Visby, Gotland, Sweden – July 21

This morning we entered the land of the Vikings. Visby is a tourist town on the Swedish island of Gotland. We thought it would be a lot like Banff or Dubrovnik, but it is a bit less frantic than those – this is nice. We are anchored today in this smallish port, so getting off of the boat is a bit more of a production. Apparently this ship typically has 3 tenders (the small boats that ferry us back and forth in ports that the ship cannot dock at,) but only 2 are operational currently. The fact that the ship is down one tender makes things a bit slower, but we pass the time happily with Champagne on the pool deck.

Our tour description is a 3 hour long walking tour only appropriate for the very physically fit – needless to say we were fine. The town isn’t very hilly, but as usually has wonderfully cobblestoned streets that can make walking a bit precarious – as I said…we were fine.

I thought today’s tour might be one to skip as we have at least one tour each day and when we get to St. Petersburg have 2 each of the 3 days. We have no ‘days-at-sea’ and are not enjoying the ship as much as we could if we weren’t in port each day. I’m glad we didn’t. A lot of what makes a great tour isn’t so much the content or the location, but the guide – we had a wonderful one with a great, loud voice who could tactfully refocus the discussions when one man from California wanted to give us his own lecture on the differences between Redwood trees.

We started at a Viking museum which was fascinating. We have visited many of these ‘small-town’ history museums and this one is certainly the best. As I said, probably a lot to do with the guide. We saw runes, coins, models, skeletons accompanied by the guide’s commentary.

Next we strolled the town stopping here and there to hear a story about this building or that. We visited a botanical garden (the Redwood story) which was stuffing and a church.

We abandoned the tour just before its end to have lunch of…you guessed it…pizza. We really did try to find an Ikea or meatballs, but it was pizza that called us. We were told in Copenhagen that Swedes go to Denmark to get married because the alcohol prices are lower. This scared us a bit, but we found the prices a bit lower – a surprise in this very touristy town.

Gdansk and Gdynia, Poland – July 20

Out a bit too late last night - luckily today’s tour isn’t until after lunch. We have a Bloody Mary reception for booking through a particular tour group in the morning where I have a Caesar although I could have had a Mexican Mary (tequila), English Mary (gin) or a Bloody Mary. I end up explaining what a Caesar is to a bunch of people who aren’t at all familiar with them but who can’t get enough of them.

We spend our day touring the concentration camp of Stutthof a 2 hour drive from where we are docked where 65 000 people were killed. The tour brochure described this tour as ‘not for the faint of heart’ which concerned me a bit. Of course I knew what a concentration camp was and what happened there, but I thought actually visiting one would be unnerving. It wasn't as emotional as I expected. It was staggering to visit a place where such horrific things happened, but mostly on an intellectual level, not so much emotionally. When Chris visited Dachau in Germany he remembered it as more impactful than this visit. A horrific place full of horrific memories that maybe I’m not so regretful that wasn’t as graphic as it could have been.

The tour ended with a quick walking tour of Gdansk. Unfortunately we didn’t have the time for a beer or shopping that we should have. There was more traffic on the Polish roads than expected so after a quick stroll we were back to the ship. We did stop at an amber shop where we had a brief history and demo of amber but no time for shopping.

Rostock and Warnemunde, Germany – July 19

Great sleep (finally) in a great bed with breakfast (although it is only shredded wheat and a bran muffin - who's old now???) from room service – doesn’t get much better than this!

This morning’s tour today is to Rostock after docking in Warnemunde. This is a relatively typical walking tour stopping at a church, the university and city hall all the while hearing about the history of the area. We end with a visit to a brewery for a beer and a German pretzel. We’ve been on tours in the past to former East German areas where the guide talks about life before and after the wall came down and this is similar but from a much younger person than guides in the past. This guide gives a bit of a different perspactive but still very interesting.

We spend the rest of the afternoon on the ship having lunch, taking a nap, doing a bit of laundry and getting a bit of sun. After dinner we hit the casino where I do a bit of damage at the 3-card-poker table.

Thanks to Penny our travel agent for the lovely anniversary Champagne – it was delicious!!

Copenhagen, Denmark - July 18

We had technical difficulties connecting to the web last night at sea...will post later today.

A couple of notes about our hotel - First of all it was very nice. We got 2 nights for the price of one rate, so that is the one thing about Copenhagen that wasn’t expensive and it came with breakfast. The design was what I’d describe as Scandinavian, but not as chic as I had expected. I know the Danes don’t like clutter, but this was a bit over-kill. Out room didn’t have one drawer – not one. Not a bedside drawer, not a drawer for your skivvies, nothing. The only closing space was the toilet area and the safe. The bathroom had a tub with hand shower, but no curtain. I don’t know if they expect you not to ‘shower’ and just spray down sitting in the tub, but we showered the old-fashioned way. There was a bar to hold the hand shower high enough to shower standing up, so that’s what we did. The bathroom was a bit of a mess when we were done. And…the doors were glass. I hope no one occupying this room was shy as they had no privacy in the shower!

After a quick breakfast in the hotel we packed and were off to the ship. We figured leaving the bags at the ship even though our room wouldn’t be ready until later was better than leaving them at the hotel. Check in was pretty seamless other than watching my backpack which holds my lap top careen off an X-ray machine not once buy TWICE. I was a bit beside myself especially since we PREDICTED the second fall and watched as we were proven right! I thought they was no way I could go back to the old fashioned way of blogging with Chris’ blackberry, just NO WAY! In the end no harm was done (no obvious harm.)

Soon we were off for our last moments in Copenhagen visiting a museum and having another pizza at an outdoor cafe seeing the contemporary Little Mermaid and being again amazed by all of the bikes..

Our ship this year is very much similar to the ship we were on last year. It is the same cruise line, so we are familiar with the procedures it is only a bit bigger. It seems to have a bit more areas to mull around in. The room is exactly the same.

A block party it our first event (second if you consider the life-boat drill an event) where we meet our neighbours in the hall as the staff pour wine. The Captain and a few crew file around and we are off to the lounge for a cocktail as we watch ‘sail-away’.

Dinner is at a table of 8 where we finally have Danish cuisine. Chris and I both have sturgeon which we learn later is apparently somewhat endangered. I tried looking it up, but it seems to depend on the species whether it is endangered. The table of 8 let’s us meet a bunch of people which is nice, but since we are the first seated and wait for the rest we are able to see the look of horror befalling each of the other people’s faces as they realize they will be sitting with the youngsters! Being on cruises like these certainly makes us feel young – nice.

Copenhagen, Denmark - July 17

Jet lag is becoming a thing of the past. Have to say we were up in the middle of the night, but not for nearly as long as the previous 2 nights and got up pretty easily in the morning. Must be getting old...can't remember taking longer than a night in the past.

After breakfast in the hotel we head to the Rosenborg Castle. The day is a whole lot hazier than yesterday, but still warm at about 24 degrees. Rosenborg Castle was originally built as a summer residence for the royal family. The interesting this about this castle is that the large grounds that surround it are a public park. On the sightseeing bus yesterday we were told that this park is where the poor university students with little money for bathing suits come to sun themselves “European” style. We didn’t experience any of this. The park is beautiful with many picnicking and strolling. The castle is relatively far from out hotel so we see a lot of the sights we passed yesterday on our bus and canal tour. We also see a replica of the Little Mermaid although as I mentioned she too is on vacation.

We manage to find a regular grocery store and pick up more water. Sadly this store is just as close as any of the 7-11s we visited, but of course we didn’t know. Things we learned on vacation…ask hotel about the closest piggly-wiggly. Anyway, not a big deal, but Chris thinks Copenhagen isn’t any more expensive than other big European cities and that I should give the Danish a break. I guess he is right…water at the 7-11 was 3 times what it was at the piggly-wiggly, same sort of mark up as at home I guess. Maybe it’s the different currency that makes things seem expensive. The money here is about 5/6 to our 1, so the price for a street beer is 75 and a pizza is around 120. I know how to do the conversion, but it still just strikes me as a lot. This is no Turkey… but what is really??

While it is easy for the Danish to take our money for food and drink, they have a bit more of a challenge in selling us things – just as it is hard for the shop keepers in Turkey, Croatia, Italy Ottawa and anywhere else we’ve been really. We just aren’t shoppers. Well…I don’t love it, but could probably be convinced. When I’m travelling with the world’s worst shopper I get drawn to the dark side of very, very little shopping. I managed to get Chris (can of beer in hand the whole time!) into a jewellery shop where I buy a bead for my charm bracelet. I considered leaving him at the hotel, but I planned no more than 10 minutes for it. That’s all it took and we were off to the next inviting Danish square where we had lunch serenaded by a great bossa nova group. Don’t know what they were doing in Denmark – probably the same thing the South American flute buskers are doing here.

Although it is cool enough to be inside dinner is outside in another square. This time it is Greek food. We’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that Danish food is very much meat and potatoes. Sure there are the open-faced smorgasbord type sandwiches and weird fish that we think of as Danish, but we haven’t found too much of that. We are maybe a little thankful as that could have been frightening.

Copenhagen certainly loves its bikes – a lot like Amsterdam. Bikes are EVERYWHERE and EVERYONE rides them. Simple bikes with no gears and usually a basket parked everywhere.

Copenhagen, Denmark - July 16

Jet-lag isn't yet a thing of the past, but we got up at a reasonable time this morning only due to the alarm. We have a wonderful breakfast as part of our room here at the hotel, but just couldn't make it yearerday. Today we have a city tour on an open-top bus and canal boat, so we have to be up.

It is another hot one (around 26 degrees) especially on the open-top bus and canal boat both of which have no shade. We get a great overview of the city from the road and from the water. I thought Copenhagen would have a lot more canals, somewhat like Amsterdam, but it isn't. There are certainly canals, but bigger ones less often.

The canals are where a lot of people canoe, kayak, swim and just hang out. This is a pic of the bottomless welcoming Danish hospitality.

Of course Copenhagen has it's famous sculpture of the Little Mermaid here to honor its famous past resident Hans Christian Anderson. Well...she is missing. Lent to Bejing for their World's Fair we cannot see her. In her place is this board.

In the evening we check out Tivoli Gardens which is basically a permanent amusement park with restaurants and evening rock concerts. It is PACKED! We have dinner here, listen to the concert for a bit and head home.

Copenhagen, Denmark - July 15

Today was a very slow start due to what I'm calling jet lag. I was asleep by about 8:30 last night, up again by 2:00 am and back asleep again at 4 am until about 2:30 pm. I need to get this under control or I'll miss this vacation all together. I have to say the hotel we are staying at is extreemy quiet. Other than what sounds like a 7 year old running up and down the hall occasionally we can't hear a thing from inside the hotel or from the street.

Once finally out the door, we head to the Carlsberg brewery for a tour. Carlsberg and Tuborg (which have been together since the 70s I learn) run a self-guided tour culminating with a couple of beer tastings. We see the Carlsberg horses (huge) and the elephant scluptures. Not sure why there are 4 enormous elephant sculptures and were not told, but they are very cool flanking the arches into the brewery. This is a bit of a walk from our hotel (about 40 minutes each way.) This 40 minutes takes us out of the tourist area and through China and Turkey town. However much I'd like some Turkish food, I don't think I should. The tour is relatively short. We buy a few souvenirs, have a couple beers and are on our way once again.

It is another hot one today about 26 or so, but the breeze is lovely and the humidity isn't that high. Dinner tonight is at an Italian outdoor cafe. No Danish smorgasbords yet.

Copenhagen, Denmark - July 14

It's been a loooooong day of travelling - Calgary to Vancouver to London to Copenhagen. We left our house about 25 hours ago and are about to call it a day. We did get a fair amount of sleep on the plane from Vancouver to London, but it's not the same as being in a bed. After we checked into the hotel we stepped out for a short stroll and an early dinner of beer, pizza and salad at an outdoor cafe. Copenhagen is not cheap. We knew it wouldn't be, but it's still a bit of a shock to pay 4.00 for a 1.5L of water and the same for a can of beer at a corner store. The corner store happens to be a 7-11, they are all over the place here. It's quite warm -in the high 20s and is still totally light out for 8:30 pm.

Northern Europe 2010

Chris and I have chosen northern Europe for our vacation this summer. I'm also going to Twitter this vacation!! http://twitter.com/leeseas

Thanks to all of you who follow this blog and to those of you who comment. I can't tell you how awesome it is to read your comments!

travelling home - Aug 9

Home today…like clockwork feelings of sadness and relief flood over us as we prepare to step back into reality and out of the fantasy that was our vacation.

I don’t know if Monte Carol is too small or has too many rich and famous people, but it doesn't have an airport. In order to begin our journey home we must get to Nice for the flight home. I'm not sure how far it is exactly, but the drive is about 90 minutes and costs about 90 euros by taxi. We considered renting one of the many, many Ferraris in Monte Carlo and driving ourselves, but opted for another maybe equally exciting option. A helicopter took us to Nice for twice the cost, a 10th of the time and infinitely more excitement than the taxi. It really was a lot of fun! It was a tiny helicopter (based on my limited helicopter experience). It held 9 or 10 passengers with a pilot. It was pretty much glass all the way around so the view was spectacular. The ride was relatively smooth other than a bit of swooping at the beginning and end of the flight which only added to the thrill.

Other than that the day was long and uneventful. Our flights were from Monte Carlo to Nice (via helicopter!!), Nice to London, London to Vancouver and Vancouver to Calgary. By the time we got home we had been up for a long, long time and were happy to be home – although I will certainly miss someone tidying my room twice a day.

We flew business again, which was terrific – I don’t know how we will be able to fly economy again. Really, other than the long flights to and from London business is no big deal. The shorter flights are basically the same seat (3 and 3 configuration) with no one in the middle seat. Nice extra room, but on a short flight that’s not nearly as big a deal as on the long flights across the ocean. The plane to Vancouver was a 747 which has an upper deck or floor which is where we were – seemed to have a lot more room, was quite and definitely the way to go. The Vancouver airport by the way is very nice. I don’t know if this is a new face lift for the Olympics, but it is very nice.

As usual we are ever so glad to be home, but will certainly miss the luxury of vacation – seeing, eating, experiencing and doing fantastic things. It was a terrific time that we will never forget. Thanks for following with us.

Monte Carlo, Monaco, August 8

Ahhhhh we are sleeping in today. I hate to say this vacation has sucked the life out of us, but it has been very ‘on-the-go’. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t fantastic, but it has been very active.

In the afternoon we end up at the palace. It is quite a climb to the palace - although pretty much everything has you climbing in Monte Carlo as it is on a mountain side. Often this climbing isn’t so bad as there are public elevators and escalators here and there, not so many that you never climb stairs or walk up a steep incline, but here and there. It is not as hot as it has been recently, but it very humid – wow! By the time we get to the palace we are drenched – even Chris is drenched and he pretty much never breaks a sweat. We decide we must stop for a road beer (a beer you drink while walking along the road). It’s still funny to me to be able to drink a beer while walking down the road. Thankfully it is ice cold and we stop in one of Monte Carlo’s many parks (pic.) Monte Carlo has many beautifully kept parks - pretty much this entire place is beautifully kept and very clean.

There seems to be some sort of medieval festival going on in the streets outside the palace. This makes the atmosphere lively and a fun place to be. When we stop for lunch every so often a band walks by about a foot from where we are eating (pics, video). Lunch for me is of moules et frites (mussels and fries) D-lish. These mussels are tiny compared to the ones I’ve eaten at home and are much better I think.

I haven’t mentioned that there are Ferraris all over the place here. I started noticing them at first, but they’ve almost become too numerous to notice.

On the way back to the hotel we stop at a Monaco soccer team shop where Chris buys a shirt and a few other souvenirs. The clerks at the shop suggest that he tries the shirt on first but there’s no room for that other than in the middle of the shop – I don’t know what would have happened if I wanted to try something on??

We spend the rest of the afternoon reading and napping. Each hotel room here has a balcony which is fantastic. Ours doesn’t face the sea, but does face a courtyard and the top of the casino can be seen also (pic). There is a shrub just next to our balcony with white flowers all other if that has attracted the tiniest hummingbirds – probably an inch or 2 long. The evening is spent at dinner and the casino.

All in all Monte Carlo has exceeded expectations. Not really sure what the expectations were, but it is a great place to spend a few days and probably less expensive than we expected. I’d be happy to spend more time here in the future.

Monte Carlo, Monaco, August 7

Today we say good bye to our ship that has been home for the last 15 days and hello to a hotel for the next 2.

The Monte Carol harbour is filled with yachts, yachts and more yachts – these are BIG boats. I’m pretty sure these aren’t even the really big ones and that they use a harbour elsewhere. It’s becoming pretty typical to find these kinds of boats in the harbours each time we visit one.

Although we are some of the last off of the boat as we don’t have a flight to catch we are still off and at our hotel before 10. We are staying at the Fairmont here. It’s a pretty spectacular place and although we are here well before check-in we get a room right away. After checking out the hotel and its roof-top pool we head out for a bit of lunch.

On the way back from lunch we wander over to ‘the’ casino. This is the one Casino Royale was filmed in – we don’t see 007 anywhere this time. Conveniently the casino is right next to out hotel. The building inside and out is beautiful (pic). At this point we don’t get too far inside as there is a 10 euro fee to enter areas other than the slots and men need a jacket and tie. We also thought you needed your passport, but a driver’s licence apparently is good enough.

On the way back to our room we also check out our hotel’s casino – not too much action in the afternoon, but no entrance fee.

In the evening after a late diner Chris suits up (with a jacket and tie) and we head back to the Casino Royale casino. This turns out to be a huge disappointment as I mentioned in the last blog post. We end up spending some time in the casino in our hotel at the end of it all – Chris playing craps. This is pretty interesting with French flying around and some pretty big rollers. I’m pretty sure they don’t pump oxygen in here like in Las Vegas as I get very sleepy and head to bed before Chris. One nice thing about Monte Carlo casinos is that they are non-smoking.

Monte Carlo, Monaco - Aug 7

WOW...just back from the Casino Royale casino in Monte Carlo and what a disappointment. 10 euros to get in which basically seem to be charged to keep the riff-raff out. Supposedly a jacket and tie were required (so said the sign) and Chris wore each, but there was no point. Most were in there in no jacket or tie. It was a beautiful building, but the substance of being a casino was less than impressive. Now we're off to try our hotel casino.