Regatta just below bridge

On Kiel Canal in north Germany. The ship just barely fits under the bridges. The canal goes past farms. Many people outside to watch the ships go by. This is one of the largest ships that transits this canal.
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German Autobahn at over 110 mph

Leaving Berlin traveling in a Mercedes van north to Rostock at speeds over 110 mph. There is no speed limit on the autobahn. We are a group of 5 returning to the ship. And we are being passed! Our driver is Steffen and he seems to know what he doing.
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Checkpoint Charlie

The main gate between Soviet controlled Eastern Berlin and the American sector of the Berlin wall was Checkpoint Charlie. We saw the major war related sites in Berlin - the wall, the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate, Hitlers bunker, the former Nazi Headquarters.
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Ishtar Gate

Also at museum in Berlin - a reconstruction from the ancient city of Babylon (now Bagdad) in Iraq.
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Pergamon Altar

Berlin is famous for its museums. We were happy to go to the Pergamon Museum. This is the restored altar from Pergamon which is an ancient city in Turkey inhabited by Greeks. We visited the actual city in 2007 in Turkey.
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Holocaust Memorial to the Murdered Jews

In Berlin opened in 2005
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Memorial church in Berlin

They left the tower of the church standing even after it was bombed in WWII. The tower beside it is a Luthern Church.
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Berlin Brandenburg Gate

Nov 9 1989 the Berlin Wall fell. The was the most important gate separating East from West Germany. The gate was built in 1700's.
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Tivoli in Copenhagen

Tivoli is a wonderful amusement park in downtown Copenhagen. Its very old and has rides -rollercoasters, carousel, etc. Beautifully landscaped with many restaurants. A nice escape from the city streets.
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Nyhvn in Copenhagen

Nyhavn or New Harbor in Copenhagen - took a boat ride through the canals from here. Many of the bridges that the boat travels under are very low - just barely enough room to clear the boat.
"Lots of sidewalk cafes with wonderful food. Carlsberg beer is a must in Denmark.
Amazing weather -many sunny days - cool in the morning then warming later in the day.
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Bicycles everywhere in Copenhagen Denmark

Bicycles are the main choice of transportation in Copenhagen with every street containing special bike lanes. I'm not sure how you would remember which one is yours.
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Copenhagen Denmark - Changing of th guard

Several countries have wonderful "changing of the guard" ceremonies at the royal palace. The tall furry black hats look so funny. Denmark has a Queen - Margaret who lives at the palace.
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Hans Christian Anderson

Beloved writer of chrildrens stories is from Copenhagen
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Pilot boat alongside Regatta in Gdansk, Poland

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Beautiful Gdansk, Poland

The old city is very beautiful with much wonderful architecture. This is city hall and the main street inside the walled city.
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Sailing ship

In Gdansk River an old ship
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Chamber of Commerce in Gdansk, Poland

Built in 1640
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Ship building port

Once employed 16,000. Went on strike in 1980.
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Solidarity Monument in Gdansk, Poland

Shipbuilders strike united in Aug 1980 against Communist contol led by Lech Walendzi.
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Crematoriam

Gas chamber. This was a very grim day. We can't imagine such horrible things can happen. But part of history.
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Rail cars

Stutthof camp - rail cars were used to transport Jewish families to the death camps. They were kept in the cars for several days without food, water, facilities or protection from the weather. But arrival at the camp was not better.
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Stuffhof Poland

The gate of death at Stutthof Concentration camp outside Gdansk Poland. This camp operated the longest time starting in 1939. 110,000 were on the roles but the official record lists 65,000 as killed.
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Tallin, Estonia - Russian Cathedral and Towers

Peterhof, Palace of Peter the Great

Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia - exterior

Catherine's Palace, St. Petersburg Russia

Photos from St. Isaac's Cathedral, St. Petersburg, Russia

Helsinki Findland

Senate Square (the movie Reds with Warren Beatty was filmed here). This is the heart of the city.
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Two Naked Guys

Where is the zoom lens when you need it! Just as the Captain was turning the boat to leave - Two guys who were standing on the sidewalk in front of the ship took their clothes off and jumped into the Neva River. They swam to the submarine which was anchored by the ship and started to climb up until they reached the very top of the sub. They stayed there for a while. By this time all the ships passengers of the ship are watching. Then they dive into the river--and then we sail away.
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Port of Russia

We are sailing through the huge shipping port of St. Petersburg
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Peterhof Palace

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Brides and Wedding parties

Ok if - ever want to start a business in Russian it would be as a wedding photographer! We saw at least 20 brides and grooms with their entourage being photographed at all the important city sights!
But none as beautiful as our Lauren and Matt!!
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Fountains of Peterhof

We took the hydrafoil across the bay from St. Petersburg to the palace of Peter the first or Peter the Great. The fountains came on just as we arrived accompanied by beautiful music. Hundreds of fountains all over the grounds. This is the main cascade featuring Sampson slaying the lion.
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Oceania Regatta at St. Peters burg

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Russian submarine

Docked beside our cruise ship.
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Hydrofoil boat on the Neva River

Elaine with our guide Masha about to ride the hydrofoil boat to Peterhof Palace. Our last day in St. Petersburg, Russia.
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Catherine's Palace

Today was palace in the countryside day. We drove outside of St. Petersburg south to the summer palace of Catherine the Great and the summer palace Pavolski home of Paul and Marie. Both these palaces are in Pushkin (Tzarskelo).
Catherine's palace is similar to Versailles in France with guilded rooms and extensive landscaped grounds. But the Amber Room as the highlight!
Paviloska is noted for its original furnishings - most of which were saved during WWII because they were packed up and shipped to Siberia.
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Russian Folk Dancers

We went to a performance of Russian Folk Dance at Nicholyesky Palace last night. The traditional dance including the Cossack Dance where the men dance and kick fom a crouched position then leap into the air and touch their toes. The palace staircase was so elegant. We felt like royalty walking in. Several types of Russian food was also served. The theater would have been used only for entertaining the royal family in their home.
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Hermitage - The Winter Palace

This is the Hermitage Museum - one of the best museums in the world. Not only is the art magnificant - the rooms are amazing! The oppulance of the Tzars is evident in the gilded and frescoed rooms. This is the exterior of the palace as it graces the very heart of the city and fronts the Neva River.
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Leonardo da Vinci

We spent the afternoon in the Hermitage! I could have stayed a week. The Hermitage has 2 da Vinci Madonnas. This is Madonna Litti. To all the "Page Turners" (book club) who just read the book Madonnas of Lengrad - this post is in your honor!
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St. Petersburg, Russia - Church of the Spilled Blood

We are visiting beautiful St. Petersburg the Venice of the North. Our ship - Oceania Regatta is docked in the center City on the Neva River within sight of the fortress and Winter Palace. Many canals and waterways cross the city.
Our guide is Masha! We had a wonderful day - started with a city driving tour. The Church of the Spilled Blood is if course Russian Orthodx with the colorful onion dome towers.
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