After St. Petersburg we had a sea day. We needed it for me to recover from the flu like symptoms. Which by the way, most of the Moscow people all got.
Our next stop was Copenhagen. This is a delightful city. We did a castle tour and saw alot of the countryside. So pretty, green and nice people. No time to shop here. Darn! It was a little cooler and cloudy and rain for maybe a half hour. The next day we cruised the North Sea.
A very pleasant day.
Our next port was Hamburg, Germany. The ship provided a free shuttle bus to main center of town. We walked to the train station and got on the Hop On Hop Off City Tour bus. This took us all over the city. Hamburg is really nice. I found a store that sells Steif stuffed animals and got our new baby graddaughter a lamb. Another couple we met on the ship we so kind they also got our new granddaughter a Steif teddy bear. We had the best lunch in an outdoor food mall. Some stands were selling beer, others sausage, etc. but the great one was a potato pancake (lateke) stand. It was all like homemade and delicious. We walked it off and took the shuttle back to the ship for a short rest. We wanted to see the Red Light District at night. We took a taxi from the ship to a good restaurant in "The District". We came out of the restaurant there must of been at least 100 young, pretty girls standing on the sidewalks about 3 ft apart. Even with me there they came onto John. I watched them hang on EVERY man's arm that walked down the street. I heard most of these girls are from Eastern Europe. There are sex shops all over the area. The actual official Red Light District is behind a wooden fence. No women allowed. I was told that the girls would pour water over my head if I went in. I wanted John to see it; so I waited outside the fence and he went in and walked around. He said the girls sit in windows and slide their window open to talk to potential customers. I stood there and watched quite a few groups of men go in. They were probably in Hamburg on business by the looks of them. It was interesting but kind of sad for these young prety girls. Took a taxi back to ship and Radisoon had drinks waiting for us and a band playing in the port pavillion. We were overnight in Hamburg. But, if we had it to do over again; we would take the overnight to Berlin. Thoses that did said that loved it. They said Radisson did a wonderful job of putting that tour together. Our next day was Amsterdam. What a place! We liked it very mcuh. We went with another couple from the ship on our own. Took a taxi to the hydrofol and into Amsterdam. We took an hour canal boat ride which was delightful. The houseboats on the canals are so interesting and some are really cute with flower boxes. We did some shopping. Prices were very reasonable. We walked thrught the Red Light/Coffe House area. Now this is on a Sunday afternoon. Yep. there were many women in the street level windows. No water on a woman's head here. Anything goes. We walked into a coffee house and yep, there was a real menu with pot on it. They had a price list and 4 little bags of weed were stapled to the menu. It said mild; strong; med. It was only 4 euros for a rolled joint. The 3 of us had to try one. John refused because he is afraid he might get drug tested at work and he can't afford to lose his license. It was fun but really didn't do too much for me. We had a nice lunch and walked up and down the narrow streets. Would of liked to have seen the Anne Frank house but not enough time and we heard the lines were very long. We were only there for 8 hours. Would like to have stayed overnight there.
Our last port on this cruise was Rouen, France. What a pretty French village/city this is. We sailed along the Siene River for an entire afternoon getting there passing little villages and chateau's almost closes enough to reach ut and touch. We couldn't get off the ship until 8 pm. So we took a taxi with another couple into Rouen. Since it was night we asked the driver to take us on a private tour. He took us to the top on a high hill overlooking the city at night. How beautiful! Then he took us to a Catherdrale that has an outside light show at 9:30 free and so different. i can't explain it but they shined different lighting on the catherdrale. He drove us around the city streets and we returned to the ship. They next day we were supposed to pick up a rental car and drive to Normandy. Radisson tour desk really messed this one up. Most passenger were getting off the ship and heading for the airport or Paris. There were only 3 taxis waiting and so many poeple. Grant from the tour desk kept saying that taxis were on the way. After an hour and only 4 taxis showing up we canceled our rental car. It was supposed to be picked up at 9a.m. Now it was way past 10. We went back on the ship and waited a cuple hours and then went down and got a taxi back into Rouen. It is a charming little city. We shopped; went to a museum of Joan of Arc. Saw a couple of catherdrals and just enjoyed the pretty French city. Alot of the houses are with wood fronts like you see in the Alps.
One more part from St. Mila, France to Lisbon, Portugal. LATER! :lct: