Copenhagen

May 12th

Today we left the Star princess and began our visit to Copenhagen.  The day was cold and rainy.  Debbie Angus had arranged a bus for 45 people to take us to the Marriott. Even though Debbie had informed the Marriott that our group would be arriving early, the hotel was not prepared!!!!  All in all, things went smoothly.  We upgraded to the “Executive Level” which included breakfast, stocked minibar in the room and nightly happy hour.  Since the cost of food in Copenhagen would re1quire a second mortgage…this was a wise choice.

It stopped raining for a while and we went out and rode a bus around the center of town but it started raining again and we got back to the hotel as fast as we could…cold and wet!!!!

 

May 13th

This morning was still overcast but no rain and a little warmer.  We met Anders (Danish Viking on Cruise Critic) who had agreed to spend the day with us and show us his city.  Anders was a very nice young man who walked us all around central city and showed us many interesting sights.

We then went in to Tivoli which is a giant amusement park, right in the center of the city.  Since the real Little Mermaid is on loan to China, there is a replica on display at Tivoli.  We had lunch at an Italian restaurant inside Tivoli and then returned to the hotel for a short rest (and to write this). The Little Mermaid has been sent to China for an exibition so there is a replica at Tivoli until she returns

Tonight we are going to the Ice Bar..should be interesting…stay tuned!!!!

We really had fun at the Ice bar.  Charlie thought he would get a good martini but all he got was a “foo foo” drink!

May 14th

This turned out to be the day from HELL !! Rich wanted to go out to the airport to try to get his seat assignments from British Air.  I was a little concerned regarding our tickets because, on line, they just showed “purchased”.  At the airport, I found out that we did not have tickets for our flights on the 15th!!!  No one at the airport could help us as our tickets were from American Airlines.  We went back to the hotel and the concierge put a call through to AA in London.  AA in London assured me that the flights would be ticketed by 2PM.  Based on their promise, we decided to tour Fredericksburg Slot. We took the train from Central Station to Hollerod and then the bus to the castle.

 

This was very interesting and did keep my mind off the mess with our flights.  I wish we had more time to spend at the castle but I needed to get back to Copenhagen and deal with our flights.  When we got back to Copenhagen and again went in to Tivoli for lunch.  We had lunch at “Ketchup” which was featuring the open faced sandwiches created by Ida Davidsen.  I finally got my Steak Tartare!!!!

Then it was back to the hotel where I found out that NOTHING had been done on our flights!!!  The concierge at the hotel was not the same one that had been helpful in the morning.  She would not help in contacting AA for me and directed me to a pay phone to use a credit card.  Unfortunately (or fortunately) the directions were in Danish and I had to ask for help.  A very nice young lady named Carlina Vasquez, the Marriott Events Manager came to help me.  The first thing she found out is that my credit card would not work in the pay phone as it didn’t have a chip.  She then took me in to her office and for the next hour while we were on the phone to AA in the US !!  She wouldn’t even let the AA representative off the phone until we printed my boarding passes.I have never met a person as helpful as she was.  I don’t know what I would have done with out her.  I know she was staying after her work day ended just to help me.  We did not get through with everything until after 6PM.

May 15th

We left the hotel for the airport at 5AM.  We were in line to check in when British Airways opened at 5:45AM.  As I write this, we are in the air approaching Heathrow. 

Heathrow was a disaster.  I have never seen such crowds and confusion in my life!!!!  After getting our boarding passes, we headed for a lounge ….

………23 hours from the time we got out of bed in Copenhagen, we walked in to our house.  The cats were happy to see us.  Tomorrow starts the unpacking and clothes washing.

Gothenburg

May 11th

Today was sunny but cold.  This was the only port that we took a ship’s tour…”The best of Gothenburg”…really there wasn’t much to see. 

Our first stop was for a boat ride on the canals of Gothenburg.  Not anywhere as nice as the canal tour in Brugge.  Really not much to see and very COLD…

We rode around town…stopped for a bathroom stop…line was so long for the womens room that we went in the mens room!!!!

Stopped and visited a church..OK but nothing special….

We then returned to the ship and finished packing.  Tomorrow morning we disembark in Copenhagen.

Oslo

May 10th

This morning was cold (about 42) and rainy.  The sail in to this port was beautiful.  It would have really been something if the sun was out.

We are not doing an organized tour here…just a HOHO bus…so we decided to wait a while to get off the ship.  The bus came right to the ship so we didn’t have to walk very far in the rain.  Oslo is really a nice city.  We started by riding around the central part of the city.

The first place we got off the bus was at Vigelands Park that displayed the lifetime work of Gustav Vigeland, Norway’s greatest sculptor. At least the rain had stopped and there was no wind. More than 200 sculptures in granite, bronze and iron are displayed.  All sculptures are nude except for a self sculpture of the artist.  This was not like anything I have ever seen before!!!!!

While at the park, we stopped for coffee and a pastry…..cost 100 Kroners (approximately 16.00)…since all we had was 200 Kroners, needless to say, we didn’t eat much off the ship.  Bathroom stop cost 5 kroners.

Next stop was at the Viking Ship Museum.  Displayed there are three Viking burial vessels that were excavated on the shores of the Oslofjord and preserved in clay.  The Oseberg is a richly ornamented 64-foot dragon ship that was the burial chamber of a Viking queen and her slave. Also on display is an animal head post and a four wheeled cart and the elegantly carved sleigh used by Viking royalty.

 

Even though it was cold, we had a pretty good day…lots of laughs.  Tomorrow is Gothenburg…our last port before Copenhagen.  It will be a very busy day.  I hate the final day of a cruise..sorry it’s over and I hate to pack.

 

Rotterdam

May 8th

This morning we arrived in Rotterdam to overcast skies and temperature s in the low 50s.  We were on a tour to Keukenhof Gardens and to Delft arranged by Anne Davis.  Keukenhof Gardens is only open for about one month each year where tulips are displayed in the most beautiful setting I have ever seen.  We were especially lucky that Holland has had a cold spring so the tulips were really at their peak. I would have liked to bring some bulbs home but we can not bring them in to the country.  I could have had an assortment sent home but I really would want to choose specific colors.  Here are some pictures of the tulips…again, these pictures do not do justice to what I saw.

Then, it was on to Delft which is famous for Delft china.  We visited a small factory where the china was created..hand painted.  It was very nice but not something I would like.  Delft was some what like Brugge with a small square at the center of town.  Again, we had an overpriced lunch but not as bad as in Brugge.

Tomorrow is our last sea day.  Will have to start packing as we have Oslo and Gothenburg before we disembark in Copenhagen.  Also, tomorrow will be my last Mah Jongg game.

 

Zeebrugge

May 7th

Today was overcast and in the low 50s.  Our taxi was late picking us up for the ride in to Brugge.  our first stop in Brugge was at the Notre Dame Cathedral to see the Madonna and Child by Michelangelo.  The church was magnificent and to see the actual Madonna and Child was very moving.

 

Then it was on to take a boat tour thru the canals of Brugge.  it was a little cold but was neat.

 

Then it was on to lunch…that’s where the fun started!!!!!  Delia and I ordered Pomes Frites (french Fries).  Charlie ordered an omelet and pomes frites.  A fairly large bowl of frites arrived with Charlie’s omelet.  Delia and I were sorry we had each ordered fries…..then we found out that what we thought was Charlie’s frites was really 3 orders!!!!!  That made the cost of the bowl of frites 13.5 Euros (approximately $20.00).  That is the most expensive bowl of fries I have ever had.

Views of Market Square……

 

All in all, we had a nice day.  Not as good as we remembered from our last visit.