dianakball@gmail.com (D=A0Ball) wrote:
>Welcome home! I hadn't realized we'd both be
>across the pond at the same time. We got
>back Fri. night, and this is the first time I've
>checked into RTC--glad I did before your
>terrific trip report got pushed down so far I
>wouldn't discover it.
Where were you?
I was happpy to see a response from you. You were very helpful when I
asked questions in this group. Thank you.
>So...it seems your special anniversary trip was
>absolutely wonderful! Your wife is a lucky gal,
>in many ways, I'm sure, but especially
>because you devoted so much time and
>thoughtful effort to researching and planning a
>successful, memorable journey.
To be fair, Pat also did a lot of the research. I'm also lucky to have
her. Funny story from the cruise. Pat won a free makeover in the spa.
So, we went to make her appointment. I said, "don't change her too much,
I've had her for 30 years and like her the way she is." The young lady
making the appointment laughed and said, "Most husbands say change
everything."
>I gather from your comments about the
>various port visits that your tour of St.
>Petersburg was the highlight? It sounds like
>Alla's company and your guide in particular did
>a bang up job for you and your group.
Yes, I can't believe how quickly our hours in St. Petersburg flew by. I
could not be happier with our choice of Alla as a tour operator. The
rest of our group felt the same way. As an additional plus that I had
never thought of, our group bonded in a way that no busload ever could
have. It's too bad the cruise lines do such a job at intimidating
passengers from using the local services in St. Petersburg.
I wrote to Alla and told her that she must have really taken a liking to
our group to assign us Victoria and Boris. Victoria actually freelances
for all the services. I asked her how often she worked. She told me that
June is the busiest month, and that she worked 28 days in June. Then she
cut back to see her family more She is obviosly in demand. She said that
she liked working for Alla because they were about the same age and had
started in the business together. She is also thinking of starting her
own agency.
> And Tallinn was a close second?! It is such a
>charming, accessible place.
Yes, Tallinn was my second favorite port. I think Patti liked both Oslo
and Stockholm more. I liked them too, but not as much as Tallinn, though
in some ways it truly is like comparing apples and oranges.
>I'm sorry you didn't have enough time after
>attractions to just wander Stockholm...I
>favored it over Copenhagen, but that's a very
>personal call. I do think I was negatively
>influenced by Copenhagen's high cost of
>living. But then, Scandinavia generally is a
>pricey place to hang out.
It was truly a shame that we spent so little time in Stockholm.
Stockholm was followed by a sea day, so we could have definitely stayed
longer without affecting getting to the next port (Copenhagen) on time.
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