My Sweden Story - Diary Entry Number 3 - Across the Baltic to lovely, quaint Riga
Hmmm, the title threatens to grow longer than the post itself!
Well, just wanted to stick to the 'My Sweden Story' theme, have got into a little flow, so to speak.
30th March -Setting sail!
A cruise across the Baltic, aboard a luxury liner called the M/S Romantika, with a Spanish Fiesta theme, to a city with a moniker of 'Little Paris' - it was fabuloso to say the very least!
The cruise to Riga was a spur-of-the-moment impulsive decision, (the kind I am always afraid to make by worrying too much about the consequences), then I almost backed out at the last moment (which is actually more like me) scared by gloomy skies, threatening weather forecasts, and the frightening memories of sea-sickness from the last time.
And then, it was back to being spontaneous and impulsive! Wow, I was really surprising myself.
On way to the Frihamnen port, as the metro passed by Gamla Stan, it was blue skies and white clouds suddenly, and with it the lifting of spirits.
Reached the port, boarded the ship, posed for the photo at the boarding point (the one which is always abysmally priced), found the cabin, dumped my backpack and was set to rock in my own crazy way!
I will give myself the chance to gloat a bit and announce that this was my third cruise within five months! And each one has been totally fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable.
First evening on the cruise. After a little bit of food and rest, it was time to sink in the carnival atmosphere on board the grand M/S Romantika, first stop of the evening - live performance at Starlight Palace.
And this set the tone for the entire trip. It was an electrifying performance by a Spanish band, with a somewhat weird name - Cartoon Band! And it didn't do any harm that apart from being awesome stage performers, they were immensely pleasing to the eye too, talk about having fun on a ship!
It was a grand act lined up for the evening keeping in mind the Fiesta theme, a colorful, rousing,vibrant ensemble act of Argentinian tango, Spanish flamenco, Salsa and Mambo in addition to the stupendous band. Colors, sounds and warmth of Mediterranean Europe and Latin America driving away the freezing cold of the Baltic sea in a jiffy.
And they sang and played and danced all through the night, well almost. And after the curtains came down, I was high, even without a single drop of some funny liquid! What a mind blowing performance it was, what levels of energy, they effortlessly belted out one act after another, the crowd singing and jiving along all the way. It continued well past midnight but left me asking for even more. The gorgeous singers of the Cartoon Band singing the addictive 'Ae se eu te pego' and making those cute moves...it was indeed a night to remember and set the tone for the cruise!
On a purely musical note Spanish songs or Portuguese too for that matter have a basic simplicity, a certain fluidity along with an infectious rhythm that make them so appealing even for someone who is clueless about the language.
After clicking photos galore and still in a kind of Spanish trance, I retired for the night.
Next morning. I was up and awake quite early, in spite of the late night hours. The hours spent on a cruise are strange, I tend to get infused with bundles of energy, lack of sleep seems quite normal, and I can continue to be on the move for an interminable time. The tiredness hits hard once I am back home. But that's still one and a half days away.
Latvian time being an hour ahead of Swedish time, it was at about eleven on Saturday morning at Latvia,when we alighted at Riga, the capital , and one of the biggest, most beautiful and culturally vibrant cities amongst the Baltic states.
Well, just wanted to stick to the 'My Sweden Story' theme, have got into a little flow, so to speak.
30th March -Setting sail!
A cruise across the Baltic, aboard a luxury liner called the M/S Romantika, with a Spanish Fiesta theme, to a city with a moniker of 'Little Paris' - it was fabuloso to say the very least!
The cruise to Riga was a spur-of-the-moment impulsive decision, (the kind I am always afraid to make by worrying too much about the consequences), then I almost backed out at the last moment (which is actually more like me) scared by gloomy skies, threatening weather forecasts, and the frightening memories of sea-sickness from the last time.
And then, it was back to being spontaneous and impulsive! Wow, I was really surprising myself.
On way to the Frihamnen port, as the metro passed by Gamla Stan, it was blue skies and white clouds suddenly, and with it the lifting of spirits.
Reached the port, boarded the ship, posed for the photo at the boarding point (the one which is always abysmally priced), found the cabin, dumped my backpack and was set to rock in my own crazy way!
I will give myself the chance to gloat a bit and announce that this was my third cruise within five months! And each one has been totally fantastic and thoroughly enjoyable.
First evening on the cruise. After a little bit of food and rest, it was time to sink in the carnival atmosphere on board the grand M/S Romantika, first stop of the evening - live performance at Starlight Palace.
And this set the tone for the entire trip. It was an electrifying performance by a Spanish band, with a somewhat weird name - Cartoon Band! And it didn't do any harm that apart from being awesome stage performers, they were immensely pleasing to the eye too, talk about having fun on a ship!
It was a grand act lined up for the evening keeping in mind the Fiesta theme, a colorful, rousing,vibrant ensemble act of Argentinian tango, Spanish flamenco, Salsa and Mambo in addition to the stupendous band. Colors, sounds and warmth of Mediterranean Europe and Latin America driving away the freezing cold of the Baltic sea in a jiffy.
And they sang and played and danced all through the night, well almost. And after the curtains came down, I was high, even without a single drop of some funny liquid! What a mind blowing performance it was, what levels of energy, they effortlessly belted out one act after another, the crowd singing and jiving along all the way. It continued well past midnight but left me asking for even more. The gorgeous singers of the Cartoon Band singing the addictive 'Ae se eu te pego' and making those cute moves...it was indeed a night to remember and set the tone for the cruise!
On a purely musical note Spanish songs or Portuguese too for that matter have a basic simplicity, a certain fluidity along with an infectious rhythm that make them so appealing even for someone who is clueless about the language.
After clicking photos galore and still in a kind of Spanish trance, I retired for the night.
Next morning. I was up and awake quite early, in spite of the late night hours. The hours spent on a cruise are strange, I tend to get infused with bundles of energy, lack of sleep seems quite normal, and I can continue to be on the move for an interminable time. The tiredness hits hard once I am back home. But that's still one and a half days away.
Latvian time being an hour ahead of Swedish time, it was at about eleven on Saturday morning at Latvia,when we alighted at Riga, the capital , and one of the biggest, most beautiful and culturally vibrant cities amongst the Baltic states.
Wow, I regret not making it to the trip. :) Some other time perhaps.
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