St. Petersburg, Russia The Church of Spilled Blood is a Cathedral that stands just off Nevsky Prospect, the main drag in St.PB. It is built upon the spot where Alexander II was assinated. The Cathedral is built in the the Russian Revival style which is unusual in Baroque and Neo-classical St.Petersburg. [View Full Entry]

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The Hermitage is why I came to StPB and I will concentrate on just that. Anything else will be gilding the Lily. Have now been to the Hermitage three times and have successfully covered the first floor. The East Asian section was closed on my third visit. It may be that more 'guards' are needed in high traffic areas today. There were hordes of people coming into the place via the front entrance this Saturday . I did not see how many people came into the group entrance but the cloak room for The Friends of the Hermitage was quite full. [View Full Entry]

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Arrived at the Viking Line Dock and with all the other passengers walked off and headed towards the tram. Luckily a woman who spoke english and was sitting close to where I was standing was also going to the train station. We walked together to a most impressive facade. The Staion inside is not overly large. The signs showing baggage storage are clear. Decide against giving it to the man and opt for a locker. That this was a wise choice will be understood later. Wandered down the main drag ...Mannerheiminte towards Pohjoisesplanadi. Turned left here and looked for the [View Full Entry]

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03:00 Ontario time 20:00 Ghana time 21:00 Stockholm time 22:00 Helsinki time I am at a level on this ferry that is surely below the waterline. I did notice the trailer trucks parked right outside the door in the hallway to my cabin -2077- At this moment my bunk is shuddering, vibrating and I can hear the engines working. Being on Level 2 , I am thinking there is only one number left on the way down the scale ... i.e. 1 ... that must be where the engines are. I am under the cars ... Level 3 has a C [View Full Entry]

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Not to be confused with Purple Rain ... but the feeling was similarly extatic! Getting up at 08:00 is about as early as is decent when one is traveling ... the Swiss princesses come in late so quietness has to be considered and also a time not so early as to disturb ... it always seems to take till around ten to get out and start the days exploration. 1. Go to neighbourhood postal outlet in Tobak store ... woman immensely helpful ... green fleece left for homeless person ... would have cost 350SEK to send ... that's $60 .... other [View Full Entry]

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All previously made plans for day five flew out the window! Ikea was the programme. Info at train station only in form of computer screen. Girls in Pocketbook store tell me where to find the human Tourist Information. It will be the job of that person to help me figure out how to get to Ikea by public transit. The Info is blocks away. The man there is very helpful and tells me about the free bus to Ikea from that certain spot which he xes on the map. I tell him that the Info place is a bit in an [View Full Entry]

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Still in Stockholm. Its the fourth full day. Museums do not open until 11:00 and some close by 15:00. The mission on day four was to visit the Kings Library, the City Library, and the Royal Apartments. The libraries were accomplished. The Royals will have to wait for another day. The Kings Library requires all packs and outdoor clothing too be left in lockers. See thru plastic bags are provided for those things you want to bring into the premises. I thought originally the bag was to protect your coat from the bottom of the locker. An exhibition of posters was [View Full Entry]

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A statue of Nils Ericson stands in front of the railroad station in Stockholm...from Widipekia, "Between 1830 and 1850 Nils Ericson planned and directed the construction of the canals at Stallbacka, Säffle, Karlstad and Albrektsund. He also led the construction of the Saima canal in Finland and the reconstruction of the canal at Trollhättan and the floodgate at Stockholm. After 1850 he was primarily occupied with the design and construction of the Swedish state owned railway system." Arrive at the station in the afternoon and go to Renstierna Hotel. Very easy to follow instructions. Fri [View Full Entry]

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Have had two sleeps in Oslo at the Perminalen Hostel. Liked it so much that I have booked myself in for January. Arrived at 06:25 by train from Bergen. Hostel open but room not accessible. Have coffee and eat the sandwich i had made on ship ... yesterday. Walked past fortifications to Pier 3 and paid the fare to go on a cruise around Oslo. Big deal cruise ... sailed , by motor, saw the fortifications I had just walked around, went past huge cruise ships and stopped at the Opera House. Good views of city from water perspective. I got [View Full Entry]

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Originally named Nidaros because it lay at the mouth of the Nid River,Trondheim is the 3rd largest city in Norway, established by the Viking King Olav in 997. He brought Christianity to Norway in 1024.. Apparently he was buried and on being exhumed after a certain number of years his body showed no signs of deterioration. He was canonized in 1164. The Nidaros Cathedral, built on his grave, was begun in 1070 and finished in 1150. It has suffered numerous fires and only a small part of the original building remain. The massive front facade depicting revered personages and saints is [View Full Entry]

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