Skat in Copenhagen

Copenhagen is a beautiful city and it reminds one of both Amsterdam and Venice. The canals are one of the easy ways to get around. There are all sorts of boats that allow you to travel the canals.

Docked near our ship is the yacht SKAT and it is impressive. It is owned by Charles Simonyi, Microsoft Chief Software Engineer. He is Hungarian and has a technically brilliant mathematical mind.

The 232 foot yacht usually lives in Monaco. Check out the website: http://www.superyactsociey.com/skat/default.cfm

St. Petersburg

We went on a a wonderful tour called the Last Romanovs. I am now very interested in studying Russian history. Catherine the Great was a big spender and her Summer Palace attests to that.
You see the Summer palace and the gorgeous gates into the palace.

The Hermitage was wonderful particularly the Rembrandt collection. The decor of the Hermitage was opulent and decorated in gold.

What is amazing is the contrast between the museums and palaces versus the poor people on the street. Russia is still Russia.

Flower Market in Amsterdam

Rent a bike behind central station for 5 euro and tour around Amsterdam. Link is www.starbikesrental.com. Ask for a hand brake. You can even rent a picnic basket and have lunch on the canal and then visit the flower market. There is an absolutely gorgeous collection of flowers. This is the bouquet of calla lilies that I have in my stateroom.

Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, Norway

Gustav Vigeland's Sculpture Park is a must see in Oslo. The park contains 192 sculptures with ore than 600 figures, all modeled in full size by Gustav Vigeland who was born in1869.

The Hollmenkollen ski jump is interesting to visit and they even have a simulator that apparently replicates the feeling of the jump.

Tallinn, Estonia

The old city has very interesting architecture. The picture is the view of old town Tallin as we sailed in. There is a lot of green suggesting that Tallinn has its fair share of rain. There is also an abundance of lovely birch trees.

Second time in Tallin we went to Pirita and had lunch at the yacht club. Take # 8 or # 34 A to Pirita. Lunch was excellent and inexpensive. There are a ton of sailboats and 1996 hosted olympic races.

Sailing into Stockholm

Sailing into Stockholm gave one the feeling of being in cottage country in Muskoka. It was just fabulous in the early morning light. We were on deck at 6 am. There are 24,000 islands along the coastline on the route going into Stockholm. Stockholm is a beautiful city and the palace of King Gustav is opulent and grand.

Helsinki/Finland

Last night we had rather rough seas enroute to Helsinki but it didn't bother us. We had a lovely time at Captain's Club dancing the night away to a great band. What a surprise to see the beautiful, clean, elegant Helsinki. The open air market is worth visiting and you can eat little white fried fish with aoili, paella, and even reindeer.

Germany

The ship docked in Warenmunde in East Germany. It is a beautiful seaside resort with lovely seafood restaurants, pretty hotels & nice shops. The beach is huge and has white sand. The yacht basin is colorful and filled with lots of boats.

We took the 25 minute train to Rostock. A highlight was Santa Maria Kirche where they have a huge 15th century clock inside the church and at 12 noon, the disciples come out of the little door at the top of the clock and walk about and then go back in. But, one naughty disciple is not allowed back in. He must wait 12 hours and do his penance before entering the door. It would suggest that it is the door to heaven.

Copenhagen

We have just arrived in Copenhagen and will rent bikes and travel around this beautiful canalled city. The city bikes are 20 Kroner each and you just put your money in and unleash the key. It was wonderful to bike early in the morning and see the Little Mermaid & the handsome cathedrals and shops. There are great little restaurants at Nyhavn and we ate at Cape Horn. The seafood platter was excellent but overpriced.

Rembrandt's Night Watch

Amsterdam was a great experience. We stayed at the Hotel Estheria right on the Singel Canal. It is a small boutique hotel and beautifully decorated.

Highlights included

***The Rijksmuseum and Rembrandt's Night Watch. There was a 4 multiscreen show before we entered the room that housed the Nightwatch and then they did an animated light show of the painting. It was aweome.
* Leidseplein square where all the action is with restaurants, sportsbars, pubs and the American Hotel, Marriott Hotel, and the NH Hotel are found there.
* Evening wine & cheese canal trip. This is a must and a wonderful way to travel the canals and see this interesting city. A bottle of white & a bottle of red wine will be on your table with plenty of cheese, bread, olives and nuts.
* Wandering in to the Red Light District by mistake.
* frites and mayo at a little hole in the wall called Vlaasme enroute to the Leidseplein square. It would be difficult to find fries anywhere to compare with these.
* finding Peters capri pants and Myrna's gold runners.