79 Days to Europe & Back: Day 17-30

Day 17:

Dear Friends,

Welcome to Copenhagen. Coming into Copenhagen is very different than Amsterdam. First of all, there is no one around to ask questions or directions. Everything was written in…. I don’t know, not English. There was no information desk or people standing around to lend a helping hand. So we struggled to figure out how to get to the hotel. We finally figured out the train to get on, (after Eugene grumbled and grumped for 10 minutes). We finally got on the train and started to head toward the cruise port area. Our hotel was 3 miles from the port. As we pulled into the Central Station, waiting to pick up other passengers, our train conductor announces in another language, then another, then another, then English (we were the only ones on the train) “Get off the train, we are broke down. You have to find another way to get where your are going.” No sorry, no help, just “get off”. Dragging our luggage, we set out again to find our way to the hotel. Pretty much frustrated, we ended up taking a highly overpriced taxi to the hotel. We stayed in the Comwell Hotel, near the port. It was a newer hotel. It was also a good price. After all the discounts and rebates, we paid about $110. This included two double beds and breakfast. It’s a newer hotel, very nice set up. Very clean. However, it was weird, no top sheets, two twin comforters for each bed, two GIANT square pillows and to small square pillows for each bed, no wash clothes, no hand soap, shampoo or conditioner. Just odd. I felt like Goldilocks…. this pillow is too small, this pillow is too big, this one is too hard….nothing was just right. Breakfast was odd also. It was sort of a buffet, without organization. Since COVID, I thought things would be a little tighter. People, held onto the bread and cut it. A lot of people were using their hands to pick up food. Just odd. I guess being in a different country, this means adjusting. We had a bit of difficulty with the COVID testing situation. We were supposed to do virtual testing through Royal Caribbean. Unfortunately, it did not work. So Saturday night, 11 pm.. NO COVID TEST to get on the ship. Eugene found a clinic who had a 6:00 AM appointment, on Sunday morning. We rolled out of bed, got a cab and made it to the appointment and 15 minutes later, Negative results. After paying $30 for a 3 mile ride, we decided walk back to the hotel, I had the map, so of course went the long short cut. Walked back 4.5 miles. Eugene was dragging. We went to the room, showered, packed and ate breakfast. Again, breakfast was very good with many unusual items. We figured we could walk to the terminal, but 1/2 mile into the walk and a free shuttle came by. So free ride. Check in was painless, and before we knew it, we were on the ship.

Day 18:

Dear Friends:

We rolled out of bed, at 5:00 Am, got a cab and made it to the appointment and 15 minutes later, negative results. After paying $30 for a 3 mile ride, we decided walk back to the hotel, I had the map, so of course went the long short cut. Walked back 4.5 miles. Eugene was dragging. We went to the room, showered, packed and ate breakfast. Again, breakfast was very good with many unusual items. We figured we could walk to the terminal, but 1/2 mile into the walk and a free shuttle came by. So free ride. Check in was painless, and before we knew it, we were on the ship. Check everything but my computer and backpack, so nothing to lug around. We did our Muster call (watch the video online), we just had to show our cruise tickets to be scanned in. Always do your muster call first, so you are not called over the loud speaker… like being called to the principals office. UGH! Then we headed up to the Windjammer, buffet for some lunch. I was surprised the presentation of the food. It was BEAUTIFUL. The best I have ever seen on a RC ship. It is evident that the staff take great pride in their work. I will post pictures in this section as the internet allows me, and as I take them. You can judge for yourself. After lunch, we explored the ship. It was beautiful, but I really liked the layout of the Jewell better. It had a general areas, but not that many areas for small groups, couples to hang out without a lot of people around. We ended up, sitting in the Windjammer, playing cards because there were not too many areas that had tables to play. Eventually, we found the library and it was set up well, but only about 8 tables and chairs, several comfortable chairs and desks, as well as computers and books. This is a busy place where guests can play cards, games, read, work on the computer or just chill. Just remember, you can donate your books to the library when you no longer need them. I always try to bring a few from home that I no longer want to reread.

There were many things to do around the ship. It was too cool for me to hang outside. But, on the upper deck was a miniature golf, rock climbing, basketball, pickleball, ping pong, soccer court, pools, shuffle board, flow rider, hot tubs, and many other things to do. On the Royal Promenade they had live music, art raffle, guess the price, introduction to the spa, and learn to play blackjack and other table games in the casino. They had Name the Tune in the Schooner bar. But, we were exhausted from the early morning so around 2:00, we headed to our stateroom, unpacked and took a little nap. By 5:00, it was time to get ready for dinner. We choose the 5:30 dining time. We prefer to eat early. We were assigned a table with just the two of us. Often you are seated with others, but we had the table to ourselves. We met our waiters and filled them in on our preferences. This makes it easier for them to serve you if they have some insight into your preferences. We had a great dinner. I had the crab cake for appetizer. The BEST I have ever had on a cruise ship, we also had prime rib, which was very tender and cooked just right. Eugene order his usual escargot . He said it was good, but not the best he has had on Royal, but very good. He ordered a Guiness Pie and a couple pieces of the country fried chicken. The pie had top round beef, mushrooms, garlic, onions, guiness in a fluffy puffed pastry. He said it was good, but would not likely order it again. I think it is a cultural thing. He said that the chicken was excellent. Overall, dinner was good. There were several things going on around the ship. A movie on the deck. But again, a little to cool for me to be outside watching a movie. The Headliner show was Anna & Rolando, in the Royal theater and they had Karaoke in the Star Lounge. We headed to the casino to donate a little money. Eugene made some friends and ….. well just say it was a fun evening, especially for him. Nothing two aspirin and water couldn’t fix in the morning. It’s late and I’m tired.

Good Night to all, Jamie and Eugene

Featuring the Windjammer of the Voyager of the Sea

These beautiful displays show the dedication of the Windjammer staff on the Voyager. I will add more pictures as I take them. It doesn’t just miraculously turn out this way. There are so many people behind the scenes. Even though the staff works 14 plus hours per day, they always have a smile on their faces. Each day there is a greeter with a high energy personality saying, “good morning, good afternoon, welcome back”, or the every so repetition of “washy-washy”. Then they have to keep a smile when people try to slip by without washing their hands or grumble because they must. The kids at the front are only doing their job. After the first visit to the Windjammer, we know we need to wash our hands. why not just do it! Below are some of the individuals I have met in the Windjammer. Always working, always smiling. Don’t forget to give them a thank you or a smile, or even grab someone something special when you go out, or a small tip. These young people are away from their families and their homes. They are usually paid the least, because they are in non tipping positions, and they are new. Remember, karma!! If we can afford to cruise and be treated like royalty, we can give back to those working so hard for us. Just my thoughts.

Here is just a few hardworking individuals, who made our voyage more pleasant. Thank you to all.

I plan to highlight a few more from the cruise as we go. Maybe you will find someone you think needs recognition. Remember to do your RC survey. Recognize those who made your vacation better. It does matter.

Until later, Jamie & Eugene

Day 19

Good Morning,

Today was a day at sea. We got up a little late. I missed the Zumba class (like I was going to go) and wasn’t quite ready to go to the gym. Partially because it was partly open air, and it is cold out, and partially because I just wasn’t feeling it. We walked so much the past three days (over 15 miles total), we were both sore. We headed to breakfast in the Windjammer. Then we went down to Art Gallery for an art auction. Really, didn’t see anything that we wanted, so we left before it was over and walked through the shops. We ran into some people we met the night before, we just stood and talked for a bit. We checked out the people ice skating and wandered around a bit. the nice thing about sea days, no schedule to keep. Finally, we went up to the Windjammer and played cards for a while. We really didn’t have lunch, just snacked or cheese, fruit and meats. All very good. There was a lot going on around the ship. There was Salsa dance class (given I have 2 left feet, we opted out), they had napkin artistry (given I don’t cook anymore, not sure I would need this skill), ice skating (no broken bones in Europe), several trivia games: Friends, Celebrity Heads, and Harry Potter (neither of us are good at trivia, it would be too embarrassing to even play), they also had a movie playing in the Royal Theater. So we opted to do what we like best; hang out, play cards and meet new people. It is relaxing to us. By the late afternoon, it was time to get ready for dinner. It was dress your best night, so Eugene had to wear big boy pants. He only brought two pair of pants. He would wear shorts in Alaska in the winter, if I let him. Later, we went down to dinner. Eugene ordered the breaded calamari for an appetizer. He said is was great. Whomever is doing the fry products in the kitchen, is doing a great job. I don’t even care for calamari, but tried it and it was super good. I had the pumpkin soup. It was pretty good. Also had the shrimp cocktail. I like the shrimp, but the cocktail sauce seemed to have tabasco in it, rather than horseradish that we are accustomed to. We both had the roast beef tenderloin for entree. After dinner, we caught the Production Show, Broadway Rhythm and Rhyme in the Royal Theater. It was good. Nothing like Mama Mia or some of the other shows we have seen. But, still very entertaining. We popped in the casino to hang out a play a little, then headed to bed. We planned on getting up early for our first Port of Call, Stockholm, Sweden. Looking forward to the canal tour. Im a little worried about the cold, but I did pack my winter coat and scarf. Eugene insisted he didn’t need a jacket. I think he is wrong. I did pack a long sleeved compression shirt that he could wear under a shirt. He is so stubborn, won’t even admit if he is cold. MEN!!

Sweet Dreams, Jamie and Eugene

Day 20: Stockholm, Sweden

Good Morning,

We got up early, had breakfast and was off the ship ASAP. We had a canal tour at 10:00 am. We took a taxi most of the way, but the President of Finland was arriving and the roads were blocked. We could have rode the Hop On Hop Off bus for much less money, but lesson learned We booked it through Viator. It was a 3 1/2 hour tour through the islands of Sweden. It was a good tour, but a little over crowded. We had to sit outside, so it was rather cold. They did give us light blankets. One of the problems was other people talking loudly in such a manner that we could not hear the narrator. I finally, politely, told them we could not hear the narrator. They hardly spoke English. The one man said sorry, the other acted like I was imposing on them. We paid for a tour, but I think they just came to hang out. After awhile, others got too cold and went down below, so we moved out of earshot. During the tour we saw many beautiful summer houses and unique little islands. Sweden is made up of over 200,000 islands. Less than 1000 are inhabited. It was so cool passing by these little island with maybe just one little house. The only way to get to your home is by boat. Since it is so cold here in the winter, I imagine you could walk across the ice…. scary. 3 1/2 hours four the tour was a bit too long, especially in the cold. Though, the tour itself was quite interesting and very beautiful, difficulty hearing the narration hampered our enjoyment a bit. Stockholm is very interesting city with lots of history. We are excited to continue exploring the area.

After the canal cruise, we got on the Hop on Hop Off Bus and decided to just warm up and ride around to see what there was to see. . In Old Town, there was the Royal Palace and several beautiful cathedrals. There were also numerous art galleries and shops. There were so many little cafes and cute shops. Walking around town was really cool. It was like stepping back into time. The building all have unique designs and vibrant colors. Just note, wear comfortable shoes. The streets are either brick or cobblestone. They are like a maze with little nooks and narrow alleys. The sidewalks are often uneven and the curbs are steep. I found myself being extra cautious, since I have a tendency to fall. Ive never been that coordinated, so this was a little challenging for me. The City Hall was the site of the Nobel Prize banquet. We did not get to go into the Vasa Ship Museum, because of limited time. We did get to see it from the exterior and get some pictures. The cool thing about this museum, is the story. The Vasa was a ship that capsized and sank in Stockholm in 1628. It was a warship. It was the first cruise, and because of a design malfunction, the ship sank before it ever saw battle. After 333 years, under the sea, it was salvage and rebuilt. Thinking about visiting the museum tomorrow. The Voyager was staying overnight, so there was no worry about missing the ship , so we were not too rushed. Around four, we took the bus back to the port, to be back in time for dinner. We enjoyed a nice dinner and went to the room to plan for the coming day. It felt good to get a hot shower, still chilled from the boat tour. Note to self: Bring more warm clothes to Europe.

Day 21: Day 2 in Stockholm

Dear Friends,

Today is our second day in Stockholm. We had to start early because we had to be back on the ship by 3:00 pm. We got on the Hop On Hop Off bus and headed for Old Town. We stopped in a little cafe for lunch. We shared a piece of vegetable pizza and a piece of almond cake. It was good, but Im not a big fan of green and red peppers, or mushrooms, which the pizza was covered with. Eugene loved it. The almond cake was awesome. We got lost (on purpose) in the streets of Stockholm, just enjoying the sights, and the off beaten paths. We loved just walking around and checking out everything, trying to get a feel of the way of life for the locals. Everything is much slower paced than in the States. No one is rushing about. You can see older men play checkers, people painting and drawing, or just drinking a cup of coffee and chilling with a friend or companion. It was relaxing. One bit of advise, when leaving Stockholm on your ship, go to the top deck and enjoy the views. It is worth every minute.

Day 22: Day in Tallinn, Estonia

Dear Friends,

Today we visited Tallinn, Estonia. To be honest, before this trip, I couldn’t even tell you what part of the world Estonia was in. Part of going on a trip of this length, is doing your homework. Unfortunately, I am really not that great at homework when working 14 hours per day (when Im home) and Eugene is very little help at all. He says his job is to read the map and carry the luggage. So I am the planner. If nothing is planned or if it gets messed up or we miss something…. my fault. But I digress. As I said, today we visited Tallinn, Estonia. Tallinn is another city that is rich in history and architecture. It is the capital city of Estonia.. Once again, we chose to do the Hop On Hop Off bus. Just easier than worrying about taxis, transfers and such. Relieves the stress. We rode the entire route first to get familiar with the area, then we stopped in Old Town. Old Town has narrow cobblestone streets and medieval walls that run throughout the town. Old Town is set on a hill. Sometimes it was difficult to navigate through the town and it always seemed like you were walking up hill. Definitely not at place for a person with mobility difficulties to try to walk around. Some curbs were steep and it took effort to get up and down. The roads were uneven and narrow. But oh so worth the effort. It was like a maze of medieval building with towering spheres. I found myself feeling like a stranger traveling back in a time machine. If Eugene didn’t say 20 times, watch where you are walking, you are going to fall… It drove me crazy. I was in awe of my surroundings. Who wants to look down where you are walking, when there is so much to see above and in front of you. Yes, I have tripped and fallen a few times in my life. …Look there is a butterfly. Maybe a little ADHD. But, when there is so much beauty, who could blame me? We stopped in some little shops. I actually bought something for myself. Which is quite unusual. I went into a small shop off the alley way, and found a very nice sweater that was hand made. I love it!! And the price was perfect, only $22 U.S. What a bargain. They had others, should have bought another, but 2 checked bags/ 2 carry on bags is our limit. I would have had to throw away some of Eugene’s clothes, if I bought another.

We visited the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. It was unbelievable. It is the largest Cathedral in Estonia. It is a beautifully decorated Russian Orthodox Church. We went inside and there were visitors and patrons alike. Eugene did not see the signs for no photographs, so we have a few to share. (He wouldn’t have taken the photographs if he had seen the sign, Eugene is not a rule breaker….me… maybe.) There were, I assume that they were nuns, cleaning the church. They were dressed very plain habits and made no contact with the visitors, just went about doing their duties. They seemed… sad. I understand a sober demeanor, but I mean really sad. I am sure the current situation between Russia and Ukrain must be on everyones’ minds in the area. It was so very quiet and since it is a working church, a place of prayer. I noticed several people lighting candles. Not being Catholic, I am not familiar with many of the practices. But since we were there, it didn’t hurt to say our thank yous, and pray for those in pain. I don’t think God cares what denomination you are, just that you believe. Just my thoughts, sorry if I offended any of you, my friends.

We also visited the Tallinn Festival Grounds, Tallinn Lauluvaljak. We were told that this is where the outdoor concerts are held. The Estonia Song Festival is held there every five years. It opened in 1959. It hosts both outdoor events, bringing over 200,000 people per year. It also hosts indoor events like weddings, conference, banquets and gala dinners, to name a few. Michael Jackson, Tina Turner, Elton John, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Green Day, The Rolling Stones, Pet Shop Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, 50 Cent, Iron Maiden, Andrea Bocelli and the list goes on and on, who have preformed at this outdoor concert hall. Pretty cool, don’t you think?

The next stop was the TV tower. The TV tower is 314 meters tall. It has a glass floor observation deck on on the twenty-first level. On the twenty second level you can actually get into a harness and walk along the edge of the tower. I regret, we did not have time to go up the tower. But is was quite imposing from the ground. If we come back, it is definitely a must do. Eugene said, “no way!” “harnesses break all the time!” LOL, I would have done it. The Tower was built to provide better communication support for the 1980 Moscow Summer Olympics sailing event. It took 5 years to build and was finished just before the Sailing event was to take place. It was closed for about 5 years, then given a full renovation and is a very popular tourist attraction today. To those in Estonia, it is a symbol of their independence from Russia. After the TV Tower, we made our way to the bus stop and headed back to the ship, exhausted!Time for a little nap.

At 5:30, we headed to the main dining room for dinner and then to the Schooner bar, to listen to music. We dipped into the casino, to hang out with some new friends and Eugene to have a few drinks. I played the slot machines a bit with his card, trying to earn enough points in his name to get a free cruise. I have 5 or 6 offers right now. We would like to get a few in his name, so that we can each bring a friend. So I do need to play a little. Thats my story and Im sticking to it!

By 10:00 pm, we were super tired and headed to our stateroom. Have a busy day tomorrow. Good night to all.

Day 23: Day in Helsinki, Finland

Dear Friends,

Today we were in Helsinki. We did the Hop On Hop Off Bus. Unfortunately, we took a shuttle into town and ended up waiting for 45 minutes for the bus to pick us up. We should have stayed at the port. It was so very cold and windy. We couldn’t really leave the area and risk missing the bus. Eugene was not happy with me, he wanted to wait at the port. He was right, AGAIN. We eventually got on the bus and I was just thankful for the warmth. We rode the route around and stopped at a couple places.

One of the places along the route was Senate Square. The square has four buildings all designed by the same person,, Carl Ludvig Engel. The square includes the Helsinki Cathedral, the Government Palace, the National Library of Finland and University of Helsinki. The Cathedral commands presence, sitting on a hill with an expansive set of steps and an impressive statue of Alexander II in the middle of the square. We were not able to go inside, but throughly enjoyed walking around. We were told that he Helsinki Museum was in the oldest building in the southeast corner, due to time restraints, we did not visit the museum. The details and design of the Cathedral was phenomenal. If you stand at the top of the stairs, you can see over all the rooftops, right into the sea. It seems that the stair case is the attraction to many locals. It looked as though people were just relaxing on the stairs, talking in small groups. Individuals looked to be reading, studying or just looking at their phones. Just a nice place to gather or take a break. While we were visiting Senate Square, we noticed mounted police and several on motorcycles.I have to say, the Finnish Police ride some bad as… motorcycles. Really didn’t know what was going on until the marching band of young men started coming up the street. The horses for the mounties were so beautiful, I had to snap a picture. The band was excellent and the young men marching were in perfect rhythm. They proceeded throughout the town, as we had to pull over in the bus to let them pass. It was quite enjoyable.

On a side note: when we made our way back to the area, where we first got on the bus, there was a small outdoor concert and fashion show in the plaza/park. It was cool, because the models were regular people, not really supermodel (as U.S. terms) bodies. I was surprised at the style of the clothes, very different from those in the U.S. It was a bit crowded, so it was difficult to get very close to see well. I understand that typical there is an annual open air fashion show in Helsinki to celebrate the coming of summer. Im not sure if this was a part of that venue, because I heard it had gone digital this year. None the less, it looked like regular people were on the runway, showing off their favorite styles. The locals really seemed to be enjoying it. Wished we could have gotten closer to see the full event.

We then stopped at the Rock (Temppelliaukio) Church, which was awesome. They charge $5 per person to go into the actual church. However, many people just went to the left and up the steps and admired the church from the balcony. Personally, I didn’t mind paying the $5 because… after all, its a church. It is a Lutheran church that is build directly into the rock. It is very modern and is an icon for tourist and locals alike. The building itself is covered with a dome that is lined with copper and supported on the rock walls. The walls are actually rugged rocks. It is beautiful and the acoustics are great. The church has a lovely pipe organ. During our visit, a young lady on the violin and a young man on the organ, were practicing a piece of music, likely to be performed in a concert, at a later date. They seemed accustomed to having an audience. We stayed for about 15-20 minutes and then wandered around the side streets and shop/cafe areas. One note, so you do not make the mistake I did, if you need to use the restroom, it is down the hill from the church about two blocks and you need a code to get in. Very odd.. I think the stop at the Rock Church is worth the 15-20 minutes it takes to see. Glad we did.

Day 24: Day at Sea on the Voyager

Dear Friends,

Yes today we slept in. Had a late breakfast at the Windjammer and needed to take care of some details. Eugene needed a list. That is how he operates. No list? Nothing gets done. We needed to select our free pictures and pick them up after 5:00. We needed to pick up extra tip envelopes and make them out to the appropriate individuals. We decided that on this cruise, we were going to try to do something extra nice for one or two crew members who do not normally receive tips. Just a extra gift, from appreciative guests. Karma people, karma. I ended up doing a little shopping on the ship. They had a clearance sell on a few things, so I grabbed some little gifts for family members. We went around and said our goodbyes to our new friends and staff that made our trip more enjoyable. Packed up our clothes and checked our upcoming reservations. We reviewed our bill, which was exactly as it should have been. The only thing that went wrong was that someone stole my magnetic sign off our door. Why? It has no use or value to anyone but us. So sad. Bad karma coming their way. Security looked into it, but I didn’t want anyone to get into trouble. I guess there will be those out there who just are mean and miserable. “Nothing happens by chance, by fate. You create our own fate by your actions. That’s Karma.” Now I will have to remember my room number on the next three cruises, it was easy when I saw our sign to find our room. I left a note on the door, asking to return the sign. Someone stole the note also. LOL. What does Taylor Swift sing, “And the hater gonna hate, hate, hate ,hate, .. Baby, I’m just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake, I shake it off, I shake it off..” Ok, Im losing it. Must be sleep deprivation or old age. Any excuse will do. I don’t want to be angry.

I =

We did all of our errands and went to dinner at table 358 for the last time on the Voyager. Our waiters, Iputu and Igede were there patiently waiting for us to arrive. We were running a bit late. We had a great dinner and some nice conversation with each of them. I had the Salmon Tartar for an appetizer. Sooo good! And chicken cor don bleu for main dish. I even ordered dessert. I was hungry for ice cream, so I ordered a banana split from the kids menu… yes you can do that. It was wonderful. Im a stress eater, thus the ice cream. I’m not stressed, just frustrated and a little sad. You meet people along your path and knowing you are likely never to see them again. You wonder, did I leave a positive impact? Did our meeting even matter? I hope so. Well good night my friends. Tomorrow, we depart the ship and onto another adventure.

Day 25 Arriving in Copehagen, Demark

Good morning,

Today we arrived in Denmark today. We got up early. The time went back an hour, so I woke up at 5:00 am. Too early! The sun is up at 4:30 am. Messes with me. The sun sets at around 10:30 pm So weird for us. Im used to getting up at light and going to bed in the dark. Very different, messes with my sleep patterns. We had breakfast, said good bye to the staff and friends we met. Then we headed off the ship. We choose to get a taxi, because we really didn’t want to worry about transfers and such. Cost us about $50, too much, but less stress. We arrived at the WIDE hotel, checked our bags. The Wide is nice enough, clean, efficient. They offered breakfast for $27 per person, per day, but we were not sure of our plans, so opted out. The young man at the front desk was quite friendly. We were given two free drink vouchers from the bar, which was closed during our stay. But drinks were available from the check in desk. Many of the guest looked to be business travelers, rather than tourist. The hotel is within walking distance of many sites and had great ratings at a reasonable price. They had an elevator (small, but working order). It was a bit, stuffy in the room, but we opened the windows for a bit to cool the room off. The room was small but had a king size bed, and a desk, so met our needs. Through out our stay, there were many guests gathering in the common areas. It was rather small and seemed to be a bit crowded. But overall, the hotel was good.

We asked where the local HOP ON HOP OFF bus was located and took a tour around town. Just to get some sense of where we were and what we wanted to do and see. We saw the “Little Mermaid”, Denmark’s National statue. It’s cute, but really nothing that impressive. The bronze sculpture, is based on a theme from Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. We saw other statues that were more impressive. I don’t know, maybe Im missing something. I think it is special because of the story that Hans Christian Andersen’s associates with mermaid. We also saw the Angel statue at the harbor. We also stopped and looked at the famous Gefion Fountain. Basically, it is a group of oxen, pulling a plow, with the Norse Goddess Gefion driving. I photographed the Maritime Monument which is a dedication to the civilian sailors who lost their lives in World War I. Tomorrow, we plan on doing the canal tour and visit the castle and museum. We have three days to tour Copenhagen.

We stopped at Jaggers for a couple burgers. It was a recommendation from the front desk person, at the WIDE. We paid $33 for 2 regular size burgers, one order of French fries and beer. It was good, but not $33 good. (later, I found that the prices in Copenhagen are very high and $33 is typical) We then checked into our hotel and took a nap. Afterwards, we went for a walk. By the time we got back it was 10:30 and still light outside. It was cool to see all the little pubs and cafes. There were people drinking and hanging out. We walked over to Tivoli amusement park and gardens. It dates from 1843. We didn’t go in, took some pictures outside. The Axel Towers were right near our hotel, we passed them as we were walking back. They are a group of 5 round towers above Axeltorv Square, right in the middle of Denmark. They represent a new vision of Danish architecture. The one thing that I can say about Copenhagen is that the architecture new and old, is magnificent. It’s been a long day. Looking forward to another adventure tomorrow.

Good night, Jamie & Eugene

Day 26, Day 2 in Copenhagen.

Good morning,

Well not that great. I did not sleep more than 4 hours. Im a little irritable and Eugene has ticked me off, from yesterday. I understand his bad mood, he dropped his phone and shattered the screen. Now, he we need to find a place to fix it. He was in such a lousy mood last night and nothing made him happy. After a 3 hour nap, he woke up and acted (guess I read that wrong)n like he wanted to go for a walk. He grumped and grumbled the whole time. Of course, somehow it was MY fault that he dropped his phone. It was not a good evening. He wanted to watch TV and it was all in Danish. Duh! We are in Denmark! So a sleepless night. We hit the road around 10:00 am. We got on the bus and headed to drop off his phone at the repair place. They said they could repair it in less than 30 minutes, so we waited. They fixed it (replaced the screen) costing $179.00, a little more than we would pay in the States, but it was necessary.

We then got on the canal ride. It was great!! The young man narrating spoke three languages. He was interesting and funny. It was a great hour. Pictures below with notes. This tour was relaxing and informative. Below are some of the sites and information from the canal tour.

After the canal tour, we stopped in a street cafe and had pizza. It was so weird, everyone was ordering, and even more surprising, eating a whole pizza! We split one and it was still too much. Walking down the streets of Copenhagen you see one common thing. You rarely pass a table, that someone does not have wine or beer in front of them. It seems everyone drinks alcohol, all the time! The canal is lined with outdoor cafes. Every table had some sort of alcoholic beverage. I guess if a glass of tap water cost $3, you may as well get a beer for $5. Perhaps, this is the European way and I am just uninformed. Given I rarely drink, it seems odd to me. Also, The whole 6 feet apart thing does not exist here. Im surprised the Covid issues were not worse here. Everyone is seated REALLY closely in the cafes. You may as well be sitting at the same table with strangers, close. This is pretty much everywhere. Very little personal space.

After lunch, we jumped back on the bus and went to the Rosenborg Castle and the Botanical Gardens. After walking around the construction area to the entrance of the gardens, which was closed, we saw a women coming out of a locked fence. She told us the gardens were open, but only in limited areas and the entrance was on the opposite side of where we currently were. It was quite a ways away. Consequently, we backtracked and headed for the Rosenborg Castle, the palace for King Christian IV. We did not get to go in because it was too late to fully enjoy the experience. However, we did walk around the Kings Gardens and get some great shots of the castle. Apparently, this is a place where the locals hang out and relax. There were many people there, playing lawn games, laying out, picnicking, and just chilling. No one seemed to be in rush to do anything. There were several tourist groups, being lead by the famous flag, herding from one place to another, straining to hear their narrator. ( I hate these tours, can you tell?) I’m short, so that in itself is an issue. I really don’t like super close crowds. Issue number two. And finally, it annoys me when I want to hear what is being presented and unfailingly, the group next to me is gossiping about the latest and I can not hear. Give me a headset and a recording, any time! Maybe we will miss something, but its better than being frustrated and annoyed. The park was actually very lovely.

We went back to our hotel and took a rest. At 5:30 we walked about 5 blocks to Tivoli Garden. It is an amusement park that was supposed to be the inspiration for Walt Disney. The park was opened in 1843. It is famous for the wooden roller coaster that was built in 1914, and yes it is still operating today. Scary huh? There is an entrance fee to just walk around. I believe was around $22. If you want to ride rides, it is more expensive. If you get luck, there is a concert or event going on in the stage area. We chose to walk around. I am glad we did, because it was beautiful. There was a young man’s ballet presentation. It was interesting to watch. There were lawn chairs and benches. Though it is an amusement park, it is very different feel from Disney. It has a more relaxed. Though the technology is modern, it has an old school atmosphere. There were lovely flowers, you could stroll along the pathways and simply enjoy people watching. One mistake (for us) that we made was eating in the park. It was definitely NOT in our budget. Dinner cost us almost $100 and Eugene had a cheese burger and I had the sampler, which was one of the least expensive things on the menu. Additional, I did not even care for the food. The tables were so close together that you could almost touched the person at the table next to you. The waiter dropped off our food and we never saw him until I asked for the check. He acted annoyed. When I did the credit card, he pointed out to me where I was to write the tip, then watched me as I wrote it in. I tipped 20% him because of being embarrassed not to do so. After I walked away, I realized there was a 25% tip already included!! Lesson learned, I should have been more careful. I would have been happier with a hotdog.

There is such a variety of rides, for all ages. The park has a scary house, aquarium, fun house, carnival games, and food, food, and more food. I love that they call cotton candy, “candy floss”, LOVE IT! We stayed in the park for a couple hours, but we were both tired and couldn’t stay up to see the lights come on. The sun doesn’t go down until. 10:30PM. Too late for us. Below are some pictures we took in the park, enjoy. Good night.

Tivoli Garden

Day 27: Copenhagen

Good morning,

Today is our last day in Copenhagen. We are heading to Rosenborg Castle. I want to see the Crown Jewels. Once again, we used the Hop on Hop Off bus to get us within 5 blocks. It was chilly out, but still a beautiful day But first, we headed to find some famous Danish pastries. After reading many reviews, we decided on Sct. Peders Konditori. Omg, it did not disappoint. The cinnamon rolls were hot out of the oven. They almost melted in your mouth. So fresh, gooey, and downright delicious. Eugene got a puff pastry that had a silky cream, topped with fresh fruit. It was a mess to eat, but oh so worth it. We decided to grab a piece of pepperoni pizza to go. It had a super thick and chewy crust (just the way we like it) with lots of cheese and pepperoni. I would have preferred a little more sauce, but Eugene thought it was perfect. It was cut into a rectangle about 5”x 10”. It was the size of a personal pan pizza, enough to share. 

After, pigging out on these wonderful pastries, we jumped back on the Big Red Bus (not Clifford’s ) and headed back the Rosedale Castle. The castle contains over 400 years of royal history. The castle itself was built as a summerhouse in 1606 for Christian IV. It was known as his favorite castle. I wonder what it would be like, “Oh, so which is your favorite castle.. so hard to choose, with so many options..” LOL. Never going to be my problem to worry about. Visiting the castle was self directed, once you arrive. One note, you are not permitted to take any purse or backpack into the castle, they provide you with free lockers, at the time of purchasing the tickets. Once inside, you can take a long or as little as you like. There is someone there to answer your questions. They seemed were friendly and sincerely enjoyed their jobs.

It was a fascinating place. So much history. It is hard to believe the amount of beautiful art, especially on the ceiling. The tour was like time travel. The cool thing about this castle that after 1700s the castle wasn’t used a a place to live but a place where the kings kept their oldest, rarest and best objects. It was a place to show off their riches. It didn’t become an actual museum until 1838. Interesting huh? You moved from one room to the next, looking at different artifacts from the various Royal Families. Looking at all the portraits, it occurred to me that these people we not particularly attractive. At least not in todays standard of beauty. The women were stanch and big boned. There were few pictures of anyone smiling. You’d think if you were that wealthy, you’d smile sometimes. Just my thoughts. The castle is set up more like a museum. I like the stories and descriptors that were provided. 

One room that surprised me was the mirrored room, ceilings, floor and walls. It struck me as odd. Eugene said that was a erotic room for the king. I laughed and said, “no way!” So I asked the elderly woman working why the room was all mirrored? She laughed a said King Christian IV was a naughty man. He would take the ladies in there, then he had an adjoining room to have private time. What a dog! Men, they haven’t changed from 100,s of years ago. 
We went upstairs to the Great Hall. It was huge! Not that wide, maybe 28 ft wide and over 120 ft long. The ceiling was concave, with inlays of sculptures. Eugene thought it was amazing that it has held up over time with no supporting beams. At one end was a throne, on the opposite end were two thrones, with three silver lions in front of them to guard the thrones. (they looked more gold than silver to me, but who am I to judge). The Rosenborg Castle is definitely worth them time and money to visit, (in my opinion, but I guess Im easily impressed). Unfortunately, we need to pick up our luggage and head to the airport. We want to get their early to make sure there is no rush, no stress.

7:00 PM Flew to Amsterdam

We arrived at the airport and took the train to Central Station. Just a few dollars each, easy peasy… or I thought. Once we got to Central Station, I knew (because I did my homework) that we needed to take tram 17 and we would be within walking distance of our hotel. Only a few dollars expense. But NO, Eugene insisted on asking, just to make sure I was right. They told us another tram, and of course we took it. Now understand, we are dragging two carryon suitcases and 3 small duffle bags and a computer case. Or should I say, Eugene is dragging the bulk of everything. He has to be my hero all the time. Or he knows I am clumsy and will likely trip over my own feet, getting on and off the tram. Anyway, it was not the correct tram. I had my GPS on my phone and we were going further and further away. It was late, we were both tired and grumpy. We asked again, and were told to get off the tram walk 3 or 4 blocks and wait for another tram, then transfer to another. Enough, it was 11:30 and I wanted to go to bed. While Eugene stood at the empty tram station, I saw a cab, called him over and told Eugene to get in or Id meet him at the hotel. Of course, he got in. And in 5 minutes we were at our hotel. We stayed at the Grand Hotel Downtown. The staff were so friendly. Not only checked us in, but walked us to our room to make sure that the room opened ok. The room was very nice, comfortable bed, and felt oh so good to lay down.

Good night, Im exhausted. Tomorrow is another adventure.

Day 28 : Amsterdam, Netherlands

Good morning,

We are up and ready for an adventure. We plan to use the Rick Steves walking tours to explore. Over the next two days we need to do some housekeeping things. One, get haircuts, go to grocery store to get a few things and wash and dry clothes. I booked this hotel, because it said laundry in the descriptor. Well, I guess laundry means you pay and they do it for you. Understand, on the cruises, we get one free bag of wash and fold laundry on each cruise. So I have them do our jackets, sweaters and slacks. I hand wash our personal items and have a really cool expandable clothesline with clips and hang them up overnight in our room. Usually they dry rather quickly. Likewise, our tee shirts and other lighter shirts I hand wash and hang out on our balcony on the ship when we are at sea. Again, usually within a day, they are fresh smelling and ready to wear. I know I could pay to have them done, but we are traveling on a budget. When on land, I always ask for an iron and iron anything that needs it. If we are on the ship and something needs ironed, I send it out and the prices are pretty reasonable. I bring wrinkle guard and use the steam in the shower to get out small wrinkles. Remember 77 days and we only have 2 checked bags, 2 carryons and 2 personal items. One bag holds 150 dragons, I am leaving in Europe. So, I have learned to mix and match.

Enough of regular stuff. We were going to use the hop on hop off bus and walked around looking for the stop, but no bus in sight. It was Eugene’s to plan. After wandering around stupidly about 30 minutes (though we were sight seeing along the way), I ask Eugene if he checked to see if the bus runs everyday…. of course, no!. It only runs weekends. Another lesson learned. Keep that in mind, not all tour buses run everyday! Every time, we do something stupid and end up walking way more than we need to, we have the same saying… “But wait, we got our steps in!” It is an inside joke now, because we have certainly gotten our steps in. Yesterday, 6 miles of walking. We are averaging about 5 miles per day.

We walked to the Dam Square to start our Rick Steves walking tour. We did a lot of pausing during the tour to do other things that we saw of interest along the way. But, it was great to have some commentary along the way and learn more about the history of the area. If you do not know Rick Steves does audio walking tours throughout Europe. There is no charge, you just download them on your phone and off you go. We use a set of bluetooth ear buds, each one of us, takes one and it works just fine…. unless Eugene gets too far away from me and I loose the audio. So we stay close. As we walked around Amsterdam, (we were near the red light district), it was not only necessary to follow the directions from one place to another, you must also make your way through the crowded streets and watch out for car, bicycles, trams and buses, WHILE you are looking at what Rick is talking about. For me, that was a challenge… look there is a butterfly.. LOL. We learned about the churches, history and many interesting fact past and present about the area. A couple things to note: Weed is not legal, but totally tolerated. For not being legal, it seems like every shop and every corner in this area, has something to do with drugs, alcohol, sex or food. Not for me to judge! I guess if you do drugs, you want to eat? If you drink, you want sex? I guess we have to remember, “He without sin, cast the first stone”. _{John 8:7} I will focus on what I do know and let others explain the rest. Food. OMG food everywhere. I just don’t understand, Eugene and I are the fattest people on the streets and EVERYBODY is eating.. a lot!! A picture says a 1000 words, look below. We walked, we learned, we explored…. and we ATE!

Places of interest, history and architecture.. old and new

Day 29: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Good morning,

Today, we went straight into town to get our COVID tests. Eugene found a coupon for $40 per person for Covid testing. It was within walking distance and offer by the Tours & Tickets … Red and White places all over town that sells tours, sells COVID tests also. We then headed to get our hair cut. It was actually very reasonable, for Amsterdam prices, and very quick. We stopped at the shop below and got a stroopwafel. A must in Amsterdam. Make sure you get extra napkins and sit someplace and eat it. They are so good, but so messy. We then decided to go to the ever famous Amsterdam flower market. I FaceTimed with my mom and walked her through the market. She was thrilled to get to see so many gorgeous flowers. I wish I could have brought her home bulbs and plants. But because we are flying, you are not permitted to bring plants into the States. She was able to enjoy walking through with me. We went over to the mall area. There were an excessive amount of people EVERYWHERE. Eugene relaxed and I walked around the mall. It seems that they do not sell bigger clothes and the sizes are very different. I just window shopped for a bit. I went to meet Eugene in the plaza and noticed a very busy grocery store, just a few doors down on right of the mall. It looked like a place where locals would go. So I stopped in. Surprisingly, the prices were reasonable. It is one of the few places that I found that was reasonable. I got a cute black sweater for only $15, and it fit!

It was getting late, but we wanted to walk down to the red light district in the evening. So, off we went. It was an … experience. First of all, yes, there are prostitutes in windows. It’s funny, it made me sad. I looked at these beautiful young women, and felt bad for them. I saw some of the men going into the doors. If I was rich I would have just said, here is money. Go home. My heart broke for them. I understand you have to do what you have not do to support yourself and your family. I like the way the Amsterdam government protects these young people and makes sure that they are disease free. The streets were lined with cannabis shops and erotica shops. It was interesting to say the least. However, it is not an appropriate place to bring children. Even though they may have more candy shops in one place than I have ever seen. I particularly liked the bubble tea bubbles. Who needs the tea, just eat the bubbles in ice. LOL.

I want to share a funny story. Eugene went into one of the stores to get a drink. I waited outside, and I waited, and I waited… Apparently, the cashier, Nadia (from Russia, about 40.. rather attractive, maybe high) was playing music and singing. When Eugene went to cash out, Nadia grabbed his hand and seductively started singing to him. This continued for about 5 minutes. He said he started to feel quite uncomfortable… (yeh, especially if I would have walked in lol). When the song ended, he said nice song. She told him the name of it. While still holding, now both his hands, she told him about herself and asked him his name and where he was from. (Im still outside waiting). Finally, he said he had to get out to his wife, she reluctantly, let go of his hand and rang him up. He said, “Well, Nadia, have a good day.” She quickly came from behind the counter, grabbed him on his biceps and said in her thick Russian accent, “No, my darling Eugene, be bad, very bad, it is so much more fun.” He came out of the store like a puppy who just got caught peeing on the carpet. Head down, red in the face. when I asked why he was so long, he said, “You are not going to believe this!” then he told the story. I guess I should be jealous, but I laughed my ass off.

We headed back to the hotel, all night I kept trying to talk in Russia, saying Eugene darling. I think he got a little upset or a little turned on, I don’t know. An experience to remember. Remember… one time, in Amsterdam…..

Good night everyone, Darling Eugene and I are heading to bed.

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Odd Things you see when walking around Amsterdam

Day 30: Leaving Amsterdam.. sailing on Jewel of the Sea: Iceland & Ireland

Good Morning,

We are heading to the cruise ship this morning. Took the tram to Central Station. No issue. Wanted to take another to the cruise terminal. When we asked which tram, the man said, “Just walk, only 5 minutes!” Well, 5 minutes in Amsterdam must be different than 5 minutes in US or he walks REALLY fast. It took us 15 minutes, partially up hill. With luggage, it was an effort … for Eugene, since he insisted on not letting me carry anything. Dam gentleman! I am lucky and I know it. The reason I kept him around for over 35 year…my hero.

Boarding the ship was smooth. We did have an issue with the state room, but by evening, Edna of Guest Services was able to get us another room. We had already unpacked, but no worries, pack up and move to a better room. We were disappointed that we did not get May again as our server, but she and Angelica stopped over and said, Hello. Im not sure if we are going to eat in the main dining room every night, maybe we will change it up a bit. After dinner, we headed over to the casino. I won $700 on a slot machine, so we both decided to play black jack. Eugene won, I lost. We hung out with some other players and had a blast. Did not get to our room until 2:00 AM. OMG, I am so tired. Good night to all

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