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Faroe Islands

Although this blog is labeled as Faroe islands, this will start at the beginning of my travels which is the approximately 20 hours I spent in Iceland.    Air Canada, of course, was late 1 1/2 hours.   Then I couldn’t locate the rental car van and discovered the I needed a card  from Reykjavik an hours drive away.   So my planned Golden Circle trip was very late starting.

I managed to see 4 sites on the trip – Thingvellir National Park, the Great Geyser, Kerid Crater and Bruarfoss Waterfall, along with very many tourists

However, that left me some evening hours to walk around Reykjavik and explore

   

FAROE ISLANDS

A1 1/2 hour flight from Reykjavik and I was ready to start a journey to my home for the next 2 days on the southern part of Vagar island.  I’m staying in the village of Sandavigur.  (as near as I can tell, the locals don’t pronounce the last part so it sounds like ‘Sandavir’).   It has a very pretty church in it and some ancient history associated with the town.  After a stop at the local grocery store (there doesn’t appear to be a restaurant), I settled in.  Next day I took a hike to Trollkunufingar (witch’s finger) with the wind howling after a night of pouring rain.  Not sure what was worse – climbing with the wind at my back or walking down facing that blast.

the Same day – decided I needed a taxi ride -somewhere and my landlady called her father-in-law who had an idea I might like.  We drove through 3 villages, the airport, and a very long tunnel.  The hills were huge and he told me before the bridge (2006), the mailman  hiked over the mountain 3 times a day to deliver to Bourn village and then back again.  We ended up at a large falls with a number of photographers already present.  One showed me a great photo of a Puffin to make me jealous.  Later I walked the neighbourhood and saw a boat builder who runs classes

This is day 4 of the Faroe Island photo workshop and there has been no time to update the  blog.  My apologies to readers

It’s now the evening of August 10 and the workshop is over.   Most have gone home and I have one more full day t fill in before going to London.  I’ve had little time to even look at the pictures let alone publish them.   but here is one that we all lstood on the beach for about 2 hours waiting for the moon to rise over the stacks as predicted by the Photopills app.

Now back in London, I’ve had a few minutes to look at photos.  These are pics from August 8th

Note that I am closing off this blog but I’ve opened up a gallery site under Travel – Faroe Islands to display some new pictures.

Martinique

So over the last 24 hours, we have driven (safely) to the Barbados airport, return our vehicle, boarded an Air Antilles plane which stopped in St Lucia and then dropped us off at Martinique, rented another car to drive on the right side of the road this time, driven to Schoelcher, a major hub in Martinique, went swimming in the ocean several times, had a fabulous meal at an Italian restaurant, got ticked off with lack of air conditioning and the mosquitoes, booked another Hotel for the remainder of the holiday, starting tomorrow, and we are about to go to the Italian restaurant again tonight since we are saying goodbye to Schoelcher. Actually the lady renting this place was super kind and since she didn’t understand me saying it was our 2nd honeymoon but our 52nd anniversary, she sprinkled rose petals all over the bed. Really sweet. The pictures of the palm trees were taken from our balcony in Barbados as we watched workers pruning the palm trees, and harvesting coconuts.  In Martinique, it looks like I came across the new Betty Grable on the beach.

 

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So fingers crossed the new place in Martinique works out because its the same place we visited 52 years ago during our real honeymoon.   It’s called Bakoua Hotel

Well, I guess I missed a day in my blog because this is our last full day in Martinique.   It’s been a great visit.  We ended up in Bakoua (pronounced Bakwa, as we were told) in garden side of the large complex but after a lot of whining, we were allowed to transfer to the ocean view side and it’s terrific.   Bakoua has changed so much though over the 52 years.  It’s huge with pools, restaurants and the like but the sea has taken over much of the property and there is little beach left.  The amenities such as sailboats have been replaced by sea doos and other toys and farmed out to independent contractors.   Everything at the hotel has an extra price tag.   Nonetheless, we have been enjoying the water, the flowers and the food outlets along the street outside the hotel (none of which existed 50 years ago)

Yesterday we decided to gas up our rental car early and it was a good thing.  The closest gas station had no petrol and so we had to drive quite a distance to get filled up.  It’s kinda strange but the rental company also insists that cars be returned clean inside and out or incur 50 Euros charge.   Don’t know how we are going to handle that yet.  It has rained a lot lately but when the sun shines, it’s very hot and humid so it all balances out, I guess.

See everyone at home after tomorrow.

Barbados

Completed one full day on the island of Barbados.   Getting here was a bit guelling.  Got stopped at Pearson airport because my camera bag was too big for a personal item.   Guess I panicked because I ended up checking the bag with my camera in it which also contained batteries (das ist forboten).   So, I was relieved that the camera actually turned on when it came off the Barbados turnstile (good camera bag, I guess).   then I had to sign my life away for a rented car and re-learn how to drive on the oeft side of the road again.   With Shari as navigator we hit a zillion roundabouts and I was never sure I was in the right lane.  But, made it to our hotel and after settling in, we bought some Rum and had a celebratory drink and went to supper early because we were both knackered.   Shari ordered a Pina Colada and I had to order 5 or 6 drinks before the bartender could deliver something.   Turned out it was Rum sour (the hotel restaurant is under new management and just opened June 1).

Today, June 27, we went in the car after breakfast, to the Flower Forest, which we managed to reach by traveling all over the island on detours.   There were roads taken out by heavy rain.   When we arrived, it started another huge downpour, but the trip proved to be worthwhile.   Driving home was not the same ordeal and we went across the street to Starbucks to have a coffee where it again rained a lot.   So, not a bad 24 hours but we will probably walk to supper tonight and forego the auto tripl

Now the bad news;   When Toronto Pearson checked my bag, they must have found my camera which had batteries and helped themselves to one of 2.   When we reached the Flower Forest, the humidity and heat caused the camera to malfunction and it died.   I’m thinking now, back at the hotel, that it is working in an air-conditioned room but I’m stuck with just one battery and very large (oversized) camera bag for the next trip.   Good news is that Shari is slated to go snorkeling on Thursday and I have a checkout dive Thursday morning to go diving.

Day 2 – Tuesday/Wednesday:   Well on Tuesday, the good news is my 2nd camera showed up and after I charged it, both batteries were good to go.  I have to admit however, that my Olympus camera really doesn’t like the high humidity here.   The preview buttom will stick.   So, on Wednesday (today) I woke up early and took some very early shots of the ocean and waves on the shore.   But I didn’t trust being safe using a high-end camera so the only shots today were taken using my phone,  We travelled by the weirdest form of bus you can imagine with hip-hop music blasting away and the driver trying his best to be a maniac.   Different driver but same result on the return.  Went to Tapas restaurant – surprised myself – after walking for many hours in Bridgetown, I wasn’t very hungry but the food was great.

Unfortunately not all went well today.  We did a lot of walking and  we also tried to look out for each other in the hot, humid streets.  We saw lots of market streets full of fruit, clothing and everything in between.   but we couldn’t find a restaurant where we could sit out of the heat.  When we were finally successful, Shari must have taken off her glasses and tried to hang them on her blouse.    They simply vanished.   We had store security look for them and the whole process of checking cameras to make sure she had them in the store to giving addresses took about 2 hours.   Upon returning to the hotel, we walked for considerable time to find suitable reading glasses.  Then we enjoyed the ocean surf, jumping waves at the Hotel beach and swimming in one of their 2 pools.   Good way to end the day.

Day 3:  Yesterday I had few photographs but today I have none.   Not good for a photographer.   However, the outing today was all about scuba diving and snorkeling and it was great fun.   I had to go early for a dive checkout which turned out to be well worth the extra instruction.   BCS vests have changed a lot and there are now pockets for weights and pouches for extra mouth pieces.   So, I listened intently to a gorgeous lady in the Hilton Hotel pool.   She turned out to be our dive leader later on so 4 of us went diving among shipwrecks that were lying in the middle of the marine reserve near Bridgetown.   Saw lots of beautiful fish normally seen around coral reefs, sea turtles and one puffer fish along with a few tiny squid.   Lots of fun in less than 40 feet of water with Shari snorkeling above us.  The owner of the dive shop was from Ottawa and has lived here for 8 years and has no desire to return to Ontario.  She drove us back to the hotel, where we picked up our laundry from the laundromat and went for Ice cream.

A quick shower and we are ready to plan our packing for tomorrow’s flight, have supper and drink a few beers.  Our flight leaves at 9:50 am and we have to return the car before that.  I will resume the blog under the Martinique heading tomorrow night.

Aussie _ NZ