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Andrew Jerome
Andrew Jerome

Andrew Jerome

I was born in Newcastle, Australia but now live in Adelaide, Australia with my husband Ted.
I currently work as a Flight Attendant for Qantas, and as an ESL teacher.
I have traveled to over 68 countries so far, and am hoping to visit many more. Read more🇦🇺Adelaide
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  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    Łazienki Park
    Łazienki ParkPalace on the Isle (Łazienki Palace)Orangery at Łazienki ParkWilanów PalaceKazimierz Palace (part of the University of Warsaw)Wilanów PalaceWilanów PalaceWilanów PalacePalace of Culture and ScienceView from Palace of Culture and ScienceWarsaw Ghetto Wall Memorial

    Day 7

    May 23 in Poland ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We were up early again—5:30 a.m.—which gave us a solid head start. The morning air was noticeably colder, so after a proper coffee from Etna Café just near the apartment, we mapped out the day and got moving.

    Our first stop was Łazienki Park, one of the city’s most beautiful public spaces. Commissioned by King Stanisław August in the 18th century, the park blends manicured gardens, classical architecture, and open woodland in a way that feels more royal estate than urban park.

    The standout was the Palace on the Isle, perched right on the water and perfectly mirrored in the lake’s surface. We also explored the elegant New Orangery, with its landscaped forecourt guarded by stone lions, and wandered along paths lined with marble statues of mythological figures. Even without sunshine, the setting was impressive—lush, expansive, and carefully curated. A few shots from the amphitheatre and gardens might end up being some of our best from Warsaw.

    From there, things got a little chaotic. Determined to track down the remnants of the Warsaw Ghetto, we pieced together a plan involving a bus, a tram, and the metro… and got absolutely nowhere. Frustrated and empty-handed, we detoured to the Palace of Culture and Science, but with school groups swarming in, we decided to come back later.

    Back in the city centre, Ted picked up a T-shirt for me at H&M—one of those unexpected holiday finds that’ll probably stick with me long after the trip. We eventually made it to Old Town for lunch at a small restaurant called Gościniec. I went for placki ziemniaczane (crispy potato pancakes with sour cream), while Ted had gulasz wieprzowy—a rich pork stew, slow-cooked with paprika and onion.

    We considered heading back for a rest, but when we noticed a direct bus to Wilanów Palace, we decided to press on. Despite a few lingering school groups, Wilanów turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. The palace is grand and vibrant, surrounded by some of the finest formal gardens we’ve seen anywhere. Built in the late 1600s for King Jan III Sobieski, it somehow escaped the wartime destruction that levelled much of Warsaw. Its French-style gardens, sculpted hedges, and decorative statuary gave it a distinctly Versailles feel—only quieter, more relaxed, and arguably more charming. Honestly, it made Berlin’s Charlottenburg Palace look a little modest by comparison.

    We’d bought tickets to see the interior, and while the exterior had already wowed us, the rooms inside took things up another level. Unlike many European palaces that can feel overly staged or repetitive, this one felt lived-in and layered with character.

    Each room was colour-themed and distinctive—the Yellow Room gleamed with gilded stucco and ornate ceiling mouldings, while the King’s Library was lined with leather-bound volumes in Polish and Latin. Much of the original furniture has either survived or been beautifully restored, and you could still see parquet floors, decorative plasterwork, and period wall coverings that felt authentic rather than overly polished.

    A more sobering aspect came from small signs describing the looting and destruction during the Nazi occupation. Many priceless artworks were stolen; while a few have been recovered, many remain missing to this day. It added a poignant layer to what was otherwise a majestic, richly preserved window into Poland’s royal heritage.

    The trip back wasn’t smooth. My phone died, we missed our stop, and ended up stuck on a slow loop through the suburbs. Eventually, we found a tram line and made it back to the apartment for a well-earned break.

    Later that evening, we made a second—and this time successful—attempt to visit the Warsaw Ghetto Memorial. Tucked into a quiet street corner, it includes a bronze map marking the former ghetto boundaries and a plaque honouring those who lived and died within its walls. Between 1940 and 1943, over 400,000 Jews were forced into this walled area under horrific conditions. Most were eventually deported to extermination camps. Standing there, reading the words, was sobering—but important.

    From there, we wandered into a nearby park and were completely caught off guard by how peaceful and beautiful it was. It turned out to be Krasiński Garden, which wraps around the equally impressive Krasiński Palace. The formal flowerbeds, fountains, and long walkways created a calm and elegant atmosphere. Even better, it was full of locals walking their dogs—big dogs, small dogs, all of them joyful—which gave the space a warm, lived-in feel that balanced out the weight of everything we’d seen that day.

    We finished with a laid-back dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant, followed by a drink at Lodi Dodi, a chilled-out bar close to home. We made it back around midnight—legs sore, batteries drained, and minds full.

    Today was about contrasts—palaces and playgrounds, history and everyday life, grandeur and grit. Warsaw’s story is layered, but it’s that complexity that makes it such a rewarding city to experience.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    The Old Town Square
    Palace of Culture and ScienceOn the way to WarsawThe Presidential PalaceRoyal Palace and Sigismund's ColumnOld Town Square

    Day 6

    May 22 in Poland ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    It feels like we’re extending our sleep-in time by an hour each day—we made it to 6:30 a.m. today! We hadn’t booked hotel breakfast, figuring we’d just grab something at Berlin Hauptbahnhof before our train to Warsaw. The station was its usual whirlwind of travellers, but a quick coffee and croissant seemed easier (and cheaper) than hunting down a sit-down café.

    Our train pulled in on time, though naturally, our carriage was the furthest one from where we were standing. After a bit of a jog, we made it—and ended up scoring an entire six-seat compartment to ourselves for the five-hour journey. A comfortable way to cross another border.

    The carriage attendants were all Polish (we were now on a PKP Intercity train), and when one asked if we wanted coffee, I fumbled to ask if they had oat milk—unsuccessfully. Only later did I realise I could’ve just used Google Translate. When the bill arrived, I had a brief moment of panic: 26.50 for two coffees?! Then I remembered—Polish złoty, not euros.

    Later, the same attendant returned with complimentary water, juice, and chocolate bars—unexpected and appreciated. Despite a slight delay, the ride was smooth and far better than some of our rail experiences in Vietnam or the U.S.

    We checked out the dining car, which turned out to be a nice surprise. WARS, Poland’s long-running railway catering service, has been serving meals since the 1940s, and the quality has definitely held up. Ted went for a classic combo of eggs, bacon, and Polish sausage, while I opted for pierogi ruskie—traditional dumplings filled with potato and cheese, topped with fried onions, and easily one of the country’s best-loved comfort foods.

    There was even zupa szczawiowa (sorrel soup) on the menu—a tangy, spinach-like soup made with sorrel leaves and usually served with egg and potato. I was tempted… until I read the ingredients and wasn’t quite ready to be that adventurous.

    We rolled into Warsaw about thirty minutes late due to technical issues. The crew kept us informed and were apologetic, which made a difference. Warsaw Central Station was calmer than Berlin’s sprawling chaos, and we were soon outside.

    Despite the rain, our first sight of Warsaw was the massive Palace of Culture and Science. Built in the 1950s as a “gift” from Stalin, it’s part Soviet skyscraper, part symbol of Warsaw’s ability to reframe its past. Some see it as a symbol of Communist oppression, others as an iconic part of the skyline. Either way, it’s impossible to miss—at 237 metres, it’s still the tallest building in Poland.

    The walk to our apartment took about ten minutes, with a minor delay caused by my confusing the first floor with the third. But it was worth it—the apartment is spacious, modern, and a definite step up from our compact hotel room in Berlin.

    After unpacking, we headed to a local supermarket to stock up. I’ve been to Warsaw before, but for Ted this was a first. His initial impression? Bigger, grander, and more elegant than expected.

    By late afternoon, with the weather still grey and wet, we decided to explore Warsaw’s Old Town—a part of the city known to be charming in any conditions. The area was almost entirely destroyed during World War II, but painstakingly rebuilt using old paintings and architectural records. Today, it’s UNESCO-listed for exactly that reason.

    We bought a 24-hour transport pass through the Jakdojade app, which made navigating the tram system easy. Even in fading light, Old Town was stunning. The cobbled streets, colourful buildings, and detailed facades felt like a step back in time. We stopped at the Royal Castle, once home to Polish monarchs, and admired Sigismund’s Column—erected in 1644 to honour the king who moved the capital from Kraków to Warsaw.

    Nearby, we saw the statue of Jan Zachwatowicz, the man behind the city’s extraordinary post-war reconstruction efforts. Thanks to him, much of what we see today is a faithful recreation of what once stood.

    On the way back, we accidentally got off the tram one stop early—which turned out to be a stroke of luck. The Palace of Culture and Science was glowing in the evening light, and we got the perfect nighttime photo.

    Tomorrow’s forecast looks overcast but dry. With one full day left in Warsaw, we’re hoping to see as much as we can—between palaces, parks, and maybe a bit more pierogi.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    East Side Gallery
    East Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryEast Side GalleryCharlottenburg PalaceCharlottenburg PalaceCharlottenburg PalaceVisiting my cousin SimoneVisiting my German cousins Martin, Sandy and Roman

    Day 5

    May 21 in Germany ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    Jet lag is finally loosening its grip—we managed to sleep through to 5:30 a.m. today, just in time for the 6:00 a.m. breakfast downstairs. Judging by the number of early risers in the dining room, we’re guessing our hotel also caters to a crowd of business travellers (or fellow jet-lagged tourists).

    Before leaving for Europe, I’d sketched out a detailed list of landmarks and neighbourhoods we didn’t want to miss. After a few days of trekking across Berlin, we decided to slow the pace slightly and check out a few final highlights. Berlin is a city of extremes—gritty and grand, sharp-edged and soft—and today’s destinations captured that contrast perfectly: the bold colour and raw emotion of the East Side Gallery, followed by the chandeliers and cherubs of Charlottenburg Palace.

    We began our morning at the East Side Gallery, a 1.3-kilometre open-air art exhibition painted on the longest surviving stretch of the Berlin Wall. After the Wall fell in 1989, artists from around the world came to Berlin and transformed this once-feared border into a living canvas of peace, protest, satire, and remembrance. Today, it features over 100 murals and stands as both a vibrant creative space and a solemn historical monument.

    It’s hard to believe this slab of concrete once split the city—and families—in two. We took our time walking along the wall, admiring both the iconic pieces and the lesser-known works. We stopped at the famous Fraternal Kiss mural of Brezhnev and Honecker, which somehow remains both hilarious and unsettling. Further along, the wall explodes with symbolism—stick figures dancing, doves breaking chains, cosmic visions. Some works call for peace or environmental action; others are simply playful, abstract, or defiant. It’s a vivid reminder of how art can transform even the bleakest structure into something deeply human.

    We passed the Oberbaum Bridge on our way out—a neo-Gothic icon that connects Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg across the Spree. Sadly, heavy traffic and a coat of less-than-artistic graffiti meant we didn’t get a great photo, but even through the chaos, its red-brick arches and towers offered a glimpse of old Berlin charm. Maybe next time, at a quieter hour.

    From there, we navigated Berlin’s (surprisingly manageable) public transport system and made our way west to Charlottenburg Palace. It took a bit of figuring out, but we made it—and I was pleasantly surprised by how many German words I could still read from childhood. Speaking them is another matter entirely, but I’ll take the small wins.

    Our visit began with a bit of drama: a tourist having a very vocal disagreement with an older German man who wanted her to move so his wife could take a photo—from what looked like a full ten metres away. Nothing like a heated photo dispute to remind you you’re in Europe.

    Charlottenburg Palace, built in the late 1600s for Queen Sophie Charlotte, is the kind of place that takes opulence to another level. Gilded cornices, frescoed ceilings, embroidered walls—it’s all very “if Versailles had a younger cousin.” One ballroom in pastel tones was absolutely stunning, filled with cherubs, chandeliers, and enough decorative flourishes to make your head spin. Another room, in rich reds and golds, felt like it could host a royal meeting—or a very fancy board game night.

    It’s hard to imagine living in such grandeur without feeling like you were trapped inside a frosted wedding cake. Unlike some European palaces that feel cold or roped-off, Charlottenburg was elegant but approachable. It may not have the imperial scale of Versailles or the grandeur of Schönbrunn, but we loved wandering through its rooms and peaceful gardens.

    Afterwards, we caught a direct train back to Berlin Hauptbahnhof, picked up some lunch from the station, and returned to our hotel nearby for a break before an evening with family. First, we visited Simone, my cousin on Dad’s side, who’s been living and working in Berlin as an opera singer for the last ten years. We caught the tram to her place and had tea and cake in her cosy apartment with her kids, Clara and David. It was relaxed and a great way to start the evening.

    Later, we took the train to Friedrichstraße to meet my mum’s side of the family—Sandy and Roman, along with Sandy’s husband Martin. To be precise, Sandy and Roman are the children of my mother’s cousin—so technically my second cousins, but either way, family is family. Roman had kindly booked us a table at Hans im Glück, a well-known burger chain named after a Grimm fairy tale about a man who trades away everything he owns in search of happiness. Thankfully, no one had to part with their wallet or phone for a side of chips.

    Even though I saw Sandy and Roman just last year, it’s always a joy catching up—and it was especially meaningful that Ted could join too. It was his first time meeting Roman, and his first time seeing Sandy and Martin in over 18 years. He also hadn’t seen Simone since her wedding in Australia, so it felt like a mini reunion on all fronts.

    Plenty of laughs, a few beers, and suddenly it was after 10 p.m. Tomorrow, we leave Berlin behind and cross the border into Poland. But for now, we’re grateful for a day filled with murals, monarchs, and familiar faces—and for a city that somehow makes it all feel perfectly natural.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    The Reichstag
    Brandenburg GateHolocaust MemorialBerliner CathedralThe TV Tower (Fernsehturm)Alte NationalgalerieDDR MuseumCheckpoint Charlie

    Day 4

    May 20 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C

    As hard as I tried, I still ended up crashing at 8 p.m. last night—which, of course, meant I was wide awake by 4:30 this morning. We both knew we’d be slightly out of sync thanks to the time zones, but at least breakfast here started at 6 a.m., so we could start the day early (and well fed).

    When we checked in yesterday, we’d planned to find a better breakfast spot nearby, but in the end, we went with the stress-free option and ate at the hotel. Turned out to be a good call—it was a solid spread and very typically German: plenty of bread, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and cold cuts. What stood out, though, was the dining room crowd. It was almost entirely men… 🤔

    We set out to explore Berlin on foot, aiming to cover as many of the city’s iconic sights as possible in a single, sunny day. With clear blue skies and a light breeze, the weather couldn’t have been better—and thanks to our early start, most places were still fairly quiet. We had a brief moment of confusion at Hauptbahnhof—Berlin’s central station is a maze of S-Bahn, U-Bahn, and regional trains—but we figured it out eventually and got moving.

    Our first stop was the Reichstag, home of the German Bundestag. One of Berlin’s most recognisable buildings, it mixes classical architecture with modern symbolism. Originally completed in 1894, it was badly damaged in WWII and stood unused during the Cold War. After reunification, it was completely restored and topped with a striking glass dome—meant to represent government transparency. Even from the outside, it’s a powerful and elegant structure.

    Just a short walk away is the Brandenburg Gate. We arrived while it was still quiet, which gave us time to take it in properly. Built in the late 1700s, it’s witnessed everything from Napoleon’s march to Nazi rallies, Cold War tension, and now tourists and bike tours. During the Berlin Wall era, this area was part of the so-called “death strip,” where many lost their lives trying to cross into the West. It’s surreal to stand there now, surrounded by people posing for photos.

    Next was the Holocaust Memorial—formally the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. More than 2,700 concrete slabs arranged in a sloping grid create a disorienting, silent space. Walking among them is sobering. There are no plaques or signs above ground—no names, no dates—just silence. That lack of explanation somehow makes it even more impactful.

    Around the corner we found the Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom), the city’s most impressive church. Built in 1905, it blends Renaissance and Baroque styles, with distinctive green domes towering over the city. The exterior alone—especially in the morning sun—was enough to appreciate its scale and detail.

    Nearby, we stopped by the Alte Nationalgalerie, one of my favourite buildings in Berlin. Sitting on a high pedestal on Museum Island, it feels like something straight out of Vienna or Paris. The neoclassical architecture, framed by manicured gardens, gave the whole area a surprising sense of calm.

    We then headed to Alexanderplatz to check out the TV Tower (Fernsehturm). Built in the 1960s by East Germany’s socialist regime to flaunt their technological progress (and allegedly spy on the West), it’s now a slightly kitschy but unmistakable part of Berlin’s skyline. At 368 metres, it’s visible from almost anywhere. The view from below, set against a cloudless sky, was more than enough.

    From East Germany’s towering pride to its everyday reality: our next stop was the DDR Museum—and it turned out to be a highlight. Unlike most museums, this one encourages you to interact with everything.

    You could flip through magazines in a recreated 1980s living room, open drawers full of GDR propaganda, and even sit in a Trabant (the East’s famously fragile car), which felt more like a plastic toy than a vehicle. The museum covered everything from surveillance and rationing to school life and fashion. What made it so compelling was how ordinary—and occasionally endearing—some of it was. It wasn’t just about control; it was about the lives people lived within that system. It made me think of my cousins who grew up in East Germany.

    By this point, we were starving. We caught the U-Bahn to Schöneberg for lunch at Pitaya, a casual Thai fusion spot that hit the spot. After hours of walking and museum-hopping, it was good to just sit and recharge.

    On the way back, we made a quick stop at Checkpoint Charlie—the Cold War’s most iconic border crossing. Yes, it’s touristy now (complete with souvenir stands and actors in uniform), but the original “You are leaving the American sector” sign still packs a punch. A stark reminder of just how recent all this history really is.

    After such a full-on day—and my early start—we returned to the hotel for a bit of downtime. Later, we caught a tram to Prenzlauer Berg, a neighbourhood Ted had read about. And he was right—it was leafy, laid-back, and full of charm. Quiet streets, old buildings, and cosy cafés made it feel like the Berlin locals love best.

    We ended up at Zweistrom Falafel, a small Turkish eatery serving up incredible food in a relaxed, no-frills setting. The kind of place that makes you wish you were a regular.

    Still not quite ready to call it a night, we wandered over to The Tipsy Bear for a drink. It wasn’t busy (school night, after all), but it was exactly what we needed to wind down.

    Tomorrow’s another full day in Berlin—and if it’s half as good as today, we’ll be in for a treat.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    The beautiful Finnair lounge
    On the Finnair aeroplane doorTravelling on the Flixbus!

    Day 3

    May 19 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    Today was certainly interesting, to say the least! We arrived in Helsinki early after our overnight flight from Singapore, and even before the doors opened, there was a PA announcement warning unsuspecting passengers about the situation awaiting them at Helsinki Airport. Ted and I were the first passengers off the plane and made a beeline for baggage claim.

    As it turned out, we were told our bags would be offloaded—but that it could take a while. They weren’t kidding. We ended up standing in the baggage hall for well over an hour. Still, we consoled ourselves with the fact that at least we’d be getting them today, not tomorrow.

    While we waited, we weighed up our options for getting to Berlin. Seats were limited, so I suggested flying to Hamburg and catching a train from there. Ted thought it would be better to just buy full-fare tickets directly to Berlin, since the price difference wasn’t that significant. I initially baulked at the cost—until I realised it was much of a muchness either way.

    Relief quickly turned to panic when we realised Ted had accidentally booked the flights for the 19th of June, not May. Given how strict many airlines are about cancellations, we assumed we’d just kissed that money goodbye. We had an anxious wait before we could speak with someone at Finnair—but their staff couldn’t help either, since the booking was too far in the future to show in their system yet.

    I jumped on Finnair’s live chat, bracing for bad news. To my surprise—and immense relief—because the booking was for several weeks ahead and had been made within the last hour, we were eligible for a full refund. Phew!

    After all that excitement, we headed to Starbucks to regroup and enjoy a surprisingly decent coffee. Hamburg now looked like the best option, so we bought staff travel tickets and were upgraded straight away. After clearing security, we weren’t sure if we were eligible for the Finnair lounge—but we were, and it turned out to be a very comfortable place to wait.

    The flight to Hamburg was about two hours, although due to the industrial action, catering was minimal. Once we’d collected our luggage, we dashed to the S-Bahn to buy train tickets to Berlin. Unfortunately, neither of us could figure out the ticket machine. We asked one of the station staff for help, and he pointed us toward a better option: instead of paying €96 each for the train, we could catch a Flixbus for just €17. It would take a little longer—but that sounded like a bargain to us.

    We bought single tickets to Hamburg Hauptbahnhof and easily found the bus station nearby. We even had time to grab some cheese pastries and water for the three-hour ride.

    Now, Flixbus isn’t exactly glamorous—especially after our recent Business Class streak. The seats were tight, the drivers looked thoroughly unimpressed with life, and the tray tables could barely hold a bottle of water. But at that price and level of efficiency, who’s complaining?

    Once we arrived in Berlin, we took an Uber to our hotel, which is perfectly located near the Hauptbahnhof (Central Station)—ideal for both sightseeing and our upcoming journey to Poland. We had a quick look around the station and picked up a few groceries, as we were both keen for some fresh food rather than another restaurant meal.

    I think it’ll be an early night tonight—I’m barely staying awake. Considering we’ve been in three countries in the last 24 hours, I’d say that’s fair. There’ll be plenty of time for late nights later in the trip! 😊    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    The Rain Vortex fountain in Changi Airport
    The three wise monkeysTwo BearsRain Vortex FountainRooftop PoolOnboard Finnair

    Day 2

    May 18 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    After yesterday’s long day, we both slept well—even though the hotel’s walls were basically paper-thin. After getting dressed, we headed down for the included buffet breakfast. It was pretty mediocre, but that didn’t stop us from eating enough to get our previously mentioned money’s worth.

    I realised I’d forgotten to pack white socks (quelle horreur!), so Ted kindly lent me a pair while we went for a walk to explore the local area. Since we’d already seen plenty of Singapore on our last visit, neither of us felt like heading into the city. Instead, we walked down to the local marina and boardwalk, as well as the nearby beach. By 9 a.m., the heat was already stifling, so I bought some new socks and we headed back to the hotel.

    We were both keen to relax in the rooftop pool, which was a great temperature and offered views of the nearby airport as we floated around and unwound. Ted thought it would be a good idea to explore Jewel at Changi Airport, so he arranged a pickup through Klook. It was mildly amusing to see that our driver’s surname was Bin Laden—nothing like a little excitement to start the afternoon.

    The first thing we saw at Jewel was the Rain Vortex waterfall. We managed to squeeze in for the 10 a.m. show alongside what felt like a thousand other tourists. It looked nice, but after five minutes we were ready to move on.

    Since we were already at the airport, I suggested visiting Canopy Park, which includes access to the Mirror Maze, Canopy Bridge, Hedge Maze, and Walking Net. The Mirror Maze and Canopy Park were both quite fun, but the rest were underwhelming. Still, not a bad way to pass the time.

    We caught the airport shuttle back to the hotel—though for a moment, I thought I might be stuck there for good. Neither Ted, the driver, nor I could get my seatbelt to release. After much wrangling (and a moment of panic), it finally let me go.

    To cleverly avoid needing lunch, we tried the “light snacks” on offer at the hotel. Sadly, the name was not misleading—it consisted of peanuts, crisps, and crab-flavoured crackers. Not even a beer in sight.

    Later, we braved the heat again and walked to a nearby cluster of restaurants. One was air-conditioned and clearly aimed at tourists, but we opted for Le Xuan Dim Sum instead—it was cheaper and felt more authentic. Vegetarian options were limited, but still a step up from the Club’s snack menu.

    After lunch, the rest of the afternoon was mostly about killing time. Even with late check-out, it felt like a whole lot of waiting. After showering, packing, and checking out, the hotel kindly let us stay in the Club Lounge until our 5 p.m. airport transfer.

    The transfer bus was chaotic. A whole crowd of guests all tried to board at once, racing for the limited seats. We’d noticed online that the Business Class seats on Lufthansa and Swiss Air had mysteriously vanished, so we got off at the first terminal to ask at the counters. Sure enough, all the seats up front were gone—and both flights were weight-restricted too.

    We spotted an option with Finnair and trudged over to Terminal 1. We should’ve taken the internal train—we tried to shortcut through Jewel again, but the place was heaving with people.

    The mystery of the vanishing seats was solved at the Finnair counter: due to industrial action, most flights out of Helsinki had been cancelled. We could still get to Helsinki, but the onward flight to Berlin was less certain. Still, with Lufthansa and Swiss fully booked and unlikely to upgrade us, Finnair seemed like the best gamble. At least we’d be moving.

    So we trudged back to the Lufthansa desk to be removed from that booking and begin the refund process. The Finnair check-in counter wasn’t open yet, and by this point, we were starving. Burger King it was—cheap and queue-free.

    Fortunately, the detour paid off: when we returned to the Finnair counter, our Business Class boarding passes were issued immediately. The flight was lightly booked—turns out most other carriers were helping absorb Finnair’s stranded passengers, and our flight was only 40% full.

    At the gate, we found barely anyone in the lounge. Once we boarded, we settled into our seats—though Finnair’s Business Class layout might be the most confusing I’ve ever experienced. You actually need to watch a how-to video just to figure out the seat. Storage was limited, the sash-style seatbelt crossed right at the neck, and the earplugs were so tiny I skipped them out of fear they’d vanish into my ear canal.

    Still, it’s Business Class—I’m not complaining.

    Dinner came quickly (and was thankfully much nicer than Burger King), and by 10:30 p.m. Singapore time, we tried to get some sleep. Easier said than done. The awkward seat design made me feel like a human question mark. I eventually moved to an empty window seat with a slightly better layout and managed a few hours of uncomfortable sleep.

    About four and a half hours before landing, I gave up on sleep, brushed my teeth, and went to say hi to the crew. That’s when they dropped the final bombshell: due to the strike in Helsinki, no passenger bags would be unloaded. So we wouldn’t be seeing our luggage until the next day.

    Also, that “40% full” figure? Misleading. There were only 40 passengers in total.

    I broke the news to Ted when he woke up, and we started working on a Plan B for when we landed. I tried not to dwell on it too much, so I watched the in-flight movie Argo—fitting, since the passengers in that film had their own run-in with Swiss Air too.

    We’re about to land—fingers crossed it all works out from here.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Med to the Midnight SunTraveler
    Onboard Jetstar to Singapore
    The hotel's club lounge

    Day 1

    May 17 in Singapore ⋅ 🌩️ 32 °C

    The day started far too early—4:10 a.m.—as we did our final checks before heading out. Snoopy was already at day care and our bags were packed, so all that was left was to get dressed, make ourselves presentable, and wait for our Uber driver. Unfortunately, I had everything timed to the minute—so when the driver turned up six minutes early, it threw my schedule into chaos. 😄

    Our first flight was to Melbourne, where we’d connect with our onward flight to Singapore. We grabbed a morning coffee at Muffin Break, and our friend Aani was kind enough to give them to us for free to celebrate the start of our holiday. We were also very lucky to be upgraded to Business Class, and the cabin manager—whom I recognised straight away—kindly gave us some champagne to toast the beginning of the trip. It wasn’t exactly wine time, but when you’re going on holiday, who’s keeping track?

    The flight to Melbourne was quick and pleasant. We’d chosen the first flight of the day to avoid any risk of missing our international connection, which meant a four-hour layover—but that wasn’t a problem. We had another coffee while waiting for the Jetstar bag drop to open. That’s when things took a turn—all the baggage belts broke down at once. After fifteen minutes of staff trying to reset the system (and a growing queue of grumpy passengers behind us), we were finally free of our bag!

    Having booked full-fare Jetstar Business Class tickets, we were able to enjoy the Qantas lounge before our flight. It was busy and crowded, but still a welcome escape from the airport hustle. After breakfast on the first flight, neither of us was particularly hungry, but it was nice to relax in peace. The lounge itself was quite different from the ones in Sydney or Adelaide—being underground, it didn’t have any windows or natural light.

    We headed to the gate early to give ourselves plenty of time to board. The Business Class seats were comfortable, with a 2-3-2 layout. I was in the middle seat, but it was still manageable when nature called. We departed slightly behind schedule, but once in the air, the crew served a solid lunch: ravioli for my vegetarian self and lamb for Ted the carnivore. I hadn’t planned to watch any in-flight movies, but after Speak No Evil, I needed something lighter—so I followed it up with Wicked. To my surprise, there was a second meal service later. Ted had the quesadilla, and I had the vegetarian pie, which was so good I accepted a second without hesitation.

    Arrival in Singapore was smooth. Passport control is now fully electronic, and even our checked bag came out quickly. We’d planned to take the free shuttle bus to the hotel, but since we landed over half an hour late—and the shuttle only runs every 90 minutes—we’d missed our window. Luckily, taxis weren’t too expensive, and we’d chosen a hotel nearby.

    Our flight to Germany isn’t until around 11 p.m. tomorrow night, so the hotel offered us a club rate that included late check-out, buffet breakfast, light snacks, and evening cocktails. The hotel was already on the pricey side, so I wasn’t thrilled about the extra cost—but we didn’t really have a better option.

    After exploring the hotel, including the rooftop pool and gym, we figured we should make the most of the Club access—so we went for evening cocktails. It was mostly light food and complimentary drinks, but after our in-flight meals, that was all we needed. As tempting as it was to stay up, we’re still on Adelaide time, so a 9 p.m. bedtime sounded pretty perfect 😊.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 26

    June 21, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    After managing to get some good sleep, I wasted time watching the film “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once” before having breakfast and landing into Melbourne. It was still very early so, after a quick immigration and baggage collection process, I walked to the domestic terminal and checked my bag in for the flight home to Adelaide. I will certainly be happy to offload this broken bag once I get home!

    Since I wasn’t in the mood for sitting in a noisy airport terminal, I instead went to the Melbourne crew room which was completely empty when I arrived. After speaking to some crew during the morning, I headed to my Adelaide flight and was very surprised that I got business class yet again! There were so few seats available, I thought my run of luck had finished.

    Upon arrival in Adelaide, I stopped to collect some things from the crew room and spoke to some colleagues before catching an Uber home. Now I just have a mountain of unpacking and clothes washing ahead of me!

    Ah, the end of another trip. So extremely grateful for all the wonderful places we saw, people we met and experiences we had.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 25

    June 20, 2024 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C

    Paying extra for Premium Economy certainly pays off, as I managed to get at least five hours sleep during the flight. Whilst having a breakfast of scrambled eggs and toast, I watched the movie Parasite, which I only found mediocre. Before I knew it, we had arrived in Hong Kong!

    After a pretty quick disembarkation, I was hoping the whole immigration and bag collection process wouldn’t take too long, as I only had 45 minutes to catch an 8:30am transfer bus to my hotel (or wait another hour for the next one). Luckily it didn’t, but the only problem was dragging my broken bag all the way through Terminal 1 to the pick up area!

    I managed to get onto the bus with ten minutes to spare, which was easier said than done as the pick up area was outside the airport, and the Hong Kong heat was oppressive. The bus was air conditioned though and I ended up being the only passenger for the quick ten minute drive to the hotel.

    The hotel was amazing! After taking the elevator to reception, they kindly gave me my room early (it wasn’t meant to be ready until 10am). The room is beautiful, modern and quiet. I considered sleeping or showering, but instead decided to get changed and buy some food and water first.

    The hotel was directly above a huge shopping centre but since it was still early, I wandered around it before finding a cheap restaurant named Law Mark Kee which offered a $HK36 (about $7) breakfast of porridge, scrambled eggs on toast, and coffee. It was definitely a deal I couldn’t refuse, although it did feel interesting being the only Westerner in the restaurant!

    After getting some water and a sandwich from a 7-11, I went back to the room for an amazing shower and nap. I’d set my alarm for 3pm although doubted I would need that much sleep. It turns out I was wrong as I kept sleeping until a few minutes before the alarm sounded. I then packed up my bag, ironed a shirt and went downstairs to check out. I would definitely stay at this hotel again in similar circumstances. The airport transfer left at 4pm, so I waited downstairs until being taken to the airport.

    Fortunately we were dropped outside the terminal instead of being taken to the car park area. The airport terminal though was still hot, as the heat and humidity made it uncomfortable. One good thing is that I received a boarding pass for Premium Economy straightaway, so I had to wait to see if I would receive an upgrade at the boarding gate.

    After paying $AUD11 for an iced coffee to cool down, I went through security and straight to the boarding gate until the flight boarding time started. Since the staff at the boarding gate were unable to tell me if I’d received an upgrade yet, I waited in the Premium Economy queue until boarding commenced. When I scanned my pass, the machine beeped and advised me to speak to the boarding desk. The agent took my pass, checked her computer and advised me….

    …I’d been upgraded to Business Class! Woohoo! I did a little happy dance before making my way down the separate boarding entrance. I had my own pod in 22K which is beautiful and better than the current Qantas product. Of course I couldn’t resist taking photos and a video, as well as posting my status on Instagram before our departure.

    The cabin crew have been lovely too. When my entertainment system stopped working, they let me move to the one spare business seat so I could still watch my movie. When the last vegetarian option wasn’t available, they managed to find me one when a passenger changed their order. The dessert of panna cotta was wonderful too.

    As I’ve now finished my dinner, I’m going to settle down for a sleep in my Skybed.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 24

    June 19, 2024 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    I’d had some concern about whether I’d be able to sleep or not, particularly with a wake up at 4:30am, but I didn’t have any problems whatsoever. My Uber driver was right on time so after collecting my bags and closing up the apartment, my driver took a high speed route directly to the airport, guaranteeing I would not be late!

    At the check in counters for Lufthansa, I didn’t receive a confirmed boarding pass for my Frankfurt flight yet, but I was still able to check in my bag and make my way through security. I bought a croissant and coffee, just in case I wouldn’t be receiving a meal onboard, and waited patiently at the boarding gate. After the last passenger boarded I still hadn’t heard anything from the ground staff so I inquired about whether I was on board. The lady said “oh yes, you’ve already got a seat”, took my standby boarding pass and wrote “3A” on it. The only downside she said is that I wouldn’t be guaranteed a meal but I didn’t mind.

    As it turned out, a lot of the passengers in business class didn’t want the meal anyway, so I received a tray of cold meats, yoghurt and cheese (avoiding the cold meats of course)! The business class seats were the same as economy, with the middle seat kept free to give passengers more space. The flight was very quick although upon arrival, the wait for my bag was about 25 minutes. I think most passengers who do this route are businesspeople who don’t travel with luggage.

    After taking the transfer train, I sat on a seat close to the Cathay Pacific counters and waited, as the website said they opened four hours before the flight departed. It turns out that no one told that to the staff because we were all left waiting for over half an hour in line! At check in I was given an Economy Class boarding pass straightaway and advised any upgrade would occur at the boarding gate. Considering I was given an awful middle seat, I silently prayed for an upgrade!

    After going through security, I was immediately bailed up by a beauty consultant in the duty free area who wanted to give me a spiel on skin care products. I let her show me the products and even test them on my skin before politely declining her offer of sale! At the boarding gate, the lady from the check-in counter remembered me and advised she would let me know if I received an upgrade. This took a lot longer than expected, and whilst economy class was boarding, she presented me with a boarding pass for Premium Economy.

    Truthfully, I was not disappointed about not receiving Business Class. The Premium Economy offered was spacious and comfortable and, as I read later, one of the best amongst all the airlines. The dinner they offered was great too, as I enjoyed a fish stir fry. I wasn’t originally sure how I’d spend my time during the flight, but decided to watch the film Cape Fear which I’d never seen before, and enjoyed a lot.

    I also tried to watch the film Parasite, however tiredness was starting to set in so I thought the option of sleep sounded a lot more appealing. Tomorrow Hong Kong, then Melbourne, and then, home!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 23

    June 18, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Today I had arranged to meet up with my cousin Simone but since she was busy until lunchtime, I spent most of the morning in the apartment. Since I’m flying home tomorrow, I spent quite a bit of time trying to find the best route home possible. After checking seat numbers, connection times and destinations, I chose the route of Berlin-Frankfurt-Hong Kong-Melbourne. So you can imagine the frustration when the staff travel website crashed as I was about to buy the tickets! I called Ted for help and fortunately, he had no trouble buying them for me on the computer at home.

    After walking to the train station, the connecting train to Simone’s location was easy to reach. I bought a 24 hour train pass which ended up being fortuitous as I needed to take several transport options during the day. Simone came to meet me at the train station with her 4 month old baby David who was really sweet and happy. Simone suggested we go for lunch, so we went to a Thai restaurant not far away.

    The food was really nice and we were amused that the waitress was wearing a Melbourne T-shirt, although she told us she’d bought it in London. As I paid for lunch, Simone offered to pay for coffee and cake, so we went to a place nearby called House of Small Wonder which was previously a Jewish school. The two girls who worked there were actually from Australia and New Zealand, and the Aussie girl and I talked about her interest in becoming a flight attendant. Simone and I couldn’t decide on the bread pudding or the chocolate cake so we ordered both and shared them between us.

    When we headed towards the U-Bahn we were detoured slightly as an apartment building was on fire, meaning there were a lot of firemen and emergency crews blocking the street. Simone was keen on having me meet her daughter Clara so we went to her daycare to pick her up. I think Clara may have been very tired though, because as Simone described it, she’s going through the Terrible Twos! After a short while at their apartment, I headed towards the U-Bahn for my journey back to Roman’s house.

    The first part was easy however, trying to find the train line after leaving the U-Bahn was far from easy since the connecting station was split into two different parts depending on the train taken. Thanks to Google maps, I eventually reached the correct station and was able to return to Roman’s house without any further problems.

    Even though I’d offered to buy sushi for dinner, Roman ended up paying for it, insisting that I was the guest and shouldn’t pay. Therefore I made a promise to pay when they all came to visit Australia! Tomorrow I have an early start to the day (4:30am) as I will need to be at Berlin airport for the first flight to Frankfurt. Even though there are plenty of flights, it’s better to get on the first flight possible in case there are cancellations or delays.

    After packing up all my remaining items, I farewelled Roman and Steffi and thanked them for their hospitality. I’ve already ordered an Uber for tomorrow so hopefully I can still get some good sleep.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 22

    June 17, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Even though I don’t have any plans in the mornings, I still keep waking early which is somewhat frustrating! I spent some time in my apartment typing up this blog before meeting Roman and his family in the main house for breakfast. Today I had plans to meet my friend Luise in Leipzig, so I had an easy 15 minute walk to the train station. Since the supermarkets weren’t open yesterday, I stopped there on the way to get some food and water before catching my train.

    Since arriving in Germany, my 5G hasn’t been working which has caused a deal of frustration, but fortunately there was wifi on the train to Leipzig. After a quick connection at Südkreuz station, the train journey was about one and a half hours. One thing I noticed at the station was how I was the only person wearing shorts so maybe I stood out as a tourist.

    Upon arrival in Leipzig, Luise met me at the station and it was so good to see her again after 7 years. Similarly, I haven’t been to Leipzig since 1997 so I’m pretty sure it has changed since then. Luise admitted she wasn’t a very good tour guide as she was unsure about most landmarks in Leipzig, but I didn’t mind since it was nice just to walk around the city.

    We first went to a Konditerei for coffee and cake, which is one of my favourite activities in Germany. When Luise said she would like to take me to the zoo, I was somewhat confused as a zoo isn’t always the most common attraction. After spending the day there, I could totally understand - the zoo is amazing! The aquarium included a lot of tropical fish from the north of Australia, and the zoo itself even had koalas and kangaroos (although I only saw the latter) - so I felt like a part of home was there with me.

    We had lunch in an outdoor restaurant at the zoo, where you could see some of the Patagonian Mara nearby. One of the highlights of the zoo was Gondwanaland, which was an enormous dome containing a huge rainforest, complete with a boat cruise and treetop suspension bridges. One interesting thing was how the three toed sloths have escaped from their enclosure, and could sometimes be seen hanging from the beams up on the roof of the dome.

    Luise recommended a cafe in the zoo where we could have coffee and cake and, just like our lunch venue, there was plenty of animal spotting as giraffes and ostriches walked past while we enjoyed cheesecake and coffee. Luise then accompanied me back to the train station late afternoon, so we bid each other farewell until we meet next time.

    The train back was just as quick as the morning one but, since I had taken so many photos at the zoo, my phone battery was almost dead. Upon arrival back at Teltow Stadt, I chose the wrong exit and after walking for a while, realised nothing looked familiar. I opened a map back to Roman’s house on my iPhone and quickly read the names of the streets where I’d need to turn before the phone died completely. Thank God I got back okay! Otherwise I would’ve been wandering the streets of Teltow clueless.

    That night I had dinner with Roman and his family again, but I have offered to buy dinner tomorrow night since I haven’t contributed anything since my visit! Roman and Steffi thought sushi sounded like a good idea. Tomorrow I’ll be visiting my cousin Simone who has lived in Berlin for about 10 years as an an opera singer.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 21

    June 16, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Despite going to bed very late last night, I still woke at the regular time, which is probably likely because my brain is working overtime thinking about everything I needed to do. As breakfast was provided here, I got dressed and went down to the modest dining room. I’m pretty sure I’m the only person who speaks English here! The breakfast was very traditionally German, with bread, meats, eggs, cheese and coffee. I think everyone else staying here is at least 60 years old too!

    After last nights expensive Uber to the hotel, I asked my cousin Roman if he could pick me up today. He arranged for my other cousin Sandy to pick me up instead as she would be passing by on the way to Roman’s place. I had plenty of time to get ready, as the checkout time was 12:30pm.

    It was really great to see Sandy and Martin again, and I also got to meet their three kids, including their eldest Julia who is thinking about coming to Adelaide next year. I was originally concerned that my suitcase would be too big for their car but we managed to fit it in perfectly.

    The drive to Roman and Steffi’s house was about 20 minutes and he has very kindly let me stay there during my time in Berlin. He has a detached apartment close to his house, which they rent out via Airbnb, and is a great size with two bedrooms, kitchen and a large living room. Roman had arranged a barbecue for all of us which was a great way to spend the afternoon. Plenty of food and good conversation!

    The weather turned bad by late afternoon, which everyone said has been typical of the weather recently, so we packed up everything and continued inside. Sadly it wasn’t long until Sandy, Martin and their kids had to return to their place which is about an hour away. Hopefully we will be back in Germany again or they will be able to come to Australia soon.

    By the evening, the weather had turned nice again, so Roman and Steffi set dinner up again outside. Since the days are longer here too, it was still light when we all headed to bed. Tomorrow I will taking a train to Leipzig to visit my friend Luise whom I met whilst studying Spanish in Valencia back in 2017.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 20

    June 15, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C

    Even though my flight wasn’t until the afternoon, I still woke early for some reason and packed up my few final things before heading out for breakfast with Heddi and her family. Since our experience with that awful restaurant a few days back, we have been using Google reviews to check every venue from now on. Heddi found a wonderful cafe just outside their apartment called Next Level Specialty Coffee so we thought we’d give it a try.

    We were very glad we did - the service, food and coffee were all great. It made me wonder if it had some sort of Australian connection since they served a flat white (first one I’ve seen in Europe) as well as avocado on toast.

    Heddi walked me back to my apartment for a final farewell before I relaxed in my apartment until 11am, the checkout time. The wheels on my suitcase have been giving me grief so I wasn’t looking forward to the 12 minute walk back to the train station in the Málaga heat. I considered paying extra for an Uber and now, in hindsight, I’m wondering if I should have done that!

    Everything was going okay, despite the fact that my bag was so difficult to drag, but when I finally arrived at my “destination”, it was not the place I wanted! Despite Google Maps saying it was the train station, it was another part of the city altogether. I tried the directions again, finally arriving at the station as a hot and sweaty mess. And just as annoying, the elevator at the station didn’t work so I had to lug the suitcase all the way down the stairs too.

    Fortunately I didn’t have to wait long for a train, although there was a mad rush of people embarking and disembarking. After travelling a few stops, I noticed that there were actually two different trains, and only one of them went to the airport! After waiting to see what station would come next, I was relieved to see I was on the correct train!

    As the check-in counters hadn’t opened yet, I parked myself in a Starbucks cafe directly across from them so I could relax with a water and croissant, type up this blog, and easily see when they would open. After checking my bag through to Berlin, I went through the slow security area before looking for my gate. I bought two sandwiches and a bottle of water too, just in case there would be no food option on my flight.

    Our flight to Lisbon was on an Embraer, complete with a screaming baby. After seeing our arrival time, I thought it was only going to be a 20 minute flight, before realising that Portugal is in a different time zone, so it was actually 1:20! The flight was mostly uneventful, and upon our arrival in Lisbon we were bussed to the terminal from the aeroplane.

    Lisbon airport wasn’t all that interesting, particularly since I couldn’t get any signal in the terminal. I bought myself a coffee and Portuguese tart before sitting down at a charging station which was located right below a departure screen. Once I knew where my Berlin flight was departing from, I collected my things and headed straight for the departure gate.

    Once again we needed to catch a bus to the aeroplane, and I was surprised to see a woman with a Qantas bag. We talked briefly before boarding and learned she was a staff traveller. I was very happy with my seat - it was the emergency exit row which had a huge amount of legroom and comfort. I befriended one of the flight attendants who was seated next to us, and I also managed to get another crewfie before the flight landed.

    Upon arrival into Berlin, there was quite a long wait for our bags, as the baggage belt was being used for two other flights as well. As it was already past 11pm, I needed to get an Uber to my accommodation, which was easily done as there is an Uber pickup area at Berlin airport. The only difficult part was the wait - it took a while for a driver to take the job, and even then, I had to wait about 20 minutes before he arrived.

    The accommodation I’m in is literally in the middle of nowhere! It’s in an area called Mittenwald which was still a distance from the airport. Fortunately the hotel gave me easy instructions to get in - similar to the last accommodation, I needed to retrieve my room key from a lockbox, before opening and re-locking the front door, tiptoeing down a hallway, and going into my room.

    To call the room quaint is appropriate - it’s very traditional German style. After the long day today though, I was just so happy to see a shower and a comfortable bed. Tomorrow I will be seeing my German cousins - the first time since 1997!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 19

    June 14, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We had an earlier start today for our 12 hour day to Granada and the Alhambra. Fortunately I still had plenty of time to have breakfast and get ready before walking to the pickup point at a nearby hotel. I originally wondered if we needed to wear pants as I was unsure if the Alhambra was a religious site. When I saw a group of men standing near the pickup with trousers on, I thought I’d dressed inappropriately but fortunately they were just businessmen on their way to work!

    Heddi, Pentti and Freja arrived shortly afterwards before we boarded the bus with all the other tourists, including some Australians I recognised straight away by their accents. Our first stop today was at a service centre for coffee and to use the bathrooms. It seemed like every other tour bus was there too, which was heavily overloaded with teenagers. But at least the coffee was decent.

    Originally the itinerary said we would visit Alhambra first which we were pleased with as the day was meant to be hot…as it turned out, we went to Granada first! Our guide gave us a basic walking tour of the city, which included examples of the architecture and the shopping laneways. We then had plenty of free time to explore (about 2.5 hours) so we went to a nice paella restaurant for lunch before looking through some of the shops and the Plaza Larga.

    I treated myself and Freja to an ice cream from KFC as I couldn’t find a churros restaurant, before we all continued on towards Alhambra. First we saw more of Granada from the bus, as well as the Sierra Nevada mountains in the distance before arriving. We then met with our guide for Alhambra who gave us each individual headphones which made his tour much easier to hear.

    The first sight we saw were the Generalife Gardens, which were a beautiful combination of hedges, rose bushes and fountains. The palace and the gardens were originally used as a private retreat and summer palace for the Nasrid rulers and their family, away from the official business that took place in the Alhambra.

    The Alcazaba citadel looked more like ancient ruins and is the oldest part of the Alhambra today. It was the centrepiece of the complicated system of fortifications that protected the area. Its tallest tower, the 26m high Torre del Homenaje ('Tower of Homage'), was the military command post of the complex. Some parts of the Alhambra faced annihilation at the hands of Napoleon’s army when, after occupying the fortress city in 1812, retreating French forces laid explosives at their departure with plans to destroy the Alhambra. Some blasts damaged a few buildings in the complex, but most of it remains intact today.

    One of my favourites were the Nasrid palaces, which are a continuation of Moorish (western Islamic) architecture from earlier centuries but developed their own characteristics. This includes a combination of courtyards, water features, gardens, arches, and stucco and tile decorations.

    The Palace of the Lions is one of the most famous palaces in Islamic architecture and consists of a rectangular courtyard centered on a marble fountain with twelve sculpted lions. This was where a lot of the most intricate architecture was obvious, with the three dimensional Muqarnas architecture in places like the Hall of the Two Sisters.

    We had expected today to be really hot and unbearable but since the tour was at an easier pace and there was plenty of shade, it turned out to be easier than we’d expected. Our drive back to Málaga was quicker too as we didn’t have any stops, and were back around 8pm.

    As I’m heading to Berlin via Lisbon tomorrow, I needed to pack up everything before my departure tomorrow, meaning I wouldn’t have time to go out for dinner. Fortunately I had enough food in the apartment so it wasn’t a problem. Málaga has been a very pleasant stopover, and it has been wonderful to see Heddi and her family again, but tomorrow I will head to my final destination of this holiday before heading back home!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 18

    June 13, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Last night I had a very good sleep, as I was clearly recovering from the previous day! The day was definitely a challenge - I didn’t end up having any time to buy food before, so this morning I woke up very hungry and slightly dehydrated. As the supermarkets don’t open until 8:30am, I went down to buy some cereal, bread, juice, water and almond milk. What a huge relief to be better organised than before!

    Heddi and Pentti had plans to go to Gibralfaro Castle, so I headed out to their apartment to meet up with them. Fortunately most sights in Málaga are close and very easy to reach, however all the lanes and alleyways are so confusing! The walk up to the castle wasn’t very easy - most of it was straight uphill, and the weather wasn’t exactly cool! We did have a nice sea breeze thankfully. The views from the top were wonderful too.

    Similar to the cathedral yesterday, the castle provided an audio tour you could add to your mobile phone, however after a while we lost interest and did our own thing. After coming back down to ground level, we were all feeling hungry so we went to a cafe named Cister Catorce which was located right there in the square and advertised €2 tapas. Big mistake! After sitting down, we ordered only drinks but the service was so unbelievably rude, I thought I’d do a quick check of the reviews on Google. I’m glad I did - there was absolutely nothing good written about the place, and the average rating was 1.1/5. We then quickly decided to go elsewhere which was a smart move - even the four drinks we ordered were an absolute rip-off.

    We relied on Google again for advice, and found Cafetería Framil, which was a welcome delight after the last place. I had the lunch meal special which included cold tomato soup (may have been gazpacho), vegetarian bocadillo and crème caramel for dessert. Great choice! By this time, we were all feeling a bit tired, so we returned to our respective apartments to rest.

    When I arrived back at the apartment I was thrilled to see that the washing machine was now fixed, so I washed some clothes before having a nap. Heddi suggested going for a walk down to the beach and waterfront area, where Pentti and Freja had gone earlier so that Freja could swim at the beach. It was a very affluent area, with yachts and expensive boats docked there, as well as exorbitant prices at the restaurants and bars. Clearly you were paying for the location!

    For dinner, Heddi and I went back into the city centre to eat at Andino Gastrobar, a Latin American restaurant which was very popular and had a wonderful atmosphere. It seemed a bit unusual having South American food in Spain but the menu was good so we didn’t mind. I had the empanadas but could’ve eaten a lot more.

    Since we have a full day at Alhambra tomorrow, we stopped and bought some snacks at a small supermarket as were really not sure what the food arrangements will be. I definitely don’t want to spend another day with a rumbling stomach!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 17

    June 12, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Today was our earliest start so far, so when the alarm went off at 3:30am, we didn’t exactly jump out of bed with excitement! Fortunately we were well prepared last night, so we only needed to get dressed, brush our teeth, grab our bags and walk slightly down the street to wait for our pre-booked Uber driver.

    Ted had been concerned about the number of seats available on his KLM flight back to Amsterdam but he didn’t need to worry because he got a ticket without any trouble. He did however need to check a bag in, but he will still have time in Amsterdam to collect it before his next flight.

    We had breakfast together at Le Pain Quotidien in the airport before we sadly had to separate before continuing on our individual itineraries. As Ted didn’t have as much holiday leave as myself, he is heading to Bali to meet our friend Josh before returning home, whilst I am going to Málaga to see my longtime pen pal Heddi and her family, followed by family and friends in Berlin. Fortunately there is wifi on Singapore Airlines, so I was able to communicate with him throughout his journey.

    I stayed behind in the cafe to continue typing this blog and, by the time Ted landed in Amsterdam, it was only just time for me to check into my RyanAir flight. Fortunately the process was very quick, as RyanAir seems to have gotten some things right! The security process at Brussels airport was very thorough, which I assume could be a result of the terrorist attack a few years ago. Since my flight wasn’t until after 9, I bought myself a water and chocolate croissant before waiting in the boarding lounge until it was time to board our flight.

    Unsurprisingly, the flight was very mediocre, and slightly worse than I’d anticipated. This was mainly due to there being no vegetarian option available, meaning I could only have a bottle of water and Pringles for the 3.5 hour flight. I was hoping for a crewfie with the RyanAir crew to add to my collection but they weren’t particularly friendly or outgoing.

    When we arrived in Málaga, we were greeted with warm weather and fortunately, the quick arrival of my bag. It was a long walk to the airport train station and I wondered what the long queue was for. It turned out it was for the train ticket machine, so I joined the line. After nearly taking the wrong platform, I was finally on my way to the accommodation.

    The 12 minute walk from the nearest station to my apartment wasn’t all that fun due to the broken wheel on my bag and even though the weather wasn’t that warm, I was a sweaty mess by the time I arrived! The check in process was odd - I never actually met anyone, I just had to send a copy of my passport to the owner via WhatsApp to verify my identity, then they sent me the code for the front door including instructions on how to retrieve the room key from the lockbox.

    The apartment is absolutely beautiful and very well equipped, so I definitely made the right choice with this place. After having a shower, I discovered that a moisturiser had leaked in my suitcase, so I used the washing machine to wash some clothes before heading out to meet Heddi, Penntti and Freja at their apartment.

    It was so great seeing Heddi again! I haven’t seen her since I was living in Valencia doing my language exchange in 2017. She took me up to their apartment where I met up with Pentti and Freja. I gave them my presents from Australia (koala socks and a notepad) which I bought from a koala hospital in Port Macquarie, and they gave me a cartoon book about Finnish people.

    Since I had barely eaten since this morning, I was extremely grateful they had set out a lunch in their apartment of cheese, bread and fruits. After lunch, we went to look at Málaga Cathedral which included an audio walking tour. By the end of the tour, I was really struggling to stay awake after our 3:30am start to the day, so I went back to the apartment for a quick nap before we went out for dinner that night.

    When I returned to the apartment, I was shocked to see that the handle on the washing machine door had broken…and I couldn’t retrieve my clothes! I sent a quick message to the owner of the apartment about my dilemma before going out for dinner. Pentti had been recommended a tapas restaurant where we had a very good meal, which included salmon, mushroom and vegetarian options. I paid for dinner as Heddi had paid for my ticket to the Alhambra on Friday.

    Heddi and Pentti offered to come back to my apartment to help open the washing machine but upon my return, saw that it was now open! I think the owner may have come into the apartment to try and fix it. I was just so grateful to be able to retrieve my clothes! The owner also advised they’d send a handyman over tomorrow.

    We will be having an easier day tomorrow as I will probably still be a bit tired, but it’s cool being here for the first time in Málaga!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 16

    June 11, 2024 in Belgium ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We didn’t sleep in today, as we were probably self conscious of oversleeping and missing our departure from the ship! There was certainly nothing to be concerned about though as most of our luggage had been collected for us last night, meaning we only had to go to breakfast and collect our last few items before leaving.

    Our departure time was listed as 8am, but as we were already ready, we disembarked early to see if we could collect our bag and leave. As it turned out we could, and it was just as easy as our boarding process. Since Amsterdam was quite rainy, we decided to take a taxi to Centraal Station, as there didn’t seem to be an Uber pickup area available.

    Our very talkative driver checked our train departure for us, advising of our platform to disembark from. When we arrived at Centraal, we were unpleasantly surprised when the driver informed us he only took cash, meaning we needed to scramble and find an ATM in the train station. Fortunately, Ted found a Travelex ATM, where I was able to withdraw some Euro.

    As it seemed like we’d just missed a train, we bought some mediocre coffee before taking the elevator to our platform. When a train pulled into the station indicating Brussels, Ted wondered if the train would go to Brussels Central too. As it turned out, it was the earlier train we thought we’d missed, which was half an hour late. Since we had bought an ICE train ticket, we were able to catch this train straightaway, rather than waiting another 2 hours for our original train.

    The train was a basic 2nd class but we didn’t mind, since there was plenty of room and it was comfortable enough. The journey had about nine stops before reaching Brussels Central. It wasn’t until we reached Breda that our tickets were checked, as this was where the international travel started.

    On the way I managed to get a very distant photo of the Atomium, which wasn’t made easy as the view was either blocked by a tree, a building or another train. Our arrival into Brussels was easier than our Amsterdam arrival, as the station was less frantic. Our accommodation is only a four minute walk from the station too. All I can say about Brussels is….wow!

    Before we even reached our accomodation, we were both surprised by the quaintness and beauty of the area. It was like a combination of Amsterdam, Paris and St. Petersburg all in one. Everywhere you looked there was a sweet delight of decadence, whether it was chocolate, pasties, waffles or macaroons, as well as high end shops and fancy hotels. Our accommodation also did not disappoint - it was located in the Royal Saint-Hubert Galleries, which is an ensemble of three glazed shopping arcades, comprising of cafes and fancy shops.

    The only problem we had was checking in. As we had arrived early, there was no one to speak to but fortunately a man from the business next door called one of the reception staff for us. Our room was already ready, so we were able to leave our bags to go exploring. The room was also large and impressive - it seemed to consist of African artefacts and artwork for decorations.

    Since we were hungry we settled on going to Burger King for lunch, which isn’t ideal, but was a decent and cheap enough option for us. We looked through a few of the shops where we bought some items from a “Tin Tin” store, before starting our own walking tour I had created before leaving Australia.

    Our first stop was the enormous Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula, located within easy walking distance from our accommodation. We then proceeded to the impressive Mont des Arts, which is an historic site, including the Royal Library of Belgium, the National Archives of Belgium, and a beautifully manicured public garden. It also provided a great view from above, where we could see the Brussels Town Hall in the distance.

    Even though there were a lot of renovations and roadworks happening, it wasn’t difficult reaching the nearby Royal Palace which was really impressive, and didn’t have the crazy amount of crowds of Buckingham Palace. There was a huge park across the road from the palace so, after buying an ice cream, it was a beautiful place to wander and enjoy the serenity.

    After walking past the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, we took photos of the Église Notre-Dame des Victoires au Sablon, but were more impressed by the stunning Square du Petit Sablon across the road, which was a flower garden designed in a Flemish Neo-Renaissance style, surrounded by 48 bronze statues depicting medieval professions, such as stone-cutters, tallow makers and linen croppers.

    No trip to Brussels would be complete without seeing Manneken Pis (the replica anyway), so we headed there next, as well as (seemingly) every other tourist in Brussels. The number of tourist shops surrounding the underwhelming statue was huge yet, as tempting as it was to buy something chintzy, we decided to pass.

    The best was yet to come though as we reached The Grand-Place/Grote Markt which is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful town squares we have seen. It was surrounded by the Town Hall, King’s House, and the Houses of the Grand-Place. The square had so much colour and vibrancy, it was like an overload on the senses.

    After our sightseeing, we headed back to the apartment to relax. It is interesting but we had originally regretted booking a side trip to Brussels, solely because Ted’s flight from here to Singapore was changed, meaning he now has to go back to Amsterdam tomorrow to make the flight. We came anyway as we had already paid for the train tickets and accommodation, and we are so glad we did now.

    We thought we would go out for a drink but the closest gay venue - whilst very cheap for drinks - was full of men over 65! For an early dinner we went to Chez Charles Brasserie, which we both enjoyed because the portions of food were huge. Ted had been keen on trying some Belgian meatballs which he had, while I settled for pasta.

    Afterwards we went to a local gay street where we had a beer and met an Australian/Belgian couple. Whilst there, it started to pour rain so we went back to our apartment to get everything ready for our departure tomorrow. As Ted’s flight to Amsterdam is at 6am, we will need to wake at 3:30am to take an Uber to the airport. Yikes!

    Brussels has been a wonderful experience - not one we were expecting but also one that exceeded our expectations.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 15

    June 10, 2024, North Sea ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Today was a much needed ship day, as we used this opportunity to pack up our bags in preparation for our departure tomorrow. We didn’t sleep as late as we would’ve liked after last night, but it was a relaxing day nonetheless. We couldn’t exactly exhaust ourselves today by merely eating and laying in the Solarium!

    Packing our bags was a lot quicker this time than when we left Australia, and since we didn’t have any wifi coverage, most of the day was spent socialising with our onboard friends. We had our final dinner with the Reno boys before catching up with Blaine, Suzanne and Charlie for a tea before bed. It was quite sad as we all went our separate ways, but that’s what happens when a cruise finishes.

    One awesome thing that occurred was when a helicopter came right up next to the cruise ship before heading to one of the nearby oil rigs. We could literally wave to them from our balcony.

    Tomorrow we will catch our train to Brussels before Ted and I sadly have to head off in different directions before reuniting back home.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 14

    June 9, 2024 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 13 °C

    We managed to sleep well again last night but since we didn’t have any concrete plans for Kristiansand, we took our time getting off the ship. As the weather was a bit overcast and it was a Sunday, there wasn’t a great rush, so we enjoyed some time in the Solarium before disembarking. It was very fortuitous that we took both jumpers and a wind-cheater with us, as the weather became cold and windy. It’s somewhat strange how all the cooler weather we’ve encountered has been in the south, whilst the north was actually warmer.

    Just like most of the Norwegian towns we’ve seen, Kristiansand didn’t disappoint. This was another time where most of the sights were within walking distance from the cruise port. After walking through the colourful Fiskebrygga (fish market) along the waterfront, we went towards the Markens Gate shopping district, where we waited until 11am to enjoy a coffee at a local cafe.

    Next, we walked over to the Kristiansand Cathedral where a Sunday service was just starting. The old town of Posbyen was very similar to the old town of Stavanger, but it was still quaint and worth walking through. The waterfront of Nupenparkern was one of our favourite areas, which was a beautiful large park with a distinct fountain and a lot of greenery.

    We returned to the cruise ship for lunch and, even though we’d considered returning to town for another walk around, we felt pretty satisfied with what we had seen. Our afternoon was instead spent relaxing until we met up with the Reno boys for dinner. One thing we noticed today is how Ted’s cough has now almost disappeared since having that alcoholic bitters yesterday!

    Since tonight was formal night, we dressed up in our Sunday best and joined Wee and Keith for a 70’s theme night in the Centrum. Some of the other boys and Suzanne joined us so we went to the Schooner Bar for more drinks before heading to the bar on the 13th floor for dancing. Lo and behold, the guys from Brisbane were similarly there so our small group continued to grow. I stayed out until 1:30am, whilst Ted continued for about another hour. Tomorrow we have another ship day, which will be our opportunity to pack up everything before our arrival back in Amsterdam.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 13

    June 8, 2024 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 12 °C

    Unfortunately neither Ted nor I were blessed with a good night’s sleep, as Ted was sick during most of the night with coughing and a sore throat. We still managed to drag ourselves to breakfast though as we weren’t going to let a lack of sleep hold us back from a day of sightseeing! We had a cruise of Lysefjord booked for 10am which went out towards Pulpit Rock, so we had a quick wander around the waterfront before boarding our cruise.

    Pulpit Rock was something I’ve wanted to see for a long time and would have preferred to see it from above but since the weather was plain and you required hiking shoes, the cruise seemed like a good alternative. Pulpit Rock was in the news this week too, as a tourist sadly fell to his death whilst sightseeing the rock.

    As it turned out, the cruise itself was not that interesting. It wasn’t the fault of the cruise line, as the boat itself was very nice and well equipped. It was just that, after all the fjords we’ve already seen prior to today, the Lysefjord didn’t offer anything new. And similarly, the view of Pulpit Rock from far below was very underwhelming! It wasn’t a total loss though - the sight of the beautiful houses along the water with a massive fjord as their daily view was impressive to see.

    After returning to Stavanger, we went back to the cruise ship for lunch before heading out again. As we still hadn’t seen much of the town yet, we went straight towards Gamle Stavanger, which is the old town with its white wooden buildings. From there we went to the stunning Fargegaten, a street with colourful houses, bars and restaurants, before heading over to the Cathedral which wasn’t really photo-worthy, as it was covered in scaffolding for some renovations.

    We went back to Fargegaten again since, like the Viking Bar from yesterday, the place seemed like a wonderful location to have a drink. I had a red wine whilst Ted had an Underberg Bitters, which the waitress recommended for his cough. Ted ended up really liking it, so here’s hoping it has some good medicinal benefits.

    As we headed back to the boat, it started to rain heavily, so we were grateful to have done our sightseeing earlier. We had dinner with the boys from Reno before returning to our stateroom. I had a really bad headache, no doubt from lack of sleep, so I was more than happy to have an early night.

    During the cruising this evening, there was a storm nearby in the North Sea. Whilst the view of rising waves and winds was somewhat interesting, it was also a bit unsettling! Tomorrow we will visit Kristiansand - we don’t have any concrete plans for there so it should be a relaxing day.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 12

    June 7, 2024 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    This morning when we opened our curtains, we were greeted with the beautiful sight of the Norwegian fjords on our approach to Flåm. We continued to enjoy this view at breakfast as we sailed into port. We didn’t know what to expect with Flåm but we were surprised to see how small it is, compared to previous towns like Ålesund and Geiranger. As it turned out, that was a real blessing, as it really felt like we were among nature with fresher air and beautiful scenery.

    Ted and I were among the first passengers to disembark as we were eager to see the town. Weather wise, this has been the coolest port so far (about 2 degrees) but truthfully we don’t feel cold at all, which we assume is because there is no wind or humidity. Flåm is a very beautiful place, which we enjoyed just walking about and appreciating the peace and quiet. Originally we thought it would be too low key but we ended up loving it.

    Since our tour to Stegastein Lookout wasn’t until 10am, we considered hiring a mini electric vehicle like we’d seen in Geiranger but the price was way too exorbitant. While waiting for our tour, we met two guys from Brisbane whom we hadn’t met earlier so it was good to see some fellow Aussies. Our driver was so obnoxious! Not only did he talk down to the passengers, but he was aggressive on the road with other drivers.

    Fortunately the viewpoint was worth it, and we were also given reasonably good weather. The drive up took us past the beautiful village of Aurlandsvangen before driving for 20 minutes up a very winding road. Not only were the oncoming drivers a hazard, but so were the many mountain goats that would wander onto the road.

    Thankfully we had pretty decent weather at the viewpoint, which provided an amazing vista 650 metres above Aurlandsfjord. Once again, we took plenty of photos which we will have to cull later! After another hair-raising drive back to Flåm, we returned to the cruise ship for lunch. One of the waitresses whom we’ve befriended recommended a Viking Bar in Flåm so we thought it seemed like a good excuse to go exploring again.

    The place in question was the Ægir Bryggeri (brewery), which was fully decked out in Viking lore, including a carving of a Norse god’s face in a tree trunk (which may have represented Yggdrasil, the central sacred tree). It seemed like a great place to enjoy the atmosphere, so I ordered an ale, and were joined shortly after by Blaine and Suzanne.

    After returning to the boat, we enjoyed our dinner with some of our American friends as we were treated to beautiful fjord scenery whilst departing. Ted was feeling under the weather again, so he went to bed early whilst I stayed for a few drinks in the Schooner Bar. Tomorrow we visit a new destination, Stavanger!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 11

    June 6, 2024 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    After a pretty good sleep (jet lag begone!) we went for breakfast before arriving at Ålesund around 11am. Once again, the cruise ship top deck was a great viewpoint of the city upon arrival, so we took several pics of the beautiful city which already looks more impressive than Honningsvåg!

    Since we have just found out that guests are not allowed to take food off the ship (whoops!), we waited in the Solarium until disembarkation, and filled ourselves up on croissants so we wouldn’t be hungry later. We were greeted with beautiful weather, as well as troll footprints painted on the footpath, making sure that finding the centre of town would be easy.

    As soon as we saw the waterfront, we knew we would like Ålesund. We weren’t sure where to head to next, so we just wandered around before encountering a walking tour, and following them to a nearby viewpoint at Storhaugen Park. From there we wandered down to Ålesund church, before making our way to the Aksla Viewpoint, which was definitely the highlight of our visit.

    Before reaching the viewpoint, you first walk through beautiful Byparken park before climbing the 418 steps to the top. The climb was not particularly difficult, however it also guaranteed a good workout. We ran into Keith and Wee in the park, as well as seeing the Reno boys on the climb up. I think Ted and I took about a million photos. We did want to get a good selfie from a viewpoint but a group of Americans with a selfie stick didn’t seem willing to give it up.

    We went back down to the waterfront but sadly our beautiful weather disappeared, as the wind and cold blew in. After picking up some food from the supermarket, we returned to the cruise ship for lunch. Our afternoon ended up being low key as Ted has been feeling unwell, which isn’t that surprising considering how many people we have seen coughing and sneezing in the Windjammer restaurant.

    Both Charlie and Blaine contacted us about dinner plans, but since Ted wasn’t feeling well, we settled on a quiet night in. Tomorrow our next destination is the town of Flåm in western Norway!    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 10

    June 5, 2024, Norwegian Sea ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    Going to bed early wasn’t such a bad idea, since Ted and I both had a better sleep than usual. For a change, I thought I would try the dining room for breakfast instead of the chaos of the buffet restaurant, whilst Ted still preferred the latter. Whilst I enjoyed the quieter atmosphere and the portions of food, the service was really quite slow and lacking, with incorrect and forgotten orders. I did give it some allowance though as I’ve since heard that a lot of the waitstaff have fallen ill.

    Ted and I were keen for a quieter day so we spent most of the morning relaxing in the solarium, and fortunately we arrived early enough to avoid the insane grab for a deck chair. The day didn’t remain quiet for long though as several friends arrived to join us.

    Morning trivia was on but since I didn’t want to relinquish my deck chair, I messaged some of the answers to Wee who was there. In the afternoon, we went to “Guess that Tune 80’s” with Mike, Wee, Suzanne, Blaine and Charlie, and came first with an amazing 20/20! We then stayed for a regular trivia game where we only scored 12. By the time we played the third game, with an announcer who could barely pronounce English, our score had plummeted to 6!

    After dinner we relaxed in our room before I joined Blaine, Suzanne and Charlie at the Windjammer restaurant for a tea before bed. Tomorrow we arrive in Ålesund, which is the first of four days in a row of sightseeing.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 9

    June 4, 2024 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 10 °C

    Today brought us to our northernmost destination of Honningsvåg, Norway, which is the third northernmost city in Europe and the fifth northernmost in the world. It also brought us our first bad weather for the holiday, as it was pouring rain when we arrived.

    We managed to sleep in okay, although this 24 hour sunlight is still playing havoc with our systems! Since we didn’t have any excursions booked for today, we were in no rush to disembark the ship when we arrived at 7:30am. From what we could tell on Google, there was nothing open at that early hour anyway, so the morning was far from busy.

    We disembarked after breakfast with a handful of other passengers, and wandered around town. There was very little to see as everything was still closed, but we did still get some good photos of the waterfront as well as from an unofficial viewpoint we found. There was also nobody walking around so it almost felt like a ghost town. Considering how far north we were, the weather still wasn’t that cold although it did start raining again during our walk.

    We went to the local Christmas Shop which specialised in decorations and Christmas themed items, so we bought a Christmas bauble to add to our collection. I did also want to see the statue of Bamse, a local hero dog who was commemorated and well remembered by the townspeople. Since we had pretty much seen everything we wanted to, and the weather was still rainy, we returned to the ship and it was only 10:30am!

    After getting back onboard we warmed up in Café Latte-tudes, whilst the crew were practicing an emergency drill. Ted and I then relaxed in the Solarium, which was perfect because we virtually had the place to ourselves. These have been perfect opportunities to catch up on reading, Netflix and writing this travel blog.

    When I looked at shore excursions for Honningsvåg, nothing really looked that interesting for the price paid and, after speaking to some of our fellow travellers, I’m glad we did our own thing. One excursion I considered was going to Nordkapp, but it sounded like it was very weather dependent and not overly interesting.

    We joined Blaine, his mum Suzanne, and the boys from Reno for dinner in the Windjammer restaurant, before heading to the Schooner Bar for drinks and to enjoy the music and 24 hour sunlight. We also had plenty of whale and dolphin sightings through the huge windows, which would prompt all the passengers to run to one side of the ship each time! We then moved onto the Safari Bar next door which was quieter and more relaxed, although the service was a lot slower!

    The Safari Bar then hosted a game show called “The Perfect Couple” which I’m glad we didn’t volunteer for because by this time (11:00pm), we were really tired. I felt somewhat silly leaving so early since so many other passengers were still up dancing and drinking in the daylight, but we couldn’t stay awake much longer. Tomorrow will be another ship day as we cruise the Arctic Circle, so I think I’ll make the most of the relaxing time.    Read more

  • Andrew JeromeThe Norwegian CruiseTraveler

    Day 8

    June 3, 2024 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Now that we have 24 hours of daylight, we woke up way too early again at 5am because, even though we’re using eye masks, our bodies and brains are still telling us to get up. Whilst having breakfast in the buffet restaurant with Keith and Wee, we admired the amazing, mountainous scenery which is reminiscent of the scenery we saw in Alaska.

    Unlike Geiranger, our cruise ship is located a short distance from town so after disembarking, we needed to find a way in rather than doing a 40 minute walk. Since our main priority was going up the cable car, we found a ticket seller which offered this option which included the shuttle bus to and from the cruise port. Since it was around the same price as a regular cable car ticket, it seemed like a good option.

    After boarding the bus we departed about 10 minutes later, much to the dismay of an elderly Asian gentleman who was still waiting for his wife to board. It was sad to see because the gentleman didn’t understand that he needed to disembark, whilst watching his wife trying to chase the bus as it was leaving.

    The cable car ride wasn’t very long and was fortunately very frequent. It was an amazing view from the top, which we shared with groups of school students and even a handful of dogs. Since the last shuttle was returning to the ship at 1:30pm, we decided to forego that idea as it would’ve meant that we wouldn’t have time to see the city. Our cable car driver told us about the local bus service from town back to the cruise port which sounded like a better idea.

    We walked towards the Arctic Cathedral for some photos before crossing the Tromsø Bridge towards the city. Earlier, Ted and I had mentioned how amazing the weather had been, since it was almost summer-like and not cold at all. All that changed as we crossed the bridge, as the sun disappeared behind the clouds and a cold breeze picked up. Our beautiful weather had seemingly disappeared!

    We wandered around the town of Tromsø which, at best, was quaint but not much else. One worthwhile stop though was at the Smørtorget cafe which, whilst expensive, offered the best coffee we’ve had so far since starting this holiday! We purchased the bus tickets through an online app and, nine stops later, we were back at the cruise port for a much cheaper price.

    Whilst waiting to board the boat it started to rain, which drew attention to the holes I didn’t know I had in my shoes. We went for lunch in the buffet restaurant before heading to movie theme trivia with Charlie, which we’d already missed most of!

    Our afternoon was mostly a relaxing one, as I read in the solarium before going to dinner with the guys from Reno. This 24 hour daylight is still hard to get used to! I ended up going to bed at 10pm after hanging out with Blaine and Charlie, but the bright light was telling me it was too early to sleep! Tomorrow we head to Honningsvåg, the northernmost point in mainland Europe.    Read more

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