Trip Overview with West & Williams Things to Do

Note: Items in red are strong possibilities, definite, or booked.

Stockholm

Free time: (Sunday the 4th): evening after arriving. (Monday) until Tauck starts at 6pm; (Tuesday) after Tauck morning tour (~noon on)

Tauck Day 0 (Sunday the 5th): WE ARRIVE. HURRAY! Dave and Kay arrive at 12:30. Ken and Sheryl arrive about 2:30 PM

Tauck Day 1 (Monday). National Day. Our begins at 6:00 PM at Radisson Blu Waterfront or Hilton Slussen. Upon arrival of your flight, a transfer is included from the Arlanda Airport to the Radisson Blu Waterfront or Hilton Stockholm Slussen in the heart of Stockholm. Meet your fellow travel companions at tonight's exclusive welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the , the centerpiece of which is the world’s only preserved 17th-century warship, the Vasa, salvaged in 1961 after more than 300 years on the bottom of Stockholm Harbor!

Tauck Day 2 (Tuesday). Discovering Stockholm, Sweden's capital Sightseeing in Stockholm today includes a look at the city's intriguing islands – Sweden’s capital sits astride 14 of them – on a cruise along its historic canals; and a guided tour of its iconic City Hall, where the annual Nobel Prize award festivities take place – including the Council Chamber, the Gold Room, and the misnamed Blue Room (the architect changed his mind and left its beautiful red-brick walls intact). The rest of the day is yours to explore more of Stockholm as you wish.

Tauck Day 3 (Weds): Currently the primary residence of Sweden’s royal family, impressive Drottningholm Palace has witnessed much history and many changes over the past 400 years, which you’ll see on this morning’s guided visit. Then join our local guide for a walking tour along the cobbled streets of Stockholm's medieval Gamla Stan, or Old Town, revealing centuries of Swedish history and culture, before boarding your stylish small ship to launch one of Tauck's popular Baltic Sea and Russia cruises -

Select from these on our own.

◦ TripAdvisory Tour Ratings page: CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Walking Tour: Check out Stockholm Our Way #7. ◦ Private tour for the four of us with Stockholm Guide & Cruise Service (see CLICK FOR LINK). Ken and Sheryl’s contact, Marco Giertz MICE Operations. Since Tauck is doing much of the Old Town, ask contact what she’d recommend ◦ On of the Canal Tours: #14 or #17 (see CLICK FOR LINK) ◦ Stockholm Bridges Cruise. 2 hrs around Stockholm central bridges and islands. Departs Stomkajen every hour. Audio guide. Inside and outside seating. CLICK FOR LINK Hop-on Hop-Off Boat (Dave has booked) #27 9 stops around Stockholm: Nybroplan (start), Vasa Museum, Skeppsholmen, Djurgården, Cruise Berth, Fotografiska, Old Town, Royal Palace, Nybroplan (end). Board at any stop. Audio commentary. Runs 9:30 to 5:30 pm. 1 hr for complete loop. 24 hr ticket. ~$22 US. (CLICK FOR LINK) ◦ Millennium Tour (arrange privately): Book a private tour with Ann-Chatin Hedstrom. 2900-3500 SEK. See my notes ◦ Food: Stockholm--Bistro Godot--a great French bistro just a few blocks from the hotel (beautiful indoor lighting!) ◦ Absolut ice bar for some fun (from the Rick Steves TV show) ◦ Dave has some restaurants bookmarked in his Yelp app.

Helsinki

Tauck Day 4 (Thursday): Following your ship's arrival in seaside Helsinki, Finland, a sightseeing excursion shows you Helsinki Cathedral, Market Square, and the Sibelius Monument dedicated to the great Finnish composer. Visit the Temppeliaukio Church, or Church of the Rock, a modern design hewn out of solid granite. Drive by Finlandia Hall, designed by famed Finnish architect Alvar Aalto, en route back to the ship, which sets sail for Russia late this afternoon; join us for the captain's welcome reception and dinner tonight.

◦ Looks like a busy day in Helsinki, not much time to do our own thing. ◦ Food Suggestions: Helsinki--Ai--I think that's the name: it's nouveau Finnish food, and the restaurant has a lovely garden where we sat ◦ Some tips from watching the Rick Steves TV show on Helsinki: • Cafe Cabelli? • Market for lunch • Fortress on the island • 90 min boat cruise • Sibelius park

St. Petersburg

Tauck Day 5 (Friday, June 10th): Your journey aboard your Tauck small ship to the Baltics and Russia cruises to the glorious city of St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, where the ship docks for two nights. Join us for a city tour including 18th- century Peter and Paul Fortress and the golden-spired Cathedral – final resting place of the czars of the Romanov Dynasty, including the city's founder Peter the Great – and a visit to the Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood. Return to the ship for an early pre- theatre dinner onboard, which precedes a memorable night of cultural entertainment at Yusupov Palace in St. Petersburg featuring a tour, champagne, opera and Russian ballet!

Tauck Day 6 (Saturday, 11th): After a stop at the Victory Monument honoring the WWII defenders of Leningrad, tour Catherine Palace in Pushkin (Tsarkoye Selo), the Rococo summer residence of the Romanovs – you'll immediately notice the ornate blue-and- white ornamental façade; lavish interiors feature gilded wall carvings and intricate ceiling murals, and opulent touches including silk wallpaper, crystal chandeliers and marble chimneys. Enjoy traditional Russian cultural entertainment at lunch in a local restaurant today; have dinner aboard ship.

Tauck Day 7 (Sunday 12th): Today, take a memorable, privately guided tour of The State Hermitage Museum – set within Catherine the Great's Winter Palace and housing one of the largest collections of art and artifacts in the world – at the best time to avoid the crowds. Displays reflect the development of art and culture through the ages and include prehistoric cultures, classical antiquities, Western European art, and golden treasures. After lunch at a local restaurant, spend the afternoon as you wish in St. Petersburg; shuttles are available throughout the afternoon to return you to the ship.

◦ June 12th, 7 pm. Andrea State Russian Orchestra, Dmitry Khokhlov, conductor. Shostakovich Philharmonia Grand Hall. Tickets 100 - 600 RUB. CLICK FOR LINK ◦ June 12th. Mariinsky Theatre. Various events including The Barber of Seville at 7 pm, Late night concert at 10 pm with Valery Gergiev (internationally known) conducting the Mariinsky Orchestra and a violin and piano soloist. CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Ballet Experience/Tour of the Alexandrinsky Theatre. Includes performance as well as backstage tour. See CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Free time to do our own thing this afternoon and evening (verify with Tauck)

Tallinn

Tauck Day 8 (Monday): Your ship arrives in the walled city of Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities. Drive through Tallinn’s suburbs, and join your local guide to stroll through narrow cobblestone streets and the main Market Square of Old Town; admire the 13th-century Toompea Castle, Estonia's traditional seat of power. After lunch aboard ship, you'll have time to return to town and wander as you wish; Tauck's shuttle is available to take you from the city to the ship. Your voyage to the Baltics and Russia cruises on to Denmark; please join us for the Captain's farewell dinner on board this evening.

◦ Free time to do our own thing this afternoon ◦ Firstly the harbor - CLICK FOR LINK- the port schedule indicates 5 cruise ships in port on the 13th including L’Austral of course. Interestingly it is scheduled back in port on the 17th so it must be a quick turnaround in Copenhagen. The maritime museum is close to where we berth and is a possibility – it gets good visitor feedback - http://lennusadam.eu/en/the-museum/

◦ Both the Kumu Art Museum and the Kadriorg Palace and Museum look very interesting for us in the afternoon of our visit but unfortunately they appear to be closed on Mondays!! I could not find any suitable music or arts events in the time we have available. I will keep searching but the links below will give you a flavour of Tallinn.

◦ http://www.visitestonia.com/en/why-estonia/introduction-to-estonian-cuisine ◦ http://www.visitestonia.com/en/where-to-go/tallinn/kadriorg(refer link below also - closed Mondays I think) ◦ http://kadriorumuuseum.ekm.ee/en/syndmus/love-motifs-in-art-in-the-16the2889220th- centuries/ ◦ https://www.visitestonia.com/en/kumu-art-museum(also closed Mondays I think!) ◦ https://www.visitestonia.com/en/estonian-history-museum-great-guild-hall- could be interesting and open on Mondays!!

◦ In summary we have the Maritime and History museums as good possibilities and local cuisine of course. I see that we depart Tallinn at 5PM so we will only have 2-3 hours free time.

◦ Tallinn Guitar Festival 13 thru 18th 10:00 to 22:00. CLICK FOR LINK and CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Great Guild Hall. The mediaeval Great Guild Hall has always played an important role in the life of the city. The permanent exhibition at the History Museum "SPIRIT OF SURVIVAL. 11,000 years of Estonian History" (opened in 2011) helps to understand the singularity of the people who have lived in Estonia and introduces historical events that have affected them the most. The exhibition discloses the story of Estonian past through rooms with different topics, such as the Gun Room that tells about wars, the exhibition "Power of the Elite" that talks about the Great Guild and mediaeval trade. You can also see different currencies and take part in historical events in the interactive time capsule. https://www.visitestonia.com/en/estonian-history-museum-great-guild-hall.

Tauck Day 9 (Tuesday): Your innovative small ship sets a new standard in cruising which you'll enjoy during an entire glorious day at sea en route to Copenhagen, Denmark today. As you cruise, check out all the amenities this sleek, state-of-the-art yacht offers... including fine cuisine in the elegant main dining room or more casual dining in the ship's buffet restaurant... cocktails and music in three stylish lounges... informative lectures and entertainment in Le Théâtre... a workout in the fitness center, and much more.

◦ All day on ship

Copenhagen

Tauck Day 10 (Weds, June 15th)): Disembark your yacht in Copenhagen, Denmark, as this most memorable of Baltic Sea and Russia cruises draws to a close. During a city sightseeing tour, see the Danish Crown Jewels on a visit to Rosenborg Palace, built in Dutch Renaissance style, as well as the famous statue of The Little Mermaid; and explore the colorful district of Nyhavn. The afternoon and evening are free to explore the city as you please; wonderful Tivoli Gardens and the fashionable pedestrian area of Strøget are excellent choices.|

◦ Afternoon and Evening Free ◦ Food suggestion: Copenhagen--Bror--I know you probably have lots of favorites there, but this was my favorite meal of the entire trip: it's very near the hotel--a tiny place with about 16 seats: the same people operate a fancier place down the street, which we couldn't get into, but Bror was excellent ◦ Dave has some restaurants bookmarked in his Yelp app ◦ Schopnnemann. I think this is where Kay and I had real Danish food. http://www.restaurantschonnemann.dk/ ◦ Find a music recital or concert? See https://bachtrack.com/city/copenhagen. Nothing for the 15th on here. ◦ Tivoli Gardens Events: The Harmony Pavilion, Marten Lindgren: Celebrating Jazz from the 60s. 19:00, 22:00 and 21:00 hours, admission with Tivoli Gardens fee. See http://www.tivoligardens.com/en. We might go to Tivoli Gardens in the evening and catch this jazz concert.

Tauck Day 11 (Thursday): Journey today to Roskilde – Denmark's religious, cultural, and political center from the Viking times through the Middle Ages – for a visit to the Vikingeskibshallen (Viking Ship Museum), featuring five ships from the 11th century that were discovered in the 1960s, and lunch in a local restaurant. Return to Copenhagen to explore on your own and, later, share memories of this most remarkable of Baltic and Russia cruises with your fellow guests at this evening's farewell dinner.

◦ Late afternoon and evening on our own

Oslo

Tauck Day 12 (Friday): Fly to Oslo after breakfast; Follow Tor’s Itinerary from here on.

Note: We get an Oslo Pass and a Hop-on Hop-off with Tor’s materials

◦ Hop On/Hop Off mini cruise ◦ Royal Palace tour ◦ Hop On Hop Off Bus Tour: Lots of cool places to stop so we will need to be parsimonious in where to hop off :) See details: CLICK FOR LINK ◦ On Sunday there is a 2 hour Summer Concert in the Courtyard with a bit of Grieg etc. which looks good. Vegeland Museum courtyard at 2 PM on Sunday the 19th. Elisabeth Teige - soprano, Geir Henning Braaten - piano, Wagner, Grieg, Schubert. Tickets as the museum from noon on concert day. ◦ Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces Concert on Friday 17th at 9 PM. 330 NOK ticket ($40 US) with Ticketmaster (always more expensive). The concert location appears to be in the downtown area as best I can tell. CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Guided tours of the Oslo Opera House (M-F & Sun); Marriage of Figaro playing but not on our dates; tours on Sat (12 noon) or Sunday (1 PM). 100 NOK or $12 with 20% discount for Oslo Pass. http://operaen.no/en/Performances/Guided- tours/ http://operaen.no/en/ - calendar ◦ Updated: Outdoor concert of the Oslo Philharmonic on Sunday 19th 3 pm. Open to the public free; looks like it is North of downtown Oslo. Definitely bring a blanket and lunch format. CLICK FOR LINK. ◦ Oslo Blues Cruise with Shrimp Buffet. $57US each. 3 hr cruise with music. Take in the stark Nordic beauty of the Oslo fjords on a 3-hour journey on a traditional Norwegian boat restored to its former glory. Enjoy thrumming blues tunes as you take in the spectacular views of the capital city from the water. More info: CLICK FOR LINK And CLICK FOR LINK

Bergen

◦ General Link for Bergen activities: CLICK FOR LINK ◦ KODE Bergen Art Museum: Munch Art Exhibit and Bergen and the World. More info: CLICK FOR LINK. Closed on Mondays. ◦ Lunch time concert at Troldhaugen (Ken Booked). June 25th and 26th. Ticket includes bus, visit to Greig’s home, guided tour, and concert. Departs Bergen city center at 11:00 am. 250 NOK each. See CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Car boot sale. CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Bergen Summer Festival: Friday the 25th Violin & Piano recital 7:30 at the Korskirken: Church of the Holy Cross (230 kr.) CLICK FOR LINK ◦ (Yes-Ken booked tickets) Bergen Summer Festival: Monday the 27th Viola & Piano recital 7:30 at the Korskirken: Church of the Holy Cross (230 kr.) CLICK FOR LINK ◦ Some artsy things around Bergen CLICK FOR LINK