Eclipsing Northern Europe by cruise : Basic black , and Baltic blues

[scubacruiserx2]

Our last stop was at one of the last remaining sections of the Berlin wall .

 

 

 

It is near the Topographie Des Terrors Museum

 

 

 

 

The other side of the wall

 

 

 

 

I can still remember 55 years ago as a 10 year old , watching as the wall was being built .

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berlin_Wall

 

 

And I would like to give a Gold Medal to Conrad Schumann , a 19 year old guard .

 

 

 

 

For a leap I'll never forget , on August 15 , 1961 , defecting over the barb wire , and leaving his gun and his old life behind .

 

 

Because of escapes like this , East Germany and the Soviet Union developed a dual wall , with a "death strip" between the walls , thus giving the guards in towers a clean shot at any escapees .

 

 

 

Illustration by Ericmetro from Wikipedia

 

[MicCanberra]

They built a wall at the border

Not to keep us out

But to leave no doubt

They're out of order, hey

 

Little River Band - Down On The Border

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+border-+LRB+lyrics+song&view=detail&mid=8E9D5C93DE294457B1098E9D5C93DE294457B109&FORM=VIRE

[scubacruiserx2]

They built a wall at the border

Not to keep us out

But to leave no doubt

They're out of order, hey

 

Little River Band - Down On The Border

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+border-+LRB+lyrics+song&view=detail&mid=8E9D5C93DE294457B1098E9D5C93DE294457B109&FORM=VIRE

 

Thanks Mic , I haven't heard that one before . When most people hear LRB , they think of Lonesome Loser . :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

We only had 30 minutes at the Wall site and while Pat and Ty went in to the ToT Museum , which was constructed on the SS and Gestapo site , I walked quickly toward the Checkpoint Charlie display .

 

 

We did visit the CC Museum the last time that we were there , but the modern version of CC reminds me of a carnival with actors , rides , fast food and souvenirs both real and faux . The soldiers are actors including the " Russian soldier's " photo , who is really a Dutch model in a fake uniform .

 

 

 

Mc Charlies

 

 

 

 

 

 

See the brown Visa sign between the people ? Rick Steves warns in his book that they will stamp your passport ( for a price ) with a fake stamp which will invalidate your passport !

 

 

And , Why the Berlin Wall is still a big business , article and photo from DW .

 

 

 

 

http://www.dw.com/en/why-the-berlin-wall-is-still-a-big-business/a-19461377

 

Edited August 20, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[Gracie115]

We did visit the CC Museum the last time that we were there , but the modern version of CC reminds me of a carnival with actors , rides , fast food and souvenirs both real and faux . The soldiers are actors including the " Russian soldier's " photo , who is really a Dutch model in a fake uniform .]

 

I don't know but I think that would bother me.....much like when we went to Tulum in Mexico the first time and it had not been commercialized yet and it was just fascinating and then we returned with Brother about 10 years later and it had been changed so much it looked like a Disney attraction.....I like the real thing.....but then that's just me....

[scubacruiserx2]

I don't know but I think that would bother me.....much like when we went to Tulum in Mexico the first time and it had not been commercialized yet and it was just fascinating and then we returned with Brother about 10 years later and it had been changed so much it looked like a Disney attraction.....I like the real thing.....but then that's just me....

 

While the wall was not a death camp , or a cemetery , 138 people died while while trying to escape , mostly from being shot . The current atmosphere just seemed a bit flippant to me .

[scubacruiserx2]

Along the way it was plain to see that there was a love affair with the East German produced Trabant , many with tacky paint jobs !

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 1975 version was rated one of the 50 worst cars of all time by Time Magazine .

 

1975 Trabant

 

This is the car that gave Communism a bad name. Powered by a two-stroke pollution generator that maxed out at an ear-splitting 18 hp, the Trabant was a hollow lie of a car constructed of recycled worthlessness (actually, the body was made of a fiberglass-like Duroplast, reinforced with recycled fibers like cotton and wood). A virtual antique when it was designed in the 1950s, the Trabant was East Germany's answer to the VW Beetle — a "people's car," as if the people didn't have enough to worry about. Trabants smoked like an Iraqi oil fire, when they ran at all, and often lacked even the most basic of amenities, like brake lights or turn signals. But history has been kind to the Trabi. Thousands of East Germans drove their Trabants over the border when the Wall fell, which made it a kind of automotive liberator. Once across the border, the none-too-sentimental Ostdeutschlanders immediately abandoned their cars. Ich bin Junk!

 

 

This photo kinda looks like an balloon escape attempt from a fancy prison

 

 

 

 

 

A wall in modern Berlin .

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

It is fascinating, Berlin has so much to see. I am not sure I like the commercialism of the wall but I suppose it makes for showing how it was. I will get there one day as well and can make up my mind if it is tacky or not. I suspect I wold prefer the staged scenes for the photo shot.

Edited August 20, 2016 by MicCanberra

[scubacruiserx2]

It is fascinating, Berlin has so much to see. I am not sure I like the commercialism of the wall but I suppose it makes for showing how it was. I will get there one day as well and can make up my mind if it is tacky or not. I suspect I wold prefer the staged scenes for the photo shot.

 

I imagine that you could get some good photos with the guards at the gate . But I only had about 10 minutes at CC before returning to meet the group near the museum , so it was just a quick look and impression before returning to the bus .

[scubacruiserx2]

The trip is 3 hours on the bus to go to , 1 hour to drive around and 3 more hours , to return from Berlin . That only leaves about 5 hours there . On our return , we stopped at this roundabout for several stoplights .

 

 

 

It's a Victory Column

 

 

 

 

And we did see a number of what appeared to be crop circles on the return trip .

 

 

 

 

Back on the ship too late for the MDR , we grabbed a quick bite at the buffet where several barrel organs were playing .

 

 

 

 

You can see and hear a short video clip here :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RFuAZXNekI

 

 

Or watch Tyler's unique way of putting mayonnaise on his hamburger :

 

 

Don't try that at home kids ! :) :D

[CruiserRob]

Thanks Mic , I haven't heard that one before . When most people hear LRB , they think of Lonesome Loser . :) :D

 

I always think of Cool Change

[MicCanberra]

I always think of Cool Change

 

Both are great songs.:D

[scubacruiserx2]

On top of the Eclipse we could see a funny looking ship

 

 

 

It's the Esvagt Froude , used to maintain off shore wind farms

 

 

 

 

 

On the other side of the Eclipse was a familiar looking shape

 

 

 

 

 

It was the Magellan , formerly the Carnival Holiday . This ship was sent to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina for temporary shelter .

 

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MS_Magellan

 

 

A dinner cruise

 

 

 

 

Exiting the port

 

 

 

 

Here's several video clips :

 

Push back and the setting sun :

 

 

Air horn duet between the ship and shore :

 

 

Party boat and exiting the port :

 

[MicCanberra]

I have been on one of those 'dinner cruise' boats, perhaps not that one though. When we were in Warnemunde, we did a tour where be caught all sorts of transport. A bus to just outside Rostock, then a Private tram tour of the city and surrounds, a walking tour in the centre of the city where we had lunch. They have a church there with a great Astrological clock, very detailed. They had bricked it in during the war so it wouldn't get bomb damage, truly amazing the amount of details on this huge clock face. Then out to the river for the cruise on one of those boats back up to the port. They served snacks (cheese and worst) and beer on the cruise, very nice indeed. We then had time to have a quick walk around the shops and such at Warnemunde. A great day.:D

Edited August 21, 2016 by MicCanberra

[perfect match]

Hi Mic , and welcome aboard ! :) :D

 

 

 

 

 

 

We really like the Mighty Ships series , but it's been mostly the Olympics on the telly here .

 

Yes he's truly an amazing swimmer - the best ! Pat was a swimmer and I played football , track and volleyball so I'm looking forward to Usain Bolt - the Micheal Phelps of sprinters . ;)

 

I'm back from my Olympics induced coma of the past several weeks :eek: and have now managed to catch up with you in Germany.

 

Like Pat, I was a swimmer and somewhat of a gymnast. I love almost all of the summer Olympic sports, so every 4 years when they are on I become a major couch potato for the duration. Hopefully the water in our pool will cool off some from it's present 97° temperature while I am still feeling motivated by the Olympics to get some lap swimming done.

 

I think this is the first review I've read where the reviewer toured Berlin. I am, of course, familiar with the history of the city, but seeing it through your eyes and photos gave me a totally different view than I have ever seen before.

[scubacruiserx2]

I have been on one of those 'dinner cruise' boats, perhaps not that one though. When we were in Warnemunde, we did a tour where be caught all sorts of transport. A bus to just outside Rostock, then a Private tram tour of the city and surrounds, a walking tour in the centre of the city where we had lunch. They have a church there with a great Astrological clock, very detailed. They had bricked it in during the war so it wouldn't get bomb damage, truly amazing the amount of details on this huge clock face. Then out to the river for the cruise on one of those boats back up to the port. They served snacks (cheese and worst) and beer on the cruise, very nice indeed. We then had time to have a quick walk around the shops and such at Warnemunde. A great day.:D

 

That does sound like a great day , and you have an extra 6 hours saved in transit on the Autobahn ! :) :D

[scubacruiserx2]

I'm back from my Olympics induced coma of the past several weeks :eek: and have now managed to catch up with you in Germany.

 

Like Pat, I was a swimmer and somewhat of a gymnast. I love almost all of the summer Olympic sports, so every 4 years when they are on I become a major couch potato for the duration. Hopefully the water in our pool will cool off some from it's present 97° temperature while I am still feeling motivated by the Olympics to get some lap swimming done.

 

I think this is the first review I've read where the reviewer toured Berlin. I am, of course, familiar with the history of the city, but seeing it through your eyes and photos gave me a totally different view than I have ever seen before.

 

Welcome back ! I too enjoyed the Olympics . :) 97 degrees F ? :eek: That sounds like a hot tub ! We have trees and a screened porch , so the max is usually 85 .

Edited August 22, 2016 by scubacruiserx2

[scubacruiserx2]

With the long day in Germany we went to bed early after reviewing the Celebrity Today for our last port , Copenhagen .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was awoken from a sound sleep at 2 am by a shaking of the ship and roaring wind which made me think that we were in a hurricane . Then out on the deck there arouse such a clatter that I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter !(Sorry night before Christmas )

 

 

The landing lights were on , but nobody was there . I had missed a medivac while looking for clothes and a camera in the dark !

 

 

 

But as I looked out of the window I could see the Great Belt Bridge .

 

 

 

 

 

Suddenly , the whirring suddenly increased and another helicopter was back . And this time I did capture a clip of the litter hoist :

 

 

The ship didn't slow , and the helicopter lifted off just as we neared the bridge ( on the other side of the ship ) . I was able to capture a grainy video , ( with music to mask the wind in the mic ) of the huge bridge :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPx1oqBdbU4

 

 

 

 

 

[MicCanberra]

That does sound like a great day , and you have an extra 6 hours saved in transit on the Autobahn ! :) :D

 

That is the one reason why we didn't do the Berlin shorex tour.

[MicCanberra]

I hope whoever they medivacced was treated and has recovered. It is always a bad sign when they have to do this when they were only a few hours away from docking.:eek:

[perfect match]

Welcome back ! I too enjoyed the Olympics . :) 97 degrees F ? :eek: That sounds like a hot tub ! We have trees and a screened porch , so the max is usually 85 .

 

Yes, our pool is like a 25 meter hot tub! Great for the pool noodlers, not so great for lap swimming.

 

I loved the vidoe of the ship passing under the bridge. Hope whoever had the medevac is ok.

[MicCanberra]

Yes, our pool is like a 25 meter hot tub! Great for the pool noodlers, not so great for lap swimming.

 

I loved the vidoe of the ship passing under the bridge. Hope whoever had the medevac is ok.

 

Would the pool noodler's prefer the laps?;)

[scubacruiserx2]

That is the one reason why we didn't do the Berlin shorex tour.

 

Our original plan in 2006 was similar to yours and included the Molli train in Warnemunde . But we met a nice couple on CC , who we shared a private tour in SPB with (DenRus) . They then invited us to Berlin with a small group tour with them and some friends , which they had booked . :) :D

[MicCanberra]

Our original plan in 2006 was similar to yours and included the Molli train in Warnemunde . But we met a nice couple on CC , who we shared a private tour in SPB with (DenRus) . They then invited us to Berlin with a small group tour with them and some friends , which they had booked . :) :D

 

It is nice when you have a smaller tour group with similar interests and helps share the costs as well.

[scubacruiserx2]

It is nice when you have a smaller tour group with similar interests and helps share the costs as well.

 

That was our original attraction to CC ! :) :D