Of Wings and Whispers

[drron]

Schipol is also close by.A lot of fog but every now and then a plane appeared-

.

.

.

But nature still wins when it comes to the beauty of flight-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[Pushka]

Now I really have to absorb your report. Baltics cruise next year taking in Stockholm, Helsinki, overnight in St Petersburg, Tallin, Warnemunde (Germany), Copenhagen overnight, Oslo then Amsterdam.

 

[drron]

We were getting very close to Amsterdam-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

We berthed right behind the Koningsdam.
We stayed onboard in Amsterdam and entertained family for the day.A neice and her family will be living in Rotterdam for the next 4 years.We learnt something about Australia's sporting prowess from them.They have 2 teenage sons who both have played representative hockey.both have joined the Rotterdam club.The 16 year old is in their under 18 first team and the 13 year old the goalie in the under 18 3rd team.The 13 year old has already had a one on one coaching session with Holland's Olympic goalie coach.No wonder they beat us.
An enjoyable dinner with an aussie couple with osso buco as the main course.
Next Zeebrugge and Bruges.

 

[mrs.dr.ron]

Now I really have to absorb your report. Baltics cruise next year taking in Stockholm, Helsinki, overnight in St Petersburg, Tallin, Warnemunde (Germany), Copenhagen overnight, Oslo then Amsterdam.

Pushka- I can highly recommend doing a private tour in St Petersburg. Just the 2 of us, a car, driver and a licensed guide, visas arranged, bypassing ALL the queues ( some snaked for miles!) SPB Tours were marvellous ! Our guide was ELZA - lovely girl with excellent English.

https://spb-tours.com/index.php?pageid=2

 

[drron]

We awoke in time for sunrise.The little dot in the distance becomes part of the story-

.

.

.

This is that dot.As we came near it turned and followed us into Zeebrugge.I do wonder why.

.

.

.

.

.

The early bird catches the scraps-

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

And our tail comes into the harbour with us-

.

.

.

 

[Pushka]

And we have just booked SPB tours for St Petersburg. Very easy!

 

[drron]

We took the walking tour of Bruges from Silverseas.on this occasion it was not much more than getting the port shuttle into Bruges and doing things yourself.We also ended up having a very good guide on the walking tour.
The country on the drive from the port to Bruges was flat but obviously productive-

.

.

.

Even before our tour there were some lovely buildings.Autumn colour was starting to appear.

.

.

.

Part of the old city walls which have become a bike path-

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

Now we start our walk from the bus parking area into the city-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Then we came to the square where we would all meet after our free time a little later-

.

 

[drron]

Old buildings plus new renos,a few cafes and a brewery around the square-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[ellen10]

Love Bruges, we spent 4 nights there a couple of years ago.

 

[drron]

Yes Bruges certainly is a beautiful place and not just the buildings-

.

.

.

Always someone that wants to stand out from the crowd-

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

Soon we will be on one of those boats.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

That is what is left of a city Gate.

.

.

.

.

 

[drron]

.

.

.

Hmmm.

.

.

.

We reach the main square-

.

.

.

.

 

[bPeteb]

.

Hmmm.

I so need me some met chocolate sausage and slagroom. Sounds so much better than waffle with ice-cream and chocolate sauce. We'll I'm guessing that's what it translates to!

 

[drron]

.

.

.

.

.

.

We were now in one of those boats for a 30 minute "cruise".But it meant I was at swan level-

.

.

.

.