May – Jun 2019

CRUISING the BALTIC SEA 2019

We are heading to London; train to Southampton and board Oceania’s Marina for a Baltic Cruise.
It is a 12 day cruise visiting Russia, Finland, Norway, Estonia, Sweden, and Germany. Read more

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Footprints
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Trip start
May 30, 2019
CRUISING the BALTIC SEA 2019 Traveler
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Day 1
Thursday, May 30, 2019 at 5:14 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 1,079 m
Canada Calgary International Airport 51.129558, -114.00395851°7’46” N 114°0’14” W
Leaving Calgary (we hope)
May 30, 2019 in Canada ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Here we go! Or so we thought; slight problem no captain for the plane! He is stuck in Vancouver on a flight that went mechanical. Tom thinks he can fly it but they won’t let him because it is a 787!
So we are waiting....and waiting and waiting. Our Starbucks card is running out of money,
Stay tunedRead more
TravelerDon’t they know Tom can fly ANYTHING!!!!
5/30/19Reply
TravelerHave a great holiday!! Glenn & Dawn
5/31/19Reply
TravelerHave a great trip
5/31/19Reply
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Day 2
Friday, May 31, 2019 at 4:07 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 48 m
England Lord's Cricket Ground 51.5298, -0.169251°31’47” N 0°10’9” W
St John's Wood, London, UK
May 31, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
We made it! After a two hour delay, the pilot finally showed up. He had all the lame excuses covered, airplane went mechanical, slow ATC, sick passenger, you name it. I have used them all and could see right through it. Once Dave got on board we got moving pretty soon and we left the smoke filled skies of Calgary behind us.

Dianne and I sat beside each other and over the course of our conversation she discovered that within the last year, I had lost the universal power adapter we bought on a previous trip. No problem, we could buy a new on from the on board duty free, just like last time. We can buy one, but not without being reminded of all the things I have lost over the past 40 years of flying. The list is long and Dianne rememberers every shirt, sweater, underwear, shoes, glasses, earphones, book, etc. 40 years is a long time and there are going to be some casualties.

We spent the remainder of the day walking. St John’s Wood is a quaint English area. The buildings are old, many have the corner pub ( overflowing on a Friday evening). We walked through Regents Park ( one of Toms favourite walks). We walked down Oxford street sightseeing the high end stores. At the end of the day we had logged over 31,000 steps!

Ladies; as you can see Dianne lost no time finding the elliptical machine to do her workout!Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 8:51 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 48 m
England Lord's Cricket Ground 51.529791, -0.16920151°31’47” N 0°10’9” W
Morning coffee at Regents Park
June 1, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
We went for a walk this morning around St John’s Wood and Regents Park and found a newly erected prison. It is to house a head of state visitor from the U.S. It is a large area, but it is still designed to hold someone incarcerated. Ironically the prison is situated between the zoo and the Grande Mosque of Regents Parker.

Our next excursion is to Southampton via tube and train. Dianne doesn’t trust me to be able to gather all of our belongings before we check out so she is packing our stuff herself.Read more
TravelerYou married a smart woman!
6/5/19Reply
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Day 3
Saturday, June 1, 2019 at 10:58 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 48 m
England Lord's Cricket Ground 51.529812, -0.16923351°31’47” N 0°10’9” W
Off to Southampton
June 1, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Schlepping all my precious possessions from London to Southampton makes me appreciate not being homeless. Dianne being my equal and not one of my possessions means I have a partner in this endeavour. We make our way over road and sidewalk, curb and cobblestone, up and down stairs, in elevators, subways, and trains to our new abode by the sea. I booked the place and I knew that Dianne would critique the “Polygon Villas” eventuality. She started on the train ride by checking online reviews. The news, it seemed was not good. There was several reviews of the Polygon Guest House that rated the place as worse than crap! “Wouldn’t book my cat here”! Well Polygon Guest House is close in proximity to Polygon Villas, but it is an inferior establishment for sure. We have no cats here, a bathroom close by, albeit not in our room, and they are upgrading everything even as we speak. It’s not large but it is centrally located. We have been able to walk everywhere. Still though, Dianne is not entirely happy. Her main complaint is that our closet at home is larger than our room.Read more
Traveler🤣😂we can’t wait for the next chapter!!!!
6/1/19Reply
TravelerI just love reading about your adventures. Have fun!!
6/4/19Reply
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Day 4
Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 8:27 AM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 25 m
England Southampton 50.909392, -1.40902650°54’34” N 1°24’32” W
Morning in Southampton
June 2, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
We wake in our cozy little cubicle to the sounds of church bells close by and by party revellers of the night gone by. There of course is traffic noise that is somewhat soothing. We are sipping a cup of coffee preparing for the next adventure that befalls us.
As we ready ourselves the wonderful aroma of our breakfast being prepared finds its way upstairs. We are new people today. No longer itinerant travellers seeking shelter where we can find it. We are the sheltered, who will be entertained and waited upon. It is easier to write about hard times than a pampered life. Hard times are a more interesting story. We’ll see how this develops.
Our new status means we are taking a cab to the boat.Read more
TravelerThink you should leave the hotel bookings to Dianne!
6/5/19Reply
TravelerCute picture!
6/8/19Reply
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Day 4
Sunday, June 2, 2019 at 11:49 AM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 11 m
England Southampton Cruise Port 50.900486, -1.41516950°54’2” N 1°24’55” W
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Ms Marina
June 2, 2019 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Our boarding was 12 noon. We came at 11 hoping to avoid some crowds. We did,however there were a couple hundred with the same thought. Everything went smooth, check in, security and finally boarding. We checked out the ship, pretty nice. Now we make our way to the restaurant for lunch.

Well it is 5pm and we are off....wait a minute we have gone back to dock!
In the mean time our room is lovely And we are settled in enjoying a beverage and cheese plate.

I like it when there are problems with an operation that isn’t my responsibility. According to the Captain, the wind is too strong to leave the dock, although he did try. We now wait for a tugboat to assist our departure. I guess the aviation equivalent would be getting towed back to the gate because the taxiway is too slippery. Oh well it will soon be time for supper.Read more
Traveler Wow!! Nice room!! Remember our rooms when we went cruising as a family!? 🤣
6/8/19Reply
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Day 5
Monday, June 3, 2019 at 2:30 PM UTC
⛅ 12 °C
Altitude: Sea level
North Sea 54.740845, 5.12187854°44’27” N 5°7’19” E
A day at sea
June 3, 2019, North Sea ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
A day at sea! What to do? The internet doesn’t work well and it is chilly outside. We enjoyed a lazy breakfast in our room and then made our way to the gym. For an exciting afternoon we did laundry (Tom actually did it and I watched)
We have watched many large ships pass us by, and could see the coast of The Netherlands in the distance.

Tonight we are going to Jacques; the French restaurant on board. So we are dressing up and first going to the Captains welcome gathering and then for dinner!

Tomorrow we are going to be in Kristiansand, Norway.Read more
TravelerGlad you have enjoyed jolly ole England. Too bad the weather is a bit chilly. It is lovely here today... but rain on Friday.
6/4/19Reply
TravelerEnjoy your cruise in he Baltics. Some of our favorite places on earth include anywhere in Norway, Tallinn Estonia and Stockholm Sweden. All entirely enchanting. And next time you will have to visit Denmark, a little jewel of a country.
6/4/19Reply
TravelerGreat pictures Dianne and Tom.
6/7/19Reply
TravelerThanks for taking us through the journey of your exciting travels.
6/7/19Reply
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Day 6
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 9:36 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Norway Kristiansand Port 58.145939, 7.99686758°8’45” N 7°59’49” E
Exploring Kristiansand, Norway
June 4, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
At 8am we had docked. We didn’t get ourselves off the boat until about 9:00 and the town centre is only a kilometre from our berth. Not much open early so we walked and saw the sights rather than shop. While looking at a map, a young lady approached and asked if we needed directions. We had no idea of even where we wanted to go but her accent sounded familiar and we asked where she was from. She is from Canada of course, and has lived here for the last 8 years. She gave us directions to the library where we could access free internet and also to a wool shop where we could get everything we needed to knit a sweater. Being courteous Canadians, we followed her to the wool shop.
The town centres around the Kristiansand Cathedral. There is a large town square with sculptures, fountains and monuments. There are also food trucks and kiosks for every trinket you may want.
Posebyen, Kristiansand’s Old Town is a residential area that has kept its charm intact. The homes are low, wooden houses characteristic of a past era.
We went back to the boat for lunch and Dianne found a new way to get free wine. She asked to see the sommelier who provided a list of wine choices. She informed him she had a package, referring to the bottles of wine she purchased from Oceania at the beginning of the cruise. I’m pretty sure she winked at him. There was a rose’ in her bottles of wine, and she ordered a rose’. The sommelier thought the package was the daily drink package for basically unlimited drinks and he poured her a glass of wine without even asking her name. I think it was the wink.Read more
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Day 6
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 1:20 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Norway Duedalen 58.146866, 7.97476558°8’49” N 7°58’29” E
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More exploring...Kristiansand
June 4, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Here are a more pics. The first two are the wharf as we got off the boat.
An artist carving a sand block in the park, Tom enjoying ice cream( apparently a favourite Norwegian pastime.
And the nicest looking McDonalds we have ever seen!Read more
Traveler Lol, your favourite dad ahahah 🍦🍦
6/8/19Reply
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Day 6
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 2:02 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Norway Kristiansand Port 58.146469, 7.99612258°8’47” N 7°59’46” E
still exploring in Kristiansand
June 4, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
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Day 6
Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 2:30 PM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Norway Kristiansand 58.148228, 7.994358°8’54” N 7°59’39” E
Nature Walk In Kristiansand
June 4, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
After lunch we walked to a park called Odderoya where battlements from WWII are installed. We also found an outdoor ropes park.
There is lots of indoor and outdoor activities which include zip-lining, Rock climbing and even free fall jumps! In nicer weather we may have gone to the beach close by.Read more
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Day 7
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 8:31 AM
🌧 8 °C
Altitude: 11 m
Norway Frognerkilen 59.918587, 10.69338159°55’7” N 10°41’36” E
Wet beginnings in Oslo
June 5, 2019 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 8 °C
Ready to greet the day; both Tom and I slept well....slippers well placed to stop closet from rattling, the sea was calm, we drank our chamomile tea and were sound a sleep by 930pm. Jet lag should be dealt with.

It is raining in Oslo, pouring. We are undaunted; coats, raincoats and umbrella in hand we leave the ship. Others watch from their staterooms. It is a good sized brolly and I hold it as it’s heavy. Dianne must stay close in order to keep dry but she complains that I’m either bumping into her or she’s getting wet. We are exploring more than a new city, we are exploring a new dynamic in our relationship.

In our minds, (we are together on this thought) first stop is for coffee and planning! A kind local suggest the bus to the Viking museum! We took our picture of the cathedral first and headed to the bus stop. The new dynamic has us discussing what side of the street to catch the bus. Where to catch it was pretty much mutually agreed upon, but now what side of the street is not. I suggest we cross the street and our bus arrives, only going in the wrong direction. Our bus arrives on the other side of the street and we quickly cross but alas, too late. It comes again in 15 minutes. The rain has not let up and we’re relieved to be finally riding the bus.Read more
TravelerThink it always rains in Oslo. In times of lousy weather it’s never a good idea to debate which side of the road to catch the bus. Moral of the story, Dianne knows best!
6/6/19Reply
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Day 7
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 12:30 PM
🌧 9 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Norway Kieneodden 59.908796, 10.69510359°54’32” N 10°41’42” E
Oslo - Vikings
June 5, 2019 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 9 °C
Our destination is the Viking Ship Museum. We have a city map and get off our city bus just after three charter bus loads of tourists arrive at the museum. Piss me off. At least the rain is just a drizzle. We wind our way through the throngs of people, stash our backpacks, buy tickets.

The Vikings made good ships, and the museum does an excellent portrayal of the Viking life. The Viking ship in the photo is the Oseberg Ship, built around 820. In 834 the ship used as a burial ship for 2 powerful women.

The rain stopped so we walk to the Kon Tiki museum. It is a portrayal of a more modern day Viking, Thor Heyerdahl. Google him for more info.

On the bus again. I listened to Dianne so we got on at the right spot first time. Off to the Nobel Peace Museum.Read more
TravelerGlad to see you are a quick learner Tom!
6/6/19Reply
TravelerNow you know why they built those longboats. To get away from all that rain.
6/6/19Reply
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Day 7
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 3:31 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 26 m
Norway Prinds Christian Augusts Minde 59.914545, 10.75221959°54’52” N 10°45’8” E
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Oslo - Nobel Peace Center
June 5, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
A bit disappointing here. Not sure what we expected but maybe the closure of a large part of the Centre has something to do with it. I think Lester B Pearson is the only Canadian recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.

On our way back to the ship we cut through Akershus Fortress.Read more
Traveler Are the fish and chips as good as they are in the UK?
6/7/19Reply
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Day 7
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 at 6:00 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Norway Skarpsno 59.91422, 10.69922659°54’51” N 10°41’57” E
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Oslo - back to the ship
June 5, 2019 in Norway ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
After walking through the fortress we were basically back at the pier.

Two pieces of art interested us, The first being "Stickman"
The 2nd being - “We are Still the Same”- some 1200 shirts that were worn by people in Oslo and Finland. Artist K. Kaikkonen “ in every shirt there is a story, because someone with a warm heart was wearing it. All kind of people are together here, but we are all the same, we are no wiser than fish. We still act like fish, always going off in a group, following each other in the same direction, like a shoal of fish. We are part of nature, and nature is within us.”Read more
Traveler NOT Stickman!!
6/7/19Reply
TravelerDianne, if Tom were a fish what fish would he be?
6/7/19Reply
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Day 8
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 8:05 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Denmark Christiansborg Palace 55.676594, 12.58168455°40’36” N 12°34’54” E
We are in Denmark
June 6, 2019 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Today, we booked a tour with SPB. Our guide Paul was just outside the ship as promised. The group was small, 20. It is a gorgeous day. Our first stop is in the harbour of The Little Mermaid. Paul gives us the details of the story but it ends badly.
Our next stop is the canal. This we where we saw the Queens yacht and the special meeting spot for the family to to board the yacht. However the most interesting story here was the army jeeps decorated with vines, flowers and balloons. It is high school grad! The tradition is for the grads who have gone to school together ride to each other’s homes, drinking and partying and finally ending up in the town square to dance around the monument. Sadly this is a picture I missed!
We next stopped at the Royal Family’s home. It is nice, maybe a little understated but then we weren’t invited inside. After that we put on blue booties and walked through another Royal residence; Christiansborg Palace and is where state dinners and meetings are attended. Magnificent, every room is decorated different but so elegant. The dining room table holds 52 people; imagine setting that table! The history of the Danish royals are depicted everywhere; tapestries, pictures, chandeliers and paintings.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 12:01 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Denmark Belvederekanal 55.653824, 12.54578155°39’14” N 12°32’45” E
Christiansborg Palace
June 6, 2019 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
The rugs are so nice they hang them on the wall. Then they call them tapestries. High ceilings and nice hardwood floors. This place has burned down so many times that they started buying second hand chandeliers. Now it is made of stone on the exterior, so not as likely to get torched.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 12:28 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 3 m
Denmark Telia Parken 55.706195, 12.56981555°42’22” N 12°34’11” E
stuff from the palace
June 6, 2019 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
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Day 8
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 2:00 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 16 m
Denmark Frederiksholms Kanal 55.674473, 12.57306755°40’28” N 12°34’23” E
Free time in Copenhagen
June 6, 2019 in Denmark ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Left to our own devices for a while, we start by trying to locate a washroom that does not charge money to pee. It’s easy. We locate nearby a nice washroom in the heart of the city, that a homeless person would be pleased to make his or her permanent address. This speaks well of the Dutch.

Walking through narrow cobblestone street for the next half hour, we hope to get the perfect picture to represent Copenhagen. Might have to buy a postcard.Read more
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Day 8
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 5:59 PM
⛅ 23 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Denmark Christianshavns Kanal 55.662182, 12.59255355°39’44” N 12°35’33” E
Last stop on tour
June 6, 2019 in Denmark ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
We are out of Danish Kroner so we call it a day.

7 out of 10 people commute by bicycle! The last picture is a parking lot for bikes!
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Day 8
Thursday, June 6, 2019 at 6:12 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Denmark Tivoli Gardens 55.675543, 12.57015455°40’32” N 12°34’13” E
Pina coladas and mojitos Denmark style
June 6, 2019 in Denmark ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
TravelerWe love your photos, safe travels! Yoly and Al.
6/8/19Reply
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Day 9
Friday, June 7, 2019 at 8:12 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Germany Pinnengraben 54.170535, 12.08902654°10’14” N 12°5’20” E
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Train to Rostock, Germany
June 7, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Dianne drags me out again today to see Germany. I’ve seen Germany before so I’m dragging my heels a bit and soon I get a talking to about my attitude.

And I made Grumpy smile too! He got a train ride to Rostock and a tram ride too! How good does it get?Read more
Traveler You guys look awesome!!
6/8/19Reply
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Day 9
Friday, June 7, 2019 at 10:30 AM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Germany Pinnengraben 54.168999, 12.088554°10’8” N 12°5’19” E
Hanging around Rostock
June 7, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Turns out I’m glad Dianne got me going to Rostock. It is a very walkable walled city with at least five significant churches. It was in the Eastern Bloc before the fall of the wall and I’m surprised at how similar it is to German cities I’ve visited like Mainz and Heidelberg. Clean, organized, nice transportation system, I thought the differences would be more apparent.Read more
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Day 9
Friday, June 7, 2019 at 11:45 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Germany Wende-Becken 54.168999, 12.08666754°10’8” N 12°5’12” E
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Still Rostock
June 7, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
This is where Tom did the shopping. He wanted cookies, real bad. We went to many stores and he didn’t see what he wanted. So back at the open air market, he found the best selection, most delicious and most expensive cookies!
It’s true, my cookies were expensive and that bummed me our for a while. I paid 10 euro for a small box. I thought I would get some change but he just pocketed my 10 and smiled. I’m over it now though, they are good cookies.Read more
Traveler If these were your cookies, they don’t look too appetizing.
6/12/19Reply
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Day 9
Friday, June 7, 2019 at 11:55 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 5 m
Germany Alter Strom 54.171333, 12.08916354°10’17” N 12°5’21” E
so much to see in Rostock
June 7, 2019 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
We walked and walked...basically followed the city wall around Rostock back to New Market.
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