04 September 2015

OUR MEMORABLE BALTIC TOUR ~ 2015


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 ‘WonderfulCOPENHAGEN, - 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


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