Travel: Cruise Northern Europe part 6

Tuesday, 14 May
We arrive in Tallinn slightly earlier than expected so by 9 am we're alreading walking towards the centre of town. Tallinn is tiny yet very beautiful. I visited Riga once and I must say that there's quite a difference, especially in the people. They seem much more friendly in Tallinn. 

The weather is just amazing. Again 20 degrees and sunny without a cloud in the sky. 

We basically just walk every street, see every church of town. And we're impressed. We have a prosecco at the town square, then do some shopping (I find some gorgeous cat earrings…for me, not my cats) and then have the best panini I ever tasted in a brand new bistro run by an Italian couple. 

Then some more shopping, including an old apothecary that now houses antique shops, where find something a friend of mine asked for. And they have some strange wartime stuff...including a Hitler mantlepiece clock. Eh?

We round off our trip with a glass of wine in the Irish pub. Then head back towards the Magnifica and there are loads of gift stalls in front of the terminal. I find a beautiful green corsage brooch. 

The cruise ship next to us (P&O) wave us goodbye by playing Strauss' Radetzky March and everyone clapping in tune. Really lovely!

Then it's time to get ready for our second gala evening. We get a show about Dracula with Queen and INXS songs...mmyes. And two amazing acrobatic acts. 

Dinner was shrimp, salad, pumpkin soup and steak with roasted mushrooms and gratin, and dark chocolate parfait. 

The waiter from Bali draws me a lovely image on a small piece of paper (now hanging in the kitchen). 

Tomorrow st Petersburg. Our day trip starts at 7.30 am...and clocks go forward again. Sigh.

Travel: Cruise Northern Europe - pictures

You can now find a 'small' selection of my travel pics here.

Enjoy!

Travel: cruise Northern Europe part 5

Monday, 13 May
Today we arrive in Stockholm right on time (9am) so we got up earlier to be ready to disembark. 

It's about 2,6 km to town from the cruise terminal and the walk already gives us a great panoramic view of the city. The weather is very lovely: sunny and warm. 

We first visit the old city centre, Gamla Stan with its Palace, Noble museum, cathedral, churches, ... Then head towards the newer part of town where we walk through the parc, do some shopping, have a latte,...

Then onwards to the city hall and back towards the old town where we browse the shopping streets. I buy some souvenirs (an iPhone cover with a moose ;-) and an owl thermometer). We have some pastry and coffee and then walk back all along the water to arrive back in time (4pm).  

After a Cuba libre we go to our cabin to enjoy the beautiful scenery when we glide out of Stockholm into the fjord. We planned to catch the musical show but since it was such lovely weather and the scenery was so stunning, we gave it a miss and enjoyed the view from our balcony. 

Dinner was delicious again: a mixed salad, macaroni with a great sauce, salmon in a potato crust with asparagus mousse and clafoutis. 

Since the time changed that night (one hour forward), we gave it an early night.

Travel: Cruise Northern Europe part 4

Sunday, 12 May
It's a very sunny morning as we cross the Danish and Swedish coast. After breakfast, we take a stroll around the deck and then go to l'Ametista bar for a quiet read...followed by some cocktails. I have an appointment at 1 pm for a 45 min. Balinese massage....and it's just so relaxing. I'll definitely go and find one at home. She massages every part of my body up until each finger and each toe. She also advises some skincare products which I buy with 20% reduction.

Feeling rejuvenated, we have our lunch at the buffet restaurant and then read some more...to be honest, 2 sea days in a row is a bit much but we make the most of it by catching up on lots of reading matter. 

We have some cava and then in the evening, there's a concert with music by Verdi and Puccini, followed by dinner. I'm having the melon and prosciutto, salad with citrus fruit, risotto with mozzarella and a banana/coconut tart. 

Ending the day with some more wine in our cabin, we are ready for our arrival in Stockholm early next morning. 

Travel: Cruise Northern Europe Part 3

Saturday, 11 May
We wake up to a very misty sight. The decks are full of water because of the bad weather conditions. It's the first of our 2 consecutive sea days where we'll be passing Denmark. 

After breakfast we raid the liquor shop and get a great bargain there when buying cognac. 

After some quiet time reading, we have lunch (penne with basilicum tomato sauce) and then I head towards the spa. I prebooked a Balinese massage, a facial and also have unlimited access to the sauna/hammam/whirlpool. 

And man, it's just heaven to sit on your whirlpool watching the sea pass by. They also make the best fresh smoothies. 

After that, it was time to get ready for the gala dinner. Tonight we'd get a special captain's night with show. Gala attire required. My boyfriend gets into his best suit and I wear my Manoukian charleston dress. We first get a few glasses of cava and then a really lovely show with music and acrobatics. 

Then it's time for dinner again and I have the salmon, a Greek salad, beef with mushrooms and pana cotta with berries. 

We take along a bottle of wine to drink in the cabin. Ready for another (stormy?) night. Oh, before we go to the cabin, I buy a gorgeous Swarovski necklace and get 33% discount!!

Travel: Cruise Northern Europe part 2

Friday, 10 May
We arrive in Hamburg at 10.30 am and the weather is gorgeous. It a huge party there to celebrate the anniversary of the port, with food and drink stalls everywhere, many boats, fairground attractions,...

We disembark swiftly and start our stroll around town, passing st Pauli, going into the Elbe tunnel, heading towards city hall, Alster lake, doing some shopping (I buy some clothes at H&M), having wine and apple strudel, and then towards speicherstadt and surroundings. 

Despite some clouds, the weather is quite sunny. We head back towards the harbour where I have some poffertjes and buy 2 lovely owl scarfs. 

We embark again at 6.45 pm after our explorations and are just in time for our compulsory safety drill, including a lot of hilarity.

We have our dinner at the buffet restaurant while we float through the harbour, our ship 'singing' happy birthday to the city. The view is amazing and the whole exit just magical with all the people cheering towards us and the whole city alight. 

We have a final cocktail in the bar before going to bed. It'll be a stormy night, apparently the ship has rocked like crazy but I slept like a baby. ;-)

T-shirt & short sleeved cardigan (H&M)



owl scarfs (market)

Travel: Cruise Northern Europe part 1

Thursday, 9 May
We are picked up by our cab 20 min. early and arrive in Antwerp 2 hours early but when we drive towards our port of embarkation, our driver gets totally lost in the Dutch countryside. We arrive at our ship 20 min before embarkation and I'm nauseous cause of nerves. 

We are ushered into the ship with hardly any safety measurements. 

We get our cruise card and find our cabin, with a great balcony. 

At 3pm sharp, the Magnifica starts its journey from Amsterdam and we begin exploring the ship. Afterwards, we have our first cocktails and then get ready for dinner. I take the salmon, followed by a wiener schnitzel and a duo of chocolate parfait. 

We have another cocktail and then go to bed after a very nerve wrecking day. 

(a link with a selection of pictures will follow later on)

Travel: Cruising away

Tomorrow, we're off on our holiday cruise towards North Europe.

If all goes right, you'll be able to read my travel journal here.

See ya later! :-)

Beauty : Jason Pure Natural Super-C toner

I've been trying out a few products out of Jason's range and the latest product I tested is the toner with vitamin C.

Shopping: new stuff

Bought a new black dress (you can never have enough black dresses cause they are ideal for every occasion). Next to that, I realised I never showed off my Bowie tote bag from the V&A exhibit. They were sold out at the time, much to my dismay, but I ordered one online...And I love it!