Index...MENU ..MENU2...Kanaloa Pages: 1, 2, 3, 4...................sort of Updated 10-9-04.............................
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Kanaloa
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(Here's the plan: I am going to California in the middle of December and spend the Holidays with my family...the first one with my granddaughter, Lauren Alexandra).
Some time after New Years Day, I plan to start my first Circle the Globe flight package...the Kanaloa Around the World in 80 Days Photo Safari (Click). Here's the itinerary as I wrote it on the 8th (fares are in red):
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$$1899.00...Los Angeles - Cook Islands - Christchurch - Brisbane - Bangkok - Rome - overland , to London - Los Angeles
In Europe, I probably would have the Eurail 4-Country Selectpass - 8 days in 2 months - 1st Class = $470 for an adult.
[I want to fly into Rome to start the Eurail pass. Though I plan to spend only one month in Europe I want the flexibility of the Selectpass because I'm not sure when I would leave Thailand. And that depends on whether or not I go to the Koh Chang Islands, as I had planned to do last year.]
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I'm pretty sure the year-long Circle the Globe package must start before March 31, 2004. I want to be in Australia during their summer so I plan to start it the first part of January. My original plan was a three month trip maximum.
Leave Los Angeles and arrive in the Cook Islands on Rarotonga to start the package. I first went to Rarotonga in 1985. I was last there in 2000. I have some long-term projects to work on...maybe a flight to one or two other Cook Islands, also.
I'll stay maybe up to three weeks in the Cooks. Then to Christchurch. I have been to North Island of New Zealand, but I haven't been to South Island. I don't know how long I would stay...possibly 4 to 7 days.
In Australia, I would immediately leave the airport by bus for Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast of Queensland. I would stay here only two nights then take the bus to Byron Bay in New South Wales. There I hope to meet the Wild Duck, Doug, for a ride to Nimbin and his Rainbow Retreat. I have a creative boomerang project to start there.
I don't know how long that will take, but hopefully not more than a week or two. I would also like to spend a few nights in Byron Bay. There will also be another night in Surfers Paradise before the Brisbane airport and the flight to Bangkok.
I will probably spend no more than three nights total in Bangkok. If I go to Koh Chang Island, add one week to Thailand.
Cooks - 3; New Zealand - 1 max; Australia - 2 or 3; Thailand - 1; 8 weeks maximum so far.
In Italy, there's a family villa that was built in the 1400s. I visited it in 1970 and again in 1975 when I took a lot of 35 mm slides that I have not yet scanned.
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A postcard view of Villa Ferro.
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The four connected countries I would travel through by Eurail Pass would be Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France...
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the three connected countries, Italy, France, and Spain. (I've decided on this one).
Rome to Varazze and Villa Ferro (Savona or Genoa) via Barcelona, Paris, Chunnel to London for three or four nights. Let's say it takes 12 weeks before returning to Los Angeles.
I'm a very economical traveler. I can probably average about $25 dollars per day living expenses which would be around $2100. A ballpark figure of $5000 would cover the flights and most transportation and living expenses. I'll be taking photos, not shopping for souvenirs, etc.
I leave Los Angeles (LAX) on Air New Zealand Flight 53 on Wednesday, January 7 at 7:15 PM and arrive on Rarotonga (RAR) Thursday, January 8 at 5:35 AM. Distance is 4670 miles. One stop in Tahiti on a Boeing 676-300/ER.
I know what I'm going to be doing on Rarotonga for three weeks. On the Sunday, January 25 at 8:20 AM, I leave Rarotonga on NZ 53 and arrive in Auckland (AKL) Monday, January 26 at 11:40 AM (Next day). Distance is 1873 miles. The same day at 1:40 PM, I take Jetconnect Flight 4133 and arrive in Christchurch (CHC) at 3:00 PM. Distance 463 miles on a Boeing 737-300. The longest that I'm planning to stay here is one week.
Let's say I leave Christchurch on Monday, February 2 at 6:55 AM on NZ Flight 504 which arrives in Auckland same day at 8:15 AM. Distance 463 miles on a Boeing 737-300. In an hour and a half, I leave Auckland at 9:30 AM on NZ Flight 135 and arrive in Brisbane (BNE) at 10:00 AM. Distance is 1428 miles on a Boeing 747-400. I'm out of the airport and on my way to Surfers Paradise within a half hour on a bus.
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I have a lot to do in Australia, but will leave by February 18th for Bangkok (BKK) on Thai Airways Flight 984 at 10:40 PM and will arrive in Bangkok (BKK) Thursday, 19th at 5:00 AM. Distance is 4523 miles on a McDonnell Douglas MD-11.
Koh Chang Island? Maybe.
On February 25th, I leave Bangkok for Rome (FCO) on Thai Airways Flight 942 at 12:05 AM and arrive on Tuesday, February 26 at 6:35 AM. Distance is 5505 miles on a Boeing 747.
I'll have used up 50 days traveling.
From Rome, I will be traveling by Eurail Selectpass through Italy, France and Spain.
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The Eurail Selectpass provides unlimited rail travel on the rail networks of any 3, 4 or 5 adjoining European countries included in the list below. The countries you choose to include on your pass must be joined by either a main rail or shipping line, use the maps linked below to check this. The travel days included with your Eurail Selectpass may be used either consecutively or non-consecutively.
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Austria· Belgium· Denmark· Finland· France· Germany · Greece· Netherlands· Hungary· Italy· Luxembourg· Norway · Portugal· Republic of Ireland· Spain· Sweden· Switzerland
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The Eurail Selectpass will give you unlimited first class train travel in your selected (3, 4 or 5) countries for either:
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· 5 days to be used within 2 months
· 6 days to be used within 2 months
· 8 days to be used within 2 months
· 10 days to be used within 2 months
· 15 days to be used within 2 months
However you must ensure that:
· You only use the pass within adjoining Eurail countries (from the 17 listed).
· The three countries are connected by a main rail or shipping line.
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I'm planning on doing the 8 days to be used within 2 months ($470). I'm not planning to take two months to get to London, but it does give me flexibility on when I use those days.
Here's a map of the main Europe railroads:
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I'I start out in Rome, so here's the Italy rail map:
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I've been to Rome, Florence, and Pisa twice before in the 70s. Once by car and once by train. I haven't seen the coastal area between Rome and Pisa, so maybe, I'll go that way and bypass going to Florence this time. I'll be on my way to Genoa (or Varazze or Savona, if the train stops there). The villa is in Pero village a short distance from Varazze.
Leave Rome on Monday, March 1 from Roma Termini at about 7:00 Am by Eurail Pass. The trip to Varazze takes about 6 hours, if I don't stop in between...(One train day used).
Friday, March 5th, I take the train to Barcelona, Spain leaving about 6:00 AM for a 15 1/2 hour trip. I'm not going to go all the way at once just to save a day. I'll make a stop or two on the southern coast of France. Here's a rail map:
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I've partied in Cannes before, but maybe I'll go about half way somewhere to be decided later. (Two days used). Getting to Barcelona will use another day (Three days used). Here's a rail map of Spain and Portugal:
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I've been in Spain, but not along the Mediterranean coast or to Majorca. I could use three days in Spain leaving from Madrid going north into France. Barcelona to Valencia is about 3 1/2 hours. Valencia to Madrid is about 4 hours. That leaves two days to get to Paris.
From Madrid to Paris straight through can be anywhere from 13 1/2 to 18 1/2 hours. I just decide where I want to stop in between. Paris is where I will have completed my Selectpass.
I liked Paris the three times I went there in the 70s. I don't know how long I could afford to stay there, but I like London, too. I was there only twice in the 70s. Here's how I'll get to London from Paris for $90:
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"The fastest and most convenient (and possibly cheapest) way to cross the English Channel is by Eurostar Train through the "Chunnel". You can go from downtown London to downtown Paris or Brussels in 3 hours by speed train--eliminating the hour + airport advance check-ins, luggage carousels, and airport-to-city taxi-bus hassles and expense. Check out the Eurostar Chunnel Specials for discounted fares.
Departures:........... 06:37. 07:16. 08:13.09:10 .10:19 .11:43 12:19 .13:04 .14:43 .16:07 .17:10 .17:43. 18:16..19:19 .20:43
Arrival Times:........ 08:46. 09:09 .10:13 .11:13 .12:09 .13:43 14:09 .15:09 .16:43 .18:13 .19:09. 19:43. 20:09 .21:13 .22:42
SENIOR: Available to all travelers more than 60 years on the day of travel. Valid for travel any day of the week. Limited availibility. May be exchanged once before departure. Exchange must be performed in Europe. This fare is non-refundable. $180 1st ..$90 2nd."
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