16 June 2019 : Tallinn  Estonia

Arrived early this morning in this beautiful town that i just love. Also hubbys birthday but he is on duty so he is going nowhere. Was geared for rain for that is what the forecast said but thank goodness it only came after we had left port that evening, so we were very glad.
I took to the streets once again and decided to take a different route this time but in the end i ended up in all sorts of interesting places that i did not get to see last time round.
Just love the cobble streets and all these very old buildings with these very thick walls and steps that take you to places under ground. Also have these bolted doors that lead to underground places that you see in the movies, wish i could have a peep into what all happened here centuries ago.
Then i stopped for some mini pancakes that i saw last time, not very healthy but lekkkeeeeerrr.
On my way back to the port area i stopped at the local stalls and had to buy myself a  red cashmere shawl that just spoke to me the moment i laid eyes on it, haa haaa.
Bought hubby a gift and stopped for a cider and some wifi before getting back to the ship.
He had a very busy and crazy day but late afternoon, early evening his secretary told me that they had organized a secret supper so when work was done it was time for the surprise and that is exactly what it was, he did not suspect anything and his face when seeing the balloons, message against the wall and food was priceless, got it on video , just so special. His collogue asked him to come and give him an opinion about a patient and there we were all waiting, SURPRISE!!!!
So after all ,not a bad 55th birthday.
Tomorrow we are in Russia again and i am going on Neva River Cruise on the second day, so looking forward to that and hope can do my last shopping after the river cruise for my next excursion is going to be to the Hermitage at night with no shopping.
Dont have a visa for Russia so can not go out of port on my own.

17 Julie 2019: St Petersburg Russia

Vanoggend was ek op n gou slow want geweet moes eers 13h00 reg wees om af te klim en my bus te kry vir ons rit op die Neva Rivier in St Petersburg. Die weer het nou nie saam gewerk nie en toe ons moes afklim toe begin dit reen en dit het aangehou tot en met ons vertrek die aand.
Ons gids vir die middag het ons toe ingelig dat hierdie tipiese St Peterburg weer is so dis normaal vir hulle, sy verlaat nooit die huis sonder haar reenjas en sambrieel nie.
Ons word toe oppad na die rivier ook opgehou deur verkeers knope en strate wat skielik afgesper is net om later uit te vind dat President Putin in die stad is en dis hoekom alles stil staan. Hulle het ook volgende naweek n militere vertoning wat 1x jaar plaasvind en daarom is die Neva Rivier ook vol militere oorlog skepe. So nogal gespot en gese goeie foto geleentheid om so naby aan hulle skepe te kan kom.
Toe klim ons uiteindelik op ons rivier boot wat gelukkig onder dak was en heel snoesig in die eende weer. Met ons aankoms is ons verwelkom deur 3 musikante in tradiosionele drag en musiek instrumente en glasies champagne!!
Soos die rit aangegaan het ,het dit al hoe vroliker geraak en ons het saam begin dans en deelneem aan hulle  russiese speletjies. Basies stuur hul n sakdoek in die ry af en as musiek stop en dis in jou hand dan moet jy dans. n Ander  intressante speletjie is presies soos in ons land met troues waar jy hande bokant koppe hou en ry vorm waaronder die bruidspaar stap oppad uit van die onthaal na die troue .Laat my net weer besef eintlik is ons basies presies dieselfde ,verskil net hier en daar of seker hoe ons dinge doen.
Dit was vreeslik lekker gewees en almal het die rit op die rivier geniet ten spyte van die reen, dit was nog n heerlike  middag saam met gasvrye Russe.
Kon gelukkig weer stop by n winkeltjie vir laaste geskenke koop sessie want besef nou ek gaan basies nog 1 keer afklim om die Hermitage te besoek en dan is my besoeke ook verby want elke keer kos dit my arme man n klomp geld agv die visa regulasies en ek wat net kan afklim as ek op n skiptoer gaan.
Ons terug keer skip toe was ook n gedoente met baie verkeer en toe ons die terminaal nader toe is daar rye met honderde mense wat tou staan in die reen om in die terminaal gebou in te gaan.So lyk my die weer en Putin het omtrent alles deurmekaar gekrap.
Net voor ons moes vertrek sien ek n kar wat met n bose spoed die hawe area nader net om toe agter te kom dis gaste wat laat is en amper agtergebly het,hulle het die gangway met n 100 m naelloop genader.Dit was close, 10 min voor hulle skip toemaak en toue losmaak.Dan was die KGB seker op hulle voorland!!
So nog n baie lekker besoek aan die land.

18 July 2019: Helsinki

Today was an early day and decided to do the Hop on Hop off bus tour for the day. My first stop was at the stone church that was built right in die middle of a huge rock, was amazing to see just sorry that with all the visitors it was very noisy inside and no peace and quiet. They tried to get the people to be quiet but that was impossible, so disappointed about that.
Then we passed the famous organ pipes on a hill outside the city center and next stop was the botanical gardens
Ended up in the middle of town and got of to walk around in this area, also had to look for reading glasses for hubby for his glasses got caught up in the bedding when they changed our bedding and he was desperate to get a new pair, so i had to go spectacle hunting. Thank goodness found some after quiet a bit of looking around.
The visit to the market was another special experience with all the crafts and food. On my way back i stopped at our usual place for some wifi but that was also overloaded and not to great but got some things downloaded.
3 huge ships were in port near us and downtown the smaller ships also docked so it was crazy with all the tourists. Even the hop on hop ,off busses were overloaded and did not have any seating, so you just stood. Tomorrow we are back in Nynasham Sweden hope better weather this time round.

20 July 2019: Nynasham Sweden

Aangekom in die dorpie op n perfekte somers dag ,was baie bly veral omdat  dit met ons vorige  besoek heeldag gereen en winderig was en ons rondloop van korte duur.
Is n klein plekkie ,laat my ook dink aan n vissers dorpie. Ons het eers die plekkie gaan verken en toe by die hawe geeindig waar alles gebeur. Daar was n paar kafeetjies en al wat seil en local lyk my kom op die plek bymekaar. Die trein stasie is ook reg by die hawe so dink heel gerielflik vir mesne wat die terin wil vang na ander plekke soos Stockholm ens. Dit was n perfekte dag vir seil so hulle was in hulle hordes op die water.Ons het vir ons n bakkie aarbeie gekoop en net daar teen die water gesit en smul aan hulle. Na dit was dit tyd vir leerig raak en liefie het so n vinnige skoot le sessie ingekry voor ons terug is skip toe. More is n see dag en dan is dit weer tyd om nuwe passasiers aan boord te vat. Het ook vanoggend met n groot skrik wakker geword toe n kode alpha weer oor die luidsprekers weergalm.Gelukkig was dit eintlik n vals alarm en vinnig uitgesorteer.









 




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