WARNEMUNDE, GERMANY
This is a resort town where one can find vacationers from all across Germany coming to this seaport town go park their RV's, rent condos, hotels or camping spots. This is a very clean looking town with many shops, cafes and souvineers.
We left our ship and walked along the dock and sidewalks into the city. We soon found ourselves admiring a bakery showcase full of pastry goodies. In spite of the giant Fly crawling around inside on top of the sugar coated/glazed pasteries, we partook and chased it down with stout coffee. We also enjoyed their slow, but free, WIFI for a few minutes to catch up on email and dabble in social media.
We walked around and browsed a few shops and surveyed a tall tower that one could climb for two Euros, while Nancy and Debby frantically searched for Euro change so they could use the pay-before-you-go toilet.
We walked out onto a boardwalk towards the beach. A man was busy sweeping the sand off the walkway, a seemingly endless job. Debby and Nancy opted to go out a ways and sit on the sand and look out across a sea of empty beach chairs at the Baltic. I watched Nancy rearrange a place in the sand to comfortably fit her, before I walked back out towards the shops to see an arrangement of flags. Ron came with me.
I must say that I am partial to the beaches in Oregon. We have some of the most gorgeous stretches of beach that rivals none other. There is no privatizing our beaches like in Europe. So you will not find roped off areas of oceanfront sand filled with lounge chairs and umbrellas for rent. Yea! for us!!
The walk back along the canal was bustling with people! Apparently many tourists on holiday slept in as long as possible. Many of our cruise passengers took the 3-hour train ride to Berlin and spent 4 or 5 hours seeing the sights. We chose to not do that because we spent 4 or 5 days there just 4 years ago.
AND...on this day in WARNEMUNDE in 1964, nothing happened. Same as today. 🤔
Friday, September 9, 2016
Leaving Oslo, late evening, we sailed towards Germany. Day 3 was spent at sea doing various activities aboard ship. I was up just after 0500, having food and coffee from my window seat, watching the sun come up. Debby soon joined me on deck for the sunrise. Ron and Nancy slept in for a few more hours.
The day at sea was relaxing. I had great massage in the Spa. Our evening dinner was a "dress up" occasion enjoying fine dining and great food. Afterwards we grabbed some blankets and lounged on deck to watch STAR WARS on the big screen.
Still at sea throughout the night, we finally docked at the resort town of Warnemunde, Germany about 0700. I was on deck having coffee and making sure the Captain parked this rig okay. Not needing my help, I returned to our Stateroom for a dry roll and more coffee.
There would be an excursion train taking many b of our passengers to Berlin, a 6 hour round trip event. We opted to not go to Berlin, as we spent 4 days there a few years ago. Instead, we would explore Warnemunde today.
The day at sea was relaxing. I had great massage in the Spa. Our evening dinner was a "dress up" occasion enjoying fine dining and great food. Afterwards we grabbed some blankets and lounged on deck to watch STAR WARS on the big screen.
Still at sea throughout the night, we finally docked at the resort town of Warnemunde, Germany about 0700. I was on deck having coffee and making sure the Captain parked this rig okay. Not needing my help, I returned to our Stateroom for a dry roll and more coffee.
There would be an excursion train taking many b of our passengers to Berlin, a 6 hour round trip event. We opted to not go to Berlin, as we spent 4 days there a few years ago. Instead, we would explore Warnemunde today.
OSLO, NORWAY
We boarded the Princess yesterday afternoon and pulled away from Copenhagen about 6:30 PM. We docked in Oslo, Norway about 10:30 AM after traveling all night.. unfortunately the cruise ship The Queen Mary got here first, taking the best docking station.
We disembarked and made our price way to the Hop On zhop Off city sightseeing Bus. We rode the bus the complete circuit times two.
Oslo is a modern city with people who look and smell much like us. There were many people out and about, filling the parks and checking g out the events around town. There were also two other cruise ships in port.
The Viking Museum was fun to see. It housed old rowing boats, carts, sleighs and many other articles once used by the Vikings.
The Vigeland Sculpture Park sported 212 bronze and marble sculptures that depicts the nakedness of man and shown as being active in various events and family life. This was the work of one sculpted: 212 sculptures over a 20-year period of time. Quite unique, this is the largest collection of sculptures by one man, in the world.
There was some kind of Pokémon Go event going on inside the park. Dozens, if not hundreds, of kids (and a few adults) were looking for Pokémon's. It was a screeming frenzy of excited children running from one place to another.....much like what's happening with my grandkids! The same was happening in Copenhagen. I guess kids are much alike no matter where they are living!
It was nearly 11:00 PM when we disembarked and left Norway.
We boarded the Princess yesterday afternoon and pulled away from Copenhagen about 6:30 PM. We docked in Oslo, Norway about 10:30 AM after traveling all night.. unfortunately the cruise ship The Queen Mary got here first, taking the best docking station.
We disembarked and made our price way to the Hop On zhop Off city sightseeing Bus. We rode the bus the complete circuit times two.
Oslo is a modern city with people who look and smell much like us. There were many people out and about, filling the parks and checking g out the events around town. There were also two other cruise ships in port.
The Viking Museum was fun to see. It housed old rowing boats, carts, sleighs and many other articles once used by the Vikings.
The Vigeland Sculpture Park sported 212 bronze and marble sculptures that depicts the nakedness of man and shown as being active in various events and family life. This was the work of one sculpted: 212 sculptures over a 20-year period of time. Quite unique, this is the largest collection of sculptures by one man, in the world.
There was some kind of Pokémon Go event going on inside the park. Dozens, if not hundreds, of kids (and a few adults) were looking for Pokémon's. It was a screeming frenzy of excited children running from one place to another.....much like what's happening with my grandkids! The same was happening in Copenhagen. I guess kids are much alike no matter where they are living!
It was nearly 11:00 PM when we disembarked and left Norway.
Our first full day in Copenhagen was frought with trying to figure out how to use the kiosks to get train tickets, reading non-scaled maps for determining walking distances, and understanding the language, tho many English speaking Danish-kins are eager to help. (Is "Danish-kins" even a word?) We started our morning with a visit to a local bakery inside the huge next door mall and a sit down coffee inside Starbucks.
Ron and I quickly grasped the monetary exchange rates but the girls had difficulty with the math. One Danish Krone equals 15 cents....or 7 to 1...pretty easy. But things are expensive enough. A burger at Burger King runs about $12. Gasoline is about $7/gallon. A sit down meal costs above $20 (for even a beef burger and fries!).
We thoroughly enjoyed the canal ride and open air water taxi, hop on/hop off and seeing the city from gorgeously blue water. Nudism is quite acceptable here, which created a few embarrassing moments for those of us not accustomed to seeing that. Even nude sunbathers at water taxi stops did not appear concerned with boat loads of tourists with cameras! This was one of those times when this half blind codger's eye condition came in handy! Ha Ha! Some of that stuff you DON'T WANT TO SEE!! 😅😅
Tivoli Gardens has vastly improved since my first trip to Copenhagen in May of 1968, but that was 48 years ago! Hard to believe it's been that long! But it's every bit as beautiful as I remember...and more. It's certainly moderniźed with more exotic rides, restaurants. The entertainment is much the same. In fact, the Pantomime Theatre still has the same act that it has always had since it opened! Makes me want to go home and dig out my old Kodachrome slides and check it out!
We came in late because we enjoyed the night lights of Tivoli so much. We did leave just before the Laser Light show at 10:45 as we didn't want to fight hordes of people for a taxi!
Today we are taking the train and Bus 86 to see the Little Mermaid, Copenhagen's iconic statue. But first, a sweet roll and Starbucks was more important.
Later, as we stood looking down at the Little Mermaid, I struck up a conversation with a lady who seemed very knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. She was a codger, like me.
Ron and I quickly grasped the monetary exchange rates but the girls had difficulty with the math. One Danish Krone equals 15 cents....or 7 to 1...pretty easy. But things are expensive enough. A burger at Burger King runs about $12. Gasoline is about $7/gallon. A sit down meal costs above $20 (for even a beef burger and fries!).
We thoroughly enjoyed the canal ride and open air water taxi, hop on/hop off and seeing the city from gorgeously blue water. Nudism is quite acceptable here, which created a few embarrassing moments for those of us not accustomed to seeing that. Even nude sunbathers at water taxi stops did not appear concerned with boat loads of tourists with cameras! This was one of those times when this half blind codger's eye condition came in handy! Ha Ha! Some of that stuff you DON'T WANT TO SEE!! 😅😅
Tivoli Gardens has vastly improved since my first trip to Copenhagen in May of 1968, but that was 48 years ago! Hard to believe it's been that long! But it's every bit as beautiful as I remember...and more. It's certainly moderniźed with more exotic rides, restaurants. The entertainment is much the same. In fact, the Pantomime Theatre still has the same act that it has always had since it opened! Makes me want to go home and dig out my old Kodachrome slides and check it out!
We came in late because we enjoyed the night lights of Tivoli so much. We did leave just before the Laser Light show at 10:45 as we didn't want to fight hordes of people for a taxi!
Today we are taking the train and Bus 86 to see the Little Mermaid, Copenhagen's iconic statue. But first, a sweet roll and Starbucks was more important.
Later, as we stood looking down at the Little Mermaid, I struck up a conversation with a lady who seemed very knowledgeable and interesting to talk to. She was a codger, like me.
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
Copenhagen or Bust
You might not think that an overnight plane ride to NYC with a short stop in Boston, then making connections for an International flight out of Newark could rack up over 6500 steps, but it certainly did! Stalking planes, trains, trams all day to get us to our final flight out of the U.S. of A. made for a long, hard day!
We had time to make a stop in Manhatten to have lunch with our beautiful Niece, Andrea Williams, inside Penn Station. Priceless!
Catching a train over to Newark took us inside the air terminal for International flights. We soon met up with our good friends, Ron and Nancy Pinkerton, from NW Arkansas. They have been life-long friends for many years. We love traveling with them and have had many adventures together. Although they are younger, you wouldn't know it by looking. 😁
We made it through Security without a hitch or a glitch... somewhat out of the ordinary for us! Only thing was that my perfectly packed carry-on entered the ominous scanner but never exited. The conveyor belt continued to convey but wouldn't spit out my bag. It seems as if ATF or FBI, TSA or whoever, pulled it wanting to explore it's contents and swipe it for explosives residue. I guess that's what an electronics loving half blind guy gets for hauling in charging cords, transformers, adaptors, two flashlights and a box of batteries.
Lufthansa was running late and we feared connecting with our next leg out of Munich to Copenhagen, as there was only a 20-minute window to change planes. Good thing the pilot put the pedal to the metal! We shall see. We did land on time. Our connecting gate however, was a MILE POINT 2 away from where we landed...not to mention a Passport security checkpoint in between! There were still a few people in the boarding line as we panted from our 35 minute workout, resulting in much heavy breathing through the turnstile. The kids I'm traveling with were worn out!
We managed to actually find our way to our hotel in Copenhagen. Our reservations were a little messed up and and we ended up in a dormatory style hotel room. Our tiny room has .... get this.....BUNK BEDS! (NTS: Use caution when making online reservations....even at $120 a night). 😂😂 But now, a hot shower, clean up and a quick nap before dinner.
Dinner was good. About a half block away is a HUGE indoor, multilevel shopping mall, with a very large food court, sporting restaurants and several American food places like KFC, Burger King and others. But no Cracker Barrel or Chic FIL A or anything really good like that.
Back to the Cabinn Metro Hotel to crash and burn. After 16 hours of traveling through two nights and 6 or 7 time zones, we are ready to hibernate
.....even on bunk beds!
Mike
You might not think that an overnight plane ride to NYC with a short stop in Boston, then making connections for an International flight out of Newark could rack up over 6500 steps, but it certainly did! Stalking planes, trains, trams all day to get us to our final flight out of the U.S. of A. made for a long, hard day!
We had time to make a stop in Manhatten to have lunch with our beautiful Niece, Andrea Williams, inside Penn Station. Priceless!
Catching a train over to Newark took us inside the air terminal for International flights. We soon met up with our good friends, Ron and Nancy Pinkerton, from NW Arkansas. They have been life-long friends for many years. We love traveling with them and have had many adventures together. Although they are younger, you wouldn't know it by looking. 😁
We made it through Security without a hitch or a glitch... somewhat out of the ordinary for us! Only thing was that my perfectly packed carry-on entered the ominous scanner but never exited. The conveyor belt continued to convey but wouldn't spit out my bag. It seems as if ATF or FBI, TSA or whoever, pulled it wanting to explore it's contents and swipe it for explosives residue. I guess that's what an electronics loving half blind guy gets for hauling in charging cords, transformers, adaptors, two flashlights and a box of batteries.
Lufthansa was running late and we feared connecting with our next leg out of Munich to Copenhagen, as there was only a 20-minute window to change planes. Good thing the pilot put the pedal to the metal! We shall see. We did land on time. Our connecting gate however, was a MILE POINT 2 away from where we landed...not to mention a Passport security checkpoint in between! There were still a few people in the boarding line as we panted from our 35 minute workout, resulting in much heavy breathing through the turnstile. The kids I'm traveling with were worn out!
We managed to actually find our way to our hotel in Copenhagen. Our reservations were a little messed up and and we ended up in a dormatory style hotel room. Our tiny room has .... get this.....BUNK BEDS! (NTS: Use caution when making online reservations....even at $120 a night). 😂😂 But now, a hot shower, clean up and a quick nap before dinner.
Dinner was good. About a half block away is a HUGE indoor, multilevel shopping mall, with a very large food court, sporting restaurants and several American food places like KFC, Burger King and others. But no Cracker Barrel or Chic FIL A or anything really good like that.
Back to the Cabinn Metro Hotel to crash and burn. After 16 hours of traveling through two nights and 6 or 7 time zones, we are ready to hibernate
.....even on bunk beds!
Mike
Monday, August 22, 2016
To Germany
Leaving Oslo, late evening, we sailed towards Germany. Day 3 was spent at sea doing various activities aboard ship. I was up just after 0500, having food and coffee from my window seat, watching the sun come up. Debby soon joined me on deck for the sunrise. Ron and Nancy slept in for a few more hours.
The day at sea was relaxing. I had a great massage in the Spa. Our evening dinner was a "dress up" occasion enjoying fine dining and great food. Afterwards we grabbed some blankets and lounged on deck to watch STAR WARS on the big screen.
Still at sea throughout the night, we finally docked at the resort town of Warnemunde, Germany about 0700. I was on deck having coffee and making sure the Captain parked this rig okay. Not needing my help, I returned to our Stateroom for a dry roll and more coffee.
There would be an excursion train taking many b of our passengers to Berlin, a 6 hour round trip event. We opted to not go to Berlin, as we spent 4 days there a few years ago. Instead, we would explore Warnemunde today.
Thursday, August 11, 2016
All packed and ready to go!
My Friends,
We are only 3 days away from the first leg of our trip to Europe! Airline tickets have been purchased to Copenhagen via NYC. Looking forward to seeing my awesome Niece, Andrea Williams, perhaps having lunch with her on Monday! In NYC we meet up with our favorite traveling companions, Ron and Nancy Pinkerton, as we begin a new chapter of traveling for the next two months.
Monday night we catch the Red Eye to Copenhagen, Denmark. I haven't been there since 1968! We will sightsee the area for the next three days.
From Copenhagen, we board a Princess Cruise ship for an 11 day boat ride on the Baltic to Sweden, Finland Norway, Estonia and St Petersburg, Russia. That should be fun!
Back to Copenhagen and we catch a flight to Budapest, Hungary. After three days in town we board the Viking River Cruise ship for a little 8 day ride down the Danube through Vienna and into Germany. Looking forward to docking most every day to tour amazing cities and sample tasty cuisine along the way.
After 3 weeks of resting, if we aren't tired yet, we grab a rental and drive to Oberamagau, Gernany, near Garmisch - Partenkirchen (my favorite place in the world since 1967). A few days later we drive near Interlaken, Switzerland where we have rented a .......now get this .....Wait for it .........Wait for it....a two bedroom camper, parked on the lakefront! Is that crazy, or what??
A few days later we drive to Milan, Italy to catch a flight to Tirana, Albania where a long time friend will pick us up and take us to Lushnje. Tom Bonner is our Missionary friend and fellow contender in the Faith, from our church in Gresham, OR. We have known Tom since 1974 when we lived in Hood River. It will be good to see him and spend a couple of days in his element.
Back to Milan to catch a train to Manarola, Cinque Terre, Italy where we have rented an apartment barely a stone's throw from the awesome blue water of the Mediterranean Sea. Three weeks of this life and we fly back to New York.
But wait! There's more! 3 or 4 days later Deb and I catch a train to Vermont to check out the Fall colors!
My Debby is my very own personal Travel Agent. She has spent several months putting all this together. This is the trip we have chosen to celebrate our 45th Wedding Anniversary, Debby's Retirement and my 70th Birthday!
I will be writing blogs and posting photos on www.mikeanddebby.blogspot.com, if you want to follow us. Or, try Googling us at "Where in the World are Mike and Debby?"
Happy Trails!
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