Baltic Cruise on board Eurodam

Hello and greetings from Tallinn, Estonia, the sun is shining and it is very warm. Have had a good few days the first port was Copenhagen and then onto Warnemunde (Roctock), lovely little town, but this week it was pouring with rain all day, we are docked there all day until 22.00 at night, ships spend a long time here to allow people to go to Berlin, which is a 3 - 4 hour train ride - can never understand why British passengers do this trip, it cost around US$200 each you can nearly go to Berlin for a weekend flying from the UK for that. Later this afternoon we set sail for St Petersburg, Russia, another wonderful and exciting port, lots of great architecture there. I have added some information details about the ports that I have already been in, enjoy !! ... catch up again in a few days. 



Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen Overview 
Sitting on the east coast of Denmark, Copenhagen has been the Capital for 600 years and is the largest city in Scandinavia with a population of 1.7 million people. It's home to the world's oldest monarchy (King Erik VII set up permanent residence in 1417) and its present Queen, Margrethe II, currently lives at Amalienborg Palace.

In a country rich in Viking history, grand castles and lush green countryside, Copenhagen is a charming city of 17th- and 18th-century buildings, beautiful parks and gardens, pretty promenades along canals, and ancient winding streets made for walking and biking. During the longer days and warmer weather of summer, outdoor café sitting and outings to the magical Tivoli Gardens are highlights.

Copenhagen recently marked the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hans Christian Andersen, the legendary and magical writer of such fairy tales as "The Little Mermaid" and "The Princess and The Pea."

At any time, getting your bearings in old Copenhagen is easy; it's a warren of pedestrian streets, bounded by Norreport Station, Town Hall Square and the Central Train Station. Stroget, which is an amalgamation of five streets - Frederiksberggade, Nygade, Vimmelskaftet, Amagertorv and Ostergade - runs practically smack-dab through the centre of the city between Rauspladsen and Kongens Nytorv. Pistolstraede is chock-a-block with galleries, restaurants and boutiques; Fiolstraede is for antiques galore; and Nyhavn is where some of the most expensive restaurants are located. 

Language
Danish, but generally, English is spoken and understood.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Denmark is one of Europe's hold-outs in terms of embracing the Euro, so be prepared to master the krone ( it's about $4.75 DKK to $1 USD, and 9.35 DKK to 1 GBP)

Where You're Docked 
The Freeport Terminal, about two miles from town, taxis are available and often take credit cards (approx cost 200-225 DKK), and the nearest train (Nordhavn Station) into town is a healthy 15 - 20 minute walk away. There is also local bus No 26, operating to and from the city centre, (driver accepts €euros, fare is 40DKK), stop is close to the terminal.

Getting Around 
Copenhagen is a great walking city with most of its wondrous sights within a square mile of its centre. A good place to begin a city tour is Town Hall Square; the Tivoli Gardens are across the street and just north of Tivoli is Rauspladsen, the central city square and the main terminal for the local bus network. To the east is the city's waterfront, including the canal district of Christianshavn. 

Best Souvenir
Royal Copenhagen porcelain or Georg Jensen silver.

Don't Miss 
Take a tour. An excellent option for sightseeing is any one of several bus or canal tours. The three-hour Grand Bus Tour that departs from Town Hall Square includes drive-by views of Tivoli, the New Carlsberg Museum, Christiansborg Palace, the Stock Exchange, the Danish Royal Theatre, Nyhavn, Gefion Fountain, Grundtvig Church and Rosenborg Castle. Short stops are made to see the Little Mermaid, the changing of the guard at Amalienborg Palace and the Church of Our Lady, where the recent wedding ceremony of HRH Crown Prince Frederik and commoner Mary Donaldson took place. The hour long Open Top Bus Tour includes much of the same, but offers an on/off option for those who wish to linger a bit longer at some of the stops. A one-hour Harbour and Canal Tour departs from Gammel Strand and Kongens Nytorv.

The biggest museum in Denmark is the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, where works from the 13th century to the present are exhibited. You'll see Rubens, Rembrandts and Hals, as well as the works of Eckerberg, Kobke and Hansen. French 20th-century art includes 20 works by Matisse. Inside the Royal Print Room, you'll have an opportunity to look at any one of more than 300,000 drawings, prints and lithographs by the world's most important artists. Tuesday and Thursday - Sunday 10 am. - 5 pm., Wednesday 10 am. - 8 pm.

Since opening in 1843, the 20-acre Tivoli Gardens has made visitors grin from ear to ear. You'll love the more than 400,000 flowers and almost as many sparkling lights that fill Tivoli after dark. There are 38 restaurants covering all budgets, 150 concerts per year, 26 amusement rides (including a brand-spanking-new roller coaster), and colourful just-before-midnight fireworks each Saturday night. Don't skip the Pantomime Theatre’s free magical evening performances of ballet and acrobatics, which have been presented since 1844. Daily from 11 am. - midnight (until 1 am. on Friday and Saturday).

The four 18th-century French-style Rococo mansions that make up Amalienborg Palace have been the homes of the Danish royal family since 1794. You can see the changing of the Royal Danish Guard at noon, only when the royal family is at home (you'll know they are if the swallowtail flag is flying above). Capped off in black bearskin busbies, the guards begin marching at 11:30 am. from the barracks by the Rosenborg Palace along different routes, depending on which royal is in residence. For the Queen, it goes along Rosenborggade, Kobmagergade, Ostergade, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, Sct.Annae Plads and Amaliegade. When the princes are residing at the palace, but not as regents, the parade route is along Gothersgade, CHr.IX's Gade, Kr. Bernikowsgade, Kongens Nytorv, Bredgade, Frederiksgade and Amalienborg. After the change, they return along those same routes back to Rosenborg accompanied by a band. Visitors only have access to Christian VIII's Palace (Margrethe lives at Christian VII's). May - October: Tuesday - Sunday 10 am. - 4 pm.; November - December 17 and January 2 - April 30: Tuesday - Sunday 11 am. - 4 pm. Closed Monday.

Home to the Danish Parliament, the Supreme Court and the Royal Reception Rooms, Christiansborg Palace is a must see. Take any one of the daily guided tours (through September: 11 am., 1 pm., 3 pm.; October - April: Tuesday - Thursday and Saturday - Sunday 3 pm.) to see the Reception Rooms, Throne Room, Banqueting Hall, the Queen's Library and Parliament. Make sure you visit the ruins (year-round 9:30 am. - 3:30 pm.) of the 1167 Bishop Absalon castle (he founded Copenhagen) under the palace.

The coyly reclining Little Mermaid is quintessential Copenhagen, inspired by Hans Christian Andersen and sculpted by Edvard Eriksen in 1913. She's been decapitated twice - once in 1964 (the head was never recovered) and again in 1998 (this time the head turned up at a TV station, delivered by a masked person). Fortunately, the head was welded back on. Vandals cut off her arm in the early 1900's - but because the original mould exists, her body parts were replaced.

The 17th-century Renaissance-style Rosenborg Castle was built as a summer home by Christian IV. Wait'll you see the ivory coronation chairs and Frederik VII's baby shoes. Twenty-four chronologically arranged rooms are filled to the brim with royal family artefacts. Head downstairs to the basement to see the crown jewels (including Christian IV's crown and the jewel-studded sword of Christian III) and Knights Hall. By the way, the crown jewels are so protected that even the Queen can't take them with her on visits outside Denmark. June - August: Daily 10 am. - 4 pm.; September - mid-October: Daily 11 am. - 3 pm.; mid-October - April: Tuesday - Sunday 11 am. - 2 pm. Oster Voldgade 4A.

Been There, Done That
Established in 1882, the Carlsberg Museum is surprisingly wonderful -- filled with exhibits about the founding family's long history. Monday - Friday 10 am. - 3 pm. Valby Langgade 1.

The brand-new Hans Christian Andersen Museum honours Denmark's world famous poet and fairy tale writer, Hans Christian Andersen. Established to honour his 200th birthday in April 2005, the museum is filled with all you can imagine - beginning with his childhood in Odense. Private letters, books and photographs along with original artefacts are on exhibit. Daily 10 am. - 6 pm. Radhuspladsen 57.
Some say the greatest castle in the country is Kronborg. The "Elsinore Castle" of Shakespeare's Hamlet, it is considered one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe.

 Warnemunde, Germany


Warnemunde Overview 
The fine old Hanseatic red-brick town of Rostock and its neighbouring seaside resort, Warnemunde, are best known as the jumping-off points for Berlin, which is three to five hours away by train ,take time instead to explore these fascinating places, with their traditional architecture and long-standing maritime traditions.

Warnemunde - the mouth of the river Warnow - gets most of the attention, despite being a tiny suburb of Rostock with a population of just 15,000 against Rostock's 200,000. Still an operational fishing port, it's also an attractive, if windswept, seaside resort with vast dunes and sweeping stretches of sand on either side of the river's mouth. You'll see rows of ancient, timber-framed houses, sleepy squares, modern hotels with spas, and boats galore. Ice cream stalls and hundreds of screeching seagulls complete the seaside feel.

Summer is regatta season, and - in addition to the constant buzz of ferries coming from and going to Denmark, Finland and Sweden - hundreds of sailing boats may be on the water at any one time. The season peaks with Warnemunde Week each July , when 2,000 boats gather for seven days of races and night-time parties.

Medieval Rostock appears smaller than it really is, thanks to miles of undulating countryside and forest around the town. The city's merchants made a fast money on beer and fish exports in the 12th century and - to facilitate trade and protect their powerful fleet - were instrumental in the formation of the Hanseatic League, a famous union of rich trading towns. The city later became famous for aircraft manufacture; the Heinkel factory was located at Warnemunde and produced air planes for the Luftwaffe in the 1930s.

Although some of the city's magnificent, old buildings were destroyed in World War II, you can still see grand marketplaces, bridges, city ramparts and gates. Even the newer buildings were designed in the traditional style of red brick and stepped gables. The skyline is dominated by three massive churches, including St Peter's, which used to be one of the tallest buildings in the world.

Rostock has the distinction of being northern Germany's oldest university town and also has a top school for performing arts. Like many places in Germany, the city still brews excellent beer, but its income today is mainly from cruise ship tourism and, to an extent, the manufacturing of ship parts.

Language 
German is the official language. People involved in the tourist trade speak some English.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money 
The currency is the €Euro, there are ATM's in Warnemunde centre and in Rostock, but not at the port. In Warnemunde, take small denominations of Euro notes if you plan to buy from street vendors and fried fish stalls, of which there are many. Banks are open Monday through Friday, 9am. to 4pm

Where You're Docked 
Ships dock at Warnemunde. You can walk from the terminal straight into town. (Wheelchair users: note that there is an underpass -with steps and no lift - under the railway.)

Hanging Around
In the unlikely event that you don't go on a tour to Berlin, check out Karl's Erlebnis-Dorf, located near the port. A converted onion warehouse, this “strawberry pier” rustic souvenir store is decorated with a maritime theme, including seashells, fishing nets and wooden boats. While there, stock up on sea-related knick-knacks and tasteful gifts, ranging from German sausage, wines and liquors to items made from orange Sanddorn berries - a local speciality. Karl himself owns northern Germany's largest strawberry farm, and, in season, you can feast on the berries - or try the strawberry cakes.

Getting Around 
Taxis wait outside when a large ship is in port - Walking is the best way to navigate Warnemunde and, likewise, Rostock - once you've arrived in Rostock by train, (they depart approx every 30 minutes and the journey takes approx 25 minutes), there is a tram service to the centre or a 20-25 minute walk, buy a train ticket that includes the tram. Bicycles can be hired from Holiday und Meer at Warnemunde Railway Station, and there are plenty of marked cycle trails.

Don't Miss 
The astronomical clock in Rostock's St. Marienkirche Church dates back to 1472, is amazingly elaborate and still works. It is able to predict the phases of the moon with absolute accuracy and is the oldest remaining piece of its kind.

The Monastery of the Holy Cross in Rostock, today serves as the city's Cultural History Museum and houses some wonderful medieval art. After visiting the museum, explore the solid city ramparts, or admire the architecture in University Square.

Harbour tours operate from all along the Warnow in Warnemunde, they're more of a photo opportunity than an in-depth exploration but are a pleasant enough way to admire old houses and fishing shacks lining the river.

Wander along the Warnow river, have a beer in a pub garden, eat a fried fish sandwich, admire the old-fashioned lighthouse and dramatic lines of the Teepott exhibition centre Then, stroll along the seafront to watch kite surfers.

Lunching
Old fishing boats line the left bank of the Warnow, selling fischbroetchen -- sandwiches of fried fish - the local speciality. There are several decent restaurants for German specialities; Kettenkasten (Am Strom 71, open at 11am.), located on the riverbank, has a beer garden and live music and serves fried fish, herrings and pork ribs. Atlantic(Am Strom 107, open at 11am.) is more sophisticated, serving fish and steak dishes. CuBar (Am Strom 124, open all day), near the lighthouse, is an old pilot house, today serving Cuban specialities. . Schusters Strandbar (Seepromenade 1, open all day), is a hip, chill-out bar. Located on the beach, it features squishy sofas and lounge music.

In Rostock, Zur Kogge is a wonderful, old pub by the waterfront (on Strandstrasse, open at 11.30am). It is absolutely festooned with maritime memorabilia and serves more local specialities – try the lightly fried plaice with herb sauce.



Tallinn, Estonia

Tallinn Overview
Estonia's capital city is only 53 miles across the Gulf of Finland from Helsinki but for nearly 50 years, as part of the Soviet Union, was ideologically a world away. That ended in 1991 when Estonia declared its independence from the Soviet Union.

Today, thanks to its strategic position on the Gulf, Estonia and its capital city of Tallinn are thriving. Capitalism was quick to catch on here, and Tallinn, population 400,000, is not only a major port but also a major industrial centre. Modern Tallinn is Scandinavian sleek mixed with Soviet era concrete.

But the attraction for visitors is the remarkably restored, medieval Old Town, which despite a variety of shops catering to locals and tourists, still feels a part of the 1400's because of the cobblestone streets and medieval architecture. Walk the winding streets on cobblestones, past medieval towers and the old city wall, and you'll feel like you're taking a step back into a medieval storybook, with striking towers and historic brick buildings.

Tallinn is artsy in a very much post-Soviet way, and a delightful place to hang out and people-watch from one of the outdoor cafés. The locals here are restrained no more and amidst the fairy tale surroundings there is an "anything goes" ambiance. And the shops, especially the galleries and antiques venues, serve up some interesting finds such as elaborate weaving from cloth artists and modern art from local painters; antique shops feature community memorabilia.

Where You're Docked
Cruise ships dock at the commercial port which is about a 10-minute taxi or shuttle ride to the heart of Tallinn's Old City, walking is an easy 20 minutes to the Viru Street, the best place to enter the city. Exit the port, once the city wall is in front of you, Mere St, walk to the left with the wall on your right, when you come to Viru Street, turn right. (look for the Sokos Viru Hotel, use this as a landmark).

Getting Around 
Once in Old Town the going is on foot; most of the streets are pedestrian only.

Hanging Around 
Sadam, shopping mall is near to the dock. Lots of tourist gifts etc.

Watch Out For 
Wear comfortable shoes because the streets are mainly cobbled and quite uneven. Plus, there are a lot of steep hills - steps have often been carved out of pavements to make it easier to climb.

Language 
Estonian. English is widely spoken.

Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Estonia has adopted the Euro, you may still see some prices in Estonian Kroon, there are ATM's at the banks in Old Town. NOTE: when using an ATM here, your card is returned after dispensing your cash, remember to wait for your card.

Best Souvenir 
Handmade wool sweaters and sophisticated glass art.
Don't Miss 
History-seekers should check out the main sights here, which include Toompea Castle (Toompea Hill) which dates to the 13th century. The castle, which has recently undergone a major rehab, is fronted by a pink parliament house built in 1773 and home to the Estonian government.

Alexander Nevski Cathedral (Palace Square, 8 am. - 6 pm. daily) was built in the late 19th century in the style of Russia's 17th-century Orthodox churches. Toomkirk (also near Palace Square) is the oldest church in Tallinn (it's believed to date to the 1200's or earlier) and boasts an unusual baroque altar and tombs (open 9 am. - 4 pm. Daily). Kiek en de Kok - "Peep into the Kitchen" - is the tallest cannon tower in Old Town and offers excellent views of kitchens and more (1 Komandiandi Tee; open Tuesday - Sunday, 10:30 am. - 4 pm.).

One of my favourite things in addition to these is just wandering the streets of Old Town, checking out the colourful houses, soaking in the atmosphere, catching views and getting lost (you can't get all that lost anyway since this is a walled city).

Medieval Old Town's 14th-century Town Hall Square is a central meeting place. It is lined by numerous cafés and winding streets, and the preservation is so perfect it's almost eerie - yet incredibly beautiful.

At the edge of Old Town, Viru Street, check out the fragrant Flower Market, it's an excellent photo opportunity. Also just through the gateway there are stalls selling handmade cloth products such as tablecloths and sweaters.

Been There, Done That 
Kadriog was built as a summer residence by Peter the Great for Tsarina Catherine; it is now a gallery of paintings and located in the midst of a gorgeous seaside park. It's about a 30-minute taxi ride from the pier.

The Estonian Open-Air Museum lies on the peninsula of Rocca-al-Mare, a 25-minute taxi drive west of the city center. The park consists of a range of wood mills, houses and other structures dating back to the 17th century. In the summer there are folk troupes that perform.

Shopping: Viru Street has the city's best collection of pricey boutiques but I prefer the smaller galleries and art shops on Luhike jalg, including the Viron Studio and Luhikese Jag Gallery. Estonian artists are particularly good at textiles and glass. Antique shops like Best Antique Shop (Aia 10) have funky collections that include everything from Stalin busts and porcelain to accordions.

Lunching
Numerous restaurants and cafés are all around the city, serving local and international dishes. Try a local drink .. Vana Tallinn, type of coffee liqueur (like Tia Maria) served in coffee or on its own, also comes in a cream style (like Baileys). Just of the square is the Garlic Restaurant, you have to try a Garlic ice cream !!!! …

General Notes
Open Top bus tours depart from the Port gates and give a good overall sightseeing tour of the outer areas of the city, (approx €13) There are a few tourist stalls in the port area, as well as a money exchange.
Postcard sellers may also sell stamps.







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