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Exploring the Eolian Islands: A day on Vulcano
The day commenced with a brief boat ride to the nearby island of Vulcano. A very distinctive acrid smell of sulphur greeted us on arrival at the island. After walking through the small port village we arrived at the path to climb up to the crater. A gentle pumice covered path zigzagged through the lower…
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Exploring the Eolian Islands: Mte. Rosa climb
Not a long hike but a very steep and challenging hike. Leaving the hotel after breakfast we rendezvoused with our guide at the marina. We then started a steep ascent up a concrete path. At the end of the path another climb along a pumice track. Along the route the wildflowers and herbs were stunning.…
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Exploring the Eolian Islands: Day 1/2 travelling
This expedition involved an early flight from Gatwick on Monday morning hence the journey commenced the previous afternoon. Fortunately the roads were quiet and I arrived at the car park ‘meet and greet’ in around 4 hours. Despite the quiet roads, I still found the unfamiliarity of the M25 quite daunting. After dropping the car…
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Fly cruise to Valletta: Cinque Terre
Very blustery first thing this morning, fortunately just within the limits for docking. Dashed to the buffet for breakfast before disembarking at 7.30 for today’s excursion. Lovely early morning drive through Tuscany to the Cinque Terre. First stop Portovenere. Unfortunately due to choppy seas the ferry wasn’t running so we boarded the train to the…
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Fly cruise from Valletta: Day trip to Civita di Bagnoregio
After a leisurely sea day sailing across the Tyrrhenian Sea, Azura docked in the early morning at Civitavecchia, Italy. Having visited Rome made times previously I chose an excursion away from the city to explore rural Lazio. Quick breakfast in the buffet then disembarked to join my excursion to Civita di Bagnoregio. Located about an…
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Fly cruise from Valletta : Arriving
An early start for the 6.10 flight from Manchester. Smoothly through check in and security, a bit of breakfast then onboard for departure, only to be delayed due to French Air Traffic control being on strike. Fortunately half an hour later the flight took off. The journey to Malta is just 3 hours. Once in…
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Summer Cruise Adventure: Copenhagen and Sweden.
Having visited Copenhagen previously with Kevin during our interrail days I really wanted to do something very differently when we docked in Copenhagen, hence my sojourn over the Øresund bridge into Sweden. Many years ago we had watched a Nordic noir ‘broen’, based on a murder on the bridge at the point where the two…
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Summer Cruise Adventure: Pierogi making in Gdansk
Today was a day full of surprises. My perception of Gdansk was clearly influenced by memories of Lech Walesa and the Solidarity movement. I’d expected a port town akin to Immingham (not that I have anything against Immingham). The ship docked in nearby Gdynia, again more pleasant than expected. I joined 10 other passengers for…
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Summer Cruise Adventure: Top of Denmark
This morning we docked in Skagen, from where I had booked a rather sedate tour around Skagen including time at the point where the North Sea and Baltic meet. Yet again the weather was very hot. I had researched this port and usually it is incredibly windy. First stop was the highlight of my trip…
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Summer Cruise Adventure: Cycling in Oslo
After a day sailing around the coast of Norway, I arrived in Oslo. An early breakfast before disembarking to find Viking Cycling Adventures and my bike and guide for the morning. The tour lasted about three hours riding around the empty streets in glorious sunshine. First stop the ministry of defence park, where the resistance…
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Doc Strines Explores 