Stockholm Sweden July 11 2017

Stockholm is a gracious city built on 14 islands.  It was founded in 1252.   The Swedes claim to be able to look back over 5,000 years wherein their forefathers have held uninterrupted tenancy of their present country.  No other important European nation but the Danes can make this boast, for other nations have all in their time been invaded and colonised by aliens.

From the moment we alighted from our ship shuttle (we chose to catch the shuttle today rather than do a tour, very glad we did) we were just overawed by the beauty of the architecture just the whole city really.  We made our way across the bridge which is in front of Parliament building and across from this is the Royal Palace these buildings are on the island which is the old town.  We then just wandered being amazed at every turn every different laneway we took gave us something beautiful.  We went into the Palace courtyard were able to see the Chapel and where the Royal Apartments are situated, the present King and Queen still use this Palace for Royal occasions. There is a square within the Palace something to behold. 

We sat for a little moment in anor square where we had a delicious something that resembled an escargot but different probably the most delicious thing I have ever tasted.  On our way back to the shuttle we went to the Museum of Medieval Stockholm. This Museum was only built by chance.  Over 30 years ago there was a carpark going to be constructed in front of the Parliament Building, the powers that be decided to do an archaeological investigation and discovered remnants of the city from the Middle Ages including parts of the city walls. The Parliamentarians missed out on the carpark but many visitors since have enjoyed the Museum. 

Our sail away quite spectacular in that it takes about 5 hours to get thru the archipelago which is comprised of many thousands of islands.  Holiday homes are constructed on so many of these islands very picturesque.  We followed four other cruise ships thru we sat up in Crow’s Nest Bar and watched the world as we sailed by.

Stockholm is certainly worth a return visit maybe a week would be perfect for some of its nearer neighbours.  There are a great number of fabulous things to see in the city and out of the city.  One only sees a very small part of a place on these journeys but I think you know when you wish to come back to a place. 

Sabine and Sam  xx

Helsinki Finland 10 July 2017

Helsinki, Finland’s capital since 1812, stately Helsinki is “the daughter of the Baltic”. Still preserving something of the mood of a 19^th century seaport, it is a city of intriguing contrasts, from handsome and imposing Neo-Classical buildings and many museums to lively shopping esplanades with elegant old homes and churches gracing the countryside. 

All of these cities have had very difficult times wars takeovers they deserve to be the cities they are today.  They say the many wars have sorely tried Helsinki and yet fire has in the past caused greater havoc than the ravages of war.

We decided to do the Hop on Hop Off bus.  A very beautiful city indeed.  We did the entire journey they started at the Cathedral in the square and just walked basically.  We had some lunch in a gorgeous place along the Esplanade which is just beautiful we were both very impressed the architecture in these places makes them what they are of course.  Sabine and Sam

St Petersburg Russia July 8 and 9 2017

We arrived this morning to yet anor beautiful day. We have indeed been fortunate. We are staying here 2 days so have booked two tours, today we have a tour booked for 1.00pm to the Faberge museum.   

The requirements for immigration for this port are different to most other ports.  Each person has to have a face to face with passport and tour ticket attached.  You can of course obtain a Visa for here but really for two days you would not.  The places we visit require one to be on a tour in any event.  I have to say the pass thru immigration was extremely efficient bearing in mind these are huge ports the day we docked there were five ships in this would be roughly 15,000 passengers they do an amazing job really the whole process is organised to the minute.  You have your face to face the tour bus and your guide is waiting for you.  Our guide today was Catherine a very appropriate name for this city.  She was a delight.  We were only a small group 14 I think so small bus easy for the driver to get us in and out of places everything is timed to the minute.  We had left quickly so Catherine took us on a very lovely tour of the city showing us as many sights as possible before our time to enter the museum.

I am sure everyone knows Faberge.  He became the Jeweller to the Royal Family Tsar

Nicholas I.   He began making the Easter Eggs for his wife Empress Alexandra.  After

he passed away Tsar Nicholas II who married a German Princess in 1897 continued having the eggs made for her and his mother.  After he and his family were murdered by the Russians in 1917 and the Grand Palace plundered all of these beautiful pieces went different ways.  Only 42 of the 50 eggs made for the imperial family have survived. There are 9 eggs in the Museum.  Some of the others are in the Museum in Moscow and some in private hands.  The 9 eggs mentioned here eventually came to the ownership of a chap named Forbes but have been purchased by a Russian oil billionaire and he has had the Shuvalovsky Palace renovated and they are now on display there along with much of Faberge’s other work.  There are no words really to describe any of this to be quite honest.  Faberge passed away in 1920 of a broken heart and penniless.  Even his company name was sold illegally.  Very said end for him as well.  I am very surprised there was such a small group of us but having said that it was efficient one could see these perfect pieces so close not something one could ever imagine.  I have to say the Russian oil billionaire who has made this possible for mere mortals to see what a gift for us all. 

St Petersburg was founded by Peter the Great in 1703, twenty thousand workmen built this town with their bear hands.  It has had many name changes St Petersburg, Petrograd, Leningrad the name changes mirror the historical twists and turns undergone by the city.  During World War II the citizens endured appalling hardship during the 900 day siege of Leningrad by the German army.  During this time one and half million people perished mostly from starvation. The name St Petersburg was restored by popular referendum in 1991.

On our second day after face to face again with Immigration very efficient I must say again we were met by our gorgeous guide Daria there were 44 of us this time she was assisted by Natasha to keep us on best behaviour for our visit to The Hermitage Museum which was the Winter Palace of the Imperial Family.  Again to be seen to believed there are over 3 million art treasures here.  Many many tour groups but efficient timed entry etc.  All I can say is thank goodness for Natasha who kept us in line to help Daria else we may not have ever been seen again.

Daria is an Arts student and very clever and knowledgeable as are all the guides on these tours.

All the above to be stored in ones mind. 

Lots of not proper sentences here but proper sentences are the last thing on ones mind after having seen what we have seen the last two days.  There were many other tours seeing many more amazing things. 

Sam said I know St Petersburg being modelled on Venice is called the Venice of the north but he thinks Venice should be called the St Petersburg of the South.  He thinks that St Petersburg is the most beautiful city he has ever seen.

I will post these today and continue on with the next places and post later.  I cannot do justice of any of it really suffice to say all beyond ones imagination.  Sabine and Sam xx

Tallinn Estonia July 7 2017

We docked in Tallinn this morning.  We had a ship tour of the old town organised.

My info sheet says “Tallinn is unquestionably one of Europe’s most magical capitals, competing even with Prague in the richness of its architectural heritage. “

Estoina has had an extremely difficult history fought over for hundreds of years and in recent times it was occupied by German troops during the First World War it then became a free agent in 1918 for the first time in hundreds of years.  Independence came to an end in 1940 when the Soviet Army occupied the country and became part of the Soviet Union.  Their desire for independence was demonstrated in peaceful mass meetings and finally their dream was realised on October 20, 1991.  In May 1993 the Council of Europe voted Estonia a full member. 

Our guide for our tour was excellent as they always are, very informative, friendly we always feel our experience of a place depends greatly on one’s guide.  We stayed in town after our tour and caught a shuttle back to the ship.  A place one could easily take more time to enjoy, again we felt safe.  We walked thru the flower sellers market gracious me I have not ever seen such roses the flowers were indeed beautiful.  Again a very lovely day weather wise as well.   Sabine and Sam    

Travemunde Germany July 5 2017

For each of the ports we visit there is a port talk by our destination lecturer Sam who is excellent in his presentation and his information.  We are also provided with a brochure for each port giving us background information going back centuries right up to what we need to know today for our visit.  Practical information mixed with all the beautiful things we should not miss so whatever I give is courtesy of Sam and the info sheet provided to us.

We docked this morning in Travemunde our first port.  It is known as the ‘Gateway to the Baltic’.  It lies in the province of Schleswig-Holstein on the estuary of the River Trave.  It was founded in the year 1187, it was bought by the good burghers of Lubeck in the 14^th century, and being in rather a strategic position, it was plundered several times, most of the wooden buildings were destroyed by fire , and it was occupied by Russians in the 18^th century and French in the 19^th.  As early as 1802 the town found its true niche in life when its popularity began to grow as a seaside resort.  The Scandinavian Quay is the largest ferry terminal in Europe visited by Swedes and Finns, Poles and Danes who enjoy all this port has to offer.

Lubeck’s most beautiful daughter is how Travemunde is known.

Today Sam and I took a ship tour to Lubeck.  It is about ten miles south west of Travemunde and founded in the 12^th century.  It quickly rose to a powerful position as head of the Hanseatic League, the cartel which controlled trade around the Baltic in the Middle Ages.  When the League collapsed Lubeck’s transport of salt kept the city going and the wealth is evident in the rich churches and public buildings.  It was very badly bombed in the Second World War.  It was quickly reconstructed and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  We visited St Mary’s Church, the third largest in Germany with the highest brick vault in the world.  This Church dates back to the 13^th century but was almost completely rebuilt after it was severely damaged in the war.  Even today the original bells lie crashed on the floors as they came down in the air raid.  A very beautiful church indeed. All of these churches do hold the stories to all these amazing places. 

We felt very safe and completely at home walking around this very lovely place.  Our coach collected us at our designated point for our journey back to our ship. Again we had another beautiful day.

The usual sail away then dinner and a choice of entertainment.  Sabine and Sam 

Embarkation Sunday July 2 2017

We woke to a very lovely day in Southampton this morning.  We did not expect to sleep as well after our very long journey, perhaps it is the timing of our arrival and our many different transportations to arrive at Southampton.  We had breakfast early then did a walk again through one of the beautiful parks and down through the town.  Perhaps a few days here would have been a good plan before we set off it would have enabled us to learn a little of the history of this very interesting place and also caught us up a little.  We were due at the port at 1.00pm caught a cab from our hotel I have to say the process of embarkation certainly makes Sydney embarkation lacking.  It was extremely efficient we left our hotel at 12.00noon and we were on board by 1.00pm. 

Cruisers from Australia all don their cruise cards on a lanyard and do not take them off until disembarkation, perhaps half a dozen are wearing a lanyard on this journey, we are all different I guess.  Our room location is good and we were orientated pretty quickly.  I have to say it is a different experience cruising with our usual Aussie friends. 

We study our newspaper “Horizon” each evening keeping us up to date with the next days events.  There is of course plenty to keep one occupied.  We have two very competent gym instructors and there are two classes each morning at 7.00 and 7.30 and then one at 5.00 each afternoon.  There is always deck 7 which on this ship is an uninterrupted walk. 

Our entertainment has been extremely good two people in particular a young man by the name of Will Martin we had the pleasure of his concerts on two occasions.  There is also a young man by the name of Bartosz Barasinski he has done three classical concerts for us and anor one this evening he is billed as a rare talent and that he is, he also has a great humor and is an absolute delight.  How very fortunate we have been to have the honour of his concerts. 

We have enjoyed lots of sunshine up on the top deck in our bathers something we were not expecting in the Baltic. 

All we non EU passport holders of course have our passports taken from us on embarkation.  There are not that many of us.  There are some ports where one needs to take their passport with them so I just collect mine when I need to, Sam of course does not have to worry being an EU passport holder. 

We have two days at sea now and our first port is Travemunde in Germany. 

 We will only post these when we have access to the internet which we will not have every day while on board. I have dated this July 2 but it is over a number of days.

I believe it is very chilly in Melbourne.  All the best Sabine and Sam

Journeying to Southampton

Well here we are safely in Southampton.  Left home yesterday about 3.00pm.  Left the red car with Ash.  We left from Southern Cross via the Skybus Candice and Ash came and waved goodbye which was lovely.  Very smooth book in etc.  left Melbourne at 10.00pm on 30.06.17 plane change in Doha a gorgeous new airport it was being built the last time we went through in 2011 very serene and peaceful. Our flight to London on time etc landed at 1.00pm their time efficient process collection of luggage etc out by 2.00pm straight onto the train f rom Heathrow Terminal 4for Green Park very busy for a Saturday then a change to the Jubilee Line which took us to Waterloo then our train to Southampton arrived here at 5.22 so all in all very good indeed.  It took exactly 36 hours so we are a little tired tonight.  All went well though, so the main thing really.  I did meet a very lovely young couple sitting next to me on the Doha to London leg mid 20s I guess, from Canberra they were going to Spain as the young girl is Spanish and then to Croatia as the young man is Croatian.  I told them they would fall in love with Dubrovnic and Madrid as neither of them has been in the country of their origin before.  We also met a team of Greek bicycle riders whilst swapping trains, Gordy did have all these trains planned to the minute he is indeed a great travel agent went like clockwork.  Tomorrow is the beginning of the Baltic cruise few days of relaxation at sea before we get right into it,  Keep you posted all the best Sabine xx and Sam  xx