Baltic Region

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#9999FF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03876ba3.gif"> <div> A Fantastic Voyage ~</div> <div> <IMG SRC="63364830.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="131" ALT="Church of Spilled Blood, St. Petersburg" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Copyright (c) <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Brush Script MT" >EL Travel Bugs</FONT></div> <div> <B>Tour Europe's northern capitals ~ starting with Copenhagen, and then cruising through the Baltic Sea to Russia, and hitting land in Stockholm.</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976bc1egdyqn.gif"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#CC0000" FACE="Brush Script MT" ><B>EL Travel Bugs ~ Travel Tales & Photos</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#660066" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><B> |   </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EL Travel Bugs Travel Tales Photos"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A><B>   </B><A HREF="id6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us"><U><IMG SRC="6b41e1e0.gif" border=0 width="30" height="30" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Canary Islands"><U><B>Canary Islands</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Belize"><U><B>Belize</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id56.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Pacific"><U><B>South Pacific</B></U></A><B>   |   </B><B>Baltic Region</B><B>   |   </B><A HREF="id68.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="South Africa"><U><B>South Africa</B></U></A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=390 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#99CCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03976ba3.gif"> <div> <B>Baltic Region</B></div> <div> <B>Bon Voyage</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>, and off we sailed again - this time to the Baltic</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>Region. </B></FONT><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6600FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>EL Travel Bugs took another adventure on water with</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>the main goal </B><B>to visit St. Petersburg, Russia, for their 300th</B></div> <div> <B>anniversary.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Once again, we selected the Radisson Cruise Line ---> </B></div> <div> <B>The weather was perfect, the food was abundant, and the</B></div> <div> <B>entertainment was beyond words...</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>and yet, best of all, </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>this travel adventure exceeded our expectations.</B></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Copenhagen, Denmark</div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="464" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 145 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="607648b0.jpg" border=0 width="100" height="139" ALT="Denmark" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="178"><div> <B>Known as the gateway to Scandinavia ~</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Denmark was a great city to start our  adventure. </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC0099" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>< We attempted this pose but our toes couldn't hold the weight</B><B>.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="60b96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT="Copenhagen canal" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>Shopping was our pleasure, and we spent lots of time at the Stroget,</B></div> <div> <B>Europe's greatest pedestrian mall, yummy!  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>The endless canals</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>routes that wander through the city, gave us much to explore</B></div> <div> <B>(preferrably by boat!)</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="499" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 123 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="60f96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT="Copenhagen waterway" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="151"><div> <B>However, their biggest attraction is </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#663399" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>Tivoli Gardens</B></FONT><B>,</B><B> the world's oldest amusement park (160 years).</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="611966a0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="106" ALT="Entrance to Tivoli Gardens" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="494" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 127 WIDTH="122"><div> <B>The park is on 20 acres and is a wonderland, lighting up at night with 110,000 colorful lanterns.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#6633CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" > </FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="61496710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT="Tivoli Gardens" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="84"><div> <B>Marching bands, thrilling rides, and eateries at every corner.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="61669780.jpg" border=0 width="105" height="120" ALT="Colorful aspects in the Gardens" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="496" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 142 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="64896880.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="136" ALT="Cruise ship on-deck pool" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="171"><div> <B>After our brief visit to Denmark, we boarded our cruise ship to start our Baltic journey.  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#663300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>Although we were on a cruise, the ports of call outweighed the onbroad activities.</B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="64a96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT=""Where's everyone?"" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Visby, Gotland</div> <div> <B>Over 800 years ago, this island in the Baltic was the starting point</B></div> <div> <B>for most Viking expeditions to the New World.</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="489" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 151 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="619965c0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="92" ALT="Visby" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>No Viking vessels here</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="156"><div> <B>Today...Visby is an excellent example of a fortified medieval commercial city, protected as a World Heritage site, with more than 90 churches built in the Middle Ages, most still in use.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="61b96890.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="137" ALT="Ancient city walls" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="481" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 172 WIDTH="155"><div> <B><IMG SRC="61d96710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT="Visby" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Part of the city wall built in 13th century</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="155"><div> <IMG SRC="61f96670.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="103" ALT="Stone Sheep in the Handicraft marketplace" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Play time on stone sheep, ouch!</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="6217d960.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="150" ALT="One of the many Medieval Churches" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Where's the roof?</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Tallinn, Estonia</div> <div> <B>With Finnish and Hungarian ancestry, many battles raged over</B></div> <div> <B>who ruled this small country ~ only to end in 1991 when Estonia</B></div> <div> <B>declared its own independence.  "That must have been exhausting!"</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="478" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 127 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="62396710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT="Upper Tallinn" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="152"><div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC33CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>Many structures are being restored in Tallinn's "old" city </B></FONT><B>(13th century)</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC33CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>, which sits overlooking the lower more modern "newer" center</B></FONT><B> </B><B>(14th century)</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC33CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>.</B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="62596710.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="113" ALT="13th Century wall that surrounds the Upper City" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="432" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 138 WIDTH="219"><div> <B>Amongst Estonia's medieval appeal, is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, one of the most visited attractions, which appears out of place with all its colorful pastels. </B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="627b0840.jpg" border=0 width="176" height="132" ALT="Alexander Nevsky Cathedral" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> St. Petersburg, Russia</div> <div> <B>Visiting this beautiful city was the highlight of our cruise.  At port</B></div> <div> <B>for 3 days, it was not enough time to see the ongoing list of famous</B></div> <div> <B>landmarks, palaces, statues, shops and vodka distilleries.  </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006633" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>For</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>their 300th anniversary, buildings had been freshly painted,</B></div> <div> <B>streets scrubbed clean </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006633" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(though full of pothole obstacles to keep us on</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>our toes)</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006633" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> for the lines of tourists and an abundance of handicraft</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>vendors filled the plazas with plenty of goodies to buy. </B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="460" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 162 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="64059960.jpg" border=0 width="89" height="150" ALT="St. Petersburg, Russia" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B>></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#666600" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="646967e0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="126" ALT="The Hermitage Museum" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <div> <B>One of many wraparound</B></div> <div> <B>lines we endured</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="64ca06e0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="110" ALT="Russian marketplace" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>" Humm, what do I want?"</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="497" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 130 WIDTH="152"><div> <B>There were plenty of palaces, fortresses  and museums to tour...</B></div> <div> <B>many constructed by Peter, the Great</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(who should been called 'Peter, the Ambitious Builder') </B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="64ea07c0.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="124" ALT="Peter, the Great" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="650a0620.jpg" border=0 width="160" height="98" ALT="Peter and Paul Fortress" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The Peter & Paul Fortress</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="493" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 108 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="652965e0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="94" ALT="Peterhof" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="166"><div> <B>One of the most opulent palaces is Peterhof, the summer home for Czar Peter, built to rival Versailles. </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(The amount of painted gold is blinding.)</B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="65496660.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="102" ALT="The Great Cascade with golden statues at Peterhof" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="505" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 156 WIDTH="166"><div> <B>His Winter Palace and Hermitage Museum houses the world's finest art collection.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#990080" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(With over 2.7 million works of art, it would take 7 years to spend one minute gazing at each one.)</B></FONT></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="65aa57a0.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="122" ALT="Palace Square with the Alexander Pillar commemorating Russian victory over Napoleon" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Now, that's a throne! ></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="6586d960.jpg" border=0 width="109" height="150" ALT="Peter, the Great's royal throne" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="457" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 156 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="65ca5740.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="116" ALT="St. Isaac's Cathedral" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>St. Isaac's Cathedral</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="154"><div> <B>St. Petersburg's most famous church, St. Isaac's Cathedral, is the world's largest domes structure. </B></div> <div> <B>(Contains over 14 types of minerals and semiprecious stones.)</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="65e62960.jpg" border=0 width="98" height="150" ALT="St. Isaac's Cathedral" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="475" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 196 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="66283960.jpg" border=0 width="131" height="150" ALT="aka Church of Spilled Blood" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>Church of the Resurrection</B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="131"><div> <B>In between standing in the endless lines for these palaces and churches, we made time for the All-American favorite... </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC3333" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>shopping</B></FONT><B>.</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC3300" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="66c7d5d0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="93" ALT="Russian delights" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <IMG SRC="66a7d5e0.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="94" ALT="Trying a taste of pure Russian vodkas" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>S</B><B>hopping is an important part of a visit to St. Petersburg, as the</B></div> <div> <B>vendors are eager in their sales.  The best bargain is the caviar</B></div> <div> <B>bought from a street vendor out of a suitcase. </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC00CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>(US Customs is very</B></FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC00CC" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>strict about how much can be brought home!) </B></FONT><B> </B><B>Russian vodka tasted</B></div> <div> <B>outstanding; they obviously keep the best for themselves and</B></div> <div> <B>export the bottom of the barrel.</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Helsinki, Finland</div> <div> <B>Our biggest surprise on our trip besides the many fascinations</B></div> <div> <B>within St. Petersburg, was the city of Helsinski.  </B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="474" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 165 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="66e66960.jpg" border=0 width="102" height="150" ALT="Cathedral of Helsinski" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="189"><div> <B>This 400-year old port city was full of sights to see from elegant churches to abundant marketplaces.</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="6707d590.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="89" ALT="Market Square in Helsinski" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="159"><div> <IMG SRC="67296780.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="120" ALT="Fresh fruit market in Helsinski" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>Fresh produce included strawberries and currants.</B></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="476" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 118 WIDTH="142"><div> <B>We found the Finns proud of their country and the food outstanding.  Our visit was short but it whet our appetites to more of the country.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="67a96620.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="98" ALT="Helsinski" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="674965f0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="95" ALT="Finland from Sea" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="464" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 111 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68296690.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="105" ALT="Enjoying our stateroom" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="153"><div> <B>Shipboard again...</B></div> <div> <B>heading for our last port of call.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68096630.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="99" ALT="Lsat night on the Cruise" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Stockholm, Sweden</div> <div> <B>Called "the city that floats on water", Stockholm is part of a</B></div> <div> <B>24,000-island archipelago, which our cruise ship spent over four</B></div> <div> <B>hours making its way through these islands to the Stockholm port.</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="481" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 105 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68496520.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="82" ALT="Sweden's archipelago" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68696600.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="96" ALT="Approaching Stockholm" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68896550.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="85" ALT="The Grand Hotel" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>The Grand Hotel</B></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="475" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 124 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68a8f5d0.jpg" border=0 width="143" height="93" ALT="Drottningholm Palace Guards" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="151"><div> <B>The changing of the guards at Drottningholm Palace is an impressive display.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So were the meals -></B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="68c96760.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="118" ALT="Enjoying one of many great meals" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="476" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 116 WIDTH="148"><div> <B>A great way to see the city is by the water taxis, which ferries frequently through the many islands that make up Stockholm.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="691966c0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="108" ALT="Water taxi in Stockholm" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="69296670.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="103" ALT="Stockholm Harbor" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="475" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 136 ><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="69496800.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="128" ALT="Shopping in Stockholm" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER WIDTH="148"><div> <B>Of course, our visit would not have been complete if we missed their famous Orrefors crystal.</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="69696790.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="121" ALT="Parting sight in Stockholm" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> <B>As we watched this hot balloon float above the city on our</B></div> <div> <B>last evening, we dreamed of our next travel destination...</B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="320" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER HEIGHT= 157 WIDTH="154"><div> <B>"</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#990000" FACE="Comic Sans MS" ><B>That's looks like an interesting choice."</B></FONT></div> <div> <B>We hope to see you there!</B></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=CENTER><NOBR><div> <B><IMG SRC="69871960.jpg" border=0 width="113" height="150" ALT="Choosing our next travel adventure" 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