It over, we’re leaving the Baltic and Scandinavia, and I am sad. However, all I accomplished and saw was tremendous and this last cruise was a cruise of happy endings. At each port, I left with a sense of knowing and experiencing a tremendous amount.
Warnemunde has been very good to me as a jumping off point to explore the area of Germany known as Mecklenburg. This time I went to the ancient city of Gusterow. A town of nobility and just plain pretty. We toured a castle that had fantastic interiors with mean and evil docents. As I enter this one room I was struck in awe by the ceiling. Usually ceilings are painted with marvelous frescos this one was sculpted into incredible frescos. They were alive and in actual 3D instead of just being painted on. The edging of the wall had these fanciful deer painted on that grew out into the sculpted body and each one was adorned with actual antlers. I somehow missed the message about no pictures and as I was prepping my camera for a shot, I was actually hit by the docent as she yelled at me, “Nicht.” This was an actual hit, not a tap, or nudge. The lady hit me. Oh well, I continued seeing the marvelous castle and city of Gusterow and then we were treated to a lovely BBQ in a quaint village outside of town. We returned to Warnemunde the sun shining and I walked out to the lighthouse and sat on the infamous beach. I joined colleagues for a beer while they bitched about how miserable they are. I sat and smiled and wondered how anyone can choose misery over happiness.
In Stockholm, I woke with many things I wanted to do and see. In the end, I could not do much of it. Sometimes my work does get in the way of my vacation and this last Stockholm was one of those times. We had a drill that was required of all crew members and was meant to test our training in case of a bomb threat. By the time this was completed we were left with two hours to go out and enjoy. I went to a café in the Old Town that I had spotted a cruise or two earlier. I ordered a delicious handmade lasagna and the house specialty drink of chocolate. I sat there in the sun and watched all that was occurring around me. There were some cadets enjoying moments with friends, a street musician playing for the crowd. There were mothers with strollers passing by and toddlers merrily skipping along. At one point, a bride to be on a makeshift throne placed on a wheeled cart was whisked through the square to much fanfare rattling on the cobblestones. I looked at the bell tower that soared above my head as I sat and just enjoyed what Stockholm had to give me on this beautiful day.
Helsinki gave me a chance to get something I needed as well as truly begin the Souvenir bonanza. I started the day at a café near the Lutheran Cathedral. Had a delicious breakfast and spent time on free internet. Then I ran an errand in their big department store to get a hard drive for my computer. Afterwards, I walked along the park setting of the Esplanade. I went to the outdoor fish market and general market. I found the perfect souvenir for my sister-in-law and niece and then found a place in the sun to enjoy a Finnish tradition when the sun come out, an ice cream. Helsinki gave me a simple ending (and sweet one at that) and that was perfect.
My goal for St. Petersburg was to see Peterhof. I did it. Peterhof was meant to rival the beauty of Versailles. Not having been to Versailles, I don’t know how it rivals, but in terms of Peterhof itself, Wow! The amount of beauteous fountains were breathtaking. The scenery and the setting was serene. The palaces and houses on the properties were sights to behold themselves. The Grand Palace that was destroyed by the Nazis has been immaculately restored and is quite impressive. Each room showing off riches that no commoner could imagine. The smaller places like Catherine’s Block, where Catherine the Great spent her time, and Monplaisir where Peter spent his time were remarkably detailed and full of surprises. The Bath House made me want to spend an entire day bathing, which for those who know me is not usual. It was gorgeous and the setting so relaxing. Throughout the acreage there were numerous fountains of varying size and splendor: the twin Roman fountains made of marble, the chess board fountain, the grand cascade (containing over 75 individual fountains, the oak tree fountain, the carousel, and so one. Each fountain was not pumped via electricity, but from nature. The water was from the Gulf of Finland and was returned as such, so not a drop is wasted. Each step I took I knew that great thought was put into how to make each step great enough for the person taking that step. Outside of Peterhof I was able to see the villa of Nicholas I. He wanted a simpler place to live and his cottage was simple by the standards of the Grand Palace, Winter Palace, Catherine’s Palace and so on, but far from simple by my standards. The cottage had a grand staircase that was blue with white roses. I loved it. As we ascended to the third floor we were able to see his study and enjoy the view he would have had overlooking the Gulf. The cottage had a small concert hall, a large dining room, and several rooms where he and his 7 children lived. Each one tastefully decorated. Peterhof was a wonderful way to end St. Petersburg. A reminder that in the hustle and bustle of big city life, everyone, even the Great ones need to retreat.
Then there is Tallinn. Oh my beloved Tallinn. What better way to remember you then through my stomach. What a delicious breakfast that was! Who knew eggs could taste so good! I can’t pinpoint all the spices but the eggs were certainly not as thymeless as Tallinn is timeless. Served on bread it was nearly as good as the ambiance of the café we were in. The café was perfectly medieval. Exposed stone and brick work, hanging copper pots, iron works all around; this was truly an ambiance suited for the lovely Tallinn. After this delicious breakfast we walked around some more. In honesty, we were building an appetite for chocolate. After we accomplished that, we went to my favorite chocolate place, Chocolate De Pierre, and proceeded to buy two days salary of chocolate. Yummy! Then I met up with another friend and we walked around more of Tallinn and even ascended the medieval tower that was once used as prison. I snapped photos like is customary in such a beautiful place and then as the time to depart drew near I headed to the pier where, as planned, I drank an Estonian cider. I sat at the waterside table as I had done when I first went to Tallinn and drank the delicious drink and reveled in the beauty that surrounded me.
In Copenhagen, I was under the weather, but that would not hold me back from hitting the streets one last time. Not only was I under the weather, the city was as well. It was unbelievably windy. I decided to explore the 17th century fort or Kastelet. I snapped photos of this star shaped military complex that for so long protected the Danes. It’s park like setting was a wonderful place to explore and get great panoramic views of the harbor. I finished with a danish near the Little Mermaid and more gift shopping.
Finally, it was to be my the last time in Amsterdam, for this trip anyway. At a certain point I was hitting the pavement in my normal fashion walking everywhere. I realized that Amsterdam is a lovely place to visit and party, but I could not live here. Perhaps the lady profusely vomiting on the corner from a little to much spirit of some sort, or the completely wasted “buskers” who moaned and groaned while picking at a two stringed guitar, or the mass quantity of completely wasted young folk staggering by unaware of anything around them finally got to me on this trip. Amsterdam is a city where each and every house is a monument and landmark, yet it seems a vast majority of the people there are unaware of this fact. Anyhow I enjoyed my traditional Dutch Pancake and went along my merry way in the day light. Found a pub and decided, if I can’t beat them I might as well join them. Had some favorite beers needed and then needed food to absorb them then with. I joined with a few girls from the ship who needed help to brave the back alleys and walkways of the infamous Red Light District. The ladies in the windows were out in full force and the gaukers as well. People are people and we all have our needs, wants, and desires. At least here it is regulated. We then blissfully returned to the ship calling our last overnight at a port a great one and retired to my cabin. I was entertained when one of the older guests was asked if he enjoyed his time, and his response was, “Isn’t that a personal question?”
The following day I took a tour that completed Amsterdam or Holland for me. I went to the town of Edam, famous for its cheese. Visited a cheese factory where a lady explained the Dutch way of getting their whey. (sorry, pun had to happen). We then sampled all of the cheeses. Yes, it was the cheesiest tour ever and in the end it was gouda. Three sticks of smoked cheeses later I was happy a shopper. We then explored the charming and picturesque town. Built around canals and using the lock system this town overflowed with what I picture small Dutch towns to be. The colors, the bridges, the boats, the people were all just like the pictures of Dutch life depicted on Delft pottery images. I loved it! Then we went to Zaanse Schans, a quaint Dutch windmill village that has been recreated to resemble exactly what an 18th century Zaan community would be like. I strolled through the street watching craftsmen practicing the trades in traditional manors in traditional garb. I visited a clog factory and saw a demonstration on how they make clogs. I got to get up close to Industrial windmills that made colors, pulp, and sawdust. The rest of the day we drove around Dutch farmlands learning about the system of canals, dikes, and polars that are uniquely Dutch. We drove onto the Unesco world Heritage polar that spanned 17 acres and was about 5 meters below sea level. I learned so much about Dutch life and that was the perfect way to complete my Holland/Amsterdam experience. How truly blessed I am.
