July 25, Good Bye Baltic

We had a great trip, met new friends and learned about many new cultures.

Time to go home

The executive chef, Frederic Camonin. Not sure how I will manage returning home to cooking and cleaning.

The beautiful flowers we received from the cruise management are almost finished. 

The Men in black dress shorts, making a fashion statement and setting a new shipboard dress code.

  

The ladies keeping the men in line.

July 24, Stockholm, Sweden

Today is the last day of our cruise and we are docked in Stockholm a short walk from many sites. The weather is sunny and warm and Stockholm looks spectacular.  Stockholm's 2 million residents live on 14 islands and there are 54 bridges. We spent the day touring Stockholm by land and by sea. Near the Old Town is the Slussen named for the locks between the salt water of the Baltic and the fresh water of lake Malaren. One third of Sweds own boats and many have summer homes.  

Stockholm has a beautiful, old town (Gamla Stan) and vibrant modern districts. Lots to see and do in Stockholm, but so little time.

View of the Old Town

City hall and site of Nobel prize banquets. City hall (stadshuset) is an impressive mix of 8 million bricks, built in 1923.

The Vasa Museum is the location of the unseaworthy warship, Vasa. In 1628 the top heavy ship with an extra cannon deck sank 40 minutes into her maiden voyage when a breeze caught the sail and blew her over. After 333 years at the bottom of Stockholm's harbor she was raised in 1961 and is the best preserved ship of its age anywhere. The masts are perched on top of the roof and show the actual height of the ship

Strandvagen, one of Europe's loveliest and most expensive waterfront esplanades.

Modern Stockholm with boats nearby.

Locals enjoying the good weather.

July 24, Stockholm Archipelago

We got up at 5:00am to make sure we didn't miss the scenery as we sail through the Stockholm archipelago, over 37 mile stretch toward the city. It's a beautiful sunny day and the early morning rise was well worth it.

Arrived in Stockholm at 8:30am. Ready to see the sites.

July 23, Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is known as the "White City of the North". Finland has a population of 5.3 million people and there are 2.5 million saunas.  Fins use the sauna at least twice a week, and saunas are found in most homes and public sauna houses. The saunas are electric, or wood. Fins look very serious, they don't smile unless spoken to, they like peace and quiet, and spending time outdoors. 

This monument recognizes composer Jean Sibelius. In 1968, when the monument was commissioned the locals didn't like the statue, but more recently they have come to appreciate it's uniqueness.

Temppellaukio Church, quarried out of natural, rock.  Inside the church it's very beautiful and peaceful.

A pipe organ with 300 pipes.

A bride entering the church.

The Market Square, is where locals gather. The Muikku fish, a local lake herring, is sold cooked and ready to eat.Tasty 

The Market Square

In Senate Square, the Catherdal, where many famous photographs have beef taken taken. Can you find me on the staircase?

Senate Square, the university's administration building.

Cars are stopped to let the Zebra birds cross.

These racks are used to wash carpets, an old Finish tradition still done today. They scrub the rug with a natural pine cleaner and let the rug dry.

Downtown Helsinki.

July 22, Dinner with Friends

Dinner with a fabulous group of people from York, Pennsylvania, George and Bambi, Judy and Bob, Kay and Robert. We had a fun evening.

George looking very dapper in his signature socks and watch. The women come from out of no where to talk to him!

July 22, St Petersburg - Day 2

This is the former Imperial residence of Peter I, opened in 1723. The Peterhof has a grand architectural and park with an area of over 1000 hectares, approximately 30 buildings and over 100 sculptures. The northern facade of the palace stretches to the sea and the lower park has many fountains. In the form of allegories, they represent and celebrate Russia's military prowess and navel might. The centerpiece of the Cascade is the fountain of "Samson Tearing Open the Jaws of the Lion". All the fountains operate using gravity.  Inside the palace are opulent and magnificent rooms with more gilded gold!!

We travelled by hydrofoil from Peterhof to downtown St Petersburg, a 25 minute ride.

Below are Government buildings with Justice in the centre. Putin has moved many government functions to St Petersburg and reorganized government. A Russian President serves a maximum of 12 years, with each term being six years. According to our tour guide, who was born and raise in Russia, 80% of Russians like Putin and see him as a strong leader capable of change. He said, "Russians like strong men". There are women appointed to high positions in government. However because of Russian Orthodox religion, there are no women as heads of political parties and a woman would never be voted as President. Our tour guide believes that since Putin is a lawyer he is reorganizing government in St Petersburg so when his term as President ends he will move into a Chief Justice position allowing him to continue to have considerable influence in Russian politics. 

Russia has been rebuilding since 1990. There are 3 women to 1 man and for this reason Russian men are given preference to women for jobs.  The Russian culture is trying to encourage families to increase the population. After giving birth to the first child, a woman receives 1.5 years paid leave to stay at home and care for the child. After the 2nd child, the mother is given $10,000 U.S. to be used for housing, pension, or the children's education. It must be applied to one of these. After the birth of the 3rd child the mother receives free land. 

In 2018 Russia will host the FIFA World Cup Soccer. This is the new stadium being constructed and many infrastructures are also being updated in preparation for this event.

Good bye St Petersburg

July 22, St Petersburg - The Hermitage - Day 2

So much to see in St Petersburg, we covered a lot of sites in 2 days. The Russians like gold, inside and outside.  The State Hermitage was home of the Russian Emperors from 1763-1917 and overlooks the Neva River.  It was founded by Catherine II in 1764 to house her expanding art collection. It is one of the oldest and largest museums in the world. The state Hermitage includes 5 buildings, the Winter Palace, Small Hermitage, Old Hermitage, New Hermitage and Hermitage Theatre where we saw the ballet.  

One section of the Hermitage was not destroyed and it housed many artifacts that are on display. To protect these artifacts the Russians brought in many cats that looked extinguished the mice and rats.

Our pictures give the illusion we are the only people in the Hermitage, not true. Although we had an early entrance before it opened to the public, it was still very crowded. It was crazy chaotic once it opened to the public. Our tour guide suggested to avoid the crowds visit St Petersburg in Nov, Jan or Feb.  Yah right, when there is 4 hours of daylight, it is -30, blowing snow and icey!!! 

Magnificent chandelier 

More gold, a light standard.

Pavilion Hall combines elements of Classical and Moorish styles.

The Pavillion Hall houses the 18 century Peacock Clock. The clockwork figures include, the peacock, a cockerel, an owl, and a squire. The dial is hidden in the aperture in the cap of a mushroom. When the clock is wound up, the tinkling of bells can be heard, after which the peacock spreads it's tail feathers and the cockerel crows. It still works today.

Sculpture done by Leonardo da Vinci. The details are in the back so the front of the statue in meant to face the wall.

The Hermitage most famous pieces are Leonard da Vini's "the Madonna with a flower (the Benois Madona) 1478 , below and The Madonna Litta 1490.  Also 25 originals from Rembrandt, including "The Prodigal Son.

This bowl weighs 20 tons and was a gift to Catherine II

Catherine II request the replica be built of Raphael's Gallery in Rome.