Here are a few notes from what I was told by those living on the island and or from first hand experience. - Flying onto the short airport runway in a small plane is an exciting experience - The island is only 8 square miles but due to its mountainous topography feels bigger than it actually is - The island's electricity is powered by diesel generators - Homes have cisterns to collect rainwater - The roads are narrow and windy and people … [Read more...]
Notes from Basecamp Ortelius, Drake’s Passage
Upon boarding the Basecamp Ortelius in anticipation of our Antarctica cruise (the ice breaker ship we will be on for the next 13 days) I immediately noticed a few of the staff wearing shorts. Remarking to one of them that it is awfully cold for that kind of apparel, they quickly replied with, "if you think it is cold now, just wait until we get to Antarctica!" Nonetheless, the wind was bone chilling as we pulled out of lovely Ushuaia - the … [Read more...]
Sometimes The Unscripted Tour is the most Memorable
We disembarked the Holland America Line, MS euroDam and I caught a whiff of some crew chatter about some sort of strike on the island. I didn't think much of this at the time. Soon we were driving through the "Dutch" countryside and a few minutes later we were driving through the "French" countryside. The island of St. Martin is a divided territory between the Dutch and the French - on the French side the Euro is used and the Dutch still use (at … [Read more...]
What to Wear When Skiing
With the ski season now in full swing, you may be looking to get in on the action. Before you hit the slopes though, you’ll need to know what to wear. If you’re wearing the correct clothing you’ll feel much more prepared, meaning you’ll enjoy the experience a lot more! Dressing in layers is far more effective than wearing a couple of warm items. Although it may sound easier and more practical to just wear a thick jumper and an insulated … [Read more...]
Exploring Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
Today we skirted the edges of Santo Domingo - the oldest city in North America founded by Europeans. It dates from 1496. Now we find ourselves in the small but very busy town of Las Terrenas on the Samaná Peninsula - about a 2.5 hour drive from Santo Domingo. Kite Surfing is popular here - several outfitters offer introductory courses - usually lasting 6 - 9 hours spread out over several days. We became inspired by the combination of … [Read more...]
A Delayed Introduction to the Dominican Republic
We had been planning a short getaway to the Caribbean for some time (and the timing was right to escape the cooler coastal California weather we often have this time of year) - my brother had been to the Dominican Republic a number of years ago and recommended we visit the Samaná Peninsula in the northern part of the country. We arrived to Punta Cana and were the first ones from our flight off the bus from the plane to the terminal. Three hours … [Read more...]
Great American Road Trips: The Olympic Peninsula Loop
Introduction Quite simply, Highway 101 that circles the Olympic Peninsula has it all. The approximately 330-mile-long loop offers a bucket-list of natural wonders that have to be seen to be believed. Pristine lakes, waterfalls, striking shorelines, expansive mountain top vistas and even rainforests are all accessible along this stretch of road. Starting Point No matter what interests you most, almost any point along the loop is a good … [Read more...]
Upcoming Antarctica Trip, Ortelius Basecamp – Oceanwide Expeditions
Antarctica has been on my list of remote places to visit for years - I never have done so because of a variety of reasons, one has to cross the Drake Passage (supposedly one of the world's most treacherous waters - I get very bad sea sickness at times) and the cost of getting there - which as demand grows to visit the costs seem to have gone down (just a cursory observation). I randomly met Dan and Audrey of the travel site, Uncornered Market … [Read more...]
A Most Random Encounter on Saba
While on Saba during my latest trip to the Caribbean something happened that I've dreamed about but in all my years of traveling has eluded me until now. I was standing at Fort Bay waiting to board the ferry back to Sint Maarten in a crowd of people when I spotted a couple standing near me. I am usually good with recognizing faces I have seen before - the man looked very familiar and I initially thought maybe I had met him on another trip. I … [Read more...]
Oceanwide Expeditions Antarctica Contest
I recently started working with Oceanwide Expeditions, a Netherlands based cruise company focusing on the planet's remote extreme north and south destinations (the Arctic and Antarctica). Founded in 1996, they are a pioneering company in the exploration of these parts of the world via cruise ships. Today they offer 25 cruises to Antarctica alone using small ice-hardened expedition vessels. Their ships are the 'basecamp' anchored off shore for a … [Read more...]
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