OUR BIG TRIP
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BEST TRANSIT JOURNEYSBackpacking through Europe, Asia and America was a once in a lifetime experience and along the way we saw some amazing sights that will stay with us for the rest of our days.
During this time we utilised a number of different methods of travel. Some were good, others not so. Below is a list of our top 10 favourite transit journeys. To read a full account about each one please click on the title. Visiting our friend Kimmy in her hometown of Minitonas in the Canadian province of Manitoba was never in doubt. Getting there however was always going to be the problem. With no train and infrequent bus links the tiny town, which accommodates less than 500 people, is well and truly away from civilisation. Infact it is so remote that we could find no trace of it on any of the maps we looked at. Thankfully though our transport issues were resolved when Kimmy insisted on picking us up from Winnipeg. As this involved her undertaking 5 hour drives not only to collect us but also to drop us off again it conveyed a real sign of friendship which was very much appreciated. A very kind gesture indeed, though just one of many that she bestowed upon us during our stay with her. My first experience of traveling on a cruise ship is one I shall never forget. With the entire family present to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary we left the shores of Fort Lauderdale upon the good ship Zuiderdam, for a jaunt round some of the islands of the East Caribbean. At 935 foot long and 106 foot wide the Zuiderdam is a mightily impressive vessel containing 11 decks and 6 engines. With enough rooms to accommodate 1824 passengers and 800 crew members the ship possessed a wide spectrum of amenities including restaurants, bars, casinos, swimming pools, shops, disco's, theatre halls, a cinema, a library and an internet cafe. Lasting for 7 days the cruise, which took us, to the Bahamas, via the Half Moon Cay, Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, was absolutely magnificent and the 5 star service we received just added to experience. Furthermore on top of all this the views of the ocean were so entrancing that we spent countless hours sitting on the balcony of our room simply taking it all in. All in all despite being very expensive the cruise was a fabulous experience and one that we would not hesitate to undertake again. Touted as 'the islands you can drive to', the Florida Keys, located at the southernmost tip of the state, is a 126 mile string of islands connected to the mainland by over 40 bridges. Once underwater coral reefs the keys are divided into 3 main areas, upper, middle and lower keys, and collectively host a range of great beaches, stunning houses, aquatic activities and extraordinary natural beauty. At the end of the highway lies Key West, the former stomping ground of Hemingway and the undeniable home of Key Lime Pie. A drive through the Florida Keys takes you along a very picturesque stretch of road, the highlight of which is undoubtedly the impressive 7 Mile Bridge. A replacement for the old and now disused bridge that runs parallel to it the structure stretches out for 7 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, connecting the town of Marathon with the Lower Keys. With no land or trees to impair the view, the panorama of the water gleaming either side of you is breathtaking and the feeling of relaxation that immerses you whilst driving on the open road is extremely liberating. Definitely an activity that should be near the top of the to do list of every visitor to Florida. With the construction of the controversial project of the Three Gorges Dam due to be complete in 2009 the Yangtze River has seen a marked recent upsurge in the number of visitors undertaking cruises through the fabled Three Gorges, a trio of wondrous landscapes between the towns of Fengjie in Sichaun and Yichang in Hubei, that ranks as one of China's greatest natural scenic wonders. Although not as palatial as the Caribbean cruise we went on the vessel was nonetheless comfortable, offering us a perfectly acceptable standard of room and some excellent meals and the staff did everything in their power to ensure that we were well catered for. The cruise itself was a wonderful experience with the journey taking us through a series of narrow gorges whose coarse, bleached facades glistened spectacularly from the piercing rays of the golden sun. Towering over 100 metres high the view of the 3 gorges were particularly stunning and the dramatic texture and appearance of the rock formations were especially compelling. We spent many an enjoyable hour during our time on the boat lazing on the top deck digesting the view, whilst a gentle breeze ruffled our hair. A thoroughly enjoyable experience and one that I would recommend doing before 2009 comes around and the flooding of the Yangtze changes the landscape forever by increasing its water level by another 39 metres. Dubbed as 'California's premier scenic highway', US1 is a spectacularly picturesque 90 mile coastal drive that connects Hearst Castle to the town of Carmel. With one side of the road hugging towering bronzed cliffs and the other plummeting down to remote golden beaches and the rock littered sea the route is a leisure driver's paradise. One which reaches its pinnacle at Big Sur. Unfortunately though in the height of summer the presence of fog often obscures one's view of the landscape. We found this out to our cost as initially when we undertook this drive we found the haze to be very thick. Consequently our enjoyment of the picturesque views was significantly affected by the reduced visibility that engulfed the area. However as we drove further north its gradual dispersement revealed a terrain that became so dramatic that it began to enter the realms of fantasy and we found ourselves stopping every 100 yards or so to take it in. Though the inclement weather did slightly taint our enjoyment of the drive, the parts we did see that were not shrouded in fog provided us with a tantalising flavour of how sensational the landscape is. On a clear and sunny day I am sure the views would be truly out of this world. I just hope one day that we can witness it in all its glory. With our pals Dan and Bron for company the 7 hour crossing from Pireaus to Santorini was very pleasant as we spent the entire time talking on the deck of the ferry, whilst the sun shone brightly and the water twinkled with the glow of a million different sparkles. It was incredibly relaxing and as the ferry progressed further along its route we became increasingly oblivious to the presence of anyone or anything else around us. That is until our first glimpse of Santorini came into view. Possessing one of the most unique, volatile and spectacular settings I have ever witnessed the ferry's approach to the island's dock was an awesome experience. The sight of the dense clusters of gleaming white buildings teetering on the edge of sheer lava layered cliffs, that almost entirely encircle a submerged caldera, and plummet more than 200 metres down to the sea, was as dramatic as it was spellbinding. One of those rare moments where time appears to stand still this transit journey provided us with a moment which our memories will keep for ever. With the Mediterranean Sea shimmering under the glow of the fierce sun the ferry crossing to Amorgos was a very enjoyable experience indeed. Sitting on the top deck of the vessel splitting our time between soaking up rays, reading and diving in our thoughts was incredibly relaxing and enabled the transit time to elapse in a very pleasant manner. However the highlight of the transit was undoubtedly our descent into the port of Aegiali. Framed by steep sloping mountains of dusty, raw sunbaked rock, garnished with lush clumps of bottle green foliage and a sprinkling of brilliant white buildings, the port holds the kind of setting that makes film makers drool. Dominated by an exquisite arc of soft, golden powdery sand, lined with palm trees that gently curve around a mirror of water so clear that you could almost drink it, Aegiali emitted the kind of wish you were here ambience that one associates with a castaway paradise. When it first came in to view it simply took our breath away and as the ferry continued to draw nearer we had to keep pinching ourselves to make sure that what we were not seeing was a dream. It was the perfect introduction to what turned out to be by far and away our favourite of all the Greek Islands. Some may call it an unnecessary risk but a journey through New York in one of the city's bright yellow taxi cabs is quite an adventure. Usually vocal, aggressive and possessing a strong desire to join the Williams Formula One team New York taxi drivers are a unique breed. Though a ride with them often involves closing your eyes and holding on to the seats tightly, or conversely being stuck in a traffic jam for a while, it does allow you to digest the city's sights and attractions from a different perspective to the one you gain from its crowded streets. Although an excellent place to walk around New York is also a great city to explore by taxi, not least because it is relatively cheap and you can cover a reasonable distance in a short space of time. With literally thousands of them around hailing one is never a problem. But as is the nature of this truly multicultural city, as most of the drivers are immigrants, coherent communication with them might require the passenger to be proficient in more than one language! A journey that reminded me very much of the old Air Canada advert on television where their passengers enjoyed the flight so much that they did not leave the plane the journey to Seville brought on similar emotions within us.Not only did we get to witness a breathtaking landscape of rolling hills interspersed with acres of orange and olive trees, but the superfast AVE trains covered the 471km distance in only 2.5 hours. Furthermore with exceptionally comfortable seats in a clean, quiet compartment, and airplane style stewardesses at our assistance the whole experience was extremely pleasurable. They even showed the film, 'Finding Nemo' on a series of television screens, although admittedly it was of little use to us as it was in Spanish. All in all it was a much better standard of performance and service than I have ever experience in England and put us into a very good mood as we arrived in Seville. Having spent more than a month travelling through Italy we thought that we had seen the best of what the country had to offer. But as our train hurtled through the Dolomites Mountain Range, past the endless miles of desolate snow covered peaks that separate remote villages, the country provided us with one last visual treat. Almost as if to soften the blow of our departure the train ride to Innsbruck was a fantastic experience. Fast, comfortable and conveying sensational views the transit proved so compelling that the 5 hour journey time seemed to just fly by. The perfect way to conclude to our travels in Italy.
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