Travel Blog

We arrived in Khajuraho somewhat traumatised. I’m not sure any of us were prepared for the overnight train in 3rd class. After dropping our bags off at the semi-rural Payal Hotel, we headed for an assortment of Hindu and Jain temples. They were reminiscent of Angkor Wat. Built over a…

I arrived at the hotel about 2 am and everything was closed. I had to wake up the night porter to gain access. My room was typical for an Indian three star. All the hotels are chosen by the tour company so it wasn’t like I could request the King…

I chose the public transport option to get to Heathrow during rush-hour, and I have to say, Bully was right about the overground Heathrow Express from Paddington. Clean and efficient - even the Germans would applaud. It was an overnight flight to Kuwait, and the airport was pleasingly absent of…

Another late blog that will be brief due to technical difficulties. This was my first time on a cruise over the festive season, and also the first where I was away from family and friends. The only new country visited was Tobago. I won’t be rushing back. Not nearly as…

Better late than never. After cruising across the Atlantic, I decided to do a 37 day road trip around 11 US states. Here are some photos of the trip.

We had a lovely sunny sea day after leaving Spain, heading for Madeira. In the evening, they held the Mariners Cocktail Party for 3, 4 and 5 star Mariners. It’s normally four and five star, but they allowed the riffraff in. Half the ship must’ve been there. Hardly an exclusive…

It took 2 1/2 hours to get to Heathrow, mid-morning, which severely disrupted my lounge time. I was picked up by a driver from Cameroon and this was the first time I had an all electric taxi to the airport. I could see the remaining range was only around 40…

We arrived in Istanbul, Turkey’s largest city with 15 million people, around 7pm for an overnight. It’s quite unusual to arrive at a cruise port in the evening. A number of people decided to get off and have a look around, but I stayed on board. I had developed a…

Next up was the Greek island of Kos which is only around 2.5 miles off the coast of Turkey. I stepped off alone and headed for the beach. Dimitra doesn’t do beaches. I walked through the Old Town which was bustling with tourists. Apparently English and Dutch tourists are the…

Next up was the Greek island of Kos which is only around 2.5 miles off the coast of Turkey. I stepped off alone and headed for the beach. Dimitra doesn’t do beaches. I walked through the Old Town which was bustling with tourists. Apparently English and Dutch tourists are the…

I was lucky enough to board Holland America’s Oosterdam early due to my loyalty status. I had not been on this ship and I liked it immediately. The capacity is just under 2000 which is the perfect size for me.  When I got to the casino in the evening, I…

I arrived in sunny Athens and rather bizarrely we didn’t have to go through passport control. I taxied to my hotel in an upscale neighbourhood of Athens. My room wasn’t ready so I decided to stroll around Athens and see what I could see. I’d been here before, but it’s…

After crossing the border, I had a 60 minute drive to Constanta, 40 miles away. I found a hotel with a sea view and the smallest balcony I’ve seen in my balcony evaluation studies. I went for a walk around the old town and met an old woman. Her English…

Shortly before 11 o’clock on the 27th of September, 2024, I entered Bulgaria which was my 100th country. I was on a five hour bus journey with a bunch of Spanish teenagers, but at the least the seat next to me was clear for my stuff. Halfway there we stopped at…

The very early taxi ride was most acceptable in a Mercedes driven by a Romanian ex-footballer who played against 1978 World Cup and Golden Boot winner, Mario Kempes in the UEFA Cup in the late 1970’s. Heathrow was heaving - there was even a queue for the escalator. I didn’t…

After a two and a half hour ferry trip to Volos, we walked to our hotel, the Azur. The room was Tokyo small, but functional and I had a narrow balcony for external activities. I went for a small stroll and found the church and the main shopping street. The…

After a two and a half hour ferry trip to Volos, we walked to our hotel, the Azur. The room was Tokyo small, but functional and I had a narrow balcony for external activities. I went for a small stroll and found the church and the main shopping street. The…

The journey started with a taxi to London City Airport. I learnt a great deal about the civil war in Sierra Leone during the 1990’s. Just what I needed at 4 am.  A very slick airport experience with no need to take any electronics out when going through security. I…

After a grey day at sea we arrived in St John’s which is the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador. With twice as many people as the whole of Greenland, it felt like we had returned to civilisation. Much warmer, but sadly lacking sunshine. I timed my departure from the ship…

On Thursday we arrived in Qaqortoq (three q’s in one word). Nippy, but sunny and we were tendering ashore. Qaqortoq is Greenland’s largest southern town and has a population of a little over 3,000. I took the tender about eleven and decided on a nature hike. Along the way I…