2014 - OCEAN PRINCESS - STOCKHOLM

Thu 19 Jun 2014

HEADING NORTH ACROSS THE BALTIC, NEXT UP IS STOCKHOLM.

I WAS HERE ONE EASTER IN THE 60'S - IT WAS CLOSED.

HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE OPEN THIS TIME..

I LEAVE THE SHIP & WALK TOWARDS THE FERRY WITH ALBARELLA - ALTHOUGH THAT IS CLOSE BUT NOT HER NAME, I HAD A BLOCK WITH HER NAME ON BOARD & I STILL HAVE NOW.

SHE IS A WAITRESS FROM THE BUFFET. ALWAYS HAPPY, ALWAYS A BEUNAS DIAS. GAVE MY SPANISH A LITTLE REFRESHER.

DELIGHTFUL - THERE WAS A LOT OF GREAT STAFF ON THIS CRUISE. SOME OF WHOM WERE MALE TOO.

THE GUYS KEPT ME UP TO SPEED ON THE WORLD CUP SINCE PRINCESS WERE NOT SHOWING IT ANYWHERE FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS BUT THE CREW GOT TO WATCH IT..

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE SEEN HER WITH HER HAIR DOWN. LIKE ALL THE GIRL STAFF, HAIR IS ALWAYS TIGHTLY ROLLED...

I LEAVE HER AND TAKE THE FERRY TO AN ISLAND IN THE HARBOUR. THE TICKET GUY SAYS I DON'T NEED A RETURN TICKET AS I CAN COME BACK FOR FREE IF IT IS WITHIN 70 MINUTES. I KNOW I AM GOING TO BE MORE THAN THAT..

PASSING THE OCEAN PRINCESS ......

I LAND ON THE ISLAND, PASS BY THE FUN FAIR & ALMOST AT ONCE IT IS A NICE COOL FOREST & THEN MEADOWS & THESE SCHOOL KIDS PROJECTS

INTO A GARDEN & SOME STRANGE GARDEN MOCK-UPS ......

ACROSS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ISLAND & SOME WATER ......

BACK TO THE FUN FAIR ...... THIS GIRL WAS ENTERTAINING THE CROWD ON HERE SQUEEZEBOX ....

MY INTENTION WAS TO TAKE THE FERRY BACK. MY TICKET HAD EXPIRED, THE TICKET OFFICE WAS CLOSED. THE MACHINE WOULD NOT ACCEPT CASH & I DID NOT HAVE A CREDIT CARD.

I EXPLAINED ALL THAT TO THE TICKET COLLECTOR & OFFERED HIM THE FARE PLUS 20 KRONER & HE STILL WOULD NOT LET ME ON BOARD. I EVEN LIED A LITTLE AND SAID I HAD TO GET MY BOAT IN AN HOUR. YOU CAN SEE THE BOAT. IT'S ONLY 15 MINUTES AWAY ON THE FERRY BUT AN HOUR AND HALF WALKING, WHICH I FOUND OUT..

NOT A VERY NICE SWEDISH THING TO DO TO A TOURIST...