Belem is the capital of Para, an Equatorial Brazilian State, with a population of almost two million in its metropolitan area. I have been there on a trip from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where I joined a ship bound to Belem for teak and mahogany, bought by a French contractor. Numerous strikes made us stay for almost three months. I liked it even if I know that the guy who chartered our ship wasn't that happy. One rents the ship with a daily fare which varies according to its capacity. Ours was … [Read more...]
Winter Sun Yacht Charters: Drop Anchor in Paradise
As the winter chill draws down over the Northern Hemisphere and the superyacht fleet sets sail for warmer climes, it’s time to turn our attention to the exotic winter yachting destinations that will extend your summer. From the remote coral atolls of the Maldives to the sugar-white beaches of the Caribbean, here are some exotic places to relax under the palm trees, dive in warm clear waters, and enjoy some fantastic winter sun. Yacht Charters Cruise the bewitchingly pretty … [Read more...]
10 Disappearing Beaches
When seas rise, beaches disappear. And even setting climate change aside, scientists predict a twenty-five–thirty centimeters rise in ocean levels by the end of this century. And for each two and a half centimeters the ocean rises, a beach gets on average one meter narrower. You may add to that sinking coastal lands, increasing violent storms, and humans interfering with natural beach architecture by dredging channels and building seawalls and jetties, and you'll have a recipe for … [Read more...]
Sigiriya, Lion Rock, in Sri Lanka
Inspired again by the astonishing Pinterest, I thought it better to publish again in this category. I had a few Sinhalese mates in the past, you maybe remember that I'm a retreated ship engineer, with plenty of contacts, and deeply involved in the human nature. Unfortunately, I learned mostly through my mistakes, but like anyone of you, I have been very young once. I remember in one of my former contracts, when I stayed for the first time in Piraeus, Greece, more than a few days, I had our … [Read more...]
Beautiful Budapest
Budapest is a city crossed (and divided in two) by the Danube, and it is the capital of Hungary, a Catholic country former part of the Hapsburg Empire. Hungarians themselves are descendants of Turkic populations from Urals Mountains which invaded the Carpathian Basin around 862 AD, mixed with Khazars. They are not Huns. They may have some Gepidic blood, because Gepids are the ones who defeated Huns and erased them from historical existence after 454 AD. The name comes from Buda and Pest, the … [Read more...]
Cyprus, the Half-European Island
What’s not to love about Cyprus? With its scenic coastline, breath-taking views, delicious cuisine and friendly locals, this is one destination that needs to be added to your bucket list. As the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, after Sicily and Sardinia, the island is geographically located in Asia, however, politically it is a European country. It is also a half member of the European Union. Legend speaks of Cyprus being the birthplace of the goddess Aphrodite. It is only … [Read more...]