Baltic Cruise - Copenhagen to Amsterdam

8 August - Cruising the Baltic

After departing Stockholm we enjoyed a quiet night at sea. Early in the cruise our headwaiter chose to complain to our table in a rather gratuitous manner.  While we weren't the catalyst for his diatribe, those at our table who were the focus of his unnecessary outburst were quite uncomfortable. I reached out to Royal Caribbean that evening and the next morning I had a request from the Restaurant Manager for a meeting. We shared a coffee and had an excellent conversation as I explained that my concern was the display of behavior from a member of management that I'd never experienced in over 20 cruises, which indicated to me that perhaps this individual was facing a situation that he wasn't handling well and needed some support. The result of that conversation was a complimentary visit to Chops, which is how we spent our evening. While I'm partial to the steaks I cook at home, the staff at Chops is a good bit nicer than having to rely on self-service.

9 August - Copenhagen, Denmark 

Rosenborg Castle

Looking for an overview of a new city, we chose the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus to survey Copenhagen. The route provided several opportunities to "Hop Off" and walk several blocks before a "Hop On" to get closer to another area. Our first stop provided a pleasant walk through the gardens and grounds of Rosenborg Castle. Entry lines were quite long, so we didn't take a tour of the castle or see the crown jewels due to the limited amount of time we had in-port. We were able to enjoy the sculptures and gardens, which were in full bloom. The longest part of our walk was along a shaded esplanade and there was just enough breeze to make the park benches exceptionally tempting. I'm certain a conveniently placed hammock would have been irresistible. The weather was spectacular and a bit warmer than expected, so after our walk through the gardens we located a grocery store on Google Maps along our route to the next bus stop. We ventured through a generally tidy residential area, located the store without incident, and navigated a successful beverage purchase without use of English (or Danish, for that matter!) thanks to a large digital cash-register display. 

Nyhavn

Sufficiently rehydrated, we continued on to Nyhavn, which fulfilled the promise of a bustling tourist area. The sidewalks were filled with restaurant seating, overlooked by friendly and attentive servers. Umbrellas and tents provided ample shade for a comfortable meal. Nyhavn was once a bustling port and the commercial center of the city. The colorful buildings and boat-filled canal remain as the backdrop of a bustling modern commercial center, albeit focused on tourism and restaurants instead of the import and export of goods.

Lunch

For reasons unknown, I was overcome with a strong urge to try a traditional Danish lunch ofcured/smoked/pickled fish. This was even more unusual considering I'm not known as an "adventurous" eater, but none the less I held course and ordered a sampler platter of sorts, consisting of several types of fish with an assortment of cheeses, breads, picked vegetables, and crackers. Some of the fish selections were a bit challenging in both texture and flavor profile, but everything was, from a technical standpoint "good." (This distinction is important to me, as I make an effort to distinguish between things I don't care for and things that are truly "bad.") The experience was interesting, even enlightening, but not one I think I'll ever repeat. A delightful local beer, rich and malty, definitely improved the overall dining experience.

After we finished our lunch we walked a few blocks to a Ho-Ho stop, cutting off a loop of the tour, to make our way back to the ship. Our bus ride took us past Christiana, a district established by squatters on an abandoned military base in 1971. The area first gained notoriety as the center for open cannabis trade along "Pusher Street" – which was only recently shut down by residents with the assistance of law enforcement after a surge in gang violence. It was getting late in the day so we opted to stay on the bus and just observe from a distance, but the aroma of the "Green Light District" was quite noticeable, even at a distance. The ride back to the port was relaxing, thanks to having ample time, comfortable temperatures, and smooth roads. Just down from the ship we visited the iconic Little Mermaid statue. The initial impression is a bit underwhelming, but after having a moment to take it all in, the elegant simplicity of the sculpture really brings it to life. In my opinion this is definitely one site that should be on your "must see" list when in Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid

8/10 - Cruising

North Sea

Leaving Copenhagen we headed north, towards the North Sea. We woke to some rather "nautical" conditions, which persisted until late in the day. The pool was a whirlpool and the solarium deck was awash with water splashing out. A few brave(?) souls ventured a swim throughout the day, at the risk of life and limb. 

We spent the day at a table in the Solarium, sipping drinks, reading, napping, listening to music, and snacking while we watched the world roll by.

Late afternoon was occupied with the worst part of any cruise, the packing. Somehow we managed to get everything in suitcases and, miraculously, kept them all under the airline limits!

Deserted Dining

The dining room was a ghost town in the evening, thanks to the sea conditions. With the light load of diners the staff was milling about for most of the meal and many had tables reset for the next meal.

We enjoyed a great meal, with as much as we wanted of whatever we wanted, served by staff who were nearly dedicated to our table.

As is our tradition on the last night of a cruise we found a spot in a lounge with good music and enjoyed our last drinks. 

Without any idea of what to expect at disembarkation the next morning we turned in early and put our suitcases in the hallway.

8/11 - Disembark

Our flight from Amsterdam to London was late enough that we opted for the RCCL provided airport shuttle. One last breakfast in the dining room (Eggs Benedict, in case you were curious) and we were off the ship, luggage collected, and on the bus in a matter of a few minutes. 

Baltic Cruise - Helsinki & Stockholm

6 August - Helsinki, Finland: Our day in Helsinki was somewhat abbreviated by a late start and a scheduled early departure. We opted for the Hop-On-Hop-Off bus for a general overview of the city with a couple of strategic stops to see specific sites. In general we've had good service and success using HoHo buses all over Europe, with just an occasional glitch usually created by people shore-side who don't know how to deal with pre-purchased tickets. In order to preserve cash I usually purchase tickets online, which either upsets or baffles the representatives at the kiosks.

Our general impression of Helsinki was an incredibly clean and safe city without many compelling sites to see. I'm the first to admit that my impression may be completely myopic and I just need to explore the opportunities available before deciding that Helsinki isn't worthy of a future visit. That said, I'm keeping it on my list of potential destinations until I can make a more informed decision.

One of our specific stops was the Temppeliaukion kirkko, or The Rock Church, a Lutheran Church carved out of rock in a downtown Helsinki square. Known for having quality acoustics, the church is mostly used as a performance venue. On days that it is open to the general public (there is an admission fee) there are almost always a series of performers. We had the pleasure of sitting and listening to a pianist for a while. We easily lost track of where we were and nearly lost track of time. Come for the architecture, stay for the entertainment!

We also participated in a little local economic stimulus, purchasing a fair quantity of gifts for family. Ultimately we ended up back on the bus to complete the circuit around the city before being delivered back to the ship just prior to departure.

7 August - Stockholm, Sweden: If I were forced to pick a single word to describe my initial experience in Stockholm it would be "surprised." Without any real idea of what to expect after visiting Helsinki, the only thing we really knew Sweden had going for it was Abba. A friend has spent a significant amount of time in Stockholm for work, and a distant (older) cousin married a Swede long ago and lives somewhere in Sweden - but that's the sum total of my knowledge before our arrival.

Gamala stan

Stockholm immediately passed my "vibe" test. I've heard all the things people say about the Swedes being distant and cold, but our impression couldn't have been more different. I'm not saying we experienced hospitality like you would in the southern region of the United States, but we certainly didn't get what we expected.

The city is complex (just pull up a map) thanks to being spread over a series of islands. There are tunnels, bridges, cross-overs, switchbacks, and I'm sure a few traffic configurations I can't even identify. This makes navigation close to impossible for the newcomer - even if you choose the HoHo bus as your primary transportation.

The old city (Gamala stan) is a series of walkable, narrow streets filled with shops, cafes, and restaurants. One street will be nearly empty, then the next will be filled with people, but everything is civilized and polite. The afternoon light reflecting off the buildings in these streets is mesmerizing. If you're any kind of photographer you'll find yourself waiting, clicking, and waiting a bit more as the scenes transform in real time. I can't tell you why, specifically, I want to return to Stockholm - I just know that I do. The public spaces are lush and perfectly groomed. There are massive parks where kids play soccer (football) in the warm months and ski in the winter. Maybe it's the sensation that there's always something to discover around the next corner (very few streets are straight, almost everything bends and twists.) It's captivating. Maybe I'll be disappointed, maybe it will become another favorite city. All I know is I have to figure out which it is.

Stockholm Shadows

Baltic Cruise - St Petersburg

4-5 August - St Petersburg, Russia: We've only overnighted in port once before on a multi-port itinerary; in Montevideo during our Around-The-Horn cruise, so "spending the night in Russia" was pretty wild. Unless you had a Russian Travel Visa (which most of us did not) you were restricted to ship-led excursions. Given the differences in language and culture we were fine with that restriction, as planning anything on our own would have been daunting.

Waking up the morning of our arrival and just looking out at a once forbidden country (which is again all but forbidden for anyone even remotely risk-averse) was exhilarating. Growing up they had always been "the enemy" and their unfamiliar language and stern visage only helped perpetuate the stereotypes we were fed when we were younger. The excitement of finally seeing even a small part of Russia first-hand was exhilarating.

Our Russian adventure began with immigration. If you've seen the Clint Eastwood movie "Firefox" and recall his transit through the airport on his way in to the country then you've got a reasonable impression of what we experienced. A series of queues align with a row of booths. Each booth has a raised desk for the immigration officer, and a narrow enclosure for the visitor, sealed on each end by glass doors. The door in front of you opens, you walk in, and it closes behind you. You turn 90 degrees to face the officer, and present your passport via a small opening at the bottom of the window. There are slits to "facilitate" communication, but when the officer is speaking with a THICK accent they can still be difficult to understand. The officers' uniforms are several shades of green and completely militaristic in style. All things that hardly say "welcome to our country." After being grilled for a few minutes my passport was stamped and slid back to me, then the exit door opened and I officially stepped in to Russia. Lourie followed behind me, apparently with less interrogation, and we were off!

About 20 miles from the cruise pier is Catherine Palace, a gift to her from her husband, Peter the Great, in 1710. Over the centuries it existed in several incarnations before being destroyed by the Germans when they fled Leningrad at the end of World War II. Fortunately, a fair amount of the interior was documented prior to the war, and that information was used during the reconstruction, which began in 1957.

The current iteration of the palace is a stunning sight, with large porcelain fireplaces, ornately carved cornices and mouldings, inlaid floors, and spectacular painted ceilings. Unfortunately we were only able to spend a couple of hours at the Palace, you could easily spend an entire day and still not see everything.

St Petersburg is a massive city with a seemingly endless list of museums and historical sites, not to mention cultural and culinary opportunities. I hope that one day we can return for at least a week, preferably more, but with the current state of world affairs the likelihood of that is remote at this point.

After a quick shopping trip for scarves, and an authentic Russian lunch consisting of pelmini for me (at the insistence of a lifelong friend whose wife is Russian) and a salmon coulibeac for Lourie, we made our way to the Church of the Savior on the Spilled Blood, named as such because it was built on the site where Alexander II was mortally wounded in an assassination attempt. 

The church was commissioned by his son, Alexander III, and construction began in 1883, was completed in 1907, and became a cathedral in 1923. It was looted, and closed, in 1932 during the revolution. Like many other magnificent structures, it was utilized for a purpose other than religious observances or memorials. While it was used to warehouse various items, and was once on the verge of being demolished, only to be spared after a significant amount of destruction had already been done. A smattering of the ornate mosaics remained when renovation was begun in 1970. It finally opened in 1997 and visitors can now enjoy the full splendor of the cathedral. The mosaics are absolutely stunning. On the inside there are 7,500 sq ft of mosaics (the largest or second largest collection in the world) and the outside boasts mosaics that tell the story of the Russian Empire.

Due to our time constraints we were unable to tour Saint Isaacs Cathedral, but we did manage a quick "drive-by" to snap photos and revel on the massive scale of the building. As previously mentioned, it, like most religious institutions during the reign of the Bolsheviks, was relegated to other, more mundane uses and suffered from significant neglect.

Baltic Cruise: Amsterdam to Talinn

30 July - After a seamless embarkation we dropped our bags in our cabin and headed to the Windjammer for lunch, as is our tradition, for Honey-Stung chicken. It was only offered on the first day and Lourie absolutely loved it. For reasons currently unknown, it's no longer on the menu - leaving Lourie and many others disappointed.

After lunch we checked-in at our muster station for the lifeboat drill before going to the Schooner Bar for a libation while we waited for departure, another of our embarkation traditions. The first couple of hours after tossing the lines we navigated through waterways to reach the North Sea, en route to our fist port of call, Skagen, Denmark. We spent the afternoon exploring the ship, since this was our first experience on a Radiance class vessel. 

"Vintages" on the Radiance ships falls well short of what you may be accustomed to on Voyager and larger class ships, due to space limitations, but the staff and service were up to par. The Solarium is sized as you would expect for the vessel, and offers several seating options. The bar is staffed from morning to early evening and you will almost always find the same bartender on duty, which makes things quite nice as they quickly pick up on your ordering habits, and a little extra on the gratuity line will insure that you're never the victim of a short pour. 😉 Our bartender was absolutely delightful and didn't miss a beat the entire trip. By day two she anticipated what we wanted in our soda cups, and by day four she knew which libation we were going to order by the time of day we approached the bar.

Dinner the first night was a bit hectic, which is no great surprise as people request seating adjustments and dining room management scurries to accommodate special requests and resolve conflicts. If you've never found yourself at the dining room podium on the first evening of a cruise consider yourself lucky, but gird your loins for a future encounter, because it's simply a matter of time. These folks can work magic, but sometimes it takes them 24 hours to pull everything together as the dominoes fall. If ever there was a real-world example of a cat-herder, this is where they ply their trade on humans.

Our table initially consisted of the two of us, a couple from England, and a couple from The Netherlands. After our appetizers were served we were joined by two Persian couples who now reside in Los Angeles. Generally speaking all of our table mates were delightful and there was very little drama aside from a few mixups with dietary preferences. We were introduced to an addictive, yet simple, salad consisting of diced tomato, cucumber, and onion dressed with olive oil, vinegar, and spices. (Keep in mind that I am NOT considered a fan of tomatoes if they're not in salsa or sauce. I may have a slice on a sandwich or a burger occasionally, but no one has ever heard me say "oh, I want a tomato!") This salad is an exception. Simple, clean, tasty, and nutritious. We went months with a fresh batch in the refrigerator, then it fell out of the rotation during COVID grocery irregularities, and has only made spotty appearances since. However, I do have the ingredients on my shopping list and intend to restore it to the menu.

After dinner we enjoyed cocktails in the Centrum with live music, which was quite good the entire week.

31 July - As I tend to do, I woke early and headed to the Solarium for a cup (or three) of coffee. RCCL coffee is a bit stronger than my usual breakfast roast, so I'm inclined to add a touch of sweetener. But it is tasty, hot, and plentiful - so I tend to drink a considerable amount. I stake out a seat, grab a nibble, and read a bit while I wait for others to begin their day. The North Sea was a bit sporty, but well within my comfort zone, and the temperatures were absolutely wonderful. If you ventured on to an exposed deck it was quite chilly, but in more protected areas it was brisk and refreshing. A lazy day was punctuated by lunch in the main dining room, and sprinkled with an assortment of reading, libations, naps, and people-watching.

1 August - Skagen, Denmark: The northernmost town in Denmark, and not one you've likely heard of unless you've been there. The population peaked at just over 14,000 in 1980, and now ranges in the ballpark of 7.500 inhabitants.

It's a delightful town, easy to navigate, with most everything an easy walk from the pier. I found some interesting architecture and we enjoyed a bit of ice cream. I made lots of Dad Jokes about the stacks of "sewing kits" that stores were selling filled with cookies, and we thoroughly browsed a Lego store. We did make a couple of small purchases, just so we could actually buy Lego in Denmark. While I can't vouch for Skagen as a primary destination, it's certainly a nice stop on a cruise itinerary.

2 August - Another relaxing day at sea. While our sea days may all consist of similar activities, they're almost never the same. Random conversations with other passengers or crew always add variety to the day, and usually in a good way. Sometimes people will reveal their lack of refinement, but generally they maintain a degree of decorum and the exchanged are pleasant enough. On the days we lay claim to an area for the duration we usually have an opportunity to interact with members of the crew a bit more. It's in my nature to clear dirty dishes from the table, and that doesn't disappear just because I'm on vacation. While it would be odd to do that in the dining room, I find it completely normal if I'm sitting in the Solarium - and this behavior tends to be endearing to the crew. When they see guests being thoughtful and considerate they'll go to great lengths to do whatever they can to make them happy. The rude and inconsiderate in the crowd will still receive good service with a smile, but nowhere else have I ever witnessed such a clear manifestation of "do unto others" as when people treat others well on a cruise ship.

3 August - Talinn, Estonia: Growing up as a child of the Cold War, then watching the Iron Curtain crumble, I can't say that I ever gave any thought to visiting any of the Baltic States of the Former Soviet Union. Other than the fictional Captain Marko Ramius of "The Hunt for Red October" fame, few among us could name a single person from the region when we were growing up. When we booked the cruise I saw Talinn as an "OK, we'll see what we think" destination, ranked only above Skagen for the itinerary.

While I haven't determined if I could make Talinn/Estonia a destination for a stand-alone trip, it is now on my list of "would be cool to go back and experience in more detail if it should work out." Lourie wasn't up to a winding walk up the hill, so I did a whirlwind self-guided tour. I found the city intriguing. Old architecture, cobblestone streets, battlement walls, towers, churches; all the things that make me want to know more.

There was a marathon going on the day of our visit, so all traffic (foot and vehicle) was channeled and manipulated to maintain the race course. This didn't have a drastic impact on my activities, but it didn't add to the aesthetic of the city. In a couple of hours of walking I was able to cover most of the center of the Old City, climbing the Pikk Jalg (Long Boot - the steepest street in Talinn)  to the top of Toompea Hill, spotting the Black Monk statues, surveying the outside of the Navalny Cathedral and  the Town Wall.

There was a market in the Old Town Square surrounding the Gothic Town hall, and everyone was polite and cordial. In such environments (regardless of geography) it's common to encounter someone obviously up to no good, but I didn't witness any such behavior. Perhaps it's dealt with so harshly that people choose to behave? Or perhaps as a single male of decent size I wasn't an attractive mark? By any measure, I found the city to be comfortable. As I've said before in other posts, I tend to put a lot of stock on the "vibe" that a city gives me, and Talinn had a rather comfortable feel. I was fortunate to have a day of gorgeous weather, which certainly enhanced my experience, but that alone cannot account for the intrigue I took with me when I departed.

To Amsterdam

Had we known at the time that it would be the last "big trip" for such a long time we might have done some things a bit differently, but I can't imagine what that might be.

As the flights worked out it made more sense for us to fly round-trip to London, with a separate round-trip  from London to Amsterdam for the cruise. We departed July 25 on our way to London, arriving the morning of the 26th. Based on the brief nature of our London stopover we opted to stay at the Hilton Heathrow - Terminal 5.

Our flights were pleasantly uneventful and we managed a fair bit of rest despite our economy seats. The food was unremarkable, which is to say it wasn't horrible, nor was it worthy of praise. We passed through immigration without incident and made our usual stop at M&S Simply Food for a "useful" snack to help fill the gaps created by schedule fluctuations.

We stumbled our way to the hotel shuttle (The Hotel Hoppa) and were whisked off to the Hilton in quick order. Check-in was seamless and we were quickly in our room, showered, and down for a nap.

Dinner that evening was with our good friends, the Fergusons, at one of our London favorites, The White Horse (aka The Sloaney Pony to locals.)

Transport from the Hilton to Parson's Green was a bit more convoluted than anticipated. 

The shuttle from the hotel back to the terminal, where we could hop on the Piccadilly Line, took longer than expected, then the District Line from Earl's Court to Parson's Green was experiencing delays. Rather than wait out the delays we headed to the curb and I ordered an Uber to cover the last leg of the trip.

While I have no recollection of what I ate, I can say that if it was at the White Horse it was, at worst, quite good. More than likely it was excellent. The company, as always, was excellent, and I enjoyed a few pints of proper ale.

We stayed entirely too late, anchored by good conversation with wonderful people, yet the night ended much too soon. Still suffering from jet lag we made our way back to Heathrow, where we discovered the shuttle was no longer running, and ended up springing for a cab ride since the route was far from pedestrian-friendly. We collapsed in to bed and slept fairly soundly, given the disruptions of time-zone bingo.

The next morning, 27 July, we grabbed a satisfactory full English breakfast in the hotel restaurant before heading back to the terminal to catch our flight to Amsterdam.

Check-in with British Airways for the final leg of our journey to Amsterdam was the epitome of British efficiency, as was our security screening. There was a short delay for boarding at the gate, but otherwise the trip was uneventful and we arrived in Amsterdam within a few minutes of our published arrival time.

We arrived at the Hilton Doubletree mid-afternoon to discover a lobby littered with suitcases and what appeared to be a couple of large tour groups waiting for rooms. A promise from the desk clerk that our room would be ready quickly, and we'd be alerted with a text, sent us off to the hotel restaurant for a snack and a beverage. Time waiting was well-spent investigating potential dinner venues. After well over an hour with no update on our room I returned to the hotel desk and was met with sincere apologies and a room key.

Another short Uber ride had us at the door of Bickers aan de Werf, without even a hint of a reservation.

The proprietor was kind and incredibly accommodating, offering us a delightful table overlooking the water and bringing us noshes and water while we perused the menu.

We chose two different fish dishes and a ridiculously tasty and equally affordable bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. We proceeded to have a relaxing evening under cool, clear skies, watching boat traffic pass by.  The summer months, combined with the northern latitudes, provide an extended twilight that seemed to help with the time zone adjustment. 

July 28: A surprisingly sound night's sleep had us up and about, ready to explore the city. We completely missed the mark on tickets for the Anne Frank Huis, so we sought out other highlights to enjoy, with stroopwafels high on the list!

As is the case with most of us who don't live in bicycle-centric communities, there was an initial learning curve concerning the "weird sidewalks and paths" which was short and, thankfully, incident free. Having visited Munich a few times previously we weren't oblivious - it's just one of those things you don't think of until you hear the distinctive "ring-ring" warning of an approaching bicycle. A quick leap to the safety of the sidewalk (from the bike path you were strolling down in your ignorant bliss) is a reminder that you're not in Kansas any more, and resets your awareness. For the duration of your stay you become expert at pedestrian/bicycle etiquette and even assist the occasional clueless tourist in navigating the system.

Since we were in Amsterdam it was obvious that we needed to search out the local delicacy, and we wanted to find the "best of the best" if we were going to indulge ourselves. We googled (it's a verb to me) where to go, we asked locals, and, as we closed in on our intended destination, we asked anyone walking past holding a wrapper with a "dazed and glazed" expression if it was, in fact, the best stroopwafel they ever tasted.

vanWonderen is a small, cramped corner shop that offers different sizes, an assortment of toppings, and not much other than the most delicate and delicious pastries I've ever tasted.

Each wafer-thin stroopwafel is freshly cooked, then sliced in half longitudinally using some form of ancient magic and a blade honed by dwarven metalsmiths. After making this impossible slice the cut sides are coated with your choice of spread (caramel is traditional) and then dipped and coated with toppings, if you like. I opted for the traditional simplicity of a plan stroopwafel with caramel spread. Lourie opted for a bit of chocolate topping with a sprinkling of chopped nuts. Both were absolutely delicious!

We spent the rest of the day walking the canals, looking at shops, and enjoying the incredible weather before heading back to the hotel and getting dressed for dinner. When I started researching things to do in Amsterdam I read a snippet about a small restaurant that held a Michelin Star. As I discovered more about the restaurant I learned that the chef's philosophy was that good food should not be outrageously expensive, it should be attainable by those of average means. A recent review describes Restaurant LaStage perfectly; 

"This cosy restaurant is the destination for unpretentious food where simplicity is turned into a marvel."

We were greeted by a delightful hostess and led to a table at the center rail of the balcony, overlooking the entirety of the modestly-sized dining room and just above the kitchen. Our server introduced herself and inquired about food allergies and aversions. We opted for the tasting menu, which was modified for Lourie to accommodate the dietary restrictions imposed by her transplant status, with the wine pairings. 

We proceeded to have an absolutely stunning meal with an assortment of wines I had only read about prior to this evening. The ingredients were as unfamiliar as the wines, but even the most startling presentations were tasty, if not amazing. After nearly three hours we reached the end of the menu; sated, impressed, and thoroughly stunned by the creativity and quality we just experienced. With an eight course tasting menu priced at €125 and complete wine pairings at about €100 (pours are generous, and if you find one to be a particular favorite a polite request will almost certainly deliver an additional glass) it is an absolute bargain. 

The service was impeccable, the meal was elegant, and the atmosphere was relaxed and unpretentious. If you consider yourself a foodie of any degree and are planning a trip to Amsterdam I highly recommend a visit. It's an opportunity to expand your culinary scope in a highly-rated restaurant without breaking the bank.

On our last day in Amsterdam we enjoyed a nice breakfast at the hotel, then enjoyed a casual stroll to the embarkation point for our canal cruise. Our cruise with Flagship Amsterdam docked just in front of the Anne Frank Huis, making it easy to locate. The cost was about €20 per person, and they offered a bar on the boat with a la carte pricing.

The guides were friendly and informative, providing insights and knowledge without making it seem as if you were on a floating lecture. I'm ashamed to admit that I don't recall the details and trivia they shared. When we return in 2025 I fully intend to repeat the tour and make a few notes to go along with my photos.

We grabbed a quick bite for dinner and spent the evening re-packing in preparation of joining the cruise ship the next morning.

On 30 July we took an Uber to the cruise terminal, just a few blocks away, and experienced one of the most efficient boarding processes ever. In almost 30 years of cruising this was the first time we ever "walked on" to a ship. From curbside to setting foot on the ship was less than 15 minutes. While taking a cruise out of Amsterdam is a bit of a production, the process itself could not be simpler!

COVID Deflection

 Lots and lots to report from our last post, several years ago. Look for a massive amount of update as we pull our notes together, organize photos, and catch up prior to our massive trip in the fall of 2024. COVD tossed a massive monkey-wrench in the works, and we're just now getting sorted out.

Topics to cover:

• Baltic Cruise (Amsterdam, Talinn, St Petersburg, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen with a side trip to London.)
• Paramedic school and COVID - Let me tell you, entering pre-hospital health care during a worldwide pandemic was quite the challenge. Since we couldn't travel I thought I could fill you in on some of the situations we experienced.
• Our first "escape" post-COVID - a short Bahamas cruise
• Immediate Family Disney trip
• First "big trip" post-COVID - 8 days to the ABC islands
• Panama Canal cruise
• Extended Family Disney trip (aka "23 people, are you crazy?")
• A quick jaunt to Minneapolis for a wedding weekend

Coming up in the fall we'll be heading to Rome for a few days, then embarking on a trans-Atlantic cruise back to NYC.

We interrupt this silence...

Things have slowed down a bit - sort of. Since we last spoke there's a new grandson, which means lots of road trips between NC and NJ. We also took a BIG trip to Europe over the summer and have made more than a couple of trips to Baltimore to visit the transplant team. (All continues to be well on that front. <knock wood>)

I'm also back in school.

All of this means I've neglected my blogging, but I'm working to get things back on track!