Hellö Helsinki!
Have found a new place to dwell, new computer in the hotel foyer, which works alot better than Estonia. So to blog, facebook and journal.
Have seen a modern art gallery that is a must, plus lots of design places to investigate if time permits.
The dock area reminds me of Hobart.
Ferry trip okay, nothing exciting on the ferry so I fell asleep...........
To our final group dinner soon. It has been a pleasure to be able to meet and have meals together, plus see the sights and share insights.
Jani bought me an amber rose in Tallinn and gave it to me in the old town with the group. Silver for our anniversary and amber for Latvia. To love and honour.
See you in a while.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Estonia sings
Tartu and Tallinn. In Tallinn waiting for breakfast, got up at 5am. Why do that, cannot work out how to get a question mark on this keyboard. The daylight factor, so light most of the time.
Have so enjoyed the tour. Most needs are taken care of. The most stress is getting the case packed and in and out of the hotel.
Definitely know why travel has an allure. You have minimal commitments, except to drink everything in.
Have been surprised by Jani in Tallinn + he has presented me with an amber rose to ask for my loyalty and love. It is quite an unusual piece. A long stem of silver and leaves. The group was quite excited by this too!
Tartu tour through the old town. Spacious square with lovers fountain. Little lane ways and more pretty window boxes, could do a whole album on window boxes!
We had peas, strawberries and cherries for lunch and sandwiches.
Bus journey to Tallinn with another tour guide who handed out info for us to look at on Estonia.
Stopped off at a castle at Poltsamaa, established 1272 + the castle of Poltsamaa, crafts the main thing on offer.
(Jani has gone back to sleep + snoring).
Tallinn old town has presented itself as impossibly well presented, hoards of tourists though, a bit overwhelming after the charms of Riga and Lithuania. Took many pix, hard not to take one every minute(!) It has the old city wall, very high and stunning views.
Saw a palace in the afternoon, wandering through the old part of town with painted wooden houses and lush summer green gardens + so green it is hard to believe. Also traveled by bus to see the Pirita convent ruins. Massive walls of an old monastry.
Estonia also sings and they are gearing up for a children singing festival on the weekend, the stage can hold 30,000, quite emmense. There is something enticing about a nation that sings.
From my computer I can see out to the road, buses just starting to appear. At 5am there was not a thing on the road. About to do some more postcards, have a few stamps to use up.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Latvian hospitality
Riga, Latvian h0spitality.
Getting to appreciate latvian food.
Had a lovely afternoon with a branch of the Blemanthal family.
Real life family in Riga.
Not so different. Concerns about the future, government, prices and the economy.
Curiosities about each country - spiders and snakes seem to have been prominent in the consensus about Australia, and that it is a long, long way away.
The family could speak bits of English, more so the dad.I have about two words of Latvian.
People asume that Jani knows lots about Latvia, but he denies this....!
Need to send flowers as a thank you.
Loved the Black Balsam dark chocs, not so keen on the liquid - cough medicine.
Lots of architecture today - everywhere, from all vantages, cellars and high above the city roof tops. Our tour leader, Elena is multi lingual and has directed us all over Riga in her Dolce and Gabana matching leather suit.
Also heard the majestic sounds of the St Peterš pipe organ.
It sounded like Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, but that could be just my reading of it. To God be the glory.
Getting to appreciate latvian food.
Had a lovely afternoon with a branch of the Blemanthal family.
Real life family in Riga.
Not so different. Concerns about the future, government, prices and the economy.
Curiosities about each country - spiders and snakes seem to have been prominent in the consensus about Australia, and that it is a long, long way away.
The family could speak bits of English, more so the dad.I have about two words of Latvian.
People asume that Jani knows lots about Latvia, but he denies this....!
Need to send flowers as a thank you.
Loved the Black Balsam dark chocs, not so keen on the liquid - cough medicine.
Lots of architecture today - everywhere, from all vantages, cellars and high above the city roof tops. Our tour leader, Elena is multi lingual and has directed us all over Riga in her Dolce and Gabana matching leather suit.
Also heard the majestic sounds of the St Peterš pipe organ.
It sounded like Now thank we all our God, with hearts and hands and voices, but that could be just my reading of it. To God be the glory.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Itš Jani Day!
Riga is in full festive mode.
There are flowers in bunches, wreaths and all around.
Oak leaves adorn the buildings.
We just came back to the hotel to find our pillow adorned with a Jani oak leaves and ?chocolate?
All ages dancing, singing and joining in.
As we lumber over the big cobbles towards the river - we hear the folk songs. See the big wood bonfires ready to be lit. View the food stalls, watch the folk dancing.
Going back for the fire lighting - itš Jani day!
There are flowers in bunches, wreaths and all around.
Oak leaves adorn the buildings.
We just came back to the hotel to find our pillow adorned with a Jani oak leaves and ?chocolate?
All ages dancing, singing and joining in.
As we lumber over the big cobbles towards the river - we hear the folk songs. See the big wood bonfires ready to be lit. View the food stalls, watch the folk dancing.
Going back for the fire lighting - itš Jani day!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Go Lithuania!
Facebooking - check
Postcards - check
Blog - check
Travel diary - check
Wake up call - check
CNN World news - ad nauseum - check
Green trolley cars, red buses, daylight, mixed up letters on all surfaces.
Linden trees and their flowers, knowing nuns, ornate churches, long walks.
Taxi - 15 lit past the in progress arena, in time for September basketball championships - Go Lithuania!
Postcards - check
Blog - check
Travel diary - check
Wake up call - check
CNN World news - ad nauseum - check
Green trolley cars, red buses, daylight, mixed up letters on all surfaces.
Linden trees and their flowers, knowing nuns, ornate churches, long walks.
Taxi - 15 lit past the in progress arena, in time for September basketball championships - Go Lithuania!
Monday, June 20, 2011
Stepping back in time in Trakai
Kaunas - arrived 1630 - very tired.
Walked to Vilnius university this morning - toured the library and courtyards.
Could have spent a long time in the book shop. Have always loved libraries.
Then on to Trakai and the most wonderful castle - stepping back in time.
Indulged in a fish pie (fish, tomatoe & onion) for lunch and a dark beer.
Not much appetite for dinner - which was of a high standard.
Hotel Park Radison is quite slick, but single beds again.............
Feel quite spoilt by the company, food and sights around me.
I can understand why people keep coming back for the WEA Tours.
Vilnius was really special as it was their cultural night - very festive, hoards of people who stayed up all night for concerts and all churches and art galleries stayed open - gratas. Great to be in amongst it all. All ages involved.
Downside has been that one of the tour members had her purse stolen in the church of St Peter and Paul.
Using their currency - Lits.
Had to buy some amber, visited the amber museum and then made a special trip back to do my purchase.
Walked to Vilnius university this morning - toured the library and courtyards.
Could have spent a long time in the book shop. Have always loved libraries.
Then on to Trakai and the most wonderful castle - stepping back in time.
Indulged in a fish pie (fish, tomatoe & onion) for lunch and a dark beer.
Not much appetite for dinner - which was of a high standard.
Hotel Park Radison is quite slick, but single beds again.............
Feel quite spoilt by the company, food and sights around me.
I can understand why people keep coming back for the WEA Tours.
Vilnius was really special as it was their cultural night - very festive, hoards of people who stayed up all night for concerts and all churches and art galleries stayed open - gratas. Great to be in amongst it all. All ages involved.
Downside has been that one of the tour members had her purse stolen in the church of St Peter and Paul.
Using their currency - Lits.
Had to buy some amber, visited the amber museum and then made a special trip back to do my purchase.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Berlin Revealed
Found to my relief that the Berlin train system is relatively painless to negotiate.
To Potsdam and the San Souci gardens, the old town of Potsdam.
Am wearing a second hand cardigan bought there - 16 euro.
Jani felt the need to buy a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young double LP.
Went to the Sony Centre on the way home.
Had dinner out for the first time.
Just missed seeing Cameron Diaz on the mamouth red carpet - had Hagan Daaz instead - sweeter than I remember.
Need to be up @ 4am!
Okay, Berlin is definitely a city to return to, as our guide said on the very first encounter - it is a city of many layers to be revealed.
To Potsdam and the San Souci gardens, the old town of Potsdam.
Am wearing a second hand cardigan bought there - 16 euro.
Jani felt the need to buy a Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young double LP.
Went to the Sony Centre on the way home.
Had dinner out for the first time.
Just missed seeing Cameron Diaz on the mamouth red carpet - had Hagan Daaz instead - sweeter than I remember.
Need to be up @ 4am!
Okay, Berlin is definitely a city to return to, as our guide said on the very first encounter - it is a city of many layers to be revealed.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Birthday in Berlin
The jewish museum tour leader was an Elvis Costello look alike with an overtone of Woody Allen.
Their history of oppression.
At the Reichstag it was raining and it thundered loudly as we entered the dome.
Very space age and awe inspiring - the technology, the walkways and mirror centre piece.
Feeling I would love to be able to speak German.
Our other tour leader is named Gerd, who lives in West Berlin, just past the Olympic stadium.
My birthday today!
Their history of oppression.
At the Reichstag it was raining and it thundered loudly as we entered the dome.
Very space age and awe inspiring - the technology, the walkways and mirror centre piece.
Feeling I would love to be able to speak German.
Our other tour leader is named Gerd, who lives in West Berlin, just past the Olympic stadium.
My birthday today!
Berlin, Brut champagne and the art of living in the now
Can only get facebook in French!
Monday afternoon - very tired from long haul flight.
Dinner out - walked to next door hotel.
Tuesday very big day seeing a lot of Berlin and the Reichstag.
Had about 20mins for lunch in a park.
Very green and leafy.
Bikes zooming by.
Getting more confident with geting around.
Having had quite a few big breakfasts - today can 'do' the whole thing.
Yesterday saw the famed Egypian bust of Neferatiti and the massive restoration of the Neue museum. Then the Bode sculpture museum which is equally impressive.
Lunch by the river - packed from breakfast.
Tour in the bus and then on to the massive jewish museum.
All of Egypt and the jewish story in one day!!
Saw a chamber concert with players from the Berlin Philharmonic - the Berliners at night.
Lovely Brut champagne and little smoked salmon starters.
Actually not on Adelaide time anymore..................
Monday afternoon - very tired from long haul flight.
Dinner out - walked to next door hotel.
Tuesday very big day seeing a lot of Berlin and the Reichstag.
Had about 20mins for lunch in a park.
Very green and leafy.
Bikes zooming by.
Getting more confident with geting around.
Having had quite a few big breakfasts - today can 'do' the whole thing.
Yesterday saw the famed Egypian bust of Neferatiti and the massive restoration of the Neue museum. Then the Bode sculpture museum which is equally impressive.
Lunch by the river - packed from breakfast.
Tour in the bus and then on to the massive jewish museum.
All of Egypt and the jewish story in one day!!
Saw a chamber concert with players from the Berlin Philharmonic - the Berliners at night.
Lovely Brut champagne and little smoked salmon starters.
Actually not on Adelaide time anymore..................
Monday, June 13, 2011
Airport fatigue
In the Novotel lobby @ Berlin.
The computer likes to go into different languages...........
So far just getting over jet lag and airport fatigue.
Heading to dinner.
The computer likes to go into different languages...........
So far just getting over jet lag and airport fatigue.
Heading to dinner.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Email from Oprah!
Got your email.
Thank you for watching the finale. I could feel your beating hearts, along with mine, through the TV screen.
I'm off to take a little rest, and then I'll get busy working on OWN.
Take care of yourself.
I'll write soon,
Oprah
Thank you for watching the finale. I could feel your beating hearts, along with mine, through the TV screen.
I'm off to take a little rest, and then I'll get busy working on OWN.
Take care of yourself.
I'll write soon,
Oprah
Sense of Place
Computers are the most frustrating things.
Always have a back up plan.
i.e. files and info saved on a separate disc - in which case I should practice what I preach.
So am getting you back on my files.
The sense of place refers to a evening talk I attended recently at the State Library in Adelaide by Hugh McKay.
It is about discovering your own special sense of place - whether it is a suburb and particular park/beach in Melbourne or multiple places that you know mean a lot to you. Hugh related this to the aboriginal experience of having sacred places - in that this is a human condition, to have a spiritual connection to a place.
I know that will be different for everyone. But it is not exclusive to a culture. Urban people have this sense of place too. Even when the place changes into a car park or worse(!)
Hugh talks regularly on radio national and has a few books out - I had a natter with him after the talk and he said is next book is on 'What makes us tick', this is in the Australian context.
Thanks for listening.
Always have a back up plan.
i.e. files and info saved on a separate disc - in which case I should practice what I preach.
So am getting you back on my files.
The sense of place refers to a evening talk I attended recently at the State Library in Adelaide by Hugh McKay.
It is about discovering your own special sense of place - whether it is a suburb and particular park/beach in Melbourne or multiple places that you know mean a lot to you. Hugh related this to the aboriginal experience of having sacred places - in that this is a human condition, to have a spiritual connection to a place.
I know that will be different for everyone. But it is not exclusive to a culture. Urban people have this sense of place too. Even when the place changes into a car park or worse(!)
Hugh talks regularly on radio national and has a few books out - I had a natter with him after the talk and he said is next book is on 'What makes us tick', this is in the Australian context.
Thanks for listening.
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