Friday November 21th

We woke up at 7am and went (almost) straight to a taxi that took us to the pier where we hopped (after a 40 minutes wait) to a boat.

This boat will take us to Isla Mujeres and to the Dolphin Discovery. Yes, we are about to swim with dolphins.

Before going here, we checked out a few of these places in Cancun and Dolphin Discovery felt like they knew their business and took care of the dolphins - and the environment.
Their animals did also not swim in regular pools, but in the ocean inside a wharf.

However the boat ride to the island was more like a youth party boat. Free drinks and party music. Didn't feel totally aligned with our expectations.

Once on the island confusion reigned. Apparently they had overbooked, so we could not go on the planned early dolphin swim.
As compensation they let us do some other swims before a new dolphin time opened up.

We got to swim with sharks (it was less exciting than it sounds, the sharks just lay on the bottom of the pool area - but still SHARKS!), feed and pat manatees and meet/pat a sea lion.

Fun stuff, especially the manatees since we got so close with them.

Then finally; the dolphins. We got in the pool by the ocean and got to meet our dolphins.

After some patting we got to ride with them by holding their fins and got lifted up from the water (and pushing us forward!) by pressing their noses against our feet!

We also got to kiss them. :)

After the dolphins we travelled to another place on the island, called Garrafon. It's a place with different activities, relaxing - and free food and drinks.

We did some zip-lining (first time for us both!) and a short snorkelling (first time for me!).
Zip-lining was fun, but the snorkelling wasn't so rewarding - it wasn't so much to see in the waters here.

The general impression of Garrafon wasn't the best and could have been avoided if we knew.

Then we relaxed by the bar (with not very good-tasting drinks) until the boat came to bring us back to Cancun.

Still the party boat according to the crew. I think it was only two Brazilian guys actually partying and the rest of us was just tired from the long and exciting day and wanted to get home.

However we got back to the hotel at around 7pm to freshen up.

When arriving at our room our lovely maid Alicia had made this for us:

She had also made some arrangement on my bed with a bathrobe and chocolate. Very nice of her.
However there was nothing at Henriks bed. At all.
This was his topic of discussion the rest of the evening. He couldn't stop thinking why he didn't get any attention from her.

For dinner we went to an Owl Restaurant, which was as bad as expected. Afterwards we went to the hotel again, despite numeral suggestions from bouncers from different clubs (and "spas").

And speaking of the hotel, some more pictures!
We live at the 12th floor. The hotel has 13 floors as can be seen on this picture from the elevator:

Here is the view from the balcony.

Sweet, heh?

Saturday November 22th

Finally slept in to day with no real plans.

We did think about going to Tulum for the day, but with this hotel - it's a crime not to use it.

So after the magnificent hotel breakfast we went outside in the hotel area to sit in a chair, getting some shadow to read and relax.

After not too long we went down to the ocean for the obligatory dip in the ocean.

While being down on the beach we decided to go parasailing - because why not?

So we went with Parasail Center ($60 / person) and first rode on a jetski to get to the boat (boarding while both crafts are moving fast forward - interesting! :)).

The jetski experience was easy to get addicted to...

Unfortunately the wind wasn't strong enough today, so me and Henrik had to go up one at a time.

They hauled me out of the boat and up in the air. I topped at about 100 meters - sitting in this small harness...

I could see pretty far - and the roofs of most hotels nearby.

On the way down they (purposely) dipped me in the ocean as well. Very smooth and refreshing. :)

Then Henrik went up in the air. He seems to enjoy himself also.

Back via the jetski - and on the beach again!

All in all, it was a fun experience - and not at all scary as one might think. It was very calm and beautiful up there!

Then we chilled on the hotel area again, drinking some drinks, eating snacks, swimming in the pools and reading for a few hours - until it was time to get a massage.

I wanted one - and I convinced Henrik also to get one.

80 minutes later, relaxed (and around 1300 SEK/persons less in the wallet) we were suppose to join up. But I waited 20 minutes - and no Henrik.
So I went to our room, but no Henrik there either.

About an hour later he finally showed up (just as I was going to make a full search with headlights and hotel staff).
For some reason he got a longer massage than me so I just missed him after my wait - and he was down at the spa waiting for me.
But finally he did something sensible and checked the room.

Then, finally dinner (at 9pm)!
We went to another hotel restaurant; Mikado for some Japanese food. We got a cook that made and served the food for us by the table. Very cool.

The food was also very nice. As was the sake!

Before heading for the room again, we went to buy some water and stuff in a nearby 7/11. On the way back we got to star gaze a bit on the beautiful starlit heaven.

Now blog - and sleep.

Sunday November 23th

Another lazy day.

We woke up, went down to the beach for a quick swim. Sat by the pool to dry up - and then went for breakfast.

Then for round two by the beach / hotel area for some more swimming, relaxing by the pool, reading.
I have had worse mornings in my life... :)

Today is game day. Henrik has been looking forward to this the whole trip.
We went to an Outback restaurant to watch some american football and to eat & drink.
Both our teams won today so it turned out pretty good!
(I like american football, Henrik looooves it).

Back to the hotel again, relaxing. We went out to the pools with some ice cream to chill out and listen to the ocean. Very calming.

Tomorrow it's time to go home again. That is the way vacations usually ends.
But I think we will be able to do at least one more swim in the ocean and/or pool! :)

Monday November 24th

Time to go home.

We took our time to go to breakfast (one of my favourite parts of the breakfast is to tell the waiter that I want "Tea. Earl Grey. Hot"  :)

Pack the last things, check out at noon - and taxi to the airport. There we were met by our old Mexican friend Chaos; several lines to the bag drop, every line went to every desk. Everyone stayed to long for a simple bag drop at the desks.
It felt like we should have gone to the airport 24 hours before the departure to make it - but somehow we did anyway.

We had a two hour flight to Miami, then the transatlantic over-night flight to Heathrow...

Tuesday November 25th

At Heathrow it was time for me and Henrik to part ways.
He went back to Stockholm and I had a waiting time of seven ours before my departure to Gothenburg.

It was a long wait, but at around 19:00 hours I landed in Gothenburg. It was the end of a 21 hours journey.

Time to pack up my suitcase - and get ready for work tomorrow. The Normal Days are here again.

Mayan Expedition Report

Mexico. Chichen Itza. Cancun. Dolphins.
Time to make a summery of this wonderful trip.


First of all I travelled with a new companion. I didn't think we would have any real problems, but it still went surprisingly well. No problem at all really (thank you Henrik!)


Chichen Itza was the main thing of the trip and it was very nice to see it. I didn't expect it to be a major wow-experience (and it was not), but it was very satisfying to finally see it (and I highly do recommend going there!).

I did however expect me too see more of Mexico in general and Cancun in particular. The bus trip to/from Chichen Itza did put us slightly off the regular tourist track, but that was it really.
We never got to explore Cancun for instance. It's a small regret.

But what kept us from doing so was the magnificent J.W. Marriott Hotel, which must have been the nicest hotel I have ever stayed at (even topping Kempinski in Budapest - there are no oceans in Budapest).
Staying more than expected in this hotel was a good choice still.


Some general thoughts are that pretty much all taxis in Cancun smelled petrol (do they all have a direct line from the gas tank to the passenger seat?) - what's up with that?

Also everything was damp in Cancun. Like the toilet paper.

A good thing about the trip (maybe even the best?  :)   I didn't see one single spider! Huzzah for that! :D


Highlights of the trip was seeing Chichen Itza of course, the dolphin swim - and the hotel pool area (and I am reeeeally not the relaxing-on-vacation-guy). I could even think about going back here - to the same hotel.



As for the cost of the whole trip, the total sum was around 21.000 SEK.
I would say it's fair for a week vacation on another continent including some very luxurious hotel nights.

Stay tuned for my next trip! Which is probably not until late-summer/autumn 2015.

Thursday April 24th

Some Rocks and the Doctor


Finally it's that time again when yours truly heads out for another adventure in the world!
Where to this time you ask?

Well, the Doctor is not a reference to me being ill the last couple of days (and still am - although it's better now).
Then Who? Exactly that!

But the rocks comes first and is the main reason for this whole trip.


At TooEarly o'clock I got up and went to the airport; took a flight to Heathrow and from there a quick jump to London with the Heathrow Express and on a train to Salisbury where I continued on a bus.

Where I am going? To one of the 21's! Stonehenge!

I got off the bus at the Visitor Centre where they have a museum, café - and not surprisingly - a gift shop, but you can not actually see the main attraction from there.
You need to either walk or take a short bus trip to get there.

I've wanted to see Stonehenge for a long time and was excited, but talking to friends who had been here had toned down my expectations a lot.
But this was good, because what I saw topped my (low) expectations - and that's always better than the opposite.  :)

I walked around the rocks, took photos aaaand that's it really.

Even though it's fun to see, there really isn't that much more to do (unless you want to walk the around the countryside).

So I went back to the Visitor centre, took a peek in the museum and headed back to Salisbury.

My plan was to continue on directly, but then I heard that they have a original Magna Carta in the cathedral here (only 4 of 13 left and this is one in best shape of the four). So I looked at it (no photo's allowed in there so follow the link above if you want to see it) and at the outside of the cathedral.

It was a nice a large cathedral and apparently was spared from German raids during WWII because they used it as a landmark to orient themselves when flying over the English countryside...

Then back on the train and continuing to Cardiff, the capital of Wales!
I got here at around seven in the evening and first checked in at my hotel (Radison Blu close to the train station). I got room 312:

But I went out straight away and took a short stroll in the inner city, went passed the Cardiff Castle and then to a pub (The Cottage?) and got some food and a pint.
It wasn't too bad.

Back to the hotel I realized that I brought my old iPhone charger with me (I am going to blame it on me being ill before leaving and didn't noticed it in my fever deliriums I had while packing).
But I'll buy a new one tomorrow so I can charge my phone (and upload the pictures to my computer (and this site).

Now time for bed. Exciting day tomorrow as well!

Friday April 25th

Time to meet the Doctor!!
I walked from my hotel to Cardiff Bay where I looked at the Millenium Centre and the entrance to Torchwood.

Then moved on to the second of the two goals of this trip; the Doctor Who Experience!

This is a relatively new (2012) attraction where they built this non-regular building and stuffed it full with Doctor Who things.

Why here in Cardiff? Good question, but I believe it's because this is where they shoot it (and also Torchwood of course).

First you go through the Experience where you are guided by the 11th doctor (on screen) and a companion (in flesh) through some of the scenes from the new series; you'll see the Starship UK, the TARDIS, a Dalek ship, a forest full of weeping Angels; all to get the Doctor out of the Pandorica - his enemies have managed to put him in there again...

After this fun (walking-)ride you were let in to the exhibition hall; where there were Doctor replicas, TARDISes, clothes, sonic screw drivers and loads of aliens from the show.

After this I went to through the gift shop and out again.

The BBC Wales Studios were close by so I walked there too.
I didn't expect much, but I did walk into the lobby and got to talk a little bit with the security guard there (a very nice chap!). He even took this photo of me and a Dalek they had in the lobby.
Apparently they are shooting Doctor Who in four of the nine sound stages they have here!

Now I felt that I was finished with Cardiff and took the train to London again.
I travelled through a rainy Wales & England, but the rain had stopped once I got to London.

I am staying at the Wellington Hotel next to the Waterloo station. I looked for the hotel reception and it was actually inside the pub as an extension of the bar. I got room 10 at the third floor which looked like this:

After a quick stop I headed out again. No rest for the wicked - or me!

First stop: the Freemasons Hall or as I like to see it; the entrance to Thames House in the fantastic TV-serie "Spooks":

Then to my favourite store in London; Forbidden Planet. I looked around and bough a Doctor Who short story collection (one story per Doctor). Then I ate at the Angus Steak House, which is always nice.

Heading home again, I did remember seeing an IMAX theater close to the hotel. I went there and realized that they would screen 'The Amazing Spiderman 2' in about an hour.
I figured that I could not miss this!

So I saw it. On UK's largest cinema screen. It was truly Amazing, the sound, the screen, even the 3D looked good. I want to do it again!

After that experience it was time to go to the hotel, write this and get some sleep.

Good night!

Saturday April 26th

Meh! I was so tired this morning. I didn't want to get up at all.

But what does that matter when there are things to see - and no people to do!

After a poor breakfast at my hotel, I went to Camden to buy some boots. I buy all my boots here, at the British Boot Company, so also this time. I found two pairs for me (3 & 10 eyes), but none for my daughter, but they recommended me further up the road to another genuine boot store, Office where I found a pair of pink boots to the offspring.

Happy with this good start of the day I continued to Earl's Court. I was looking for a box - and possibly a mad man to go with it.

The box was easy to find; it's just outside the underground station at Earl's Court Road.

Amazing; the TARDIS in the middle of the sidewalk! :)

After this I went to capture my second 21-monument for this trip; the Big Ben.

Seen it a lot of times before, but I might as well take a picture for the bucket list. :)

Then I walked to Tate Britain, but on the way there I happen to see this house:

The actual Thames House (home of MI5). I knew it was here somewhere, but wasn't looking for it. A nice tie-in for the Spooks photo I took yesterday. :)

I did Tate for a while and after that... well nothing useful really. I ended up at a Burger place close to Waterloo and then went to the hotel.

I am not planning to leave this building any more today. Luckily there is a pub just a few floors below.

Sunday April 27th

Last day; time to go home. Almost!

After a better breakfast this time at the hotel, I checked out and headed for Liverpool Street Station to leave my luggage there so I didn't have to carry it around.

Then I travelled to Pontoon Dock to see the mighty Thames Barrier; the construction that keeps London safe from floods.

 It was nice to look at, but unfortunately the information centre was on the south side - and I was on the north - and there were no way of walking over (which I hoped for).

So I didn't get all I wanted, but it was nice to see it anyway.


Next up was a quick stop at Forbidden Planet again. My cousins kid's birthday is coming up and I needed a present (didn't know about the invitation to the birthday party yesterday when I was here).

Then back to Liverpool Street Station again and on the train to Stansted. I am going back through that airport instead of Heathrow.

No incidents at the airport and I was home again around eleven in the evening, safe and sound.

And I am already looking forward to my next trip! :D

Travelling with the Doctor

Some reflections from my recent trip to England.

Normally I probably I wouldn't blog from a trip like this, but since there were two 21's in it, I decided to do it.

This was a normal smallish trip for me; I've been to England a lot of times before and I have always liked it. So also this time.

I got to see Stonehenge which was interesting, but the highlight was The Doctor Who Experience - and to take a (brief) look at Wales.
London was London and you can not go wrong there.

The whole trip costed me 10800 SEK (no boots included! :)