Tien and Paul's Travels: 2014

After our five days in Paris, we flew to Copenhagen where we were to embark on our Baltic cruise.

Getting out of Paris can be unpredictable. The train we were taking from Paris to Charles de Gaulle airport was stopped before we reached the airport due to a traffic accident that blocked the train. We had to exit the train and board buses for the rest of the trip. We were not certain that our luggage was on the same bus that we were on. It was very chaotic. Fortunately, we got on the second bus with our luggage. We did not have time to spare. We were flying from Paris to Copenhagen on EZ Jet. When they say you can have one carry-on package, it means one carry on package. We learned this the hard way with a $75 baggage charge. Don't expect anything to drink or eat either. The good thing was that our flight departed and arrived on time.

Copenhagen airport (Kastrup) had great transportation to the center of town as well as the suburbs. As it was, we had to walk several blocks from the train station at Osterport to where we were staying. It was a beautiful day when we arrived, but it was cloudy and rainy the following day when we left. We did not have to be on the ship until after 4pm. That gave us most of the day to explore Old Town Copenhagen.

City hall clock tower

Nyhavn District

Free hot chocolate at the Hotel Chocolat on the pedestrian mall (Stroget).

Downtown Copenhagen near the train station

Entrance to Tivoli

Royal Copenhagen Store

We made it to the ship via bus, walking and taxi in a heavy rain fall. This is the first cruise we have been on that it rained during our departure. Fortunately we were safe and dry on the ship. The following day in Germany, we had some rain, but it was perfect weather for the rest of the cruise.

Wanemunde, Germany

We had a long stay in Wanemunde, Germany. Many people took this opportunity to take the train to Berlin. We decided to explore on our own the local sites. After the leisurely walk around Wanemunde, we took the train to Schwerin via Rostock.

Tall ship Mercedes at Warnemunde Port

Smoking Fish

Fish Stand

Warnemunde Port

Our favorite restaurant for WiFi.

When we arrived in Schwerin, there was a festival in full swing.

Schwerin Festival

Schwerin

Schwerin festival vendor

Another Vendor

Schwerin Castle

Column over moat.

Tallinn, Estonia

Not knowing what to expect in Tallinn, we were pleasantly surprised with the old walled city. Estonia has only been independent from Russia for 23 years. It has not wasted any time modernizing itself. It joined the European Union in 2004. Tallinn has a beautiful setting on a hill looking over the harbor.

Entrance to the "Old City"

The town square

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

Tien and her Knight in Shining Armour

In front of a butcher shop.

The city wall

St. Petersburg, Russia

Known as the "Venice of the North", the city impressed us with its cleanliness, friendliness, lovely canals as well as amazing underground metro system.

We enjoyed our two full days visit to St. Petersburg. We took guided tours both days. The first day we saw the city highlights. The second day we took the "Through the eyes of the Russians" tour.

Bridge over the Neva River

The clean and efficient subway system in St. Petersburg.

Chandeliers in the subway station. The floors and walls were marble and granite.

Clean and efficient subway system.

The subways are so deep they could be used as bomb shelters.

Mosaic picture on the wall in the subway.

Cathedral in Peter and Paul Fortress. Built in 1703

Inside Cathedral.

Lots of gold and crystal

The alter in Peter and Paul Cathedral.

A wedding at Peter and Paul Cathedral.

One of the many canals in St Petersburg.

Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood in St. Petersburg.

Another wedding. The bride is beautiful . The groom should have worn a coat and tie.

Our favorite Starbucks.

Babushka equals grandma.

A lite snack includes three shots of vodka.

Looking across the Neva River.

Helsinki, Finland

Farmers market in Helsinki.

This greets you as you arrive in Helsinki.

Uspenski Cathedral. Built in 1868 it is the largest Russian Orthodox church in Western Europe.

Inside Uspenski Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral is an Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Tien, Barbara, and Rich checking the map in Helsinki Senate Square.

Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Kirkko)

Stockholm, Sweden

It was great to be back in Sweden after sixteen years. It was just as beautiful and clean as we remembered it to be.

We took a half hour walk from the ship to Gamla Stan where we were to meet Stig for lunch. He suggested we meet at Jarntorget, a small square in "Old Town" Stockholm. We got there early and did some shopping before lunch.