St. Petersburg Kings and Queens

It’s too much. It’s all just too much. I can only update one country at a time at this point as it’s gotten completely overwhelming.

St.Petersburg Russia is a complicated port, as one needs a specialized visa to get into the country. Jason and I opted to take two ship excursions (where you don't need a visa), one to the Hermitage and another to the palaces of Catherine and Peterhof. The Hermitage tour was like trying to see all of New York City in a day, it was the most intense museum either of us have ever been to. As it was only an “intro” tour we whipped though the place in 2hrs. NOT enough time, and I don’t think my eyes have popped back into my head since. Read more about the Hermitage here.

The palaces were also spectacular, one room out-doing the next. Both palaces were completely destroyed by the Nazis, but not before the caretakers buried the palace treasures to unearth them later and painstakingly restore them bit by bit.  I just found out I will be taking a tour back to Katherine’s Palace tomorrow for dinner and a concert. A once in a lifetime experience that guest pay hundreds of dollars for I will be doing for free. These are the moments when my job is truly awesome.

Hamburg, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Helsinki

Hamburg, Oslo, Copenhagen, and Helsinki.
Phew!!

Four more very interesting days to kick off the Baltic season. We had a low key day in Hamburg due to the drizzle but the downtown core situated on canals was very nice and we ate at a restaurant on the water which was quite tasty. It was actually ON the water. I had a completely ridiculous moment getting back to the ship when my cab driver stopped at the entrance to the tunnel to the ISLAND I had to get to and told me to “use my feet” to get through the tunnel with all my luggage. The tunnel was CLOSED on the weekends. Welcome baaaack!!! Anyways, the new theater and the renovations look great...oops...I should have taken some pictures but I was too distracted by...all together now...Europe. Blah blah blah enough already Adriana! Ok I will now on refer to it as the Baltic for a change of pace.

Olso was so peaceful, yet domineering. The city hall where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded every year was magnificent. We went to a resistance museum that was fascinating...I was not aware of just how far reaching the Nazi empire had spread at it’s height. They were horrible everywhere.
Tivoli gardens in Copenhagen were not horrible, just adorable and so charming.
Helsinki was I think my favorite, but the weather happened to be particularly stunning that day so it may have had an effect on my opinion. The fruit flower food and art market there was unreal! The air smelled of lilacs and strawberries. Not kidding.

Our ship exiting dry dock (that's where I had to get to WALKING though a tunnel with my luggage. yup.)

OSLO

City Hall exterior carvings

fascinating resistance museum

Back to City Hall

A modern portrait of the King and Queen

These paintings and murals were out of this world

These rooms were amazing...do you see the rising phoenix shadowed within the mural?

Just thinking...I'm quite enjoying the Baltic

of course had to do my character Frieda Flamer from Grand Hotel

TIVOLI GARDENS, Copenhagen

that's one odd duck

This peacock REALLY wanted to show off

I found the Spirillo Popsicle I had with my mom when she took me to Europe!!

 HELSINKI

These looked really Ukrainian

How do you like my new do?

This market was FABULOUS

Next stop....RUSSIA!!!