October 18, 2024
Back Packers and Traveler's Hostel in Seville
It's been a long time since I stayed in a Hostel and boy have they gotten better! Annie had her choice of at least 3 in downtown Seville. This one was just down the street from SETAS or Wild Mushrooms. She paid $20 Euro/night and got a bunk in a room for 8 women. The room included a lockable storage spot under bed, private shower w/2 additional sinks outside, a cafe, bar, roof top pool and deck. Also use of kitchen facilities and breakfast for an extra 8 euro. I went with her to check in and see the place first hand. Not just 20 year olds stay in hostels anymore - all ages and ethnicities co-exist! Adios Annie ! Such a nice catchup and lovely 2 days in Seville.
On Saturday August 29, 2026 we achieved another historic milestone on this circumnavigation of the World , we cruised into Hong Kong Harbor. Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. The land encompassed by Hong Kong is confusing. It includes part of the southern coast of mainland China, just below Shenzhen, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories . Looking at a map helps, but the rules changed so many times! I asked my buddy Chat several times, to tell me if what I was looking at was the Hong Kong that the British had owned for years. The answer was never straight forward!
Ha Long Bay in Vietnam is one of those bucket list places I have had in my sights for years. It's the iconic picture in my mind's eye, whenever I think of Vietnam . We had made plans to go with 8 others on a brand new, swanky Red Dragon Junk boat for a harbor cruise and overnight stay, but sadly the weather did not cooperate the whole 4 days we were in port. No ships were permitted to sail, per the local government. Many of us were bummed! This is typhoon session and there was a lot of rain and high winds our first couple of days - we were hoping it would blow out the last day and we could at least do a day trip but no luck!
To get to the final stop on our Vietnam FUN Tour in Hue, we had our driver take us on the scenic route called the Hai Van Pass. This 3 hour drive took us back through Da Nang and then into mountains and along coast for what is generally a very scenic route. Unfortunately for us, it was mainly covered in clouds and fog.