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Northern Europe 2024
  • Dean Parham
  • Dean Parham

Northern Europe 2024

A 37-day adventure by Dean Read more
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  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    Lack of vegetation as we near the Arctic Circle1

    All at sea...again

    August 22, 2024 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 18 °C

    First up, the Tour Director is to be commended (highly) for organising the dinner last night at a Michelin recognised (bib?) restaurant. The food was superb - fabulous bread and butter, partly cured and smoked trout, duck, rich chocolate with cherry sorbet. Next level yum.
    This morning we had breakfast (Ukrainian cake) at a cafe and then went our separate ways as Sue wanted to see inside the cathedral and Dean has problems with paying money to go into a church. Anyway it was quite the experience for Sue. She was very impressed.
    Late morning, we boarded another ship headed north up the Norwegian coast. It's a vessel that delivers mail and stuff to towns in less accessible places. It's not the luxury of the Viking ship but seems pretty good. There are 320 passengers on board.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    Artic Circle marker
    One of the portsThe ship sails pretty close to the coastline1On the islandVolcano! Not really. Just cloud

    Into the Arctic Circle

    August 24, 2024 in Norway ⋅ 🌧 17 °C

    We sailed through the Arctic Circle. There was no line across the water, as on the maps (evidently washed away) or thud as we hit ice. Actually, all the guides on the whole trip have been saying how temperatures are moderated by the Gulf Stream.
    The ship only stops 10-15 minutes in most ports to offload stuff. But it did stop for a couple of hours at Bodo, which gave us enough time for a not-so-exciting wander around in the rain.
    Sailing further, we diverted out to the Lofoten Islands, where we got off the ship and took an excursion bus to the ship's next port of call. A bit weird going out from 7:15pm for 3 hours but still enough light and some stunning scenery. Sue's photos will come in another post.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    The Arctic Cathedral
    1Warming the streets for winterThe architectually-curious hotel we stayed in

    Tromso

    August 25, 2024 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We got off the boat at Tromso, a city of about 80,000, claiming to be the capital of the north. It also features rain.
    We went to a museum expecting a photographic history of Tromso, only to find an exhibition of Finnish wooden pre-fab houses exported around the world (interesting) and stuff from a writer/artist (not).
    The Polar Museum with its tales of ventures to the North Pole and over-wintering in Svalbard was quite captivating.
    The weather took a turn for the worse with wind gales. We stayed in the hotel for dinner - pizzas made by trolls.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    The 'Bridge of Spies' where they exchanged captured spies

    Berlin

    August 26, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Now in Berlin with Ilona and Mitch (although yet to see Mitch as he's working). And it is warm, sunny and still!!!!
    We flew from Tromso to Oslo, where we waited and waited for the flight to Berlin. It was getting late by the time we made it into the city from the airport but it was a thrill to see Ilona's smiling face.
    Today we took a train out to Wannsee and did a leisurely boat cruise around the lakes out there. Then a German sausage and a potato salad for lunch at a nearby beer garden. And, gee, didn't the prices seem reasonable!    Read more

  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    Cafe Tinto where drinks that cost $20+ in Norway were $4-

    Another day in Berlin

    August 27, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    There's quite a contrast between Norway and Berlin:
    Order - chaos
    Clean - grungy
    Homogeneous, pretty straight population - all types, individuals, more crazies
    Regulated - more liberal
    A bit of civic restraint - buildings on a scale.
    But, after a few visits, Berlin seems familiar and likeable.
    So this morning we went t-shirt shopping for Sue. She had found that someone had swapped a child's t-shirt for hers during a recent wash. And so, she needed a new one to get her through this warm weather.
    We revisited the Memorial to the Murder of Jews, just to keep the up mood going. It was worth being reminded how horrific and unfathomable that campaign was.
    After a spot of lunch, we met Ilona at the East Side Gallery where artists have painted on the remaining part of the Berlin Wall.
    There seems to have been a lot of new building of apartments and offices, which is softening the Stalinist vibe in some areas.    Read more

  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    Sue found the heat was just too much

    Potsdam

    August 28, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    Today, we trained off to Potsdam, a city just out of Berlin. First impressions were of grand stately buildings. The main event was going through the Sanssouci Palace, a summer getaway the king had built in the 18th century.
    It looked grand on the outside but was compact on the inside - elongated but narrow. 11 rooms on show. Certainly ornate but not as opulent as you see in other palaces, which tends to be OTT, if you ask me.
    A walk around the expansive gardens and then over to the Dutch quarter where the king built houses for the Dutch artisans he brought over ‐ to make them feel at home.
    A walk over to the cathedral and city palace and the heat just about had us done.
    Had Berlin doner kebabs for dinner with Lon and Mitch. Yum    Read more

  • Dean ParhamNorthern Europe 2024Traveler
    1

    Final days

    August 30, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 25 °C

    Thursday was hot - 34 degrees.
    We went to the Berlin Story Bunker, which was close by. We saw some of the part that dealt with Hitler's early life and the development and acceptance of the Nazi party. It was good - quite detailed - but we had to bail out early to go to our next attraction. We didn't get the chance to do the part that dealt with the Berlin story.
    In the afternoon, Lon joined us for a cruise along the Spree. It was hot but enjoyable and a good way to get perspectives on Berlin's monuments.
    In the evening, we went for dinner at a Chinese restaurant that did its best to ensure you didn't leave hungry. A steamed fish dish was in the biggest bowl I've seen at a restaurant.
    Now Friday, we are on the fast train to Frankfurt, where we will pick up the flight home. (This German train travels at a measly 250 kph, compared to the 300+ in China.) Saturday will be in transit, including a layover in Singapore and then home on Sunday morning.    Read more

    Trip end
    September 1, 2024
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