BALTIC BLOG 07
Friday June 22, 2012
One of the really cool things about cruising is that you do most of your travelling at night – instead of wasting untold daylight hours getting from point A to point B. Although, here right now in the lands of the midnight sun, we’ve still got daylight in the middle of the night. It’s the weirdest thing – the sun finally goes down after midnight, and then pops back up again just an hour or so later. And if you don’t close your cabin curtains properly, you find yourself waking up at all hours of the night, wondering why it’s not dark.
Which probably explains why more than a few of our Mad Kiwi Midlifers can been found on the coach each morning – sound asleep, eyes shut and mouths wide open!
Anyway, we woke up this morning in Estonia (look it up on the map). And, while we ate breakfast, the ms Rotterdam was busy docking in the most stunningly-preserved walled city in Northern Europe. For over 700 years, Tallinn guarded the Baltic approaches to Russia from behind thick defensive walls – and today this medieval jewel simply oozes with atmosphere!
Our route, once we went ashore, took us on foot through the cultural heart of this UNESCO World Heritage Site … around the ancient stone walls with their fairytale turrets … into the amazing Russian Orthodox Alexander Nevsky Cathedral … up Toompea Hill to the Palace Square where we were treated to a ye-olde-worlde Medieval Concert at the historic House of the Great Guild.… then down Short Leg Street to the Town Hall Square, where we were free to shop at street stalls, inspect the handcrafts and souvenirs on offer, and enjoy a refreshment in one of the many outdoor cafes that ring the square.
The sun was shining, the sky was blueing, the birds were singing, the flowers were blooming. And a top Tallinn day was had by all.
TOMORROW:
We arrive in Russia for a two-day stay in what is widely regarded as the most beautiful city in the world: St Petersburg. Dunno about you, but I can’t wait!
Yours bloggedly – JOHN
P.S. If you want to leave a message for someone in our group, just click on the little speech bubble at the top of this page, and add your ‘COMMENTS’! Make sure you say who it’s for and who it’s from – and keep it brief.
hi Nolene & Wally
Mum trying to walk but as usual eating is a problem So tonight I will take up some homemade soup. In The Herald this morning Ross Parlane got the Sir JackNewman award for 40 years of service to North Shore Cricket. Feezing here so enjoy the warmth.
Meryl & Michael
Hi Mum (Joan)
Sounds like you are having a great time and look forward to hearing all about it when you get home! Ben stayed home from school yesterday with a cough but back today. Jessica does her dance exam again tomorrow for Dean to video (exciting!) and we all off to Upper Hutt on the weekend. Holidays start Monday so busy times for us ahead. Andrew making a beer today and may go duck shooting before the season ends.
Love you and happy snapping!
Kylie, Andrew, Jessica and Ben
Hey Joan
I hope you enjoyed Tallin as much as I did. Looks like nothing has changed there from when we were there. Sounds like you are all having a great time. Say Hi to John and Robyn
Love Bev
Greetings to the Belchers, Grants, Gordons, Covacichs and of course, the Cooneys.
Jackie & I are following your Blog and enjoying “spotting” familiar faces. So glad the weather is fine – not wet as in the UK. Rembrandt’s painting of the Prodigal Son in the Hermitage, has inspired many including Henri Nouwen (if you have heard of him). He studied it for hours.
God bless and keep those yellow duckies coming.
Claire M & Jackie H
To Pam and Colin Belcher
The photos look fantastic on the Blog, looking out for you both!
Yum I quite fancy the cinnamon coated almonds!
Yes whats his name finally got home yesterday, very tired and certainly not 100% yet, but I will soon feed him up.
He will need a little time off before returning to work, quite good timing that the girls are going away next week as it will be quiet here for him.
Spoke to Jerm and Simon last night and all is well with them both.
Jerm has been great while Hugh has been in hospital ,checking up on me every few days to see what he can help me with and Jacqui doing some cooking for me, very much appreciated.
Half way now through the trip and I hope you are both relaxing and enjoying yourselves and taking lots of photos, the scenery looks teriffic.
Lots of love from
Sally ,Hugh , Isabella and Maddy.
XOXO
Karen and Rodger Grant, oh Karen you have been naughty!!! Is that you both in the pink hats in the photo of the Kiwis? Hard to see. Enjoy looks amazing, wonderful historic buildings. Happy Birthday Karen for the 20th, had a pinot for you.Be good now Karen, no bed hopping…. Love Chris and Geoff xxxxx