After our strenuous day yesterday, we retired at 9 p.m. and both were asleep in minutes. We woke up at 7 a.m., went down for a substantial breakfast, then checked out. The elevators in European hotels are very tiny so it took us three trips to get our luggage to the lobby. After the fiasco on check-in, we didn't trust the bellhops. Found a taxi and were at the airport for 10:00. We were served two meals on route and both managed an hour or so of sleep. We were glad we had a two-hour layover in Toronto as it took almost that long to clear customs, go through security yet again, recheck our bags and get to our gate in the same terminal. Had another light meal on the flight to Ottawa. Called Vada once we arrived and by the time we had our luggage, she was there to pick us up. Both of us have vowed to take one less suitcase next trip. We rationalized our vast quantity of luggage by the fact that we needed clothes for warm/hot weather as well as very cold weather, plus dress-up clothes for evenings on board ship.
Norma called and said that her Melodie was very happy to see her - so happy, she didn't appear to hold a grudge for leaving her. She, like the two of us are glad to be home.
Sunday, 27 July 2014
Saturday, 26 July 2014
A Day on our Own in Copenhagen
Neither of us slept too well last night so were awake well before the alarm went off at 7 a.m. We had enough time to have our last fix of Swedish pancakes with lingonberries and maple syrup. Our Captain managed to make up the two hours so arrived in Copenhagen on time. We debarked at 9 a.m. and found the taxi lineup. The first one refused to take us because we had so much luggage! We got to our hotel about 9:30 a.m. and checked in our luggage. Our room would not be ready until 2 p.m. After a quick chat with the concierge and a city map in hand we set out to explore. We decided to walk to Fredericksberg Palace and its extensive grounds. Also, we wanted to wander the streets to see the only houses in Copenhagen. Everyone else lives in apartments. This was a wealthy area near the Palace something like our Rockcliffe Park. On the way, we noticed a small store selling binoculars and high-quality clothing. Norma suggested we go in to look. She immediately spotted a stuffed toy that looked suspiciously like a Norwegian Fiord Pony. We asked the clerk if it was one but he wasn't sure. She decided to pass on it because it was made in China not a Scandinavian country. Meanwhile, I spotted a few lovely pottery birds, three razorbills (a lifer for me on this trip) that would look perfect with my kitchen window collection. Turns out they were made by the head of the Danish Ornothological Society and that is why they were so authentic looking. He had passed away ten years ago and they were selling them for his widow and only had a few left. For some reason, I didn't succumb then and we continued on our way. By the time we headed back, I decided to buy one. Now I have a great souvenir, too. We also discovered a beautiful lighting store with chandeliers and lamps made from thin veneers of birch, copper, paper, and plastic. The chandeliers reminded of the first one I bought for our house. It was of teak and at Halloween, Warren and I decorated it to look like a Jack'o'lantern.
Copenhagen reserves sidewalks for pedestrians and has an extensive system of bike lanes. They are on the same level as the sidewalks but have a different pavement. A couple of times we were yelled at and were nearly wiped out before we figured out the system. Bicycles wait at the pedestrian crosswalks when the light is red. We hardly saw anyone jay-walking.
We returned to our hotel about 1:45 and registered. We asked for our luggage to be sent to our room. It was to arrive in five minutes. After an hour of waiting, I called the front desk to inquire. I called again after another fifteen minutes. I called again after another ten and said if it wasn't there in five minutes, I'd be down to pick it up myself! Four minutes later a harried bellboy rang our doorbell. I told him that was the longest five minutes I had ever experienced. Turns out it had been delivered to the wrong room and then they couldn't remember which room.
We grabbed a few things and set out again, this time to the Rosenborg Have, a former palace where the Crown Jewels are kept. On the way, we walked through a section of the city dedicated solely to pedestrian and bicycle traffic and a range of shopping from low to very high end. Buskers were in abundance and the streets were very crowded. We passed by The Round Tower, one of the oldest buildings here. We were much too tired to even think about climbing it. We returned to our hotel room at 5 p.m. We had been on our feet for six hours. I even had to stop to bandage a blister. On arrival in our room, we noticed a fresh fruit basket with some. Trail mix and chocolates had been delivered. We think it was delivered as an apology for the delay in getting our luggage. Or maybe it was delivered to the wrong room too! Too late, since we hadn't had lunch, we dug in.
Other than a brief heavy rain shower, the weather is beautiful - 28 degrees Celsius and sunny with just a hint of a cooling breeze every now and again. Norma's beads came through again!
We have decided to order room service tonight and go to bed early. Plane tomorrow.
Copenhagen reserves sidewalks for pedestrians and has an extensive system of bike lanes. They are on the same level as the sidewalks but have a different pavement. A couple of times we were yelled at and were nearly wiped out before we figured out the system. Bicycles wait at the pedestrian crosswalks when the light is red. We hardly saw anyone jay-walking.
We returned to our hotel about 1:45 and registered. We asked for our luggage to be sent to our room. It was to arrive in five minutes. After an hour of waiting, I called the front desk to inquire. I called again after another fifteen minutes. I called again after another ten and said if it wasn't there in five minutes, I'd be down to pick it up myself! Four minutes later a harried bellboy rang our doorbell. I told him that was the longest five minutes I had ever experienced. Turns out it had been delivered to the wrong room and then they couldn't remember which room.
We grabbed a few things and set out again, this time to the Rosenborg Have, a former palace where the Crown Jewels are kept. On the way, we walked through a section of the city dedicated solely to pedestrian and bicycle traffic and a range of shopping from low to very high end. Buskers were in abundance and the streets were very crowded. We passed by The Round Tower, one of the oldest buildings here. We were much too tired to even think about climbing it. We returned to our hotel room at 5 p.m. We had been on our feet for six hours. I even had to stop to bandage a blister. On arrival in our room, we noticed a fresh fruit basket with some. Trail mix and chocolates had been delivered. We think it was delivered as an apology for the delay in getting our luggage. Or maybe it was delivered to the wrong room too! Too late, since we hadn't had lunch, we dug in.
Other than a brief heavy rain shower, the weather is beautiful - 28 degrees Celsius and sunny with just a hint of a cooling breeze every now and again. Norma's beads came through again!
We have decided to order room service tonight and go to bed early. Plane tomorrow.
Friday, 25 July 2014
Amber Beads and White Nights
As we approach the end of this memorable cruise, I would be remiss if I did not mention Norma's amber beads. She was very taken with our Lithuanian guide's stories of witches and the pagan beliefs of some of the Lithuanians to this day. At the end of our tour, our guide handed out to each of us a small package of amber stones taken from the bottom of the Baltic Sea. Our guide said that they would bring us good luck. Ever since then, Norma has made certain that her beads came with us on all of our shore excursions. I think there must be something to it as we have enjoyed spectacular weather at all of our scenic stops. Many of them are usually cloaked in fog, accompanied by cold, wind, and rain. This was especially true of our stops north of the Arctic Circle. We were blessed with warm, sunny, calm days so were able to have wonderful views of the gorgeous scenery. With only a couple of exceptions - before the amber beads - our shore excursions have been fabulous with fantastic guides. We chose well. There isn't one thing we would change. We even managed the Metro in Oslo and a hike on our own making it back to the ship before she sailed. And at our last tourist stop in Norway, our last visit to a souvenir shop, our last chance to buy one, we found the pony!
I cannot remember if I mentioned the Scandinavian term for the extremely long days they enjoy from late June through July. They refer to them as White Nights which are so appropriately named. We are still experiencing them and are at last far enough south to enjoy an after midnight sunset if we stay awake long enough.
Something else we found very remarkable was the lack of noise in the cities and towns we visited, unlike at home. We did not hear music blaring from homes or apartments. The Scandinavians, who live in much closer quarters than we do, were considerate of their neighbours. Likewise, drivers did not have their stereos turned up full blast and we were not treated to that thunderous pounding from their cars. Motorcycles purred - their mufflers were very powerful and we were not subject to a lot of revving noise. It was Heaven!
Today we spent the sunny morning on calm seas on our balcony updating the blog, choosing the pictures to go with it and then packing for our debarkation tomorrow morning. We haven't made arrangement for our transfer to the hotel - we hope we can catch a cab outside the pier - but I'll make sure Norma has her beads with her. I went to card making and made arrangements to meet Anne for dinner. I am now trying to send the rest of the pictures from yesterday but internet seems sporadic today. There will be another post about our day on our own in Copenhagen then we will be on the plane home. Hard to believe.
I cannot remember if I mentioned the Scandinavian term for the extremely long days they enjoy from late June through July. They refer to them as White Nights which are so appropriately named. We are still experiencing them and are at last far enough south to enjoy an after midnight sunset if we stay awake long enough.
Something else we found very remarkable was the lack of noise in the cities and towns we visited, unlike at home. We did not hear music blaring from homes or apartments. The Scandinavians, who live in much closer quarters than we do, were considerate of their neighbours. Likewise, drivers did not have their stereos turned up full blast and we were not treated to that thunderous pounding from their cars. Motorcycles purred - their mufflers were very powerful and we were not subject to a lot of revving noise. It was Heaven!
Today we spent the sunny morning on calm seas on our balcony updating the blog, choosing the pictures to go with it and then packing for our debarkation tomorrow morning. We haven't made arrangement for our transfer to the hotel - we hope we can catch a cab outside the pier - but I'll make sure Norma has her beads with her. I went to card making and made arrangements to meet Anne for dinner. I am now trying to send the rest of the pictures from yesterday but internet seems sporadic today. There will be another post about our day on our own in Copenhagen then we will be on the plane home. Hard to believe.
Thursday, 24 July 2014
View from the Top of Mount Dalsnibba
A View of the Fjord at 1500 metres and our Ship
Majestic Mount Dalsnibba and Djupvasshytta Lodge
Woke for the usual reason at 2 a.m. to our first hint of dusk and a hint of what lay in store for us. The skies over the hills and the sea were tinted with pink and lights from the small towns twinkled on the shore. I tore myself away and returned to bed. Norma was up at 4 a.m. and sat bundled up on the balcony watching the scenery until I got up again at 5 a.m. and joined her. I woke up to her excited screams : "Mary Lou, Dolphins!!! and managed to stumble out of bed fast enough to watch five of them cavorting in the ship's wake. (We later learned that they were harbour porpoises.). We managed to get a window table at breakfast while the ship was docked at Hellesylt so didn't miss a thing. (Some people got off the ship here to join overland tours.) We were back on our balcony to enjoy the rest of the trip through the fjord to Geiranger. Geiranger is a small village of 250 permanent residents which can easily swell to 9,000 once cruise ships dock and tourists pile in by car to admire surely the most photographed fjord in Norway. The waters were calm and turquoise in colour. A myriad of waterfalls cascaded from the top of the cliffs into the fjord. Tiny houses clung to the cliff faces. We wondered how they got there. There appeared to be no roads. As we waited for our tour time, we noticed a road switch backing up the side of a cliff with many buses negotiating the steep turns. This, we learned, was the Eagle Road open all year round and the only link to the rest of Norway in the winter.
Once the tour bus started, immediately we began our climb on a road to Oslo which is closed in the winter. We were to climb 1500 metres from sea level to the top of Mount Dalsnibba with a photo stop at 1000 metres. Needless to say, the ride was spectacular as we took so many hairpin turns I lost count. Sometimes it felt that we were hanging over the edge of the cliff. The bus often had to stop along the way to allow other vehicles on their way down to pass. We climbed (in the bus this time) above the tree line to the glacier fields atop the mountains. Once there we joined crowds of other tourists taking pictures of the panoramic 360 degree views. You could see our ship in the harbour. It looked as tiny as a charm on a charm bracelet. Norma resolutely started walking. When I asked her to hold up so someone could take our picture I was told in no uncertain terms: "Mary Lou, we only have 15 minutes and I want to check out the souvenir shop." I followed her into a tiny, very crowded shop with lineups at both cashes and the washrooms. We both started looking around for the most coveted souvenir of the trip. We lost track of each other. Then I spotted the elusive creature that we had been looking for in every souvenir shop in every port of call in Norway. I couldn't find her so I yelled "Norma!" Up she popped. She was so excited she bought two. She said she had checked out that shelf and hadn't seen them. (I think I deserve a finder's fee.) As she waited in line, I gave her some Krona, and left her to make her purchases so that I could admire the view and snap some photos - which is the reason we chose that tour - not to stand in line in a souvenir shop.
Our next stop was at the Lodge for a pastry and a drink of glacier water. Had enough time to dip my toes in the glacier-fed waters before heading back to our ship. Our expected arrival was 15 minutes before the last tender at 3:30 p.m. Just as we got to the outskirts of town, traffic came to a sudden halt. We sat until the last tender was supposed to have left. We noticed our driver on his cell phone and guides from other buses wandering up and down the road. Finally one of the ship's staff boarded the bus to say that the port had gone to Level 2 security and no one was allowed into the town while certain checks were being made and we had to stay on the bus. This wasn't a problem for us as it was very hot and our bus was air conditioned. By the time we got on the last tender, it was close to 5:30 p.m. We sailed a full two hours late. Our captain announced that he was going to try to make up the time. He thinks we will arrive in Copenhagen an hour later than scheduled. Not a problem for us as we have an extra night there before our flight home but some people may be worried about missing their flights.
After all that excitement we finished one bottle of wine before supper, decided on a room- service meal and almost finished another bottle of wine before bed. Tomorrow our last sea day.
P.S. If you haven't already guessed, the coveted souvenirs were exact replicas of a Norwegian Fjord Pony!
Once the tour bus started, immediately we began our climb on a road to Oslo which is closed in the winter. We were to climb 1500 metres from sea level to the top of Mount Dalsnibba with a photo stop at 1000 metres. Needless to say, the ride was spectacular as we took so many hairpin turns I lost count. Sometimes it felt that we were hanging over the edge of the cliff. The bus often had to stop along the way to allow other vehicles on their way down to pass. We climbed (in the bus this time) above the tree line to the glacier fields atop the mountains. Once there we joined crowds of other tourists taking pictures of the panoramic 360 degree views. You could see our ship in the harbour. It looked as tiny as a charm on a charm bracelet. Norma resolutely started walking. When I asked her to hold up so someone could take our picture I was told in no uncertain terms: "Mary Lou, we only have 15 minutes and I want to check out the souvenir shop." I followed her into a tiny, very crowded shop with lineups at both cashes and the washrooms. We both started looking around for the most coveted souvenir of the trip. We lost track of each other. Then I spotted the elusive creature that we had been looking for in every souvenir shop in every port of call in Norway. I couldn't find her so I yelled "Norma!" Up she popped. She was so excited she bought two. She said she had checked out that shelf and hadn't seen them. (I think I deserve a finder's fee.) As she waited in line, I gave her some Krona, and left her to make her purchases so that I could admire the view and snap some photos - which is the reason we chose that tour - not to stand in line in a souvenir shop.
Our next stop was at the Lodge for a pastry and a drink of glacier water. Had enough time to dip my toes in the glacier-fed waters before heading back to our ship. Our expected arrival was 15 minutes before the last tender at 3:30 p.m. Just as we got to the outskirts of town, traffic came to a sudden halt. We sat until the last tender was supposed to have left. We noticed our driver on his cell phone and guides from other buses wandering up and down the road. Finally one of the ship's staff boarded the bus to say that the port had gone to Level 2 security and no one was allowed into the town while certain checks were being made and we had to stay on the bus. This wasn't a problem for us as it was very hot and our bus was air conditioned. By the time we got on the last tender, it was close to 5:30 p.m. We sailed a full two hours late. Our captain announced that he was going to try to make up the time. He thinks we will arrive in Copenhagen an hour later than scheduled. Not a problem for us as we have an extra night there before our flight home but some people may be worried about missing their flights.
After all that excitement we finished one bottle of wine before supper, decided on a room- service meal and almost finished another bottle of wine before bed. Tomorrow our last sea day.
P.S. If you haven't already guessed, the coveted souvenirs were exact replicas of a Norwegian Fjord Pony!
Wednesday, 23 July 2014
Another Relaxing Sea Day
Woke up feeling much better to the sun pouring in the cabin and a balmy breeze blowing. It reminded me of how wonderful it was in SE Asia. Believe it or not, I managed a morning nap that took me to 1:30 p.m. Time flies when you're having fun. Went to the card-making class while Norma had a bath and did some laundry. We plan to attend afternoon tea and trivia but haven't decided about dinner yet. Will either have it on our own in the restaurant or order room service.
Tomorrow, we sail through one of the most photographed fjords on Norway and take what is purported to be, one of the most spectacular drives. We are looking forward to it.
Sent from my iPad
Tomorrow, we sail through one of the most photographed fjords on Norway and take what is purported to be, one of the most spectacular drives. We are looking forward to it.
Sent from my iPad
Tuesday, 22 July 2014
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