Russian around the Baltic with some spice to finish off!

[Pushka]

That seagull was huge and tame.

We walked mainly through Old Tallin which was extremely busy with tourists. The local people seem extremely pleasant compared with the brusqueness of Russia. It was a lovely relaxing day compared after the 2 full days of SPB and very much needed.







We strolled around trying to escape the tourists and found a lovely little coffee shop right next to the Canadian Embassy. Excellent cafe latte and chai latte and cake for 9 Euro so very good price.


Wonderful. But just after 10 minutes we needed one of these

 

[Pushka]

We wandered around and it was getting hot. Bright sunny and hot.
Still found time for some shopping. Prices being in Euro and very reasonable.







If you are not working today then you are just not serious.


A nice dress shop with lovely linen items. Purchased the wrap in the picture here for 35 euros.


Sorry about that dup

 

[Pushka]

The square was packed with people enjoying lunch in the sun.
Unfortunately someone had their bag stolen and police arrived to question her.



Did I mention we paid $25 for 2 small cans of coke in Dubai? We were in the Exec club pool and there were no prices on the menu and because the drinks are free in the club then stupid us assumed they were likewise free.

We finally made our way back to the ship where the sun was really hot and walking back through the non airconditioned terminal was a hot and sweaty job. We arrived back as the Viking Star was departing. That is the cruise line my bro and SIL prefer and plan on doing a Baltic cruise next year.

The four ships all lined up.


My magnet collection is growing.

 

[Pushka]

Oops. Here it is

 

[Pushka]

Several of the ships started moving out from 4pm and there was a horn battle. Most sound like a deep horn as expected. But the Regal Princess played 'the love boat' - multiple times.

Tonight was more like a med cruise as the sun was out in full and it was warm and enjoyable sitting on the back deck. Last night it was freezing.

About 2 hours after leaving the Captain announced that due to a grave medical situation we would be having a helicopter medivac. There is a helipad at the very bow but it is every captains nightmare to do one as it is a significant safety risk - to personnel and the ship itself.

We virtually stopped for around an hour until the helicopter arrived. It circled four times before it was able to make the transfer. I can only imagine the stress for all involved including the Captain and helicopter personnel as such an exercise on a cruise ship is incredibly dangerous.

 

[Pushka]

The Captain announced this morning that the medical evacuation had been safely completed and the passenger safely in hospital. Excellent news.

Speaking with an experienced (and delightfully bolshy) UK couple there is real champagne to be had on the drink package and not the wannabe stuff they try palm off - but you have to ask for it as it's not on the menu. She managed to convince the pool bar waiter to go to the Cellar Master bar to get it. Success.


Last night we had dinner at the Lawn Grill bar which is a specialty restaurant meaning extra $$$. Our onboard credit paid for it so nothing from the wallet.

But it was a late booking so we needed a pre dinner snack. I didn't have lunch today and a light breakfast so no guilt.

It was pâté night last night so think - chicken, boar, deer, pork, moose, beef pâté. Chicken was wild enough for me. Pork pate though? MrP said the moose pâté was quite nice and smooth.

Eventually time to go to the restaurant. You can cook your own food or they will do it for you. First, the menu.


This is my favourite white wine and I'd completely forgotten it was available onboard. This was included in last time's package but this time I had to pay $3USD a glass. Happy with that.



I decided to roll the dough for the pizza and decorate it. I had to sign away I didn't have Ebola and wash scrupulously then the fun began. Did fine with the stretching part but failed miserably with the toss and catch. I exchanged mine with the chef who was demonstrating. We then decorated and it ended up perfectly.

 

[Pushka]

It looked delish when it had been baked.


The ship had slowed down at this point for the medical evacuation which meant that instead of being cold in this restaurant (it's on deck 14 and mostly exposed to the elements) it wasn't too cold at all. They also provide rugs.

I just can't eat as much these days so I didn't request a huge amount of food. So just a tandoori skewer and 2 grilled spicy chops served medium, plus a baked potato. MrP also ordered lobster macaroni and schnapper fillet with dirty rice.
Mine looked a bit sparse but the chops were delicious - and I wish I'd ordered more.


MrP's


Dessert - MrP passed but I ordered the hot chocolate cookie which was fabulous and cooked to order. But only managed half. It was probably the size of those wagon wheel biscuits?



Today is a sea day and we woke to rain. Thankfully it is clearing now. Have just been to an excellent lecture on Peter the Great. There is a Faberge lecture this arvo.

 

[fairbasa]

After your escort from a US Navy ship on your last cruise to the medivac by the Estonian Border Guard, you seem to get all the excitement!

Great tip on the real Champagne, will have to take notes for the next Celebrity cruise. You're wise regarding Lawn Club Grill portion control, we loved the experience when we were on Silhouette in 2014, but the only negative was we left the ordering in the hands of the wait staff and there was WAY too much food.

 

[Pushka]

After your escort from a US Navy ship on your last cruise to the medivac by the Estonian Border Guard, you seem to get all the excitement!

Great tip on the real Champagne, will have to take notes for the next Celebrity cruise. You're wise regarding Lawn Club Grill portion control, we loved the experience when we were on Silhouette in 2014, but the only negative was we left the ordering in the hands of the wait staff and there was WAY too much food.

I was thinking very similarly. We also had the visit from the British Navy in choppers on that cruise and a couple of years earlier we passed by The Endeavour in full rig. Then the Russian Air Force display this cruise - but on the bus. The British couple happened to be onboard when the airforce flew over and said they came so close and were really loud. We just missed being onboard by a few minutes.

We are trying Qsine in a few nights time. Also the internet seems pretty good. I'm currently typing this on it at lunchtime and it's pretty fast and I've just been streaming Netflix watching Broadchurch with no interruptions. Given everyone is onboard that is pretty good. We had the Best package that included 24 hour internet so we also use an app to stream radio during the night.

 

[Pushka]

This was taken from the helicopter circling when QM2 passed the Endeavour in 2012. Love_the_life was also on that cruise but I was travelling with Mum and she with her husband.




The RAN




And this in Paris a couple of years ago


Clearly 'they' know I love flying stuff.

 

[Jacques Vert]

We then saw the queue for non guide people. Our guide estimated 2-3 hours. Tip: Book a Tour to visit.

When we were there in 2015, we booked our tickets for the Hermitage on their web site. The hotel printed our voucher for us. When you get there you go to a separate booth on the left near the entrance, exchange the voucher for tickets and then walk pass the queue and straight in.

Took all of about 10 minutes.

 

[Pushka]

When we were there in 2015, we booked our tickets for the Hermitage on their web site. The hotel printed our voucher for us. When you get there you go to a separate booth on the left near the entrance, exchange the voucher for tickets and then walk pass the queue and straight in.

Took all of about 10 minutes.

It amazes me that more people don't book online as that avoids a lot of queues. It's a brutal tour through the Hermitage.

 

[OATEK]

It amazes me that more people don't book online as that avoids a lot of queues. It's a brutal tour through the Hermitage.

Only if you try to see it all!!

We had a special mission - to find a relative of MrsOatek who's portrait hangs in the gallery of Heroes of 1812. Our guide then abbreviated the grand tour as we flagged. Obviously we will have to go back to finish it all off! But what an amazing place spread through all those various buildings!

 

[Pushka]

I think seeing it all was our guide's intent

Today was another port day in Warnemunde Germany. I'd organised a Friend's of Dave tour that gets excellent reviews on Trip Advisor.

We berthed at 7am but didn't need to meet until 9.15am so a slower start. Expecting the buffet to be busy at 8am we were surprised to find it deserted. Apparently many had decided to take the mammoth trip into Berlin. Three hours each way by train or bus and five hours in Berlin. We considered this but opted for a less strenuous excursion.

The rain came on today but the forecast for Berlin was even worse with heavy showers predicted. This means that you just can't get out of the bus in Berlin. It rained all day on our walking tour but it was manageable. Of course in our group of 26 there were 8 Aussies and as is normal, the family of four lived in an adjacent suburb to us and we knew many of the same people. It's a RAdelaide thing.

We started the day with a walking tour of Warnemunde with Christian who grew up there. He is 27 and bears a great resemblance to Hamish of Hamish and Andy fame. His parents grew up in the days of the GDR and experienced life as East Germans.

The river area


Hamish doppelgänger.






Christian was happy to have Aussies as he'd spent 18 months backpacking here and has a tattoo of the Opera House and the Tower of Warnemunde tattooed on his flank

 

[Pushka]

The wedding chapel.






The adapted Eastern Germany houses. Some sell for over a million Euros.

 

[Pushka]

Then to the beach which on a sunny day would have been packed. Today - not so much.


The owners of this salon had to write in German 'not erotic' as their clients were wanting a happy ending.


And according to this ad, sex makes you pretty.


Warnemunde is listed in the top 3 places to be on NYE behind Munich and Berlin.

Next it was on the bus to Wismar.
The town is replicated here in 3D and street names written in Braille for the visually impaired.



This street sign was eventually painted as the mayor grew tired of people flogging it.



Wismar was a major port for sailors. The meaning is literal.

 

[Pushka]

The main square was deserted as the rain became heavy now


So it was off to the brick making display. 800 bricks per person were made.

 

[Pushka]

The bricks were made for this huge Gothic church, now being used for theatre performances.




And buildings


We then walked through the streets and past the house of a famous pirate and then the site where the very first Dracula movie was made. Along the way Christian talked of life before the wall came down. I gather the East Germans weren't as excited as we may have thought as their savings and pension were reduced by half and they thought the 'Westies' were rather arrogant. The Westies thought the Aussies (as they called the Easterners) rather dull.
On to a brewery for a spot of this



And this - plaice for me and which tasted good and warming.

 

[Pushka]

Then a bit of a drive to Schwerin, the site of the local Parliament.
First a visit to the main square where this monument was built to one of their former rulers. Not a popular chap with the locals it seems


He was banished but then returned a couple of years later to apologise but instead he murdered all the citizens and razed the town.

Next up some pictures of the local market. Strawberries looked amazing.







Gummy bear shop and yes we did buy some

 

[Pushka]

Barbecue German style.


The big guy obviously does a lot of tasting.


Then we walked to the Parliament. My camera was fogging up at this point which was a shame.






Our plan was to walk through the gardens as the tour usually does. Christian approached the gates but as he did so a German police officer angrily told him to stop. Christian reacted so quickly and immediately retreated. Given his family had grown up in Eastern Germany with Stasi and other Police treatments, it was still surprising to see the immediate obedience and concern even today.