What we learned and did in Stockholm We hope our Stockholm travel advice will help you make the most of any time you get in this friendly, clean city. We only had 3 days but made good use of our time without overdoing it. Although we did walk over 7 miles a day so bring comfortable shoes! Buy a Stockholm Pass Our first piece of advice is to buy a Stockholm … [Read more...]
The Charms of Holland
The Charms of Holland with City Discovery tours City Discovery and their Charms of Holland Tour gave us the perfect opportunity to experience a sampler of The Netherlands when we were visiting Amsterdam. Amsterdam is easy to navigate but getting out into the countryside on our own had a degree of difficulty that didn't appeal to us. A coach tour with a private guide was … [Read more...]
Our suggestions on how to spend a day in Bergen, Norway
How to spend a day in Bergen, Norway We spent a day in Bergen at the end of our Viking Homelands cruise with Viking Oceans. We had taken a short walking tour with Viking the previous day which gave us overview information and our bearings so we knew what we wanted to do with our full day. Bryggen When you see these colorful, iconic buildings along the harbor they may … [Read more...]
Tallinn, Estonia with Viking Ocean Cruises
Tallinn, Estonia - A UNESCO World Heritage site Tallinn, Estonia is probably one of the longest victims of bullying in world history. First it was the Danes and King Valdemar taking over in 1219. Next thing the Germans showed up and invaded, then it was back to being part of Sweden, then ceded to Russia and declared independent in the 19th century. But the Germans came back in … [Read more...]
Kizhi, Russia
A brief history of Kizhi, Russia Kizhi, Russia, on the shore of Lake Onega, has the Kizhi Pogost UNESCO World Heritage Site. The three buildings (2 churches and a bell tower) earned the distinction because of their architecture, how they bear tribute to the carpentry skills of Northern Russians and their harmony with their surroundings. This area of Russian is Keralia and … [Read more...]
The Summer Palace of Catherine the Great
The Summer Palace of Catherine the Great The shore excursion to the summer palace of Catherine the Great took us by surprise on day two of our Waterways of the Tsars cruise with Viking River. Maybe further along in the cruise, when we would have already experienced the opulence of Russia’s Tsars, we would have been more prepared for such a level of autocratic … [Read more...]
Planning for the Waterways of the Tsars cruise with Viking River
Preparing for Waterways of the Tsars with Viking River Cruises If you're going on Waterways of the Tsars with Viking River there's a good chance that it will be a wonderful once in a lifetime trip. Russia isn't easy to visit the way so many countries in Europe are. We would never have tried to navigate Russia on our own. Viking River has had a longstanding … [Read more...]
The Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg with Viking River
The Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg The Faberge Museum in St. Petersburg is its own meticulously created gem. Located in a small 18th century palace (if there is such a thing) and only in existence since 2013 it has smaller crowds and better access to the exhibits than larger museums. The museum is a project of The Link of Times Foundation which is primarily funded by … [Read more...]
Top Reykjavik Restaurants and their different paths to success
Top Reykjavik Restaurants Blonde visited Iceland on a mission to enjoy the top Reykjavik restaurants and learn their paths to success in the city's competitive (but friendly) culinary scene. People are often surprised to learn that Reykjavik is such a foodie paradise but it is. It isn't inexpensive (that comment applies to the whole country) but then high quality food in … [Read more...]
How to plan for a Viking River Cruise
How to plan for a Viking River Cruise (Hint: It's very easy) After you have selected and booked your itinerary you may wonder how to best plan for a Viking River Cruise. Fear not! Although we hear that ocean cruise lines have ways for you to book shore excursions ahead of your cruise as far as we know only Viking River Cruises has this feature available for river cruises. … [Read more...]