Baltic cruise continued

Tuesday June 26 Tai chi with stunning views of Stockholm archipelago. Off the ship at 9 a.m. and bought a public transport pass and walked to get a bus and then underground to Gamla Stan. Nice walk through the old town past the Royal Palace and saw the guards band marching past. Walked round the opera house and then to the excellent Music museum where we got student rate. Lots of kids enjoying themselves. Great to be able to play the instruments and listen to recordings. Interesting sections on Jenny Lind and drums. Got the tram to Vasa museum. I saw the Vasa in 1964 and it was continually being sprayed. It is now in a fine new museum where we spent a long time looking round and had a nice long sandwich. Also able to use the internet for free. Got the tram and ferry back after checking Skansen. Nice meal upstairs The weather was OK with some showers and cleared for a lovely evening. Good show by singer from Britain Cheryl Sinclair rather like Shirley Bassey. String quartet and tired out.

Wednesday June 27. Tai chi. Got the bus and ferry to Skansen on a lovely day. Enjoyed the old houses and saw some animals – reindeer, grey seals, and lovely new children’s zoo. Got the hop on hop off boat back to the cruise ship for leaving at 1.30 p.m. After lunch line dance class in the Crows Nest with stunning views of the Stockholm islands then had a sleep and  Mass at 5 p.m.  Free drinks so had mango mojitos. Very nice dinner with a couple from USA and had a good chat (for the first time!) about interfaith. So many of the conversations are about travel, planes, healthcare, dogs….. Excellent violinist Hanna Starosta at the show. String quartet and bed but Liz did the washing.

Thursday June 28 Both to Mass at 8 a.m. and had a chat to Fr Tom and the couple the wife leads the singing – her version of Ode to Joy started too low again! Aqua aerobics with Tiemen – 5 of us and hot tub afterwards. He is excellent. 11 a.m. brunch for Mariners with champagne and sat with 2 Chinese couples one from Canada the other Michigan. Interesting to hear their views on China. Jive dance class. Things to do in Rotterdam presentation. Liz did 5km deck walk for cancer charity. Tai chi with Tiemen – we have now done the whole form. Formal dress for dinner and sat with Australian lady couples from Toronto and Galilee and an American. Quite shocked at the Israeli condemnation of conservative religious Jewish communities! Went under the very long bridge between Denmark and Sweden. Missed our dessert and coffee to get to the excellent show which included opera and the string quartet. Chocolate extravaganza – delicious.

Friday June 29 Peter and Paul 8 a.m. Mass. The mass books provided have a poor selection of hymns! Fr Tom said his farewells. 9 a.m. aqua aerobics with Tiemen – water was warmer. Yesterday was very smooth sea. Dance classes on tango and cha cha cha. Indonesian food for lunch by the pool. Memory seminar and Liz did back stage tour. Had a rest and Liz did a deck walk.  Tai chi. Nice meal string quartet and singer with band before show with Cheryl Sinclair and Hana Starowska.

Saturday June 30. Breakfast upstairs and arrival in Rotterdam. Walked over Erasmus bridge and took water tour round the enormous port. Lovely sunny day. Walked to Museum Boijmans van Breuningen where we got student rate. Rembrandts and moderns. Coffee there.