Advent Calendar 2014

I know its not about travel, but still it's an adventure. I saw it few weeks ago and thought it's a great idea. It arrived on Friday afternoon and I couldn't wait till Monday. So let's started.

It's a box of 24 wheat germans beers.

DAY 1 OeTTINGER Dunkles Hefeweizen

Dark, cloudy wheat beer. Freah and sweet taste. Alcohol content is 4.9%

DAY 2 ALPEN WEISSBIER

Light and cloudy beer made from wheat and barley malt. Vol 5,2%

DAY 3 Wolferftetter Dunkles Weizen

It's unclear, dark with sweet flavour having notes of carmel, yeast, wheat and a little banana. The finish is slightly dry:) Vol 5,5%

DAY 4 Gutenberg Original Hefe-Weissbier

Cloudy, honey like color. Has a nice head and leaves good lacing. Nice floral, banana smell. 

Vol 5.3%

Day 5 SCHEYERN Kloster-weisse hell

Light golden pour with a lot of carbonation.classic Helles flavor. Slight grapefruit notes. Vol 5.2%

DAY 6 GRUNBACHER Altweizen Gold

Pours cloudy golden color with a small head. Aroma is apricot, mild banana, orange peel, some herbal notes and yeast.

DAY 7 ARCOBRAU Weissbier Hell

Medium high creamy and lasting white head. Cloudy yellow body. Acidic and yet sweet lemon oranges aroma. Flavour likewise acidic citrus with low carbonation and a long finish.

DAY 8 FRANZISKANER Weissbier

Hazy amber pour with a thick white head. Aroma of banana, clove, wheat and caramel. Malty flavor with big banana and clove with a bit of caramel before a spicy finish.

DAY 9 HACKLBERG Jakobi Weissbier Hell

Nice aroma, pours cloudy, quite a sharp citrus bite that lingers. Nice fizz too, a refreshing beer indeed.

DAY 10 HUBER Weisses Original

Hazy yellow coloured with lemon, vanilla and malty flavours, a creamy mouthfeel and gentle grassy and bubblegum on the finish.

DAY 11 WOLFERSTSTTER Export Hefe Weizen

Aromas of banana, apple and cloves. Taste is lightly peppery and sweet with distinct banana, apple, cloves and cinnamon. Light bodied, sweet and fairly refreshing.

DAY 12 KONIG Ludwig Weissbier

Natural cloudy wheat brew. Lots of pear in the aroma, some spices. Deep bready malt.

Swimming with sharks on Bora Bora

In 2014 during my round the world trip I had stop at Bora Bora. It is a beautiful place and its offering so much to do. One thing you can not miss is swimming with sharks.
I had that opportunity on my island trip with local guide. I was picked up from the hotel in the morning with snorkeling equipment in one hand and bait in other? When we have got everyone on board we had short boat ride to the south of Island.

When we got there I saw other boats and people already at water. We have been told that breakfast is swimming so we do not have to worry about it anymore, we should be OK?!
View is breathtaking. And a little bit scary. But what can you do?

 

I took some pictures from boat and now was time to get into the wild. Snorkeling mask and fins on and I am in water. Panic attack for few seconds and I am feeling like one of them. Sharks swim around you, so close. Very terrifying and exciting experience. At one moment I felt something is going on behind my back. I slowly turned my head back and I saw few sharks fighting about something. It was our tour guide throwing bait into water, I got earlier from my hotel.

One again amazing experience. And there are not only sharks. You can see small rays and plenty coral fishes, different colours, sizes and species.
Some time later it was over. I was back on boat and ready for rest of my trip.
I will never forget that experience. I am looking forward for my next holiday and hopefully another excitement.
If you ever have opportunity to do it do not be afraid. You will LOVE it like I did.
Some facts you would like to know:
- it costs around 10000XPF, $105, £65, €83
- it is part of day trip around the island
- later on that day you will have opportunity to see manta ray
- take plenty of sun cream and water
- you will have some time in Vaitape- capital of Bora Bora, time for shopping, use cash machine etc.

Flying with British Airways

Today is my another fly with British Airways this year. This time final destination is Warsaw Chopin Airport in Poland. It starts with flight BA1341/US7363 from Leeds Bradford Airport LBA to London Heathrow LHR.

I was early at the airport so check in and go through seciurity went smooth. British Airways passangers are able to use Fast Track line free of charge. Funny somtimes it takes longer than "normal" line. 

While I was waiting for boarding I saw my plane getting to gate 75 minutes before my departure time. Hope it will go nice and easy. 

Now boarded and ready for a nap. Woke up just before we landed with nice view of London City. 

At Heathrow it was long queue so we were waiting for our gate. And when we got it we were waiting for stairs and buses. Not so pleasure anymore.

After some time they let us out of the plane. I am at Terminal 5. Planty of BA planes to spot as well as other airlines taking off on runway. Got to transfer area and wait for a bys to Terminal 3. How nice, awaiting time is shown above the doors. Great news! It is not correct. Some time later I finally got to my terminal. Now I have time to kill on shopping, dining and if you like drinking. One hour before departure gate shown on screen. 10 minutes later I'm at the gate ready for boarding. BA at Heathrow scan boarding cards and check documents, and ask you to seat in waiting lounge. Just need to catch the bus first:) Short ride and I am on board of flight BA0850 to Warsaw. Safety presentation and we are already on runway taking off. Flight to Warsaw take just a little more than 2 hours. During flight I have been served complimentary food and drinks, alcoholic and not. Before landing all passangers had chance to do duty free shopping. Because it is EU flight no alcohol or cigarettes to buy. 

All passangers were able to follow the flight on overhead screens. Weather was good so passangers in window seats could enjoy view outside during flight and in approach Warsaw Chopin Airport. Landing was smooth and after short ride we were at Terminal 2. Only front door was used to let passangers go so I keft plane last. My bag was waiting for me when I got through passport control. I am in Warsaw. Holiday started!

Thank you for flying with me and hope to see you next time.

Zakyntos Island Tour

  

  

Our Island Tour we start in Zakythos Town. You can see there Church of St Dionysios right next to the port. On our way to Bochali Hill we past Dionysios Solomos Square with his statue in the centre and where you can find Town Hall, library, Church of St. Nicholas and the Post Byzantine Museum.

From Bochali Hill, where is Venetian Castle is a beautiful view of Zakythos Town, port and Laganas Bay. In nice days you can see Peloponnese peninsula.

Next stop is Callinico winery and wine factory with tour aroud and most important degustation:)

Very tasty wines are made here and in good prices. House vines 4€ for 1 or 7€ for 2 And 11€ for 3 bottles.

Zakythos is very green island. People here grow a lot of fruits and vegetablea so you can be sure that all is fresh and very tasty. On your way aroud the east part of island you can see a lot of gardens and plantation of olive, lemon and orange trees.

West part of the island is a chain of mountains with low population but stunning views.

After visit in vineyard we climb up top of hills when you can enjoy view of east part of the island and neighbour island Kefalonia.

During the ride we past some villages and on one of them is 2000 years old olive tree.

Next stop is at Anafonitrias Monastery from 1429. It was main monastery of island but now monks live in Zakythos town next to St. Dionysios church.

And we got here. Viewing platform of Navagio Shipwreck beach. What a queue.

It's amazing.

The coloures!!!!!

Breathtaking!!!!!!!

When we finally got to the edge and took our photos it was WORTH IT.

Next stop is picturesque marina of St Nicholaos Volimes with optional boat ride to BLUE CAVES. We went in small boats so we could go inside caves to see why they are called that. 50 shades of blue is not enough.

Later we started our trip back to Zakythos Town alongside east coast of island. You still can see Kefalonia and mainland Greece on your left side. On our way we past towns and villages and beautiful beaches. In Alykes you can still see sea salt plants, which are not in use anymore but still filled with sea water in summer.

It was a great spent day with some stunning view of the island.

Some other informations:

- cost about 20€

- pick up time: morning

- finish time : about 6pm

- take some cash for vine if you want to buy and for a trip to Blue Caves