A week at the beach .. Chilling .. Taking the local buses, trolleys and water taxis.
October 23, 2011
Life is good. A beautiful Sunday morning with this view from our bedroom ..
After breakfast, a walk with Lucy to Moosepoint State Park ..
An unwilling photo subject ..
October 1 is like July 1 in Amsterdam
Another gorgeous day to spend at the kids’ hockey games and then out into the countryside – not too far from the city. We’re considering the beach for tomorrow!
Sunshine in Amsterdam
We’re back in Amsterdam (staying with our friends) and enjoying the most glorious Indian summer weather – yesterday while out on a walking tour of the city 4 hours), it was on the verge of being too hot!!! No complaints though, as today we are taking their convertible and cruising around the countryside a little. We’ve had enough of cities for a while, as intriguing and interesting as they’ve all been.
We took bikes on the ferry and rode them into the city …. Bicycles EVERYWHERE!!!
Berlin
September 26, 2011: We took our friends’ car – an older volvo station wagon and drove to Berlin today. Pretty long day, but we have the whole day tomorrow to explore and see some of the new architecture, etc. It’s been many years since we were last here, and Dennis was very restricted in where he could go. I was here many, many years ago and had quite an adventure with my friend Lolita!!!!
September 27, 2011: We set out bright and early with our day pass for the local transit system. No, the umbrella wasn’t needed – after all yesterday evening was so summer like! Hmmm! We stepped out of the metro and couldn’t figure out why the steps were wet!!! 6 euros later and we were kitted out with plastic capes which were a good insurance that the weather would clear up.
We wandered around the check point Charlie crossing area and Friedrichstrasse – wanting to see what had become of the ugly east block style apartment buildings. Of course, they were nowhere to be seen, replaced by modern buildings. Over to Brandenburg Tor and to see the Reichstag building, a quick lunch with a glass of apfelwein, we then joined the 3.5 hour free walking tour.
Which included the memorial to the murdered Jews of europe, or holocaust memorial. It’s a very interesting and thought provoking site.
The twin cathedrals….
Tallinn – worth visiting
Dinner tonight:
3 local draughts beers
1 delicious tomato and smoked cheese soup
1 chicken breast with lemon grass sauce and salad greens
1 cod with lemon sauce and vegetables
1 portion potatoes
1 coffee
1 liqueur – Vana Tallinn (the local, and very good liqueur)
1 decadent chocolate cake served with tarragon flavored ice cream and a berry sauce
All for 34 euros!!!! Or $47!!!!
We went to this restaurant (Von Krahli Aed) twice out of the three nights we were here.
The other place we loved was Porgu (where I had the wonderful borscht).
Another surprising fact about Tallinn: Skype has it’s software development centre here and Tallinn is known as the “silicon valley of the Baltic”. Who would know?????
Tallinn
What a great day we’ve had! This is definitely one of my favorite cities. The weather forecast was iffy, but after a few minor, quick showers, we’ve had a beautiful clear day.
We started the day by walking along the city walls to St. olaf’s church, where we discovered you can climb 142 feet to the top of the tower. It’s a good thing that Dennis didn’t attempt it, as he would have suffered coming down the steep stone winding staircase, and I definitely had my aerobic workout climbing up there, but it was oh so worth it. (We later found out on our tour that in the 16th century this was the second highest structure in the world!)
We then joined a free 2-hour walking tour of the city, which was led by one of the very attractive Estonian young women, and was very informative and interesting. We’ve taken these free tours in other cities (Santiago, Chile was one) and they’re generally excellent.
After a break for snack lunch, Dennis was even willing to take time for a little retail therapy!!! No, I didn’t buy this hat, but could be tempted!!!!
Tallinn is TERrIFiC
We just arrived, but I’m already lamenting our departure, and trying to work out how we can come back!
Our hotel (the Imperial) is charming and in the old town, just outside the main walls. We had a beer, and I had a long awaited bowl of borscht – glad I waited because it could not have been better – at a great little beer cellar that makes a potent home-brew beer. Dinner was at Von Krahli Aed and it was superb. A stroll through town and now looking forward to exploring in day light.
Look for another report and pics tomorrow!
BTW the bus trip was great.
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Good bye St. Petersburg
We’re on a very clean and comfortable coach, equipped with wifi, and on our way to Tallinn, Estonia.
Despite several warnings of crime and to be on the alert (when am I not?), we had nothing but good experiences while here. As I mentioned before, it is spotlessly clean; the people aren’t pushy, prices not too bad, public transport easy and efficient, lots of green spaces, and beautiful architecture.
So glad we came.
St. Petersburg – day 3
A leisurely day – took an easy (and very inexpensive) ride out to Peterhof (summer palace) using the metro and a marshrutka (minibus). We’d contemplated going by hydrofoil, but were put off by the fare of $30 per person each way – our trip, same length of time, cost about $2.50 each round trip!
Before I start with photos of the magnificent Peterhof (modeled on Versailles), here are some pictures of what could be my new style back in Belfast!
Each metro station has it’s own character and every one of them is spotlessly clean; in fact the entire city is the cleanest, along with Singapore, of any I’ve ever visited.
Isn’t this just sometimes the case????
Finally – Peterhof……
The Hermitage
We spent the day, as planned, getting to the Hermitage, waiting in line to get in, and then exhausting ourselves viewing this über vast collection of artwork in an ornate venue that also requires considerable attention. As forecast, it was raining first thing, but has cleared and we’re hoping for another nice day tomorrow.
Something that shocked me more than anything else was that everywhere we walked, we were walking on these beautiful parquet floors.
Dennis in the hall of 332 heroic generals from the 1812 war.
This could have been us if we hadn’t left!!!
St. Petersburg – day 1
Wow! I am absolutely impressed. I expected grandeur, “Venice of the north”, etc., but was unprepared for how well the buildings are kept up, cleanliness on the streets, etc. And long gone are the days of the Lada!!!! Now it’s like anywhere else in western Europe – beemers, volvos, Mercedes, etc.
Their metro system is great, albeit, it takes forever to get down there – being deepest in the world. This photo only tells half the story.
We walked, and walked, and walked … Thank god for dennis’s new knee. Then rewarded ourselves with a boat trip on rivers and canals.
I couldn’t get enough of the church of spilled blood, as it’s known as, or church of the resurrection. The entire interior is covered with mosaic. It’s mind bogglingly beautiful.
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Important price difference
In Finland: $9
In Russia: $3