Archive for the 'Europe' Category
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !
On April 30th at 2:30 AM Azerbaijan Time ( GMT +4) TotalAdventure began the journey from the shores of the Caspian to the Mid Atlantic Ocean. The first flight , from Baku to Istanbul arrived at 0430 GMT +3. After navigating the stringent security control at IST , I boarded my connecting Turkish Airlines flight arriving in Lisbon at 1050 GMT+1. Checking into the EU, and one more control , I had a good Portuguese lunch and boarded the last flight to Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island in the Azores Islands, a Portuguese Territory in the mid Atlantic arriving at 1500 GMT. One third of the way across the Atlantic and 60% of the way home.
The first view of São Miguel. An amazing entity in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Azores have been Portuguese since 1427. They stretch 350km along the high 30s latitudes.
The volcanic Mid Atlantic Ridge stretches from Iceland to Antarctica.
There is good surf almost every day of the year, between winter storms and summer hurricanes.
The ocean was about 17 C. ( 63 in American temperature) Perfectly comfortable for TotalAdventure.
A volcanic formed valley with extremely fertile soil. The climate ranges from an average of 13C 55F in winter to 23C 74 F in summer.
Portugal’s currency is the Euro, as of this writing is US $1.07. Costs are slightly lower than the rest of Western Europe or the USA.
TotalAdventure had only local produce and seafood . The Azores are a gastronomic paradise.
Sopa do Bacalǎo. Cod Soup.
Blood Puddding.
Grilled Sardines.
Cod Steak.
Local Pineapples.
Shrimp with head on. 90% of the shrimp flavor comes from the head. Americans have a peculiar habit of decapitating it before sale.
A Peaceful Country Lane.
In Sete Cidades.
THe islands are of course, mainly Catholic. I was not there on a Sunday,so not known on how many attend Mass.
TotalAdventure will definitely ride the next time in the Islands. It was now time to ride hime across the Ocean – first to New York and on to Miami,
WATCH THE VIDEO AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE !
TotalAdventure has promoted adventure tourism all over the world, as a way for people to get to know each other’s cultures , without divisive politicians getting in the way. Indeed the last several years have been tough with the ” War on Travel” first instigated from the USA , then COVID restrictions , literally shutting down the whole world. Just as things were looking up, war began.. Until 3 weeks ago, TotalAdventure offered about 25 amazing trips , many in Siberia, Altai and even in Kamchatka. For obvious reasons they are temporarily not on offer. In addition, transport to the starting points is quite difficult , if not impossible. Governments themselves do not suffer, but the wonderful people whose lives depend on tourism , along with their families, will suffer greatly. With the cessation of hostilities we hope to offer these incredible voyages again soon. From TotalAdventure’s 1993 trip to the Russian Far East – vestiges of a more hopeful time – Please read and watch the video here at Russia’s Wild East.
Brandenburger Tor, always a welcome sight after coming from the East.
The Reichstag, Power Center of Europe.
Wiener Schnitzel, a delicacy we enjoyed almost every night in Germany. Lunch too.
NO speed limit on the Autobahn except in city areas. German drivers are the best in the world and have earned the privilege.
The Altstadt of Nuremberg has been restored.. It took nearly 30 years after merciless Allied bombing that took place in 1944 and 1945.
In A Lutheran Church that had once been Catholic.
We walked out to Zeppelin Field. At first, an airstation for Blimps, it was utilized for Nazi Party rallies from 1933 to 1938.
From 1945 to 2005 the complex was occupied by the US Army as parade grounds. Here, in 1945, US Forces blow up a giant swastika.
Thankfully, Nuremberg now a city at Peace.
Exclusive Annapurna Panorama Trek
(Kathmandu/Pokhara/Annapurna panorama 10 Days Trek and Tour)
HOTEL:
Package price includes stay in standard three star hotel one room with twin beds adjustable for two people. We also provide breakfast, lunch and candle light dinner. Package price do not include personal expenses for beverage, tips, cloths laundry in the Hotel
VEHICLES:
Package includes vehicle facility according to need of people visiting. We can arrange car, jeep, costar and bus for the travelling. All vehicles are luxury to travel with AC .
APPLICABLE FEES: Our package includes all applicable fees during seven days sight-seeing. That includes entry fee to visit Historical world heritage site, sunrise view, mountain flight, religious places visit, and educational zone visit.
PERSONAL GUIDE: An experienced package guide will be keep in touch with you once you check-in to the Kathmandu International Airport and until you check-out. Your personal guide will be available without any additional charge that excludes personal tips. They will be with you in your every new experience sharing their lots of collective information related to the complete sight-seeing package.
Sight-seeing package description:-
Day 01: arrival to Kathmandu and Check in to Hotel Mirage Lords Inn.
Kathmandu – On arrival, meet our representative at the Kathmandu International Airport & transfer to hotel. Check-in at the hotel. O/N stay in Hotel Mirage Lords Inn. Evening Candlelight Dinner with Live Music.
Day 02: Kathmandu City Tour.
Kathmandu sightseeing. After breakfast, meet at the hotel lobby for your city sightseeing in Kathmandu S/S Pashupatinath, Boudhnath, Swoyambhunath & Kathmandu Durbar square. O/N stay in Mirage Lords Inn.
Day 03: Fly to Pokhara.
After breakfast Kathmandu Domestics Airport fly to Paradise Pokhara and Transfer to Lake site Hotel Kailash Resort and evening dinner with Live Nepali Culture Music memorable One.
Day 04: Start Panorama Trekking.
After Breakfast Drive to New Bridge and Trek to Birethati Via Tikhedhunga and Uleri 1000 Step Hill and Overnight Ghorepani Beautiful Village.
Day 05: Early morning climb to Poonhill Panoramic Sunrise view Tower and back to same hotel and make breakfast and Trek to Ghandruk Eco Tourism Village overnight Mountain Lodge.
Day 06: Morning Annapurna Panoramic view and breakfast and trek down to Landruk village and overnight Tolka Beautiful Village.
Day 7.After Breakfast to Climb to Pothana village panoramic view Dhampus and drive back to Pokhara same Hotel evening Dinner Lake site and Overnight.
Day 8: After Breakfast make Pokhara sightseeing Lake Booting and David falls, Mountain Museum and Bindabasini Hindus Temple and Tibetan Refuse camp and Overnight same Hotel.
Day 9: After Breakfast departure to Pokhara Airport and fly to Kathmandu and Transfer to same Hotel Mirage Lords Inn and Farwell Dinner.
Day 10: Visit Touristic Area Thamel visit and departure to Kathmandu International Airport see you again next Destination.
Special Trekking Cost Per Person: US$ 1599/-.
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On July 7th TotalAdventure flew from Paris to Stockholm in order to meet son Martin, who was just finishing up a student adventure tour
About 2 hours from CDG to ARN.
Midnight In Stockholm. A Bergmanesque Scene.
We Boarded the Tallink Ship Isabelle for the 17 hour overnight trip across the Baltic Sea to Riga Latvia.
Moonrise and Midnight Sun In The Baltic. Taken At Midnight.
The ship also passes very near Estonia in the early morning.
Arrival Into Port In Riga,Latvia.
After the first night in Munich, we were on the train , first to Füssen, then to Bertchesgaden.
Waterfall At Konstanzsee.
Happy Bavarian Cow. For further Bavarian highlights, the first post appears after the entire story of the Trans Europe Adventure.
Entering Schengen. The next stamp was received after having been though 6 countries – leaving Schengen from Hungary into Romania.
TotalAdventure and Son departed stormy Miami Wednesday evening, June 8 transiting London Heathrow, and arrived in springlike Munich Thursday afternoon.
Munich is not all beer and festivals. There are many beautiful old churches and museums.
Germany is peaceful and prosperous, a great point to begin our Trans Europe Adventure.
Preaching to the partygoers of Munich.
10 PM, late daylight in the Northern Summer.
In the castle courtyard.
This evening TotalAdventure departs Miami, flying to Munich via London. From Bavaria we go by train through Austria,Czech Republic,Poland,Slovakia, the Carpathian Mountains in Romania , the Balkans in Bulgaria, Bosnia,Serbia,Croatia and Montenegro, arriving in Turkey by ship.
Tonight’s Route.
Crossing North Iceland from Egilsstaðir to Akureyri was slow going as a blizzard struck in the mountains. The landscape was literally torn apart by volcanoes and earthquakes over many millennia. We also crossed from Europe to North America, as this is where the Eurasian and North American plates meet on the MId Atlantic Ridge.
Courtesy BBC.
Cold beyond imagination.
Icy.
Country Church.
Whiteout.
City Church. Akureyri 65.68 North.
For adventures in Iceland, CLICK HERE
After 48 hours in the Vatnajökull region , ArcticTropic traversed Route 1 into Northeast Iceland – now less than 100 miles from the Arctic Circle. Though days are getting longer by over 7 minutes each day – the weather is very wintry.
Black Tower Beach
Sturdy Viking Horses. Direct descendants from the Year 900.
High atop the cliffs.
Sea Harvest.
Snow 12 Months A Year.
Reindeer – It’s What’s For Dinner !
For adventures in Iceland, CLICK HERE