Christmas markets, December 2012

One of the best things about the holidays in our part of Europe is the various Christmas markets.  Bratislava has a really cute one, there are several in Vienna (the largest and most popular being in front of the Rathaus), Budapest, Austria, etc.  We went to Vienna one weekend to make the rounds, this time going to one we hadn't been to before, behind the Museumsquartier.  We also went to Schloss Hof, an Austrian palace just over the river from Devinska Nova Ves, just over 10km from Bratislava.  We took a weekend to go to the Nurnberg market, one of the oldest in Europe.  And of course, we went to the Bratislava market several times.  I love to stroll around the market, looking at all the stuff available at the different stalls.  Gluhwein (varenne vino) is my favorite.  In Nurnberg, we also tried blueberry gluhwein, not bad!  Nurnberg is famous for their nurnbergers, short little sausages.  They smelled fantastic!

Oktoberfest, October 2011

We decided, somewhat on a whim, to join some friends heading to Munich for Oktoberfest for the weekend.  When I say weekend, I mean leaving Bratislava at 5:30am, heading to Munich for the day, and driving right back (in a hired van).  It was a long and exhausting day but completely worth it!  It was an awesome experience, we'll be back next year!

Warnemünde and Rostock Germany

Warnemünde, Germany

The first port on the cruise. We rode the train into the small city of Rostock. Going to Berlin was a possibility but it required a 2:30 ride on the train and bus each direction. We spent the day enjoying the sites and looking in the shops and farmer's market. I was able to find a pet for a co-worker of Alexandra's who will be moving to New Zealand for 2 years work. Germany was a good time and set the tone for our cruise.

Kröpeliner Tower

The fountain in front of Rostock University. There were numerous kids running around in the fountain enjoying the water on a warm day.

The Main Hall of Rostock University.

Great German beer and pizza in one of the caffes on Kröpeliner Strasse across from the fountain. Rostocker Pilsener.

The view from the tower of St Mary's Church, looking west over the city.

Back in Warnemünde for the afternoon. We had the most time to spend in this port since many of the passengers took a tour into Berlin. I had time to find a barber shop and get a hair cut. We enjoyed the beach and had a beer in one of the cafes before returning to the ship.

The view from the beach.

The view from the waters of the Baltic Sea.

Baltic Cruise

We spent the end of June and first part of July on a cruise around the Baltic Sea and over to Norway. The cruise started in Copenhagen, Denmark and had stops in the following ports: Warnemünde, Germany; Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; 2 days in St. Petersburg, Russia; Tallinn, Estonia; Aarhus, Denmark; Oslo, Norway and back to Copenhagen.

First port

Warnemünde, Germany

27 June 2011

Stockholm, Sweden
29 June 2011

Helsinki, Finland
30 June 2011

This ship was one of many we saw coming into the port. The ships are based in Tallin, Estonia

which is a short overnight passage across the Baltic Sea from Helsinki. 50 miles across the Baltic Sea.

We spent two days in port in St. Petersburg, Russia.
2 July 2011

Tallinn, Estonia
3 July 2011












Aarhus, Denmark
5 July 2011

Just before leaving the port of Aarhus, Denmark.

In port in Oslo, Norway. This was the best docking location of the cruise, when we woke up in the morning right outside was the castle.

6 July 2011









This was right across the street from our docking location.

The opera house in Oslo.

On the roof of the opera house in Oslo.

Heading south out of Oslo through the fjord, the last day before returning to Copenhagen, Sweden. This island, South Kaholmen, was a military training area and had Oscarsborg Fortress as an active installation until 2003. The fortress is best known for its sinking on 9 April 1940 of the German heavy cruiser Blücher. Cadets fired artillery at the first German ships attempting to make their way toward Oslo. One of the German ships was hit and eventually sunk. This delayed the Germans landing in Oslo for some time.