Q-Tips Reviews

Helsinki, Finland – We took the ‘Discover Helsinki’ tour. Included were the Embassy Park, Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral with gold onion domes,  on to Senate Square pass by the 1952 Olympic Games were held, the Opera House and stop to see the Temppeliaukio Rock Church.

Q-tips says:  Mrs. Q says:  This was more of a bus tour, a welcome change from the 2 busy, but two great days in St. Petersburg, Russia.  While nice to see Helsinki Finland, it was very cold and windy more than other country so far. Want to say Hi and Bye in their language? Hi – Moy.   Bye – Moy, Moy.

The sea and large lakes slow down the progress of winter. Winter is the longest season in Finland, lasting for about 100 days in southwestern Finland and 200 days in Lapland.

North of the Arctic Circle, part of winter is the period known as the “polar night”, when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all. In the northernmost corner of Finland, the polar night lasts for 51 days. In southern Finland, the shortest day is about 6 hours long.

Mrs. Q says: No thank you.  Even our tour guide said it is depressing. Unless you LOVE winter and Winter Sports….. Not I.

In port, outside our ship was a small open doors building selling mementos and “FREE WI FI.” So many took advantage of the Free Wi Fi, as not to use up their WiFi that you had to pay for on the ship. It was freezing and windy in the building. Froze our butts off even tho we had winter outfits and gloves, mind you this is the end of May.  At least it was sunny.  Finland might now have taken the honor of the “happiest people” because they are taken care of from birth to grave. But their taxes are extremely very high, as in Denmark.   (Hello? Someone has to pay for all those “free,  free,  free from birth to grave). 

Happiest people? IT CAN’T BE BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER! 

1952 Olympic Games were held here.

Uspenski Russian Orthodox Cathedral 

Opera House

Temppeliaukio Rock Church

Temppeliauko Rock Church –

Sibelius Park

Monument is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)

St. Petersburg, Russia – We decided to take the 2 day tour with lunch each day  (at a local off-the-way restaurant included foods that are famous in Russia and a shot of Russian Vodka) –  since we will probably never coming back again and wanted to see as most as we could in the 2 days. It is said an offense if you do not drink the Vodka – Mrs. Q couldn’t – too harsh for me.

2 day tour Was not cheap, but worth it.  This two full day tour combination lets you enjoy the best of St. Petersburg: Catherine’s Palace, Hermitage Museum, Peterhof Grand Palace and a city tour. In the Castles they have to put on disposable paper shoes over your own shoes to keep the floors from scratching, ruining the floors. Always ask if you can take photos where ever you go into a museum, castle, etc.

paper boots to protect their floors – one size fits all

Q-tips say: Day 1 & 2 – The best tours.We went outside of the city to the town of Pushkin (former Tsar’s Village) where we visited Catherine II Palace. Peter the Great presented this estate to his wife Catherine in 1710. It was used as the summer residence of the Royal Family. Its grandiose, white-and-gold facade stretches 978 feet. Walked  through a series of magnificent rooms, including the famous the Great Hall and the Amber Room. The town of Pushkin is famous for the man it was named after – Alexander Pushkin, the most celebrated poet in the country.  Then drove to the Hermitage Museum, the largest art museum in Russia and the most prestigious museum in the world. The Hermitage Museum occupies the Winter Palace, the winter residence of the Russian Tsars, and four more buildings.  Mrs. Q says: If you have been to The Palace of Versailles, Château de Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal chateau in Versailles, many of the Palaces of Russia were similar- Ornate and gold filled. Know one really knows what happened to the original amber during the Nazi Germany occupation, so it was rebuilt.  Catherine II always had to have the best.  Catherine’s Palace: Amber Room, The Ballroom, Chapel.    

AMBER ROOM- no photos allowed –  An internet photo.

Ballroom

Chapel

Outside view of Palace

The Hermitage Museum encompasses any buildings on the Palace Embankment and its neighborhoods. Apart from the Small Hermitage, the museum now also includes the ‘Old Hermitage’ (also called ‘Large Hermitage’), the ‘New Hermitage’, the “Hermitage Theater’,  and the ‘Winter Palace, the former main residence of the Russian tsars. In recent years, the Hermitage has expanded to the General Staff Building on the Palace Square facing the Winter Palace, and the Menshikov Palace.  There is no way you could see this massive Museum in a day – you need a week.

The Pavilion Hall

The Ruebens Room

The Raphael Loggias-This ceiling shows the entire painting of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City Rome – panel by panel.  Mrs. Q says: Yes, it does with precise detail.

Interior of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg , Russia

A room in the Winter Palace

Three grand apartment houses in a row in Russia.

Peter & Paul Cathedral – 

Inside the cathedral are the extravagant tombs of almost all the Russian rulers since Peter the Great. People still leave fresh flowers on Peter’s grave. The last to be buried here was Nicholas II and his family, who were re-interred here on July 17, 1998.

PETERHOF PALACE:  Palace of Peter the Great

Peterhof Palace –

There are 64 fountains. and 37 gold gilded statues.  Their waters flow into a semicircular pool, the terminus of the fountain-lined Sea Channel.

French Style interior

Catherine II had to have the best of everything, but Mrs. Q thinks that Peter the Great beats her by a mile.  What do you think?

The Samson Fountain and Sea Channel

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood –

This church was built on the site where Emperor Alexander II was fatally wounded in March 1881.

Tallinn, Estonia – Tour from the Norwegian Ship tours- ” Tallinn & Old Town Walking Tour.”  Tallinn is the capital of Estonia. A walking tour that took us into Tallinn’s past, visit Rocca-al-Mare Open Air Museum’s typical rural Estonian taverns, windmills and watermills, the onion-domed 1900 cathedral or join the bustle in historic Town Hall Square. St. Olav’s spire was once the tallest in the world, but not any more.

Supposedly some of the best chocolate around.

Q-tips say:  The capital of Estonia impresses with its mix of medieval houses and very modern boutiques and café culture. Journey inside the ancient walls of Old Town to explore stunning Medieval landmarks like Toompea Castle and a 15th Century apothecary shop. Move up a couple centuries to experience Tsar Peter I’s Kadriorg Palace, filled with art and surrounded by sculpted gardens and peaceful woodlands. UNEVEN Cobble Streets.

Tallinn Estonia

St. Olav’s Cathedral

At Sea – 

We decided to get a drink at our favorite watering hole – Atrium bar where they were playing 60’s & 70’s music.  Decided to dance when the “Twist song” was playing. It turned to be a “Twist Dance Contest.”  A member of the band came up to Mrs. Q and said, “he had his money on us.”  The organizer took 3 couples aside and ask questions: Names, where are you from and how long have we been “Twisting.”  Well, the music began and the audience were the judges.  Well, we won the “Twist Contest.”  We won “T shirts” that said,  “Feel free to call me a Champion.”   A bottle of Champagne, a pen.  The other couples got “T” shirts.”

After that people would stop us and say, “you are the ones who won the “twist contest.”  Our one moment of celebrity.

Yes, we did enjoy the Champagne. I was glad we won and did NOT break any body parts while doing this!

Warnemunde (Berlin) Germany –   Decided on  “Discover Warmenunde.”  A bus and walking tour to Wismar, and tour the old town, brewery lunch, then off to Schwerein and tour the Castle Gardens. Those who took the “Berlin tour” were disappointed because it was a three hour bus ride there and back.

Q-tips say:  Good 3 hour tour. Cobble streets. Bus ride through the country side and then Schwerein and Castle Gardens. Established in 1323, Warnemunde has been a fisherman’s village since medieval days. A walking tour of this quaint, little village and visit the regional Heritage Musuem here.

 Schwerein Castle & Gardens.

Stayed at the First Mayfair Hotel – 1653Kobenhvn The hotel was nice & had several restaurants and offered “free breakfast” with our Norwegian Cruise deal. FYI: It has steps into the hotel, so if you are in wheelchair, etc., but they have elevators inside the hotel.  Ate at the “Boston Rest.” at the hotel and “FRK, Barnes Kaelder” just down the street from the Mayfair Hotel. I prefer Barnes Kaelder.  “Boston” was convenient.

Q-Tips :  Joined our Grand tour “Free Tours” to hear how Copenhagen became the fantastic city it is today. Learn about the city’s founding father, the best place to get Danish smørrebrød, and why the Danes are called the happiest people in the world! PERHAPS due to the Danish or if something else, Mrs. Q found out : I found out that distinction now goes to: Finland. Finland might now have the happiest people because they are taken care of from birth to grave. But their taxes are very high, as in Denmark. Highlights of the Grand Tour include: The City Hall, Christiansborg palace, The old City Center, Nyhavn harbour,  The Royal Opera, The Royal Palace of Amalienborg.

We took the “Grand Tour of Copenhagen” thru offered by  “FREE TOURS.” “Copenhagenfreewalkingtours.com.” They meet on the steps of the City Hall on the city hall square. They wear bright green name badges and carry a bright green umbrella. Free, but please remember to tip the guides. This tour is a 3 hour walking tour during the heart of Copenhagen, historical facts and stories. Saw the changing of the guards, as they always do, but because “The Queen” was in residence they have changing of the guards with music. Yes, the streets are still cobble stone not paved. There are a million bicycles every where. It is very expensive to buy a car due to the fact they are taxed at 50% on the price of the car. Therefore, most people have bikes and they do have “bike lanes” and public transportation.

Bike parking near the Train Station – Copenhagen, Denmark

Unbelievably, they DO drive bikes in winter & use public transportation. I was told they don’t get a lot of snow more rain than snow in winter nor it doesn’t last long. The sun going down at 4 pm and rising again at 10 am – worst at winter solstice.

Magnus

Magnus, our guide, was a local and interjected information that only a local would know. Yes, this was a “FREE” tour, but you should always tip your “free tour” guide. In restaurants an extra 25% is always added to your bill for the tip. If you received “extra ordinary service,” then tip accordingly.  We met on the stops of the City Hall on Radhuspladsen (city hall square) for our 3 hour walking tour.  Keep your eye peeled for the guides wearing the bright green hats and bright green umbrellas.

City Hall on Radhuspladsen (city hall square)

Tivoli Gardens –  Copenhagen Denmark

Tivoli Gardens -A famous amusement park.  The park opened on Aug. 15, 1843.

The Mermaid

The sculpture of The Little Mermaid. 23 August 2013 she turned 100 years old. She looks pretty good for being 100.  Was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land. Mrs. Q says: She looks good for 100 years old, don’t you think?

Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince.

After your tour, you have time to visit Tivoli Gardens, The City Hall, Christiansborg palace, The old City Center, Nyhavn harbour, The Royal Opera, The Royal Palace of Amalienborg. All things you walked by and heard about during your tour.

Had a moment to talk with another guide after our tour and he said, “the USA has got it right with the new President Trump trying to changing some things and trying to get the economy going in the right way but had a reservation about him. He mentioned that the former President Obama would be a great guy to talk with and have a beer, but that’s it.”

Baltics Trip – General Info – 9 Nights Europe Cruise on the Norwegian “Getaway” ship from Copenhagen- ours included  3 dinners from their “Specialty dining package” and we received, free of charge, the “Adult beverage package.”Coffee, bottled water, pop” was not included – but you can get all the coffee, pop, lemonade, and water you can drink by going to the “buffet” that is just about open always.    This ship is a small city – nearly 4,000 cruisers & nearly 1,000 workers.

Before you travel to Europe, make sure you call your credit cards to let them so they do NOT put a stop on your card.  Also, ask them how much they charge to use their card for exchange rate of purchases.  Most card charge 3 % but Discover does not charge and American Express also does not charge for charges that are done on the Cruise Ships. Always take at least 2 cards, just in case.  Make a copy of front/back of credit cards and keep a copy in your cruise room safe and snail mail send to someone else, just in case Also call your bank and see if they can change some of your American dollars to the currency of the Country you are going to.  Be sure you do it early enough for the bank to get the currency in time before you leave. Took Lyft to/back airport – $41.10 for 2 people and of course remember to tip the driver. You can pay when you set up your appt. with your credit card.

8  –  At Sea – another fun day??

10 – Copenhagen, Denmark –  Then fly back to Chgo.