Category: Transatlantic Treasures
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Estonia – as far East as I want to go
Some may not know the history of Estonia, or its two sister states (Latvia and Lithuania). All three are tiny little countries (think 2 New England states each). Latvia and Estonia share their borders with Russia. If you don’t know the history, I highly, highly recommend the 90-minute video documentary…
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Helsinki, Finland…Wow!
I quickly forgot my angst at missing the architectural tour at Copenhagen. Finland is the home of Eliel Saarinen, Alvar Aalto, and more. The city was laid out on pretty much bare ground by a German architect (Charles Engel) hired by Russian Czar Alexander II. Charles Engel designed most of…
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Dark Clouds
Our gratitude and joy at being able to take this trip, buoyed by the love and support of friends and family is genuine—but I would be very remiss if I didn’t share the dark clouds which surround us as well: political instability, the death of the Baltic Sea, the reminders…
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Sea Days and Gratitude
This 46-day cruise has about 16 Sea Days, during which the ship never docks. That’s many more than most people are willing to pay for. We signed up for all 46 days, unaware that most of our fellow passengers were signing up for only a segment: the NYC to Reykjavik,…
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Design Museum Denmark: Unexpectedly Cerebral
Normally, museums follow a predictable pattern, but not this one. Recently moved to what had been Frederick’s Hospital, the entrance to the Design Museum Denmark opens unto a large hall with a gorgeous garden straight ahead, a café on the left and the shop with ticket sales on the right. …
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Almost Perfect: Norway
We awakened in Stavanger, Norway on Monday to a cityscape that was a cruise ship parking lot. Yes, we were back to civilization! The following day, Kristiansand’s cruise ship crowd was such that our dock space was already occupied, and passengers had to “tender” (via the ship’s lifeboats) to shore. …
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A side trip to the Stone Age: the Orkney Islands
Orkney Islands greeted us with a mist so thick you could hardly see the side of the road. Luckily, the mist cleared for these few photos. The Viking heritage is still a very strong feature, and thus the Orkney Islands were a fitting last stop on this Viking history tour. …
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The Faroes Islands, or is it Iceland?
At first glance this morning, Torshavn looks very different than either Aukyrei or Isafjordur in Iceland. Once out of the city itself, the similarities between Iceland and the Faroes, hundreds of miles apart, became more clear: Rugged basalt mountains with little soil, many waterfalls, covered only with moss and lichen…
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Akuyrei–Trees, Gods, Waterfalls
What a change, transiting from Isalfjord to Akuyrei. Both sit on the northwestern coast line of Iceland, with Akuyrei a bit north and central. It could be expected that it would be even more rural and harsh–but the opposite was true. Already a popular cruise stop… The picture was taken…
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Pictures of Isafjordur At Last!
We’ve all been frustrated with technology, and been resistant to asking for help. Me, too. Finally, I sought help from the ship’s internet help desk. Before I even asked, I found the sign on the door with the answer! Now I can add my pictures to the blog, taken with…
Uncharted Waters 