Tallinn Estonia

Tallinn is a great medieval town with a fortress around the old city center. We had most of the day to wander the town but sadly it rained on and off all day.

We started our day on a hop on hop off bus. We bought the tickets online which just caused all sorts of issues. Neither bus line matched the name on our email. Regardless we got on and got to the old town very easily.

Tallinn is pretty much a shopping experience. There were stores and booths everywhere. There were ladies knitting and selling their work or maybe just knitting while selling pre made items because everything was pretty similar but nothing looked mass produced.

We shopped until it started to rain then went up to the medieval wall which was covered. You could pretty see the whole city center.

The rain didn’t last long and the sun came back out so we returned to the ground to continue our wandering.

There were several churches but most were now museums so we only went in one and it wasn’t much. I don’t think it would have mattered the roads were winding cobblestones paths went up and down small hills. It was like the great hills area of squeezed all together with tiny little sidewalk type roads.

After checking off the local sights we started our serious shopping. There were amber stores everywhere and even though I already bought my pieces I continued to shop (I had to make sure I got a good price for my items). There were also a lot of shops with typical Russian souvenirs. It hasn’t been that long since Estonia was part of the USSR. In hopes of having even better options in St Petersburg I stuck to wool items for my purchases. I hope it gets cold enough to wear my new wool hat with the traditional Estonia pattern. I might have to book another trip this winter somewhere cold.

We didn’t make the day without more rain so we decided to get back on the bus and ride it back around to the ship. Not much to the bus ride.

Warnemunde

After our sad bus tour to Wismar we decided to see the town the ship was docked in. We thought the rain had stopped so we ventured out with the crowds. There were two cruise ships but thankfully most people trained into Berlin because the town could barely hold the people that stayed behind.

We got about half way through town and the rain came back with a vengeance. I was determined to put my feet in the Baltic Sea so unlike everyone else huddled under the few awnings I kept going. Margaret who really wasn’t as interested in the whole sea thing went along probably cursing me the whole way. We finally fought our way out to the water and had the whole beach to ourselves. I loved it and think Margaret did as well but she will never admit it. She would prefer to continue to call me crazy.

We were just walking off the beach when the rained stopped. Margaret spied another tower we could climb and feeling bad for the beach adventure I had to do along. Only 150 short steps took us to the top. I was a little nervous but it was nothing like the church in Copenhagen so I was okay. I only had to make a short circle around the outside.

Soaking wet we continued our tour of the town on one of the less crowded streets. The flowers were beautiful. All the houses had small but well maintained flower gardens. Some of the biggest roses I have ever seen.

Not much for shopping but we did each find something to buy. Who would aim alone mine was a Christmas ornament (a small tree no less).

What got off to a rocky start came together in the end. Tomorrow is a lazy day on board but who knows what trouble we will find.

Wismar Brewery Tour

When we planned this trip we got a little over zealous with the excursions and booked one in almost every port. Hopefully the others will go better than today’s did.

What we thought was a brewery tour at a medieval monetary brewery was really a sad walk around what once was an East German port town. Unlike other areas I have traveled the town dos not do much to restore the medieval architecture. There were three gothic medieval churches on in complete ruins except for the clock tower, one the tried to save but they waited too long, and one small one that survived but lost all its stoned glass. We went through the one they restored bit it was pretty much just an empty shell. None of the art work survived.

The town was cute with winding cobble stone roadways but there wasn’t much too it. We had an hour of free time to shop around but we were back long before then. I did find some jewelry (and I know you are saying of course you did but this is day four and that was the first real purchase I have made) but that was it. We didn’t have any euros so we couldn’t buy the pastry we wanted or go to the bathroom. It was a sad day but we survived.

The building the brewery was on was neat. It had a old Shakespearean look to it with the big logs and white plaster. The beer was okay but not great and it was miserably hot so even if it had been great it would have been hard to enjoy it.

So all in all our first excursion was a bust.

We got to the boat early to avoid the lines and we’re basically able to walk right through.

We wandered the ship for a bit then headed to the buffet for lunch. As usual the cruise options were many and we had no problems finding plenty to eat.

After lunch we went to hear about the drink specials for the cruise and to get the free glass of champagne. Our first of what will be plenty of alcoholic beverages for the cruise. We decided on several drinking events including a scotch and a beer tasting (of course we did it is me and margaret).

After that we headed out to the outdoor pool to watch the boat pull out of the harbor. While there we had a few German beers to really get the cruise going.

This is also where the good people watching got started. The passengers are not as old as expected. There really is a good range of ages and nationalities. There was the young boy in his way too big room robe running around the pool area, a seventy year old tall blonde German pirate with one large gold hoop earring in the hot tub, and our constant companion a Danny Devito looking guy with bad glasses, crazy swim trunks and big camera (which we have seen everywhere).

Dinner was an early event followed by more beer in the BB King lounge to hear the live blues band. We didn’t make it long and went to bed after the first set hopefully to finally get some good sleep in our cave.

After not a great night of sleep (but at least we we had beds) we got up early to see the sights. We were determined to make it to the waterfront Nyhaven area. For some reason it all came together this morning and we walked there with little problems. Copenhagen is not a town of early risers. It seemed like Margaret and I had the town to ourselves until about 9 o’clock.

We stopped for Danishes (we are in Denmark so it would have been completely wrong not to) along the way but still got there before anything (but surprisingly the ice cream shop) was open. We walked down to the water for a few pictures and Margaret saw the Church of Our Savior in the distance with the crazy spire with steps on the outside. I of course had suggested a nice sedate trip to the castle to see the Crown Jewels but Margaret wanted to climb the church tower. Not one to back down we headed over to check it out. Our walk took us to a more residential area where people were finally starting to move around. Morning commute started around 9:15 and pretty much was done by bike. Of course the less than 70 degree weather for July makes bike riding and option. If was funny to see a traffic jam of bikes trying to get through a light.

Anyway we made it to the church and had 30 minutes to kill. Not enough time to deter us so we wander the area until it was time to line up.

The first three or four floors were inside and fine but hot. The sun was just starting to come in the windows. Once that was done it was more a combination of ladder like stairs or spiral stairs in the bell tower portion. There was a warning light for when the bells went off but since they were right there I don’t think you’d miss them. I am just glad the didn’t go off while we were there.

The inside was so hot it was almost worth it to be outside but not quite. It was super windy but we made it to the top and quickly headed back down. Round trip was only 30 minutes but I think it took s few years off my life. The views were amazing you could see the whole town. We got some great pictures.

After that we quickly headed back to the hotel to check out and head to the boat. We have a little more time in Copenhagen at the end of our trip to hit a few more of the highlights.

Finally made it to Copenhagen late in the afternoon. The overnight flight seemed much harder than it used to. The Jettime flight from London was an adventure (and if the name sounds cheesy it was – like a hotbox with wings) the seats creaked and there was this crazy curtain that separated our row from the first class seat right in front of us that was exactly like ours. I bet those people felt stupid for paying an extra fee for nothing but an extra bag of chips. We had a little time to look around Copenhagen but not much.

Our hotel was pretty much in the middle of town so it was convenient (within 15 minute walk to most of the highlights) but the room was tiny and hot. They did give us a free glass of wine but I don’t think Margaret thought that made up for no air conditioning and noisy neighbors (oh and some crazy lamp post thing that stuck out about 6 of the 10 inches you had to get around the bed).

We tried to make it down to the waterfront for dinner but gave up before we got there when it started raining and headed back to a bar/ restaurant by the hotel. What we thought would be a good local place really only had a few things on the menu. Margaret who was starving (I ate a wrap at the airport ) ended up having a burger I ordered the goat cheese salad which turned out to be grilled goat cheese on a piece of toast over lettuce delicious hers was just a burger.

After dinner the rained had stopped so we tried again to make it to the waterfront area but again got turned around and decided to head in early since neither of us slept much on the flight.

We should have stayed out hot room, windows opened with noisy family in the next room and a court yard that stayed busy all night long (they had to have taken out the recycling 5 times during the night), and too much light since we couldn’t close the curtains didn’t lend itself to the best night of sleep. But is was so much better than the night before I wont complain, Margaret had a different opinion.

But we survived and woke up to start day two….

Margaret and I have arrived in London. The first leg of our trip completed. The direct flight from Austin is really nice. I always hope to sleep on the plane but it never seems to work out. I paid an extra $70 to have an exit row seat which was nice for leg room but not the best seat very narrow and arm rests don’t move. I did agree to switch to a different exit row seat which got us passes to the admiralty lounge with free beer and snacks before the flight. So that switch was totally worth it.

Ran into Martha waiting at our gate and was surprised that she was also going to London with a friend. I sat beside her friend and had I not upgraded to the exit row I would have been beside Martha. Sometimes it really is s small world.

I don’t know why I didn’t post for my last two trips. I didn’t go out of the country but they were still great vacations. Spring of 2015 I went to Nashville and Louisville, country music, horse races and bourbon and last fall I did the Grand Canyon and Sedona, great views, great weather, and some of the best jewelry shopping outside of Santa Fe I have ever had. But still somehow I didn’t do my blog. Looking back I really wish I would have. I had a great time on both trips and would love to be able to go back and read about all the fun. Oh well this trip is going to be well documented.

In a little over an hour I head out to take the direct flight from Austin to London and then on to Copenhagen to begin a Baltic cruise. I am excited about the nonstop flight to London. (FYI on the flight you can book with American and get better value on miles than using your AA number on the BA flight. The cost comes out the same because on BA you pay at least e$43 to pick any seat and only pay on AA if you want exit or upgrade) Who would have thought we could get from Austin directly to Europe. However, generally you have fly out early on the day to catch the flight over but today I have found myself with extra time waiting for the trip to begin. But it gives me time for a pre trip post.

For those that didn’t know I was heading to Europe this summer, since last you heard I was talking about my big London trip with Allison Weir next fall, this one just fell together perfectly.

It all happened in mid- June on a conference call which occasionally can be very technical and have no real need of my attendance. However in case something legal comes up I dutifully listen in. Anyway checking my email while on the call I saw a cruise sale, with the 12 day Baltic cruise for $999. Saint Petersburg being on my list of must see destinations, I have tried several times to get my sisters to go on this cruise with me. They always seem to want to go but never seem to commit. After checking to see when Margaret’s Jester King carribean cruise was leaving I texted her to see if she wanted a pre cruise cruise. Being retired has its perks, availability for last minute vacations is one of the best. She immediately responded yes but wanted to check with Clark who was napping before totally agreeing. I think she woke him up because we were making plans within the hour. The total trip was booked 3 hours from the time I saw the email. I have never had a trip come together so easily.

We will be making several stops and have great excursions planned in all. We will see hamlets castle, have beer at a monk’s brewery in Germany, have vodka at an ice bar in Helsinki, and see Swan Lake performed at the Marlinsky Theater in Saint Petersburg.

My bags are all packed and have been for a week except for all those last minute things I through in since there was extra room. I bought some of that new super light luggage so that I could bring back all sorts of goodies. I have know idea what they will be but feel sure that I will find all sorts of things I cannot live without.

Well it is almost time for Margaret to pick me up so I will get this posted. Next time you hear from me I will be in Copenhagen and yes everyone we will be careful.

The day started with another spa treatment. I spent more on massages then I did on the cruise. I had pre order one before getting on the ship for early the first day. I am quite the sucker for the up sale and ended up with not only a facial but another massage. So I had my second massage today. Not that anyone would fall to the same fate but if I cruise again and want a massage then I will book for the lat day so they won’t be able to hit me up for another in my weakened and relaxed state. I don’t even want to admit how much I spent on the products that they recommended. I bought them all after the first massage and had every intention of refusing everything after the facial but I wasn’t successful. My only small win was that I didn’t buy the $185 wrinkle cream and $145 for something that would help the discoloration on my face. But really the second massage was a waste. I couldn’t relax while knowing I was going to be hit up for product. I spent the whole massage/facial mumbling don’t buy anything,don’t buy anything. I wish I can say I held firm but at least I didn’t buy it all. Be sure to tell me how good my face looks so I will feel like I didn’t waste my money.

After brunch deanna and I tried to watch the cowboys game on the big screen over the pool but the rain pushed us to our cabin. Where we order cookies and hot chocolate.

The night is just getting start and I am heading out in search of a beer.