I was booked to be in Ireland this week and Dubai next week but change of plans suddenly appeared. Totally out of my control, British Airways went on strike. They did give me a full refund and that made me happy. So, with my travel bug problem (lol), I decided to take another trip, ending up in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for the first time. I got a great deal $859 at a Four Star all-inclusive, (but still can’t beat the Mexico trip I had five years ago at half the price). Coming soon, I’m starting a new travel website called “HouseCallsTravel.Com” I will be showing you how to find great deals too. Check out the video from my Mexico trip 5 years ago worldtrippete.com/home/archives/11-2014 where I paid $11.00 plus $414.10 taxes Flight 4 star all-inclusive. I had to decide what shirt I should wear today…? My mother always said I was bright lol..(photos above). I had a very relaxing holiday including working on my new website “HouseCallsTravel.com”. I did what most people would do, eat too much but only 6 drinks all week! One thing I always like to do in my travels is to get out and meet local people., I took the local bus an hour and a half from my resort in Bavaro Playa (beach) to a town called Higuey . I met very friendly people there that were willing to help me out with my limited Spanish but somehow we communicated and everything worked out! In addition to meeting new people on my travels, I also like to visit City Centro, hub of the action for town history and culture. After exploring the town for a few hours, it was time to get back to the resort. The one-way streets were confusing, but I got a tip from a local to take a Motorcycle Taxi to the bus station. The fast daring driver bobed and weaved through traffic and I had to ensure my knees were in tight! Next day, another bus trip took me to Veron where I connected to yet another bus and saw poverty and run-down buildings in Las Manantiales. I was on my way to the luxury “Blue Mall” in Punta Cana . I found that in my travels through poverty areas, the towns aren’t nearly as threatening as they look. Some places are not to be visited at night ,same as most cities in the world. Always be aware of your surroundings and don’t look afraid!
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No it's not dangerous, the conversion was about how dangerous spring break can be, this Mexican guy in the video was too funny. My travels this past winter first included Mexico, Panama and Columbia. Arriving home to Calgary for a few days, my friend Norm wanted to get away for a winter holiday. I found a great deal to Cuba and off we went. I made it back in time to get ready for my trip to Australia. I love Australia (just read my bio). I did a lot of travelling around the country and met up with some old friends. From Sydney, I flew West to Perth, and toured 4 hours south with a friend. A week later I flew to Brisbane, touring 3 hours north and south of the city by train, bus and car. My final stop in Australia, I flew to Sydney for a systematic sight seeing tour by boat, bus and train. Great transit system!
Arriving home to Calgary from Australia for only 38 hours, I found a great deal to Cabo, the Baja California Sur. Thought I would take a holiday and just relax as I needed a real holiday after all my winter travelling. I was wrong about relaxing. It was my first time visiting a new area in Mexico. I explored the area by bus, boat and rent a car. I started off in San Jose Del Cabo, home base for the first week. Followed were two day trips by bus, one to Todos Santos, a real nice town where tourists like to visit and the other to Los Barriles where I chatted with a few kite surfers. I Discovered that most of the kite surfers were retired expats. Wow! Love it! Maybe that’s where I should live for the winter and take up kite surfing?. My last week there I spent most of my time in Cabo San Lucas. I listened to a boring presentation at a timeshare event that included a free game of golf. Never again (takes too much of my time), so much to see and do, hard to relax. I always find great deals and spend most of my time in airbnb’s, hotels, hostels where I love meeting other travelers and sometimes I even find 5 star hotels for a 3 star price.
I found a great travel deal to Australia ,$850.00 return Canadian on Qantas Airlines.[cheaper a month later!],,,My first time on a double decker A380 was totally amazing! The plane has a camera on the tail that can be watched from your TV screen seat [similar to what a pilot sees while flying].., love Qantas airlines.... free food, drinks, beer,, wine, headsets and movies. I had a slight connecting problem and they changed my flight from Sydney to Perth for free. [North America Airlines usually charge for any changes]...The Video's above show taking off from Sydney and landing in LA.
I am so grateful for the stay at the home of my long time friend Andrew Moore, his wife Jessica and kids Araluen and Casey. They toured me around south coastal region of Western Australia, I saw kangaroos and dolphins. Andrew took me on many scenic trips while I was there. On our way to the Perth from Andy’s family’s home in Mandurah, We again took the scenic coastal route, and saw many beautiful, modern cities and towns we went were so new and clean. While I was in Perth, I did a small hike up the hill to Kings Park for an amazing view of the city of Perth. I am now on my way to Brisbane late this afternoon for a couple days. Left video' was my first up close encounter with a Kangaroo (totally unpredictable)! Right video Andrew and I saw dolphins up close. After landing in Brisbane, I spent the night at an Airbnb near the airport. Next day I made my way by train to meet up with a long time friend Sam Schmidt in the Beautiful Sunshine Coast. In the above photo we are hanging out with two other Canadians.I also met a few of Sam’s friends and roommates, great Aussie's! Can you believe that I was a winner at the race track? That’s it, I’m moving here! Funny thing is I had a come to Australia to get a Canadian club hat. It was given to me from an Australian stranger in the piano bar (good people here in Australia). Sam's hospitality was amazing, After spending time with Sam, I took a train to the Gold Coast, I got a real good deal on Airbnb at the Surfers Paradise, Queensland Australia. Photos above are from my Airbnb balcony in the Gold Coast of Australia, a 5-star facility witch I paid only $60.00 Canadian a night, (price went up to $90.00 after my stay). The view from my room on the 32nd floor was amazing (the photo above). It was a good walk to the main beach or the tram in minutes. This week I’m going to TRY and take it easy and relax, as I'm always on the go. I never did relax as there is way to much to see and do. Now back in Brisbane, caught up with a few other old friends, Rob, wife Kirsty, kids and Daniel. Brisbane, We ROCK!! The reason I took this trip was to catch up with some old friends and how many changes since the last time I as there. Had a great night out with Robert, wife Kirsty, their three kids Matilda is 9 Oliver is 7 Patrick is 4 and Daniel Williams. With all the walking I do in a day,it was great to get around on a power scooter. I will be back in Australia to catch up with some old friends that I missed.
I just arrived in Sydney Central Hostel, the place where my journey of traveling began over 16 years ago. Back then they never had Uber or Airbnb where I now stay most of the time. Now people have Facebook where they can keep in touch with each other while traveling and most of all, what would we do without the google maps app. We would also be lost without traveling websites that include schedules for bus, train, boat, cable cars and planes. So, for my last three nights in Australia, I’m booked into the Sydney Central Hostel where it all began over 16 years ago. Video one above on left, I leave back home tomorrow Wednesday; I had a layover in Los Angeles for 6 hours and strolled over to Venice Beach for a couple hours. In my video I’m explaining how I might change my ways of travelling next winter, perhaps staying in one country for four or five months instead of bouncing around like I have been. Then again, I can change my mind by November. Just found out the Sydney central Hostel has 650 beds and I'm seeing a lot more older people are travelling Hostels these days. Home Wednesday booked Mexico for Friday too cold in Canada right now. Again, to my Australian friends, thank you for making my vacation so amazing. It was so nice to meet so many new great new people. Yesterday I walked down to the Sydney harbour and took the ferry to Manley Beach, afternoon I went to Bondi beach all on the same $15.00 day ticket (opal card). Most people from Sydney don't know that the $15.00 ticket (opal card) is good for all transit include boats, trains, and buses for the day. Because of the cyclones in the north, most of beaches are closed in Sydney and the East Coast. Video two, is about young students learning to save lives, it's amazing to watch. I had no idea what was going on in Bondi beach. First was a kids learning to save lives in the water, kayaks racing and of course the surfers are out there too. In Canada we get the TV show Bondi Vet, great show. On my home from Australia, who says you can’t be in two places at the same time? I left Sydney, Australia February 27 at 11:20 AM and arrived in Los Angeles February 27th at 6 AM. If only I thought of it, I could have been in the South Pacific Bondi beach touching water at 8 AM, then take the public bus and train to Sydney airport, In my seven hour layover in Los Angeles. I did take the shuttle to the city bus stop at the LA airport for free, then the Santa Monica big blue bus #3 to Venice Boulevard and finally took the number 33 to Venice Beach. It was here that I put my feet in the water at 8 AM February 27th. Same time and date, two different countries and two different beaches from the South Pacific Sydney to the North Pacific LA, Never say things that can’t be done. I am home in Calgary for 38 hours then off to San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico next. EXCITING TIMES CONTINUE!!! Next Blog,Cabo Mexico...
Photos: left to right - Playa Del Carmen - second photo: SellOffVacations.com….. I found a deal for Playa Del Carmen - Mexico hotel, flight with taxes in, $97% off - $29.00 plus $500.00 taxes, I ended up paying a bit more because the posted price was for double occupancy. The next photo was posted on YYCdeals.com Calgary …… Canada to Sydney Australia for as low as $651.00 to $685.00 round trip, including taxes…. Unbelievable! As for the third photo, I found this deal on NextDeparture.com; across Canada to Sydney, Australia for $624.00 to $808.00 round trip including taxes. People that are living in Canada and looking for great deals can sign up with Ydeals and NextDeparture. They will email you when they find deals in your city and it’s free. I use ydeals for my flights. To check prices, scroll down to flights…. google flights or ITA Matrix . when you get to dates, put in search exact dates, meaning you can put in up to two day before or after. I like to use the calendar for lowest fares; for example. if you put in 14 days, it will show you best prices or add or minuses days, Also, be sure to put in Canadian $$$$ under currency, I also use SkyScanner to find great deals. Once you find a good price, it is best to go directly to the airlines, Expedia or your own travel agent. They will give it to you for the price you see most of the time, but prices change so fast sometimes. If I’m in Canada with my phone on April till November, then I could help you book all your travel needs with my Expedia. I got laid off the last week of November 2018, so I went shopping online for a deal and found the Playa Del Carmen deal with Mexico hotel, flight with taxes in - $97% off =($29.00) plus $500.00 taxes, I ended up paying a bit more because the posted deal was for double occupancy. I go to Mexico quite a bit, so it was just a relaxing holiday and meet up with some old friends.
I have been to Panama many times, but this was my first Christmas there. Spending it there was all about family, parks all lit up (lights), decorations and the parade and fireworks were all amazing. My friends, Martin and Victor came by for Christmas dinner. I had also invited a few other friends, but they thought I was having the dinner on Christmas eve as that’s when most people celebrate Christmas; sorry about that Conrad and Louis. This is the first time I took the Panama Canal Railway from Panama City to Colon, for only $25.00 and I took the bus back from Colon. While in Colon, I checked out the free zone and the new locks. Colon is not a place to visit at night.
Wow! New Years Eve in Cartagena, Colombia; met quite a few good people from England, Miami, Brazil and Mexico and we had a great time in the old town on a rooftop bar for the new year. Cartagena is a beautiful city with dark gray beaches. After the great time in Cartagena, I wanted to check out Medellin, Colombia for the first time. It’s a city surrounded with mountains. It has a great subway system that even has a gondola (cable car) that you get to take, as it is part of the subway system and you don’t have to pay extra. It’s worth checking out the amazing views of the city from the top of the mountain. I also enjoyed the cool nights as you don’t need air conditioning there at night. I spent a relaxing week back in Panama after my trip to Colombia. I made it out to Coronado to visit a couple of old friends Jimmy and Derek for a round of golf. For this whole trip of a t month and a half, I stayed in a hotel in Play Del Carmen, because it came with the flight, but the rest of the traveling I stayed in Airbnb.com. I strongly recommend Airbnb over hotels now as you get to meet so many good people in the world that live in the city you are visiting but the secret is make sure they are a 5 star or a super host and they will go out of the way for you. Funny story: …a friend of mine stayed at an Airbnb and said it was OK, so I asked him what star rating it was, His answer was no star but it was OK because he paid $120.00 . I showed him that a 5 star or super host was only average $40.00 a night in the same city and a better location too. Anyway, for some reason people think if you pay more it will be a better place. I proved him wrong so take it from an experienced traveler, read up on the person you are staying with and also read up on the people that have stayed at their place. I am a 5 star host myself when I put my place back on line with Airbnb. Amazing tile art work in Havana, see if you can recognize the person on the tile. Always love the people of Cuba. I went to visit my friend Fernando’s wife, Yarelys and daughter Monica in Cardenas about 30 minutes from the resort town of Varadero. It was great to meet up with her family (photos 7&8). It’s so cheap to get around on horse and buggy (photos 9&10) in these small towns (love it). Off to Havana (Habana) with my travelling amigo Normando Salsa (aka Norm Freele) . The first six photos are of celebrity caricatures in our new favorite bar Cinema (cervezas 2.75 CUC). I took time for a shower down at the harbour (photo 1). Hotel Lido (Dean's favorite when visiting), just two blocks off the Prado, was 30 CUC per night ($30) on the last visit. It had risen to 57 CUC so we stayed next door at the Casa Particular for 30 CUC. The Casa did not appear to be too Particular about shared occupancy, but we still got our own rooms,,,, Heh! Heh! The restored car lineup (photos 2&6) at the main plaza is amazing. We visited the National building (photos 3&4) , spent some time with Ernest (photo 5) at his favorite bar Floridita and capped the visit with some salsa back down by the Malecon. My heart is in Havana Ahha! My next trip, February 6th to the 27th in Australia looking foreword to see some old friends and their extended families in Australia as they all moved back home after living in Canada for a few years. |