Back in Szczecin

I am back in Szczecin, and I must say a lot has changed in just a few years. The food and drinks are still cheap, but clothes and tihings like tat starts to get closer to western standard. How the normal pole can afford these prices I don't understand. even gas prices are more or less the same as in norway. I was again to the dentist (the best one in the world) and this was still cheap compare to norwegian prices. Chrystall is also cheap, but i have already the house full :) i will try to put up some links and maps here soon.

Vigo Spain

Vigo is well worth a visit.

more or less no tourists, but you need to speak Spanish, cause it is far between the ones that speaks English. But if you go to Vigo, there is a few places you have to see:

Islas Cies

This is one of the most important tourist attractions in Vigo. The Islas Cies, in the Ria de Vigo, was already inhabited in Celtic times. The climate here is very mild. It is a very nice spot to visit. The boat trip from Vigo takes 45 minutes.

The beautiful Cíes Islands. The Beach of Monteagudo Island was chosen as one of the top 10 beaches in the world! Worth a visit is the National Land-Marine Park of the Atlantic Islands of Galicia (Parque Nacional Marítimo-Terrestre das Illas Atlánticas de Galicia) created in 2002.

Festival Aéreo Vigo and Samil Beach

Festival Aéreo Internacional de Vigo (International Vigo Air Show) takes place every year around July to August. The beach show can be enjoyed from the beautiful beaches of Samil, facing the Cies Islands. More than 200.000 spectators' visit the Air Show.
Address: Samil´s Beach, City of Vigo, PONTEVEDRA, Spain

Tel: +34 608883552

www.festivalaereovigo.com

Santander Spain

I was in Santander for a few months in 2009, and I can recomend the smal costal city to everyone. A very nice city, especially in the summer, with nice people and good atmosphere.
Most of the time I lived on Hotel Bahia in the middle of the center. A nice clean Hotel with short walking distance to more or less everything. Only minus was the "working street girls" just in front of the hotel every night. They were a little eager to do business in the begining, but after a while they left me alone, with only the question if I was interested in some action :)
The breakfast in this hotel was very good, but a bit expensive. I never tried the restaurant, but I was told from some other guest's that it was good.

Another hotel I lived on in Santander was Hotell Abba. Realy nice smal and cheap hotel close to the train and bus station. good breakfast, and friendly well english speaking staff. both theses hotels are very close to the brittany ferry terminal to Plymouth.

I was one night in a hotel called NH Santander. sorry to say but this was absolute no comfort at all. Also the hotel was more or less empty, so there was noone to talk to in the bar at evenings. I dont recomend it at al. There was some kind of restaurant, but you dont want to go there. The positive thing about this hotel was the short walking distance to the biggest shopping mall in Santander El Corte Ingles. but for anything more than just staying one night, i dont recomend the hotel.

It is a lot of things to do in Santander, but I think you will fing more information on that here The food is exelent, especially sea food. and Pinsjos (I dont know how to write it) this is small bread with all kinds of good things on. can be cheese, fish, clamps, meat, vegetables etc. with al kinds of different shapes. realy good with a glass of red wine, and realy cheap. My favorit place was Canadios in the middle of the centre, this was like a small Cafe, but more in to the cafe was a restaurant. Also the restaurant was one of the best one in Santander. (best value for money)

outside of Canadios restaurant is also the area were al the people meet every night for a party. Friday and Saturday was exelent, and the party continued til the morning.
Also in this area most of the disco and night clubs were so just tell the taxi driver to drive you to Canadios, and you are there. (say it like Canjadios) On the picture is the place called "Canadios"

Turkish Bath (Hamam)

I simply just have to write down the address of some turkish bath.
first one is especially for Tourists:
http://www.cagalogluhamami.com.tr/
Seccond is:
http://www.cemberlitashamami.com.tr/
I think this one you get 50% off the price if you book on the internet. (at least one of theese three, but you can probably read it on the pages.
Third one is:
http://www.galatasarayhamami.com/
A trip to the Hamam is a MUST DO if you are in Turkey!!!!

F1 Istanbul

This weekend it will be formula one race here in Istanbul. If you want to go, here is some practical info:

Address:
Karaaliler Place,
1935 Parcel, 9-10-11 Plots,
Tepeoren Road, Akfirat County,
Tuzla / ISTANBUL-TURKEY

Phone No:
+90 (216) 677 10 10

How to get there:
Istanbul Park Circuit lies in the Akfýrat County of Ýstanbul which is on the Asian side of the city. The circuit is 55 km east of city center Taksim, 45 km to Asian Side center Kadýköy and 15 km to closest major center Pendik. Ýstanbul Park is accessible through Highway TEM (E-80) and alternatively E5 (D-100) Highway.

TEM (E-80)
Direction: Ankara
Following Istanbul Park sign on the Sabiha Gokcen Airport exit sign on the 22nd kilometer and Sekerpinar-Bayramoglu exit sign on the 25th kilometer on the Istanbul- Ankara Trans European Motorway (E-80)
Direction: Istanbul
25 km before Istanbul use the Sekerpýnar-Bayramoglu exit or use the Sabiha Gokcen Airport exit by following the Istanbul Park signs.

E-5 (D-100)
You can follow Istanbul Park signs from Sabiha Gokcen Airport and Sekerpinar-Bayramoglu junctions.

Sile Road
You can enter the Sile road from Istanbul E-5 and TEM motorways and follow the Istanbul Park exit on the 16th kilometer.

You can find information of the ticket on THIS page, and also this is the official page for the race track. (most of the info I also found on this page)

Istanbul Turkey

Again I was in Istanbul. This time I livved in a appartement in Caddebostan, close to the "party street" Was great. But what I want to tell you is my expirience of my visit at the dentist there.

Here is the picture of the Dental Clinic.

I started to get some pain in my tooth, and asked a Coleague were and how to get a dentist.
He told me that there was a Dental Practice not far from were I lived, that was known to be the best in town.
Ok it was good enough for me, and I got the apointment for the next day.
I was a little shaky, cause I dont like dentists, but it soon showed that this was nothing to be afraid of. It was the most advanced and technologic dental clinic I have ever been into.
First I had a checkup with the doctor, and he told me to wait to go to x-.ray for my teeth.
Then after 2 minutes, a lady came inn, and took me up one floor to have an X ray of my teeth.
It was some kind of a 3D xray robot, that looked like it was from a movie.
The doctor then told me that I needed root channal, and I almoust passed out when I heard this.
Again a new doctor (that was expert in root channal) drugged me down, and started drilling.
I did not feel a thing.......
When she was finish drilling, and filled someting inn, she took a new ohoto to check that everything was OK, and then she finnished the job.
Everything was over in one hour, and it cofted me 170 Euro (what is very cheap compear with Norwegian price) the address is:

İstasyon Caddesi Zülüflü İsmail Paşa Konağı No: 50 34730
Göztepe - Kadiköy / İstanbul
Tel : (0216) 386 29 70

http://www.dentamed.com.tr/

On the Web page you will also find a map for the clinic.

Mamaia Romania (Constanta)

This time in Romania (Constanta) was a bit strange. I was staying at a hotel north of Constanta in Mamaia. A typical turist area. Very nice, area, with everything you can expect from a turist area.
I livved at Hotel Vega, a five star hotel absolutley on the beach.
The staff was very friendly, and the food was great, but im not sure the hotel deserved al the five stars. But they tried their best, and maybe it is correct.

At Mamaia the people was cleaning, painting repairing 24 hours a day, and the dead streets suddenly changed the 30th of march to be full of tourists. It changed to be the quiet (boring) place to a true holiday place.
The disco's was fighting to play the loudest, and you could see people all over.
So I realy recomend Mamaia, after 1st of may, and til the sesson is finished, probably in begining of september.

I was also at a fish restaurant in Constanta close to the sea that some people recomended me, the name was On Plonge, but for me this was not so good. I orded a seafood salat, and got som shrimps and crab stick in mayonaise, not good at all, then I asked the waiter (who did not speak English) what she recomended for main course, and I got some grilled fish that tasted like shi.... you know what I mean, The half bottle of Romanian wine was good, and the pluss was that the price for al this was only around 12 dollars, so if you go there, bring a romanian, so you know what to order.

Istanbul Turkey

I flew from Frankfurt, and landed in istanbul. At the Airport, remember to buy Visa stamps for you passport BEFORE you go to the line for imigration. it is a long line, but it usualy goes fast.
I came to the City around 1700 and the trafic was horrible. because of the bridges over Bosboros are to smal, it will always be a "trafic jam" there during rush hours.
I wanted to go to the Asian side, so I was told to go to the fast boats at ____ and take the boat to Boscantie. I went with the Taxi, it costed me 15 Lire, but ofcourse the Taxi driver could not give me back on 50 lire I had to give him overprice in Euro. If you want to take taxi to the Asian side from the airport, it will cos you from 60-80 lire.
I lived at a apartment hotel in Bagdad Street in Istanbul. It cost around 80Euro pr night, but it is a fantastic nice place to stay. It is like an apartment, with living room, bedroom, (1,2 or 3) you can choose) The place name is Marmara Appartements, _________ I will fill inn the web address later. It's in the middle of the bagdad street, with restaurants, cafe's and bars al over. Marmara apartment is al little tricky to find, cause you cannot see it directly from the street, but it is in tha same building as the restaurant "taps" who is one of the "inn places" for local young people.
On the Asian side of Istanbul it is absolutley safe to be. No cheaters, no hookers, no overpriced restarants, just lake any normal big city in the world. Those who goes to Istanbul, should raly try the Asian side. espacialy for living. Go on the tourist places on european side in the day, and take the boat over to the Asian side in the night, and be on a much safer place than on the Europena side.

Gdansk Poland

Gdansk is the city at the north tip of Poland, and it is the main point of the freedom of the polish people from communism, to the democratic country.

Anyway. A lot of shipyards and industry. Very good communication by planes from the rest of Europe, and a nice place to be.
I will not tell to much about the 3 cities Gdansk-Sopot-Gdynia in this mai, I have to comme in om them one by one.

I did not stay at any Hotel here, but my colleague told me that Hansa 'Hotel was good, one of the best one in town (he said) european price, but close to the river, and old town.
In Gdansk I dont want to recomend any restaurants, only the seafood restaurant close to the river in "Dlugi Targ" (old town.) there is many good restaurants, but I was not impressed of the one in Dlugstreet (old town) I would rather find somewere else.
The nice thing about Old town is that, if you are alone one a friday or saturday (summertime), you just walk slowly down the street, and you can hear people from different countries talking (load) especcialy it is easy to spot scandinavian and american people, pecause they talk realy loud. Then you just join the groupe you want to join.

There is a lot of big shopping center's in Gdansk, so you can get almoust anything you want.

Night clubs it is more or less anything you want, but noone that I realy "loved" i liked Absinth close to old town, and a few more, but nothing realy super (I'm starting to get old so exuse me for missing out something)

Szczecin Poland (Stettin)

The polish city Szczecin is located in the north of Poland, in the exit of Odra river. about 2-3 hour drive from Berlin Germany. I have to say that here I saw the most beutiful Girl that I have ever seen (no jokes) The girls in this city is stunning, and they dress like..... fantastic. you think you have seen the most beutiful one, and there commes one who is even more beutiful.



But Anyway.

It is also a big industy city, and with old, and traditional shipping industry. Shipyards, and cranes as long as the eye can see, when you are in that area.

I was at stocznia pomorania, just a few km walking from the city centrum. I have stayed at a few hotels in this city. one was Novotel http://www.novotel.com/gb/hotel-3367-novotel-szczecin/index.shtml Just a few hundred meters from Radisson sas and the shopping center Galaxy. and the other one was Campanile: also just a few hundred meters away. http://www.campanile.com.pl/ Both hotels very new, and nice, in the center of the town. and also with parking and internet in the rooms. (not for free at novotel) and both hotels for a good price. In the area around it is a lot of bars and restaurants, and my favorit bar in Szczecin is Cutty Sark Taverna at Bohaterow Warsawy 111 http://www.cuttysark.pl/ Remember to order the Super Grill Mix.... Fantastic good, and the garlic butter is....... you have to taste. Not to mention the price!!!! the most expensive dish they have (Super grill mix) is 25 zl (8 dollar)
Also the staf here al speaks english, its getting better al over Szczecin.
Another one good restaurant is Colombus, close to the river. but here you have to order table if you want to eat in the night. Night clubs it is full of, but i recomend Rocker club. very nice atmosphere, and easy to come in contact with other people (if you behave)

Szczecin has their own airport (Goleniow) but it is not to many planes comming and going. So I usualy go via Berlin Germany, and I order transport via Atlas transfer http://www.berlinia.eu/ I dont remember the price, but it was not much. They have transport from Berlin to Szczecin al the time.

Every saturday and sunday it is a big market outside of the city. called Gleuda Motorowy (dont know how to write it) This is super if you are looking for cheap stuff, used stuff, propably stolen stuff, copied stuff. you can get most things there, but remember to bargin. the best is to have someone polish speaking with you, cause they dobble the price if you speak english. The best selections you can get in the sunday, then it is most sellers there. Thos was original a car buy/sell place, but it developed to include al kinds of stuff. I realy recomend it if you have the time.

Also here I will update more later

Vigo Spain

Vigo is europe biggest fishery port, but also famous for the shipbuilding industry. It is clean and nice, and with activitises for most people. It is located at the nort west coast of spain, jus 1,5 hour drive from Porto in Portugal. I stayd at Hotel Cuida de Vigo in the midle of centrum. Anice hotel, with acces to whatever you want in the town. close to shopping street, pubs and nightclubs. Cuida de Vigo Propably have the two smalest elevator in the world, but it works, and it does the job. Nice rooms, at a mid range price. Breakfast is included on the room, and that is a big plus for the hotels in Spain.


I will write more later.

Bremenhafen Germany

Stayed at "dont remember" Hotel. actualy i dont have much to say about the town. It is a Fish restauran there that I have to find the name of, cause I got among other things the best lobster soup i ever tasted. propably a nice city, but i did not have the time to see it.

Kuala Lumpur (KL) Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur was a fantasic city. When the taxi got closer and I saw the twin tower, and the other famous building I was feeling that this will be great.

But ofcourse I got in around 1700 and it was Ramadan, so the trafic was horrible.

I was recomended to go to Traders Hotel, but in the centrum it was a total trafic jam, and I told the taxi driver to stop, and I just went out tryed to find a hotel by myself.
I went to a five star hotel with the name Royal Park. Fantastic room, and service. even the price was not so bad. But the best was the location. In the middle of town, with shopping centers restaurants all over.
I checked inn, and went for a walk. I was very hungry and went to Planet Hollywood. They had a Friday buffet, and a happy hour when I was there. I almost payd nothing. The food was strong, but realy good.
After my meal I went to a bar called O'Mally. a irish bar. a lot of western people, and ofcourse "working girls" I joined the company with some american guy, and ended the night around one O'clock.
I wanted to walk around in KL the next day to see as much as posible of the city.

The next day I woke up early, and started with a exelent breakfast on the hotel. I walked out and first located the electronic shopping center Plaza Low Yat. FULL of electronics, some of them fake, others orginal, but if you need anything electronic, you will find it there.

Then I started to walk against the Twim Towers.... actualy I took a cab, and it was amazing to see. I was just innside for about 30 minutes, cause i was not thinking to buy anything, since it was the beginning of my day in town. But the Twin towers was full of high quality shops like: Prada, Gucci, Luis Vutton (or how you spell it)

I went out, and the park outside of the towers was amazing. with the biggest playground for children that I have ever seen. the playground was also covered with some rubber deck, so children was falling softly if they fell.
Also it was a swimming area that was free to use, I stayed there fore a while since the temperature was a little lower there than on the other places.

I then went on the TV mast KL Tower or what it is called, but i could not find the entrance, and I was dying for a beer. so i desided to go against the Indian Market. (Bazar)

Bintulu Malaysia

Took the plane from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Bintulu, and first of all i have to mention the service i had from Malaysian Airline..... absolutly fantastic. I was travel on business class, and what a service. It felt like I had one (very beutiul) girl that was taking care of only me. ofcoarse she fad other people she served, but it felt like it was only me. In bintulu I stayed at the most modern hotel in town. the name was Hotel Everly and it was great. Swimming pool, minibar, restaurant, and a disco. In the Disco it was a live band, and to tell you the throoth i thought it was playback in the beginning, but after a while I understood that this was for real. Fantastic.
Hotel Everly was located a few km from the city center, but Bintulu itself was not much impressing for me. It is dirty and messy, with a lot of trafic al over. One guy said to me that it was nice nightlive in the city center, but I never went to see it. It should also be a hopping center there somewer, but i just took a few beers before i went back to the hotel.
After a few days of work, I went to KL, that I will write about in my next post.

Shanghai China

My travel to Shanghai China was a new expirience for me.

It was my first trip to Asia, and I realy looked forward to see the asian culture.

When I landed on Shanghai Inetrnational airport (Pudong), I was impressed by the new, modern airport.

I was told to take the Maglev (Magnetic Leviation) to centrum. But since this was my first trip to china I decided to go by taxi, so I got to the right hotel stright away.

That was eaier said than done. Noone have heard of my hotell, and at the end I saw a comercial for Hotel Ramada, and I told the taxi driver to drive me there.



Hotel Ramada was a big modern five star hotel, very nice and in the midle of the golden triangle. The rooms were OK, but thats about it. I think because it was in the midle of the shopping street, al the guests went out for eating, and whatever they were doing. The hotel felt completly empty. You was alone al over. It was a lot of people giong in and out, but none in the bars and restaurants.



Anyway. out in the shopping street, I was feeling not so good. I was surprised of how agressive the sellers was that wanted me to come in to their shops. They even drag me in, and at the end I went with one guy. It was a smal clothing shop, but when we was into the shop, he opened up a hidden door, and on the backside it was full of fake handbags, waches, clothing,golf clubs... whatever you wanted. The prices started skyhigh, but dropped very fast to around 10-20 procent of what he started on. I did not buy anything, and propably thats why I got the low price cause they knew I was not intrested.

Anyway. I was on a shopping senter and bought some cream that I have no idea what it is. the woman was talking in mandarin without stop, and I just bought it to make her stop. (well spendt money:)



I spendt most of my free time at the Hotel room, cause i basicly did not know were to go, and to go to a bar alone in this big town is not the most fun thing I know.



BUT!



I got a list of bars with happy hours one of my last days, so next time I know were to go. and now i will write it down so YOU know were to go.



Apocalyse Now 9.00pm-Midnight Buy one get one free


Baci Restaurant 5.00pm-8.00pm Two for One drinks (In lounge & bar area only)


California Club 6.00pm-8.00pm Two for one drinks


Caribe Bar 6.00pm-10.00pm Buy one get one free (all drinks exept wine)

ChampionsBefore 10:30 pm Buy one get one free and buy any large draft beer abd you can have 12 chicken wings for 10 RMB

Charlies fun pub 3.00-9.00 All draught beers Buy one get one free.

Cometo Bar Before 8.00 pm Beer and soft drinks. buy one get one free.

Crossroads 11.00am-9.00 pm All bottled beer- buy one get one free.

Face 5.00pm - 8.00 pm Half price on al soft drinks.

Feeling pub. Friday and Saturday Music and freeglass of beer for visiting foreign students.

Fest beer house 11.00am - 5.00pm Half price on beer.

Fire 6.00pm - 8.00pm Internet bar have soft drinks at half price.

Flangan's 5.00pm-8.00 pm Buy one get one free.

Full house1: 2.00pm - 7.00pm buy two get one free.

Georg V Sunday - Thursday 7.30pm - 8.30 pm beer and soft drinks are half price.

Goodfella's 9.00pm-11.00pm buy one get one free All drinks.

Hard bar 3.00pm-8.00pm All standard drinks buy one get one free.

Hard rock pub 4.00pm-6.00pm Soft drinks buy one get one free.

Harley's Bar 6.30pm - 9.00pm Buy one get one free.

Hot chocolate 6.00pm-9.00pm Draught beer and soft drinks buy one get one free

Izzi 5.30pm - 8.00pm 15RMB beer and bar spirit.

Java 6.00 - 9.00pm Daily special drinks promotions.

Jocose Bar 7.00 - 9.00 pm Beer, cocktails and softdrinks- Buy one get on free

Judy's Too 6.30-9.00 pm Buy one get one free All drinks.

Lily's 5.00-9.00 pm Beer, buy one, get one free.

Long Bar 5.00-8.00 Buy one get one free.

Malone's 5.00-8.00 pm Buy one get one free All drinks

M-box 6.00-8.00 pm Buy one get one free All Drinks.

Old Bar 9.30-5.00 pm Daily special drinks promotions

Patio Pub 3.00-8.00 pm Beer buy one get one free

PU J's All day, Every Day Buy two wines or spirits & get one free.

Rollo di Pollo 10pm Onwards Drinks Half price.

Roxy Music 11.30am-9.00pm All standar drinks half price

Sasha Bar 5.30-8.30pm Buy one beer get one free

I will fill in more later when I have the time. Now I have to work al little bit.

Constanta Romania

My travel to Constanta in Romania was a nice trip.
At home it was cold and windy, but when I came out from the plane in Bucuresti, I was meet with sunshine and 23 degree.
My transport to the coast of Romania took 2-3 hours, and I was adviced not to go by plane, but by car. If the car trip was safe compare to the plane, I guess the plane would have crashed, cause they drive like crazy down there, and I was scared as hell.

Arriving Constanta at the coast of the Black sea i was sett out of the contrast between poor and rich. At one side of the road was a poor man on a trip with his goat, and on the other side of the street the new shiny Mercedes car stood side by side by porsche and Lexus.

I lived at Hotel Ibiz. A nice hotel i the middle of centrum, not far from the old town (dont go in to the old town alone at night) I liked the hotel very much, the staff, the rooms and the atmosphere. There is no WiFi at the hotel (2008) but you can by cable in the reception.
At night there is a nice bar close to the reception, always half full of people, but it is thefirst time in my life i have wanted to kill the piano player in my life. He played 3-4 songs, and he played them over, and over again.
Also there were some "working girls" going in and out al the time, but it looks like this was how it should be. The restaurant in the hotel was .... maybe not the best, but if you are hungry it will do the job. It is not far to walk to some very good restaurants.
In Romania they have also a lot of good Vine. remember to taste some local wine when you are there.

The Romanian people is very nice. I have heard before that they are kind of crazy. but this is not true. They have some problems with poor people, but that is the same all over the world.

The

Portland Dorset UK

My first trip as a technical inspector.

January 2008

The vessel I was going to visit was alongside at Portland (Dorset) United Kingdom.
I took the plane to London (Heathrow) and I pre ordered a taxi from Portland.
It is much cheaper and more comfortable. London Taxi takes around 400-450 pound, and the pre ordered Taxi from portland costed me 160 pound.
I used Nicky's Taxis at: nickystonetaxi@yahoo.ca.com
Also the London Taxi is not the most comfortable cars in the world, but Nicky's Taxi had normal comfortable cars, and that is what you want for a 2-3 hour car trip.

I was thinking to go to a hotel called Highland Hotel, but after asking in the Taxi, he recomended Hotel Rembrandt in the middle of centrum.
It was a positive experience. The hotel lobby was maybe not the best, but the rooms and the atmosphere was just great. With free internett (WiFi), and on the hotel it was also a big swimming pool, for the guests to use for fre, and a great gym and health club.
It was a lot of locals using the pool/gym, so it was always someone there.
I highly recomend this Hotel for business travelers, both for the location, and the accomodation.

When my job was done, I took the same Taxi back to London, and flew back home.