Author Archives: dipidydoo
No Bears today
Mon 9th Sept. Aniakchak 56.44N 15729W is technically not an island as it is part of the Alaskan mainland but is totally issolated from human interference on land by the huge Katmai National Park. Over 4 million acres it includes the island of Kodiak which we visit in two days time. Our excursion crew was […]
UNGA
Sunday 8th of September. Off the island of Unga 52.457N 168.21W The weather has improved in that visibility was good but rain was about. We finally got to go ashore although Ilze made a late decision to stay on board as the footing at landing was not good being a steep gravel beach and then […]
“…. the Eagle has landed” in Unalaska
The ship ploughed on in rich gloom until about an hour out of Dutch Harbour when the skies cleared and awesome majesty loomed. Cragged cliffs, glacier gouged fjords, spouting whales and sea lions were all spotted before we came alongside. Dutch Harbour is actually only the name of the bay, made famous on a TV […]
THE TOMORROW THAT NEVER WAS
After the disappointment of missing out on the zodiac landings the previous day, we awoke to clear if drizzly skies only to be further disappointed. In order to avoid the worst of yesterday’s storm our Captain had diverted the ships course and we no longer crossed the International Date Line depriving me of an additional […]
Vienna’s Vortex of Doom
In between orienteering and visiting other countries, we’ve been dipping into Vienna in bits and pieces, riding the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn, and the Strasse-Bahn (tram) all over the city. We’ve seen an array of sights in this city of many contrasts. But did you know that Vienna has its very own Vortex of Doom? Just […]
Ian on the Caminito Del Rey
Better late than never … Ian has been meaning to post about his hike along the Caminito Del Rey, in the hills behind Malaga. It’s pretty self explanatory, so here are some of his pictures. Back in the day, people died trying to complete the old walking trail. In 2015, they built one that OH&S […]
Bratislava or Bust
Last time we came to Vienna, our plans included a day trip to Bratislava, in Slovakia. People mostly go there to add a new country to their list (we wouldn’t do that …!) At the time we were too jetlagged, and it never happened. This time, with a week, it was Bratislava or Bust. It […]
Bearing up in the Bering Sea
It was a wild ride over night. A storm hit us in the late afternoon and by dinner time it was 35knot winds and a 3 metre swell . Attendance at dinner was much reduced. Ilze had taken her pills and was bearing up but they made her very drowsy and with a loss of […]
It’s OME not GNOME or NOME
Our flight from Vancouver (YVR) had to land at Anchorage (ANC) for a brief crew change and then flew on to Nome Alaska (OME) where we were forced to wait whilst the ground crew arranged the two traffic cones that safely directed us about seven metres to the only door into the airport lounge room […]
A fine day for the fish
Cruise day minus 1. We had a very leisurely start to the day. Breakfast at our usual joint up the street (breakfast isn’t provided at the Auberge Hotel despite it being very up market …go figure) and then packed our stuff ready to transfer hotels. We’re now ensconced on the 30th floor of the Hyatt […]
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