THE trip

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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Finnsness
September 8, 2017 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 13 °C
Small port, short stop. Hard to b believe from the scenery that we are well above the arctic circle, near 70º North latitude.
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Tromso
September 8, 2017 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Largest city in northern Norway. Two "cathedrals." The Domkirke which us the only cathedral in Norway built of wood and the so-called Artic Cathedral with one oftge largest stained glass mosaics anywhere. For you purists, I found no cathedra at the arctic church.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Finnmark
September 9, 2017 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Northern most county in Norway. Today it looks and feel more like the artic, at least on the water. Walking in Honningsvag today in shirt sleeves at 71º North latitude in September is I'd unusual. That last pic is the view from the quay in Honningsvag. Now we head out into the Barents Sea. Could make the ride interesting.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Finnkirche
September 9, 2017 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Unique natural formation on the north coast of Norway that resembles a church. We we're told that this was a site for sacrificial worship for the ancient Sami people. The pics are hard to see as the sun was at about the worst possible angle.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Nordkyn
September 9, 2017 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 8 °C
Northernmost point of land in continental Europe. Amazingly stark and barren. As soon as we past the Nordkyn, the Barent Sea became a lot rougher, more like the reputation I thought it had
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Rovaniemi
September 12, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C
Small town in North central Finland. Administrative center for Finnish Lapland. Labels itself Santa's home town. I didn't visit any of the Santa stuff, though there is plenty here. Pics are of the town. The cable stayed bridge, called Lumberjack's Candle because of the lights on the towers, has become a symbol for the town. There is a pic of the river and of Lordes Square, the center of town. The most interesting place is the Arkticum, a museum and science center focused on all things arctic.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Oulu
September 15, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
City at the north end of the Gulf of Bothynia, the body of water between Finland and Sweden. The Market Patrolman statue stands outside the central market and has become a symbol for Oulu. The city spreads over several islands that make up the delta where the Oulujoki River empties into the Gulf. Lots of parks and paths leading to the beach. One pic of the beach on the Gulf and a typical path through the parks. The little statues outside city hall are the work of one artist and show the "Course of Time." The first statue is King Charles IX who ordered the founding of Oulu. The last is a child depicting the future. The 2nd statue is titled Pastor. I have to smile about that one. (See the last pic for the king and pastor.) The rest are images of people and their work over timeRead more
Arija RestbergsI'm surprised the leave are not turning color? Here in Lowman/Elmira you are seeing orange and yelllows now. Give it two more weeks and this area will be in full color. Autumn is early this year!
9/16/17Reply
skip's retirement travelIts only this week when I've seen highs in the 40s, and it is supposed to be 55 again today.
9/17/17Reply
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Tampere
September 18, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
A few pics around town. Including the first signs of fall I've noticed
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
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Turku
September 19, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
More interesting city. Former capital, seat of the Lutheran church in Finland. Major cultural center.
Arija Restbergs Looks like you ran into rainy weather?
9/20/17Reply
skip's retirement travel Yes, but more drizzle the real rain
9/20/17Reply
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Turku cathedral
September 19, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C
13th century building. Largest Lutheran church in Finland and mother church for the nation. There are pics of the ceiling and some of the frescoes in the chancel. Notice that the crucifix is headless. There is another without arms, both dating back to around the founding of the church.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Sibelius Museum
September 19, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Great place. Listened to a lot of Sibelius' music. They also have a large collection of collection of musical instruments from around the world. I spent a couple hours here. This doesn't do justice, but since this isn't an audio log, there isn't much chance.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Turku castle
September 19, 2017 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 7 °C
Best castle I've seen. Took me 2 1/2 hours and that included short changing some stuff. The tour is in 3 sections--the medieval castle, the renaissance castle and the bailey. That is basically the original, some modifications and additions. The bailey is now a museum. The buildfing has been restored and is very well done.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
St Isaac's cathedral
September 21, 2017 in Russia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Another church. From the outside, this looks more western than Russian. But inside it is clearly Russian Orthodox.
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Saint Petersburg
September 21, 2017 in Russia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
This is one beautiful city. 6 pics can't do justice to this. So there will be lots of posts. In this one, the first is the building where I'm staying--a 19th century, tsarist building. Not bad, and the unit is recently redone. Then the Winter Palace, the Alexander Column (commemorating Czar Alexander and his defeat of Napoleon). Then part of the Hermitage, Peter and Paul cathedral within the fortress of the same name, and a building along one of the canals. Amazingly beautiful.Read more
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Church of savior in the spilled blood
September 21, 2017 in Russia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
This is the most Russian place I've seen so far in this highly European city. All of the art--walls and ceiling-- is mosaics, except the altar screen and a couple icons. The last pic is a commemoration of the spot where Czar Alexander II was assassinated, hence the spilled blood reference in the name. The mosaics are mind blowing.Read more
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Peterhof
September 22, 2017 in Russia ⋅ 🌬 14 °C
While the building is stunning, the real stars of this place are the fountains. I hope all the gold stands out in the pics. The grounds are huge. I walked for almost 2 hours and didn't come close to seeing it all. The 1st pic is the main palace. Except that there are wings both sides you can't see that are almost as big as what you can see. The 2nd pic is the main fountain, and the 3rd is from the top of the fountain, looking back toward the bay of Finland. The others give a sense of some of the property, except for all the wooded landRead more
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St Isaac's colonade.
September 22, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
This is around the outside of the dome and is supposed to be the only place to get a view over the city. I was uncomfortable with the height, especially when the wind cane up and was buffeting me around. But I got some pics. The 1st is the Winter Palace. The 2nd and 3rd look over the city toward the gulf of Finland. Then another look at the savior in the spilled blood church. Finally, a couple of the decorations on the building.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Hermitage
September 24, 2017 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
One of the world's great museums. Shown are a DaVinci, Michelangelo, Rembrandt, phoenix clock and a venus. The Winter Palace is now part of the Hermitage. Spent 2 1/2 hours, and barely scratched the surface.
I note that my phone was stolen. This i8s an alternate way to post. I hoe it works.Read more
Arija RestbergsIt did a very nice job
9/24/17Reply
Arija RestbergsSorry to hear your phone was stolen. The new i8s is suppose to be awesome. So far the picture you have taken are great
9/24/17Reply
Arija RestbergsOpps it midnite sorry
9/24/17Reply
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul
September 24, 2017 in Russia ⋅ 🌙 9 °C
Located in the fortress of the same name and is how St. Petersburg got started--when Peter the Great decided he needed a seaport on the Baltic. Both Greats--Peter and Catherine--are interred here (the last picture). Orthodex churches have no pews. You either stand or kneel for the service. The royal "box" with the seal on velvet has no seat, either. Also, this is the first pulpit in an Orthodox churchRead more
Arija RestbergsI'm still amazes with all the gold leaf that are in the churches. When I was in Europe in 69 I thought they -the churches were the richest people in the world -- little did I know. Lol
9/24/17Reply
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Yaroslavl
September 29, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
Ancient city (founded 1010) at the confluence of the Volga with a major tributary. Part of the Golden Circle around Moscow. Pics are of the park at the confluence (If you've been to Pittsburgh, this will look similar.), the Church of Elijah the Prophet (exterior), Church of St Nicholas (interior pics).Read more
Arija Restbergs Uuuuuuu it look wet and very cold
10/8/17Reply
skip's retirement travel A lot of the weather was like that--overcast, dreary, but not too much rain
10/11/17Reply
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Uglich
September 29, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Be sure to pronounce it OOg-lich. Another old tow with important history. Ivan the Terrible came here during his brief abdication. Pics are the palace of crown prince Demitry, the Transfiguration cathedral, the Church of St. Demitrius on the Blood, built on the spot where crown prince Demrity (now St. Demetrius) was killed by Boris Gudanov. And finally a museum where we were treated to a short concert by a small Russian men's choir.Read more
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Yaroslavl 2
September 29, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C
The former governor's palace, now a museum. All the young women guides present themselves as daughters of the governor (using real names and costumes, staying in character). Here we were met my a chamber trio (piano, violin and cello) who played. Then they accompanied the girls demonstrating period dances. Eventually, some of the folks on the cruise joined in, especially when they got to the waltz.Read more
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Folk Show
October 5, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Cossack dancing. Good show. Excellent Russian singing and energetic dancers
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
Catherine's Palace
October 5, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ☁️ 9 °C
Summer palace of the czars, built by Catherine I. (Catherine the Great was Catherine II. She remodeled part of this.) Spectacular (maybe even gaudy) palace used only in the summer. Some of the gardens are shown too.Read more
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THE trip skip's retirement travel
mandrogui
October 7, 2017 in Russia ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
Mandrogui is really more of a living museum. Only a few folks live here, mostly local artisans.. It features a collection of old wooden houses that have been moved here, to show what a traditional Russian village resembled in the past. There is a vodka museum here (that I didn't visit), but I did have an unbelievably good pierogi. We also had an onshore picnic with Russian shish-ke-bob called shashlik. There is also ongoing restoration work.Read more
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