June 28, 2016
1st full day in Holbox. Decided that a boat trip sounded fun. Chartered a small boat to take us on a 3 hour tour (couldn’t help but think of Gilligan’s Island). Visited a number of locations on the boat, including Passion Island, Fuente de la Juventud, Flamingoes’ wading along the shoreline.
June 27, 2016
We arrived in Isla Holbox (pronounced OL-BOS, in Mayan dialect) after a 2 1/2 hour ride through the jungles of Northern Yucatan. Beautiful, hot, sandy spit of land off the coast of Yucatan, across from Cuba. A short ferry ride across Yalahau Lagoon, put us in the town of Holbox, population 2000. The Seagulls are fighting over dead fish at Raices Restaurant, which is on the beach. Everyday at Sunset, a Mayan who works at the restaurant blows a conch shell to the setting sun.
Today we arrived in Cancun, our attempt to escape the wilds of the North Country. This time we escape to the wilds of the tropics.
This has been the most ambitious and involved travel outing yet. Seven countries and well over 12,000 miles covered in almost 4 weeks. Quite an accomplishment. I look forward to the next installment.
travel route
Finally made it home, 24 hours late. I’m tired and sore from sitting in the “enhanced interrogation” devices that airline seats have become. 6 hours in a middle seat was a test of my physical and mental limits. I felt like I needed to be extracted with a mechanical device by the time the plane landed. To give British Airways credit, they did everything they could to help the Spanish Inquisition be as bearable as possible (note to other airlines – free wine is good).
economy seating 21st century
Well, as happens when one travels, there were problems. Flight from Copenhagen to London was delayed just enough to to miss the connection to Montreal, the last flight of the day.
British Airways, contrite and accommodating, arranged for a free hotel, transportation to said hotel, meal vouchers, and booking on the next available flight. I am struck by the level of customer service between that and the American carriers, who say “you’re on your own, we will book you on another flight if we remember to”. Could be worse, stuck in London for an all expense paid night in a nice hotel. Hope everything goes well for the flight home tomorrow.
The last section of the trip is basically extended travel on the way back to the states. Leaving Helsinki, will spend the night on the boat. Landing in Stockholm and will spend 1/2 day there before flying to Malmo.
Visited Seurasaari, which is an open air folk museum. It was a beautiful warm sunny day, and all the Finns were out sunbathing, and running around enjoying the weather. Went down to the harbor kauppatori and strolled among the stalls selling everything from fish to reindeer antlers (bought some of both). Note to self and others; the tram is the best way to see the city, and cheap.
There was a protest march through the city, Finns against Shell Oil, as best I could tell. The building in the background of the video is the Helsinki Cathedral. Dinner listening to reggae music, wandering the city a bit, and home.
Helsinki harbor
We arrived to a gorgeous day in Helsinki. Decided to do a boat tour of the harbor and surrounding islands. Had a nice dinner at a Napal restaurant side walk cafe,as we watched the world go by.
jeff reeder 