Welcome to the latest issue of Weekly Waves. I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed hearing from so many of you these past weeks. Thank you to all who answered our prize puzzle question from the last issue. I received 16 entries! Find out who won one of the picturesque Portugal puzzles below.
Some of you may be starting to venture out more, making the thought of future travel a bit closer to a reality than simply a dream. This week we invite you to step into the enchanting storybook called the Baltic Sea.
From the fjord region of Norway to the winding cobblestone streets of Tallinn, Estonia, through 3 days exploring the majesty of St. Petersburg, Russia, to the culmination of our journey enjoying the picturesque vistas of Amsterdam’s windmills and canals, our Baltic Voyage will truly be an epic journey. Read our Set Sail to the Baltic Blog below to see why this was a must for one of next year’s exclusive, hosted Trips of a Lifetime.
Then, make plans to join us as we set sail on the Baltic Sea and share our favorite hidden gems with a small group of clients August 13 – 28, 2021.
If you would like to join us on this amazing Trip of a Lifetime, contact me as there are only 6 rooms left on this sailing.
Waves to you and smooth sailings again soon,
Kim
|
|
NORTHERN LIGHTS IN NORWAY
|
|
|
|
Few experiences on this earth can rival that of standing beneath the magical glow of the aurora borealis, the legendary “Northern Lights.” They manifest as a dynamic light show across the skies in the Northern hemisphere near the Arctic Circle. The lights are strongest right beneath the auroral ovals, which makes northern Norway a prime spot for Northern Lights sightings. The Northern Lights appear to those on the ground in different forms. They can look like a swirl of colors dancing through the sky, rays of light reaching up into space, and sometimes they appear as a giant fissure stretching across the sky.
|
|
DISCOVER ST. PETERSBURG...
IN 3 MINUTES YOU'LL WISH YOU WERE THERE!
|
|
One of the world's most beautiful cities, St. Petersburg has all the ingredients for an unforgettable travel experience: high art, lavish architecture, wild nightlife, an extraordinary history and rich cultural traditions that have inspired and nurtured some of the modern world's greatest literature, music, and visual art. From the mysterious twilight of the White Nights to world-beating opera and ballet productions on magical winter evenings, St. Petersburg charms and entices in every season.
Shot using aerial and mobile cameras, this three-minute
time-lapse video shows day and night views of some of St. Petersburg's most famous sights and attractions.
|
|
|
|
|
THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
This best-selling
novel
tells the story of cancer patients Hazel and Augustus, who – after reading an incomplete novel – decide to track down its author, a mysterious man who agrees to meet them at his home in the Netherlands. In Amsterdam, the star-crossed teenage lovers experience several revelations and the city becomes something of a playground to them. They visit Anne Frank’s house, dine in fancy restaurants and spend the night at the Hotel De Filosoof (actually portrayed in the movie by the American Hotel, the gorgeous and graceful art-deco hotel that sits in the center of the bustling Leidseplein.) Read the book first (our recommendation), and then watch the movie, and let us know which one you liked best!
Available to watch on Amazon Prime or purchase a hard copy on Amazon. Rated: PG (13+ years)
|
|
Thank you to all who participated in our Portugal contest!
Below are the
TWO WINNERS
who will receive a Portugal Puzzle from Cruise Dreams.
JANICE POUND - Missouri
CARRIE LIENHART - Arizona
|
|
FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT
THE BALTIC
|
|
1.
OSLO, NORWAY
Norway has the highest concentration of fjords in the world.
Oslo is located on the end of the
62-mile Oslofjord, which has over 40 islands. 1/3 of the country is in the Arctic Circle, hence the nickname: “Land of the Midnight Sun.“ The Frogner Park in Oslo is the world’s largest sculpture park boasting over 212 sculptures all made by a single artist.
|
|
2.
ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA
St. Petersburg is called the “Capital of Culture” for a reason. The whole historic center is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site with estimated 8,000 landmarks.
One of the most notable is the historic
State Hermitage Museum
. It houses over 3 million pieces of art and cultural artifacts. According to one estimate, if you were to look at each piece of artwork for one minute for 8 hours a day, you would need 25 years to properly see everything in the Hermitage.
|
|
3.
TALLINN, ESTONIA
Tallinn’s Old Town is one of the best-preserved medieval cities in Europe and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Under Old Town is a
labyrinth of 17th century tunnels
. During WWII these were used as bomb shelters, but they were not widely known about to visitors until 2010 when 380 of the passageways were opened to the public.
|
|
LIFE AFLOAT THE AMSTERDAM CANAL
|
|
|
|
The intricate network of canals in Amsterdam’s city centre also serves as a unique residential area. The 2500+ colourful houseboats moored along canal banks throughout the city offer all the comforts of a typical house and have become something of a local icon. Today houseboats are also an attractive accommodation option for visitors to the city who want to experience life on the water.
|
|
Norwegian Meatballs
If you are Norwegian, these meatballs are true comfort food. Even if you are not from Norway, you will find the combination of meats and spices makes a delightful treat.
These meatballs make for hearty fare served over buttered egg noodles or with a butter and parsley adorned boiled potato for a simple but tasty entrée.
|
|
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 lb (454 g) lean ground beef
- ½ lb (227 g) ground pork
- 1 lg egg
- ¾ Cup panko
- 1 tsp salt & ½ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ginger
- ⅛ tsp allspice
- ½ Cup milk
- 1 Cup yellow onion, minced
- ¼ Cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 6 tbsp butter, divided
- ¼ Cup flour
- 4 Cup low sodium chicken broth
- ¼ Cup red wine
|
|
INSTRUCTIONS:
Combine beef, pork and egg in a large bowl; make a well in the center and add breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, ginger, allspice and milk; let stand 2 minutes. Add onion and parsley and mix together with your hands until completely incorporated; form into 1-inch (25-mm) balls.
Place 2 Tbsp (29 g) butter in a large skillet over medium high, and working in batches, brown meatballs on all sides until cooked through, about 8 minutes per batch. Transfer to a serving bowl; cover loosely to keep warm.
Reduce heat to medium, place remaining butter in skillet, add flour and stir to form a thick paste. Cook, stirring constantly, 2 minutes; then whisk in broth and wine. Bring to a boil, reduce heat; simmer until thickened, about 7 minutes.
Pour over meatballs, tossing to coat. Serve immediately.
Credit: R
ecipe from Viking Cruises
|
|
A double puzzle is a puzzle where you first need to unscramble clue words, then use letters from those clue words to decode the final phrase. Each of the words and phrases below can be found in our
Set Sail to the Baltic Blog.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
