1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #101 - Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #101

-  Hermitage Museum-Winter Palace, St Petersburg, Russia

(The richness of St Petersburg is best captured in this magnificent Hermitage Museum, which is part of the Winter Palace. The awe-inspiring works of Da Vinci - the iconic "La Bambina" - Michelangelo and Rembrandt are all inside this museum. One has to ask how did these classic creations from Italian and Dutch masters end up in Russia, and not in Italy or Holland? Spoils of World War 2 perhaps? Could this museum be worth even more than The Louvre? Oh, I forgot, they are all priceless..just like our life..)

 

 

 

 

 

1001 Places/Expereinces to See or Savour #100 - Palace Square, St Petersburg

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #100

-  Palace Square, St Petersburg, Russia

(I am here at last..in St Petersburg, Russia! Wait, did I just say 'Russia'? I had never imagined in my wildest dreams that I would be in Russia. And St Petersburg..what a beautiful first city to visit. Regarded as the Venice of the North, this city is brimming with history. And who can resist spending some roubles for my first Russian doll..all 10 pieces of them. If only Life gives us all 10 different versions, as we pass from one life to another..hmmm, maybe I am already in version 2, post-cancer)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #99 - Market Place, Helsinki

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #99

-  Market Place, Helsinki, Finland

(So this is Santa's workshop, right in the heart of Helsinki. Probably not. But the Market Place area was peaceful in the morning, including people milling around the nearby Rock Church, a church literally carved out beside a massive rock face)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #98 - Finnish sunset, Cruise to Helsinki

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #98

-  Finnish sunset, Ferry Cruise to Helsinki

(The ferry cruise to Helsinki from Stockholm brought out a wonderful sunset scene for us to savour. With the cabin barely big enough for 2 - or 4 with the bunk beds - the incentive to stay inside was minimal. Still it was an experience to shower standing still, and have the loud swishing engine sound accompany you all night long..another Titanic moment for those in cattle class)

 

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #97 - Old Town, Stockholm, Sweden

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #97

-  Old Town, Stockholm, Sweden

(The Old Town of Stockholm comes alive, just as an old town should, with cobbled stones, shops selling various momentos and people milling around, including a real blonde Swedish beauty with crystal blue eyes. The Nobel Prize museum is located there too but the big surprise was a couple of buskers playing a most intriguing piece of musical instrument on the square..can't figure out what it is but just listen to how soothing the sound - click on the video below - that it makes..captivating! What wonderful musical instrument is that?)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #96 - City Hall, Stockholm, Sweden

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #96

-  City Hall, Stockholm, Sweden

 

(Stockholm's beauty is well represented by its City Hall and the areas surrounding it. A panoramic view of it at one of the city's high points really shows why Stockholm is called the city  of bridges and islands..and the blue waters really bring out its shine)

 

 

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #95 - Storefjell Resort, Norway

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #95

-  Storefjell Resort, Norway

 

(The drive to this resort brought out the best of Norway again. But the perfect reflection of the mountain over a lake on this summers day takes the prize. And then, after checking into the resort hotel, imagine being greeted, as the curtains open, to a group of horses right outside munching out their dinner)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #94 - Bergen Fish Market, Norway

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #94

-  Bergen Fish Market, Norway

(This lovely coastal Norwegian town has an excellent fish market area, with platters of fresh seafood for sale, from salmon to lobster. But at around 90euro a pop, we decided to skip it - turns out, Norway is regarded as the most expensive country in Europe. Instead, the money was directed towards a nice momento - a stylish white windbreaker, bought from their iconic Bergen waterfront)

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #93 - Flam Railway, Norway

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #93

-  Flam Railway, Norway

 

(This Flam railway ride is probably one of the most beautiful in the world. Deep lush valleys come into view, with waterfalls around every corner. The biggest is quite an attraction, with the train stopping for all passengers to step out to view the cool surroundings..watch out for the red fairy at the very top, dancing away in 9C temperature like it was a hot summer day. A change of train is required midway in the ride before we arrive at Bergen. Lovely cool summer's day..I wonder what a winter version would be like)