Helsinki Finland

3 MORE DAYS!

It's coming up quick.  I figure I better hurry and finish my research. 

The next stop on our cruise is Helsinki, Finland.

We opted for another city drive tour.  This tour travels along the shoreline for views of Suomenlinna Fortress (known as the Gibraltar of the North)  They started construction on this maritime fortress and base in the mid-18th century.  Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Finland's most popular tourist attractions.  It is built over 8 different islands.

We will also travel by the Market Place, the presidential palace and Mannerheim Street (the city's longest avenue).  Mannerheim street will take us past the Olympic Stadium, Opera House, Finlandia Hall, National Museum, Parliament and Kiasma (museum)

Our first stop on the this tour is at Senate Square.  This square consists of 4 main buildings and was build in the early 19th century.  Helsinki Cathedral, Government Palace, University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland.

Senate Square 

Helsinki Cathedral

Helsinki Cathedral was originally built as a tribute to the Grand Duke, Nicholas I, the Tsar of Russia.  It was build in 1830

The next stop is the spectacular Temppeliaukio Church, also know as the Church in the Rock.  This church is built inside of a massive block of natural granite in the middle of an ordinary residential square.  This church is ofter used as a concert venue due to its excellent acoustics.

Temppeliaukio Church

The next stop on the tour is the Sibelius Monument and park.  This monument was dedicated to the famed Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. It consists of series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern.  The purpose of the artist was to capture the essence of the music of Sibelius. 

Sibelius Monument

Sibelius Park

Our final stop is the Market Square.  Rows and rows of tents and stalls selling fur clothing, jewelry, food and souvenirs and more.  We actually get to spend some time shopping in this market.  Yeah!

St. Petersburg, Russia

Only 6 more Days!!

Today I started researching our stay in St. Petersburg, Russia.  We will actually be staying in this port for 2 days.  We have planned 2 excursions and I can't wait.

We are trying to see a variety of things during these two days.  We picked one tour that is a city drive that goes to Peter & Paul Fortress, Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood, St. Isaac's Cathedral and the Hermitage Museum.  The other tour goes to the Catherine Palace and then to Peterhof Palace.  I've been reading up a bit on Catherine the great and the history of Russia.  I really didn't know much before.  I'm really looking forward to these 2 days now.

Here a few pictures of Catherine Palace.  It was built in 1717 and it has been added to several times over the years.

I'm actually anxious to check out Peterhof Palace gardens.  From what I've seen and read online they look amazing.  I've always enjoyed looking at fountains and these gardens appear to have several.

Here are a few pictures from Peterhof Palace/Gardens

Here are some pictures of the other highlights of the tours

St. Isaac's Cathedral

 

Aerial view of Peter and Paul Fortess - established by Peter the Great

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood

I'm looking forward to the Hermitage Museum visit.  I've never been to a "real" museum that big before.  It is one of the largest and oldest museums in the world. Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great.

Winter Palace

The Hermitage Museum Complex and Winter Palace

Tallinn, Estonia

9 More Days!!

Continuing on with my cruise shore excursion...
Next is Tallinn, Estonia.

For this tour we are going to go on a narrated drive and walking tour.  We will drive along the seashore, passing Pirita.  Pirita is where they built a marina for the 1980 Olympic Regatta.  It is a popular spot for Regattas.

Next we will go by the ruins of St. Bridget's Convent.  A historic site dating back to the 15th Century.  The area still has the old city's medival walls, gates and watchtowers.

Next we will head to Toompea, which is also referred to as "Upper Town". 

"Upper Town"

Toompea Palace

Toompea Castle

Our next stop is a historic Russian Orthodox Cathedral.  Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.  This cathedral serves as a living relic of the Russian Empire according to the brochure.

Next is the Gothic St. mary's Cathedral.  They refer to it as the "Dome Church".  This church is the city's oldest church and an architectural landmark.  It has served as a burial site for the nobility since the 15th century.  Inside there are elaborate medieval tombs and more than 60 medieval coats of arms.



Hawaiian Dance Recital 2011

We went to Zoe's Hawaiian dance recital tonight.  She did really well.

I tried to upload a few of her dances here, but the video was too long and took forever.  Maybe I'll try again later.

Ok was able to upload her Tahitian dance.  Still working on figuring the others out

Pate Matai

 

Flood Area

12 DAYS!

We took a drive up to check out my parent's property this afternoon.  It's up near SouthFork and is getting hit hard right now with the runoff. 

All the work my dad put into the road and leveling off the ground has been for nothing.  The runoff from the stream has plowed through and made a mess of everything.

Here are a few shots of the runoff river.  Usually it's barely a trickle by now.

My mom planted several daffodil bulbs last fall.  The water has washed alot of them away but they are still popping up all over.  Just not quite where she planted them.

We were over checking out the neighbor's lot and found a whole nest of baby rock chucks.  They were so cute. 

They would hide whenever they heard a noise

We stopped on the way back by the major flood damage for a few pictures

I still can't believe how much snow is in the ski area.



2nd Annual Scavenger Hunt

14 DAYS!

A date has finally been set for the 2nd Annual Photo Scavenger Hunt.

Sat.  June 25th

More details to follow.  For now we just wanted to make everyone aware of the date.  So mark it on your calendars.  Last year was a lot of fun.  I did check with last years winning team.  They are planning to team up again to defend their title.

We are planning to run things similar to last year with a few new rules.  Not many rules but the main ones will be as follows:

1.  Teams may consist of 2-4 people

(no small children please)

2. Only one picture allowed per location.

3. Each team needs to arrange for their own digital camera

We had a lot of fun last year and hope to make it even better this year.

Let me know if anyone has questions.  I will try to get more details and invites out next month.



Berlin (Warnemunde), Germany

15 Days and Counting!!!

I might as well continue on with my shore excursions.  It's been kind of fun to research them.  Today I am looking into our shore trip to Berlin, Germany. 

We selected a city drive again.  This one will stop at Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin Wall East Gallery/Allied Museum and the WWII Memorial. It will also go by the Gendarmenmarkt and Bebelplatz.  I have actually heard of a few of these stops so that's encouraging.  Maybe I did learn something in school.

This tour is going to begin with a 3 hour narrated train ride through the counryside to East Berlin.  I haven't been on a train for years.  It might be fun. 

Our first stop once we reach Berlin is the East Side Gallery.  The East Side Gallery is one of the few surviving pieces of the actual Berlin Wall.  It contains approx. 100 paintings by artist from all over the world. 

A few shots of the wall artwork 

The next stop on the tour is Checkpoint Charlie.  This was the best known Berlin Wall crossing point between east and west Berlin during the Cold War. 

After the reunification of Germany the building at Checkpoint Charlie became a tourist attraction.

 

The next stop on the tour is the Gendarmenmarket.  A 17th century square that is the site of twin French and German cathedrals and the Schauspielhaus Concert Hall.

 

Gendarmenmarket

Schauspielhaus Concert Hall

French Cathedral 

German Cathedral

From there we continue on to pass Unter Linden.  "A tree-lined, east-west thoroughfare through the city of Berlin"  During the mid-1600's in order to spruce up the route from his castle home to the Hunting grounds, it is said that Duke Friedrich Wilhelm ordered the planting of long rows of Lindon trees.  The trees served to keep the route more shady and comfortable for his travels.

We will pass by such sights as the State Library, Alexanderplatz, town square and Humboldt University.

Humboldt University

Humboldt University is Berlin's oldest university.  It was founded in 1810

Berlin State Library

Berlin State Library 

Berlin State Library

 

After a lunch break we will continue on to our next stop.  The Brandenburg Gate.  The only remaining city gate of Berlin.

 

Next stop is the Reichstag.  Originally constructed to house the parliament, it is now one of the city's major landmarks.

 

Next stop is the old Jewish Quarter.  We will drive by the Victory Column.  It is a landmark that celebreates the military successes of Prussia over Nemark. 

 

We will also pass the Bellevue Palace which is the official residence of the President of Germany

 

We will then a shopping break at Kurfurstendamm.  Germany's most famous shopping boulevard.

 

After the shopping break we will continue the tour by passing the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, an anti-war memorial to peace and reconciliation.

 

The last stop on the tour is the Allied museum.  A museum commemorating the US British and French presence in Berlin from 1945 to 1994, tracing the history of the Cold War Berlin.  This is where the original Checkpoint Charlie Guardhouse, A Berlin Wall watchtower, a plane from the Berlin Airlift and an American spy tunnel and displayed.

Allied Museum

 

Checkpoint Charlie museum

Berlin Airlift

After this last stop we will return to the train station passing the Charlottenburg Palace - the largest palace in Berlin.