Our Christmas gift to ourselves was a
cruise of the BALTIC
COUNTRIES and leisure-time
in SINGAPORE in May, just past.
SINGAPORE
AIRLINES
and WOLF & TURNER TRAVEL ASSOCIATES delivered us to COPENHAGEN, and the charming ANDERSEN BOUTIQUE HOTEL
In COPENHAGEN, for 5 days we took in the spectacular TIVOLI Gardens, then a CANAL CRUISE, a train to
KRONBORG Castle, gawked at
everything in STROGET, missed sighting Aussie Crown-Princess
Mary and family at AMALIENBORG, lunched on the gregarious NYHAVN Café Strip, marvelled at the
Danes and their affinity with cycling(ahhh! NORREPORT) and, did we walk.!
Boarded PRINCESS CRUISE Liner’s ‘REGAL PRINCESS’ in COPENHAGEN. A mini-suite with Balcony awaited us. TWO amongst 4100 folks. Twenty
hours later, in OSLO, Norway. Toured HADELAND GLASSWORKS, the VIKING MUSEUM and gazed in awe at the NOBEL PEACE CENTER.
Day 3 in AARHUS enjoyed a quiet Danish café-lunch after exhausting climb of The CATHEDRAL.
Day 4, in BERLIN, sooo fabulous. Superb Lunch, part of guided tour. Proclaimed ‘ICH BIN EIN BERLINER’ to the thousands of disinterested
visitors at BRADENBURG GATE, straddled the old EAST-WEST demarcation line, posed with an ‘orphaned’ guitarist at the BERLIN WALL, allowed the Sentries at CHECK-POINT CHARLIE a moment of frivolity with us, etc. Yes! We’d love to return!
Day 5. Relaxed
at SEA…paid particular attention to Liner’s excellent cuisine.
Day 6. In TALLINN, Estonia
spent wandering down by-lanes,
Adorable knitwear. A tipple at ‘Olde Hanza’ breathed new vigour into the Dearly Beloved. Helped him find musicians
who serenaded him with Aletter’s ‘RENDEZVOUS’…heaven!!!
Day 7 &
8. St PETERSBURG, Russia. Warm Sunshine!!! And, WHITE NIGHTS!!! And…the glory of the HERMITAGE, CATHERINE’s PALACE, and PETERHOF. Tasted local fare at Lunch while robust Russian performers sang. At
night enjoyed the SWAN LAKE BALLET. The
Drive along RIVER NEVA was special. Splashed out on our
many Roubles.
Day 9.
In HELSINKI (the 1952 Olympic Venue, & the home of Jean SIBELIUS), Finland. Escorted to attractive OLD PORVOO, and a hearty Finnish Lunch. Later, to the eye-opening ROCK CHURCH.
Day 10 &
11 Short stay in STOCKHOLM, Sweden. Got lost
then hailed a Hop-on-Hop-off Double Decker with American friends, and visited GAMLA STA, Next day, a relaxing time at SEA. Dined on massive Lobsters.
Back in ‘Wonderful” COPENHAGEN, - where the Royals commute by
bicycles - we spend an exhausting last day, sight-seeing and enjoying a
smorgasbord of Danish cuisine washed down with different Pilsners.
SINGAPORE
AIRLINES, next flew us to warm SINGAPORE and the
very conveniently-located GRAND PARK CITY HALL HOTEL for some relaxation. However,
are itchy feet did take us to most of the places the Island is famous for.
ps do visit the sites with links in purple
