Real Woman Travel

My mom once told me that a vacation should challenge you. Step outside your comfort zone. Learn. Grow. Do something different.  

Sometimes it’s new countries and entirely new cultures. But wherever we go the one constant is  ourselves. Sometimes we just need to step outside ourselves. 

I’m heading to Amsterdam for a short vacation and I’m challenging myself to be more extroverted. I’m not going to rely on my iPhone as a solo crutch. And yes. Us solo travelers tend to do so. I’m going to push beyond and engage. It’s my personal challenge for this trip. I’ll keep you posted as to how I do – but perhaps not too posted! 

It feels surreal to be in Russia yet the actual experience is just like any other major European city with the exception of signage. The language and the written word are like pieces of art. 

We booked an independent private two-day highlights tour with TJ Travel. The ship docked at 7 am and we prepared to depart as soon as possible having heard it could take up to 45 minutes to clear customs. 

Apparently the line to depart began on deck six and we managed to merge in from five and were meeting our guide Tatiana after clearing customs in only about fifteen minutes. I’m just excited to have a Russian passport stamp!

Tatiana and our driver Roman took us to several photo spots around the city. 

One of the Czars goals was to claim the city as the Venice of the North and it certainly has the feel. Rivers, canals and bridges cut across the city yet the canal culture never thrived. 

A subway stop was interesting. Odd but interesting. 

The Russian Orthodox Church was beautiful and while on a bit of the tourist route, still a thriving congregation. 

To reach Peterhof we enjoyed a twenty minute hydrofoil nap and were soon as the royal summer residence. Where we spent a lovely afternoon exploring the gardens and fountains. 

Peterhof is celebrating its official opening with a concert and visiting dignitaries complete with heavy military presence. 

Our next stop is the Catherine Palace about an hour away but fist lunch! Since we’re in Russia I started with a caviar appetizer followed by a simple vegetable and poem meatball soup. Very good. The Catherine Palace is beautiful yet sad to realize everything you see has been painstakingly restored since it’s near total destruction in WWII. 

We wrapped up with a short stroll through the grounds before returning to St. Petersburg and our home away from home. 

It’s been a long day with other full one tomorrow. I’m going to need a vacation from my vacation!  

After staying up late to enjoy the departure from Warnemunde it was nice to sleep in and have a lazy morning. 

Unfortunately we missed the breakfast but moved right along to lunch where we were joined by a solo traveler we met in the dining room line. Oddly we shared a similar background of New Orleans, Atlanta and even a similar employer. 

After a lazy afternoon strolling the ship we decided to dress up for the evening. 

We’ve enjoyed hanging out in the Atrium lounge before dinner and after a lovely seafood meal we joined the dancing in the nightclub. Sad to say we called it a night as we arrive early in Tallin. 

After enjoying our morning in Warnemunde we took the short 20 minute train down to Rostock and subsequent tram to The city center. The guide provided by the pier information shop provides very clear directions along with a self guided walk of both Warnemunde and Rostock. 

Soon we were at Neur Markt, the heart of Rostock bustling with students  and market stalls. While Warnemunde is full of fishing village charm and quant shops, Rostock is livelier with typical commercial shops, pedestrian zones, and tourists from beyond the cruise ship. 

From Neur Markt we strolled to University Square lined with food carts, demonstrations, cafes and folks enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. The Baltics have thrown us for a temperature loop. Forecasts of 58 degree highs have yielded an afternoon in the low 80s with blazing sun. 

While Rostock has more historic churches to explore Warnemunde oozes seaside charm. St. Marian church with its soaring organ and incredible astronomical clock tucked behind the nave is certainly worth a visit. 

After a break for brats the idea of an afternoon cocktail in the cool ship air drew us back to Warnemunde. 

One thing we’ve not been able to find has been the plethora of tacky tourist shops seen all over most tourist cities. And I’ll admit, I want country or city t-shirts.  

Back at the pier shop managed to find one location tee then it was back on board to enjoy an afternoon cocktail. 

We continued to explore the ship before the Getaway set sail. Our Captain managed an impressive k-turn kissing the edges of the narrow harbor and we were off with much fanfare. Local ships and ferries provided an escort responding to our horn trumpets and folks lined the harbor to watch the departure under a blaze of fireworks. 

We arrived in Copenhagen yesterday late afternoon and spent a few hours walking around the city, enjoying a dinner of open faced sandwiches before collapsing into our beds. My rule of thumb is to make it to 10 pm then getting a good night sleep to get the most out of the first full day. I’d like to say mission accomplished!

Our hotel is just a few short blocks from City Hall and the start of the Rick Steve’s city walk. Always been a big fan of his self guided walks. 

City Hall is located just across from Tivoli Gardens, Europe’s first amusement park. Hans Christian Anderson gazes on the entrance. We strolled through the city enjoying the monuments and palaces. The reception rooms of Christiansborg Palce were worth a stop before strolling along the harbor toward Nyhaven. Nyhaven is picture postcard perfect Copenhagen. Bustling with tourists and cafes we took a break to enjoy a snack and some Belgian beer. Can’t help but capture photos of this picturesque location. 

We continued to stroll through the pedestrian streets until returning to our hotel for a short break before dinner.

Overall Copenhagen has been a delight. Very clean city with extremely friendly people who thankfully speak wonderful English as the Danish language is difficult to say the least. 

Meals so far have been a little hit or miss. The typical Danish cuisine is heavy on seafood, particularly herring which I’m happy to do without. We picked up lunch from one of the numerous hotdog/sausage street carts and have to say that’s probably one of my favorites so far. 

Our after dinner schnapps however was a fantastic appertif and I’m going to claim as purely medicinal. 

Tomorrow we’ll be off to board our cruise for a nine day excursion to the Baltic capitals. Good times ahead.