The Fairy Tale of a Travelblogger...Part 2

Land of Mid Night Sun....Norway

In  my previous Blog I had mentioned about loss of something...It was my digital camera which I had left in the Bus at Copenhagen. This happened in spite of the fact that our Guide had reminded us to ensure that we don't leave anything behind. However he was quick to add that in the past Tourists have left their belongings but they were safely returned by the people of Denmark. In fact they feel proud to label themselves as Inhabitants of an Honest Nation..Well they were right! I got my camera back upon my return journey from Costa Cruise ...that too after 7 days. 

Nature has been Kind to the Norwegians 

  Reverting back to the Cruise, on 22nd June the day, when the Sun happens to be the closest to earth, at 14hrs local time Copenhagen, the 14 of us boarded the majestic Costa Luminosa. It was a dream-liner just like the fairy tale of the future. There were no Immigration hassles. One Costa Card for each of us and it did the job.It was a room key cum identity card cum credit/debit card... We had to just wave it like the magic wand and all our problems were solved.

Costa Luminosa.... Interiors

Majestic Costa Luminosa

 Altogether Costa  Luminosa  had 12 decks(floors).Oh it was a huge ship.  My room 8268 was on the 8th deck adjoining Dr Bradoo(8270) and Devendra Goel (8272). The rooms with odd nos were on the opposite side. Udai Dr Ramen Goel & Bala were scattered. Nalini ensured that we all get a small Balcony for a personalized view.

Parth doing the tricks..

Dr Bradoo ,Me & Latha

The Costa commenced  sailing  around 6pm on 22nd June from Copenhagen. We were suppose to sail for two nights and reach Flam on 24th June at 8am. 
The beauty of this sailing was that we never had any sea sickness because  we never felt that we are on waters. The Costa Luminosa was like a moving 7 star multistory hotel . With plenty of food, drinks, beverages & loads of entertainment on board at our disposal the time flew faster then the speed of light. 

(Lto R) Shibani, Udai, Nalini, Me, Devendra, & Mridul...

The new look.. Face book

Next day by midnight (or Mid Sun light) we 
reached the deepest Fjord in Norway. Its 204 Km long and the the largest in the world after Scoresby Sund in Greenland. Geologically, a fjord (also spelled fiord) is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.

Bala the Banker raising a toast for the Group

After cruising for two nights we reached Flam sharp at 8am on 24th June 2013.

Lto R Sreya, Madhu, Shibani, Me, Dr Ramen Goel at Flam

The village of Flåm is a popular tourist destination and has been so since the late 19th century. It currently receives almost 450,000 visitors a year. Most come to enjoy the scenic 20-kilometre (12 mi) Flåm railway between Flåm and Myrdal, one of the steepest railway tracks at 1 in 18  in the world.  A former rail station building in Flåm now houses a museum dedicated to the Flåm railway

Dinner party inside Costa Luminosa...

Flam Railways

The best part of the journey was.... we slept on sea..... and woke up land.
 Next time a new destination...a new land.

The Fairy tale of a Travelblogger....Part 1

The Duo at Dubai Airport....for a changeover

 Some times the pictures come to you ...at other times you go to the pictures. As a group of friends we always wanted to have maximum light in our lives more so ever, when together...So we chose Norway ..The land of Midnight Sun... and the longest day 22nd June..What we were looking for was an opportunity. And lo & behold the Costa Luminosa story unraveled...and we travelled together creating this Travelblog.

Udai Gupta at Dubai Airport

Shibani Sharma & Nalini Gupta

Dr Ramen Goel,  Devendra goel & Mridul & others at Copanhagean

   Unlike the Ocean Thirteen we were Fourteen.   Nalini & Udai Gupta organised this fairy tale for all of us. We had the renowned Bariatric Surgeon Dr Ramen Goel with wife Madhu and daughter Shreya.  Doctor couple Anil & Renuka Bradoo.  Devendra Goel and Wife Mridul came from Banglore , Shibani & Me, Parth our Son joined us from Singapore. The banker Bala & wife Lata also accompanied us on this historic cruise/voyage.

Dr Anil & Renuka Bradoo

Lata & Bala escalating up

Dr Ramen Goel with Madhuji (L)& Shrey (R) leading from the front

 21st June 2013 we flew from Mumbai to Copenhagen (the 
capitol of Denmark) and reached their in the afternoon. The over night stay was at the historic Hotel Copenhagen Plaza.   Located just outside the central station and in front of Tivoli garden, main attraction of Copenhagen.

The Hotel that is nearly a century old

Parth.... joined us from Singapore

   In the evening we went to the Tivoli Gardens (or simply Tivoli) is a famous amusement park and pleasure garden. The park opened on August 15, 1843. With 4.033 million visitors in 2012, Tivoli is the world's second oldest amusement park and is one of Copenhagen's most famous attractions.

Tivoli Amusement Park ....peaking at the right time

 Tivoli is filled with wild rides, green oases, gourmet food, and rock concerts - and much more. We were in the park till around 11.30pm and there was no sight of Sunset as it was  the longest day of the year.

Flowers blooming at midnight at Tivoli Garden

  Breakfast at Hotel Plaza was excellent and on until 11:30 on weekends! The Library bar had live piano music with a very talented singer and the bar staff were also excellent. Bonus of a well equipped gym if you haven't done enough walking around the city! Incidentally Plaza was a regular home to  most of the Hollywood stars and celebrities.. I would certainly recommend this hotel who are visiting Copenhagen for the first time.

The old charm of Plaza

The Ladies Special at the Copenhagen Plaza

  

   Next Day we went around for the guided tour of Copenhagen. Needless to mention our guide was a well read well meaning, full of humor  down to earth human being. His presentation was marvelous and it added a whole lot of color to the history of Denmark. As a broadcaster I could call this guide a Cameraman's Delight. 

The GUIDE at Copenhagen 

The City of Copenhagen

The railway station

   We were told that in the 17th century disaster struck in Copenhagen when first the plague and then two great fires decimated the city, killing three quarters of its inhabitants. Reconstruction was gradual producing a city that was in the words of a Danish poet "sparkling on the sea"

The Queen's Palace Royale

Change of Guard

Cycling is promoted in a big way

 The Danish Monarchy claims to be the oldest dating back to the 10th century. When the Danish queen is in residence changing of the guard takes place at the palace at noon. we had a chance to witness it.

But the city's most famous sight is the water front statue of the Little Mermaid. A tribute to the city's most famous son Hans christian Anderson . We were told by the Guide that Little Mermaid had been vandalised several times since it was placed on the rock 

The little Mermaid

 My compliments to Nalini  for ensuring that the minutest of the details are not lost out while planning the itinerary. No wonder I admire her because we share the same Chinese Zodiac, as we were born in the Year of the Horse 

As I said Nalilni  will not loose out on any thing But I lost the most preceious thing on Day one of my Trip at Copenhagen...Any guesses..... The winner will be invited to Doordarshan Studios for a Show!!...I Promise!!....Contest not open to the 14 of us who went for the cruise..

Next week on Board Costa Luminosa..