is our last day on this cruise ship - tomorrow in the morning we will be disembarking in Tampa. I have been many times in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral but never in Tampa - this will be new experience to me! During this day at sea there is still a lot to do: music, dancing, trivia and bingo... Last day of unlimited ice cream! :)
I have a voucher for dinner in the Japanese restaurant, and later in the theatre there will be Circus Bijou show. Aha, I should also think about packing my backpack... It will be heavier than before! :)
|
Nov 22, 2024 12:00 AM Grand Cayman... so small and crowded!
Did you hear about Cayman Islands? This member of British Comonwealth has a territory of 3 islands in the Carribean Sea, around 90 thousand inhabitants and they drive left side of the road... Practically only Grand Cayman is visited by cruise ships. Since they do not have a port tourists are taken from the anchoring ship to the Georgetown - their capital aboard the tenders - small motor boats.
But today the sea was rough near the Georgetown. Tenders cannot operate here today. They decided to land on the concrete jetty at Spott - 6 kms away, around the corner, but in the middle of nowhere. When I landed they told me that they do not provide the shuttle to "downtown". If you want to go there you can share taxi paying 6 dollars each way. Shame!
In the heavy morning traffic it took me an hour to reach the capital. No changes there (I have been here already twice) except new shopping mall selling diamonds, luxury watches etc.
I took a 2,5 kms walk to the end of famous 7 Mile Beach. Fish market on the roadside... New hotels and villas block the access to the sand... Microbuses marked "Public bus" operate around charging 2,50 USD or 2 local dollars per ride. Cayman dollar is stronger than US dollar! One more little known place on Earth!
|
Nov 21, 2024 12:00 AM Cartagena de las Indias
It was sunny and hot in the morning when our ship reached port of Cartagena in Northern Columbia. In the colonial times it was rich, fortified city, famous for the beauty of the architecture. UNESCO put Cartagena on the World Heritage list. I have been here already 3 times, but each time I was delighted.
So we disembarked the ship only at 10.50 am and... the warm rain started to fall. It is 5 kms from the pier to the old city. Previously I was doing this by foot, but not in the rain... Taxi, after bargaining cost me 5 dollars each way. I was walking narrow streets with colorful houses and plenty of flowers on the balconies in the light rain. But later storm arrived and I was forced to find the shelter in the hotel. After the storm it was too late to wonder again the city so I discretly took the picture of the ladies posing in the colors of the Columbian flag and returned to the ship. At the pier there is a bird park with flamingos, big pattots and other animals - great attaction for the passengers! We were saying goodbye to Cartagena in the dark, enjoying warm evening, harbor lights and hot chocolate :)
|
Nov 19, 2024 12:00 AM 80 kms of Panama Canal...
Captain said we will be passing under Americas bridge at 5.45am. It was still dark, but everybody was on the upper deck at this time. Mistake! We were under the bridge at 6.50. Then we were sailing through the system of the locks - very interesting experience. The water lifted us 27 m up to the Gatun Lake. And later 27 m down - to the Atlantic level. It took us almost 10 hours sailing in the heat and high humidity. It was my second time in the canal, but it was worth! Especially for the views of the Culebra Cut - the narrowest canal segment. Great but tiring day!
|
Page:
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
|
|
|
