18 August 2019: Copenhagen
Vroeg vanoggend in die port aangekom en die
kaptein het ons ingelig dat sy kontrak nou vir eers verby is en dat hy vandag
huiswaarts keer na sy vrou en vier kinders in die Phillipyne,hy het 10 weke
verlof. Ook vir ons gese dat die plek besig gaan wees met n sport byeenkoms en nog feesvierings
so om dit in gedagte te hou met verkeer en reis tyd lughawe toe.
Ek het eers getwyfel of ek gaan afklim maar
toe ek eers van die skip af was tog besluit om rond te loop en op n baie vol
bus in stad toe. Het eers in die Botaniese tuin gaan rondloop en dit was nogal
spesiaal want net hier en daar iemand raakgeloop so omtrent die hele plek vir
myself gehad. By die markie het ek darem vir liefie n ou geskenkie gekry so n
dadel /neute tuisgemaakde koekie want die werk vandag en weet, so n eet
dingetjie altyd n wenner en welkom.
Hy se toe vir my miskien moet ek vandag
vroeer terugkeer aangesien die plek besig gaan wees en wragtig toe ek by die busstop
staan toe was dit weer n gestamp en stoot om op daai bus te kom maar ek het dit
darem gemaak .
Toe ons aankom by die port terminaal en ek
sien die 3 skepe toe besef ek eers dis hoekom die bus so vol was want met 3
skepe in die hawe wil al wat leef en beef skip of hawe toe en daar is net een
bus nr 25 op n slag.
Hulle werk ook aan die terminaal by die
hawe so alles voel sommer deurmekaar en dis net mense waar jy kyk.So nog net
volgende keer n dag van rondloop vir my dan is dit huis toe as ons weer hier
kom.
19 August 2019: Warnemunde Germany
We had a lovely day in this special place,
with perfect weather to walk around. I have been very spoilt, for my dear
husband bought me a beautiful red leather jacket that was made in Berlin. A
first for me so very chuffed!!
So now the cold must come back so i can
wear it!
Then we made a stop at the local library,
where we got many stares from the locals for i don’t think the tourists hang
around at the local library. Today was not a beach day, so we decided to sit in
a restaurant with a view of the waterfront and enjoyed a beer and some wine.
Next visit is my last before i return home and can say this was my favorite
city on this trip.
20 August 2019: Gdynia Poland
Hierdie was ons tweede besoek aan die stad
en moet erken nie vir my baie mooi of iets om te sien nie.Dalk het dit ook te
doen met die feit dat ons in die industriele area dok so tussen die steenkool
en nie n baie mooi plek nie.Die middestad is ook ver en vat jou 30 min se stap
om daar uit te kom. Glad nie toeriste vriendelik nie, geen bordtjies wat
verduidelik loop hier langs of mense met pamflette of kaarte van die stad nie,
net taxi's en local bus diens. Aanvaar ook geen euros nie so moet reeds hulle
currancy op jou he om te koop.
Ons is toe laat middag gou na die middestad
toe om by Starbucks ons free wifi te gaan gebruik en dit was ook maar net n
vinnige besoek. Orals word ook gebou en net nie n goeie indruk gemaak nie ,dalk
was ons in die verkeerde dele van die stad maar is ook ons laaste besoek so
gaan nie weer n kans kry nie.
More is ons op die see vir die dag en dan
is dit weer Tallinn. Heelwat Suid Afrikaners op die skip so hoor darem hier en daar
weer Afrikaans dan weet ek ok, onse mense.
21 August 2019: Tallinn Estonia
Another day in this city and i had to wait
for hubby and we could only get going after the ships drill. So made myself
comfortable in the cafe with a very welcome Americano Coffee. When i left the
ship there was not a cloud in sight but sure enough it did not take long before
the clouds started making their appearance.
Did think of leaving the umbrella but then
decided no, don’t feel like getting wet so in it went again.
Was 15 degrees outside but the wind made it
feel a lot colder so i was very glad i had packed in my jacket.
We made our way to the old city and there
we stopped for our weekly small pannekoeken with condensmilk and icing sugar, Estonia
way of things!!! Also had ice cream that was delicious. Really want to try and
make these small pancakes at home and was very chuffed when hubby saw the
baking pan on Amason. Then it was time to visit the mall on our way back to the
ship, on our way there we bumped into his whole medical team and had to stop
for a photo. Terwyl ek vanoggend in die kafee gesit het ,het ek gehoor hoe
hulle vertel dat dit hierso so koud raak in die winter ,hul se tot -25 grade en
die riviere vries!
Tomorrow we are at sea and then we are in
St Petersburg for 2 days. Going out for supper on our first night there and
looking forward to that, will be dining at Tapenyakis which is one of our
favorite restaurants.
22- 27 August 2019: @SEA
This week has been a challenge for had 2
days in St Petersburg with not getting off the ship and 2 days at sea after
that! The worst was not being able to connect or should i say only going on
line to get messages and nothing else. Don’t think doing a Atlantic crossing
would be something i would like to do i prefer getting off daily and doing some
walking around.
Also realized that being connected is a
lifeline when you are away from home. This last crews has been busy and more
than a 1000 kids on board!! so there were kids everywhere. Het ook al gewoont
geraak om sommer dadelik op die eerste dag n voorspelling te maak oor hoe die
week gaan verloop wat die passasiers betref, woelig,besig,onrustig of
rustig.Laas week was daar omtrent moeilike passasiers en klagtes oor alles!!
Die week lyk darem vir my beter so on sal maar moet sien hoe dit uitwerk,beslis
heelwat ouer mense op die cruise.
More is ons weer in Warnemunde Duitsland en
so kom my Baltic Cruise ook tot n einde en met ons volgende besoek aan
Copenhagen klim ek af en vlieg huis toe. Hoogtepunte sal beslis Warnemunde en
St Peterburg wees .Volgende roete glo Karibiese eilande en dan weer Alaska maar
ons sal maar sien of dit wel so verloop.Is nou ook al op gepraat so kan nie
belowe dat daar nog vele inskrywings gaan wees nie, seker nou tyd vir huis toe,
haaa haaa.
28 August 2019: Warnemunde:
Arrived in Warnemunde on a perfect day and
our plan was to go to the beach so that was great news.
We only left late morning for hubby was
kept busy at work but our first stop was for a spicy chopped up woerst with
lots of sauce and bread,then it was time for beer and wine. Was getting very
hot so the beer went down well and fast!!!
had to have an excuse for ordering a plate
of fries ,cant drink and not have anything to eat .
This little town was not that busy today
for it was a weekday and then we headed for the beach. The water was freezing
cold but we had to have a swim just to cool down. Still cant get use to the
people getting undressed on the beach even had a mom walk around topless, at
least she had boobies to look at, haa haa !!
On our way back hubby felt like chocolate
and ice cream so made our rounds but by this time our budget was up and was
time to get back to our cabin. Nothing like a nice hot shower and a clean bed
for a afternoon nap. Tomorrow another
sea day and then Tallinn again. Looking forward to our second day in St
Petersburg for i am going on my last excursion to Catherine’s palace which is
about an hours drive from St Petersburg and hope to see the country side and
beautiful gardens. This was a gift from her husband Peter the Great and also
her favorite palace where they stayed in the summer time. Has an Amber room,
which i hope we will be able to see.
29 August 2019: Tallinn Estonia
Decided to go to the mall first today and
then i did my last walkabout in this very special city. Landed up going to the
art studio in Santa Catherina Monetary. First of all you arrive in this small
courtyard and on the one side you have steps going up to a double story
building and the other steps go down underneath the building. The music was just
so beautiful and you wanted to follow the sound, so that is what i did and it
led me to this very special art studio underground. It use to be Santa Catharina’s
Monastery and very very old. I could not get enough and was an awesome
experience, a man sat in one corner painting and there were others pics on the walls.
Then around the corner you came to an open
fireplace with 2 ancient leather chairs in front of the fire and an actual fire
burning! Took a video of the place so that i can share this with you. When i
eventually left the studio i was down there a lot longer than i realized and
had to take a brisk walk back to the ship. Met up with hubby,s collogue so that
made the walk feel a lot shorter. Tomorrow we are back in St Petersburg for 2
days.
1 September 2019: St Petersburg
Had to be up earlier today to be in time
for my tour to Catherine’s Palace in Pushkin. A perfect day in St Petersburg
and as the locals keep on telling us you are so lucky to see the sun.
We left the port and then hit the highway
to Pushkin 50 min drive from St Petersburg. Must say there highways are very
impressive and look new.
The palace is in the Tsars village in
Pushkin. First we had to stand in a very long queue to get our tickets but with
6 ships in port today and between 20 and 24000 visitors you can only imagine it
is crazy stuff, people everywhere!!!
Peter the Great presented this palace to
his wife in 1710.It was used as their summer residence. To me the saddest part
is seeing the photographs of the damaged done to this palace by the Germans in
the Second World War, the before and after pics, just too terrible. The roof
and all the windows were destroyed in the war. Also have pics of women digging
out some of the statues that they buried in time before the Germans came. The
Amber room that had panels of pure real amber were stolen and they never got
them back. Must say that is also amazing to see the whole rooms walls covered
in amber gemstones, we were not aloud to take any photos in that room.
Took years and years to rebuild and see it
is still under construction today so there were places we did not get to see,
like the church on the property.
Then it was time to go for a walk in the
garden in front of the palace while you listen to music. That is what was done
in those days, while the guests were walking around in the garden an orchestra
played music from the palace.
Also took us to the Hermitage pavilion,
which was like a kitchen where food was made, put on tables and then lifted
through the floor to the next level on the tables. So disappointed could not
stay for a demonstration to see how it was done in those days
The place Pushkin is also named after
Russia’s very famous poet Alexander Pushkin.
Arrived back at the ship at about lunchtime
then it was time for something to eat and then an afternoon sleep.
Very proud of hubby for made diagnoses and
was spot on, as the lady was in theater that same night in Tallinn and a South
African. Just realize that years of experience does make a difference and he
keeps on saying that a good history gives you a diagnoses before you even touch
the patient, and the new generation don’t seem to realize that, he from the old
school.
Also had a poor staff member that had a
massive stroke while on duty and only 33 years old so that was very upsetting.
This was the second staff member to have that happen on this contract. Things
like this make you realize how fragile life really is, fleeting and to live
each day to the fullest and do what you have to do today!
We went out for supper last night to an
Italian Restaurant just the two of us so that was special, and sat right next
to the window over looking St Petersburg at night with all its lights
reflecting off the water, magical.
Sitting on deck 8 with a beautiful view
over the harbor area this afternoon and want to stay here for the sail away
tonight for a stunning evening and my last visit to this place. Tomorrow we are
in Helsinki.
Have decided that this is my last post
about my trip to the Baltics. Has really been great and i am very thankful to
have had this opportunity for don’t think i would ever have come this way on my
own.
In St Petersburg the visit to the
Hermitage, the trip on the Neva River, the Ballet the Russian music show and
the trip on the under ground were high lights that i would recommend.
Time for home now and as they say NO PLACE
LIKE HOME so until next time, God Bless xxx
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