The Caravan Club St Petersburg and the North Grand Tour 2015 Sweden, Estonia and Finland

O so this will come as a surprise to many but the Countries that I so far expected to be IT savvy and sophisticated just weren't!  I do hope that you appreciate that I am having to pay to keep my blog up to date! Ouch!
Sweden. Well what can I say about it? Err lots of bridges,Volvo cars, and trees. Lots of mud, miserable people and I can see why they are miserable! I had a very glamorous pre conception and it was nothing like it! We stayed at one of the better campsites that had a lovely lakeside view. There was a bar and restaurant on site but no one used it as the cost was ridiculous. Over 8 pounds for a local beer and a glass of wine that was more like vinegar. The good thing was we had been given a Stockholm pass that allowed us to use the public transport system for free and access to some museums. You guessed it not the museums that could be remotely interesting! Lol
In fairness the public transport system was quick and efficient but a nightmare to understand. Fortunately nearly everyone spoke English.  Stockholm itself feels very dis jointed as it's made up of lots of areas which are in fact islands. There were some lovely unusual shops, the ABBA museum etc was all extra money and I couldn't understand how you could really make aN interesting museum about a pop group. I have since learnt it was all karaoke style and computerised. If you have ever heard Date and me sing it's probably a very good job that we didn't go there!
We struggled to get the caravans out of the mud as there were no hard standings or drainage on the campsite. We drove to the ferry port that was to take us to Helsinki and what a lovely surprise we got. Ferry? Never! A totally amazing ship that was more like a cruise ship. Shopping malls, restaurants,  bars, entertainment, super cabins.....perfect! As it happened in our group I think we all tried every restaurant and each of us were suitably impressed with our food. As for the beds...fantastic! We disembarked the next morning at Helsinki. First impressions? Stunning! Classy and clean with old wooden sailing ships in the harbour. Impressive ferries going to and fro. Smiling ,friendly faces. I'd arrived in another world! The campsite Rattle was signposted the minute we got off the ship. Lovely hardstanding,  clean toilets, friendly reception. Very lovely. I can't wait to explore it more. We didn't have much time yesterday as we caught another boat...This time to Estonia for the day! Yes I'm pleased that we visited it but I definitely won't be dashing back! Basically we visited Tallin.  Lots of parks and it's a walled city. Lots of touristy shops and consequently touristy prices. We ate in an Italian restaurant and watched the world go by. Interesting the fact that it was occupied by the Danish, the Germans and more recently the Russians. It is now a member of the EUROPEAN union and we felt at home again at least using the euro, not that we spent much. The capital is so small. We would say it's not more than a town. Hull would be 5 or 6 times bigger and that's not big.
So today we are chilling in the van before our next adventure tomorrow..St Petersburg! Muchly excited. Somewhere totally different.  We catch a coach and then a train. Well that's the theory anyway! Better start packing!  Good bye Comrades!

Hmm not sorry to be leaving Sweden, a bit dull to say the least!

We then enter another world!

The shopping mall on board!

Helsinki from the port

Estonia palace but no one of any significance has ever stayed there!

Tallin

 Possibly the best view. Need I say more?! Lol

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/european-tours/st-petersburg-and-the-north-grand-tour

The Caravan Club St Petersburg and the North Grand Tour 2015 Denmark

We all met at Camping Holbaek Fjord on Friday and went for a lovely meal at the nearby marina. Unfortunately one of our rigs was involved in an accident and so was rather late. He has written his car off but he did find the Danish good s marital that brought his caravan to the campsite for me to set up for them. He was just a wonderful Danish man who spoke fluent English.  We were just minus a car!
Yesterday we went by coach to Copenhagen. The weather has been awful and the roadworks around Copenhagen a total nightmare. We had a super guide, Han's who was an extremely sprightly 75 year old! He actually remembers the British liberating the City at the end of the War. He still describes it as "still the best day if my life". He was a young boy at the time and has always been eternally grateful to  the Brits. The afternoon was spent shopping. Not a lot was bought as everything was so expensive. I found my way to a fLea market or an antiques fair if you want to pretend to be posh and amidst all the Copenhagen Pottery glared at me some Royal Dolton.  Really old and beautiful. He wanted 135 euros for it. What?! He then asked me if I knew Tim Woodcott.  I said "What from the TV?" He smiled. He took it that I did know him and said to me  "make me an offer!". I went in at 50 euros and finished at 60! I didn't lie, just some bits were lost in translation! I bought it really for my mum's birthday so you are sworn to secrecy. I researched it on the Internet and it's worth about 450 pounds and was made exactly the same year my mother was born! There's only me that would come all the way to Copenhagen and buy English China!
This morning we took our participant who had the accident back into Copenhagen to pick his hire car up. Unfortunately he didn't take out Red Penant Insurance and all I can say is yet again from this experience it's worth every penny.The guy has had to hire a car himself. I use the word "car" very lightly. A shed would be more precise. Whether it makes it round is yet to be seen but at least we are all mobile-Sweden here we come!

The lego shop Coppenhagen

This road sign appeals to my childish sense of humour...of corse..its speed control! 

The Caravan Club St Petersburg and the North Grand Tour 2015. Denmark

Well we are finally at the starting point!Camping Holbaek Fjord in Denmark. We left Germany and bumped into several otger participants on the route all discussing how we were going to get into Denmark, whether it be by bridge or one of the many ferries. We had decided to go by the bridge but were persuaded to go by ferry as apparantly it took 100 miles off the driving. We werent even certain which ferry we needed to get! We found Rostock with the help of the sat nav but then it got a bit scarey. There were ferries to Russia, Estonia, oh my god all over the blooming place.  We werent sure where we were going until finally I found some helpful young woman who directed me to the do kids.  We had been there quite a few minutes when there was a knock on the car windows.  A lovely french man who was having similar problems, only worse as he didn't speak any other language and was asking ME for help! I tried to sound convincing in my best french that he was in the correct place. So there we were front of the queue....wait. Yes other cars,coaches and lorries joined us phew. A boat came! Phew. All the cars,coaches and lorries got on. Who was the last to load? The car and caravan that had been first there! Needless to say that they must have taken lessons from P and O on operating a ferry as there weren't any seats left for a 2 hour crossing! We sat like teenagers on the floor with a coffee in a cardboard cup! What is even worse is that we had spent 190 euros for a 2 hour crossing! Hey Ho we were going to Denmark. The ferry unloaded. Guess who was now last off? How do we do it? The road was terrible. Miles and miles of traffic in front of us winding down Country lanes. We were getting excited as we were getting near a motorway and we were getting low on diesel. The excitement was short lived. We hit traffic jams caused by roadworks that made the Mac look like a super highway! There were no fuel stations on the motorway. Panic!  Using the sat nav we got it to take us to some lovely little village in the back of beyond but at least it had an automated fuel pump!
We then realised that thanks to all these hold ups we weren't going to get to our planned site before it shut at 7.  Oh thank you sat nav "nearest campsite". The site again was in the middle of nowhere and the manager spoke no English.  He did tell me that he was married to a French lady who was away on holiday so we conversed in a mixture of french and heaven only knows what else! Dansk?  Or where did that language come from?!
The campsite..I am struggling to refer to it as a CL type. ..err field! It's toilets were clean but looked as though they were in disused cowshed with asbestos roofs!
So we got up in the morning and after more roadworks eventually got here. After a few minutes we were joined by my new best friends our Co Hosts. Marilyn and Terence.  They are fluent in Russian and other bombed out languages! Not only that but they understand Yorkshire having worked most of their lives in Hull! Is it that all us campers are trying to escape or are we just mad?! (It's not compulsory to answer!)
The campsite maybe has 6 or 7 of our units on and the remainder should,hopefully arrive today, making our total 38 people. As per usual 75% are caravanner, with 5 Motorhomes.  So far the Yorkshire lot are once again providing around 60% of participants! Needless to say they seem a very good group! We "borrowed "the TV room last night. Not to watch TV but to have a get together drink pre tour,  which was good fun.
So far I think that Denmark is incredibly pretty or quaint but it's like stepping back in time 30 years. It's blooming cold and windy,maybe 11 degrees. Everywhere tells you that May to June are the best months to visit. We are slap bang in the middle of it so what are the other months like?! BrRrer. Things aren't too expensive but maybe that's due to the strong pound-long may it continue!
We have visited Holbaek that is obviously geared up for the Tourist with their prices but we were the only ones there! Food and drink was very cheap. We can live with that.
So today I am grounded meeting our new arrivals and then we are all going out for a welcome meal and tomorrow...Copenhagen, ah that song in my head " wonderful,wonderful Copenhagen, beautiful Queen of the South" Is that right?! See I've got you humming it now! Hey Ho I'd better go and get dressed. I hope it's warmer wherever you are!

Our field!

Is this really money?! Don't worry Stoney-just hand it to me!

Caravan Club St Petersburg and the North Grand Tour 2015 .Nearly ready to go!

Wow what a few days! Where do I start? We finished the Highlights of Spain Tour and had one night on our own at the most fantastic Playa De One break Campsite near Santander. If ever you are looking for a wonderful site,convenient to the ferry,this is it. The restaurant is.....definitely one of the best that I have eaten at in Spain. Anyone that knows me knows that I've eaten at a few! Yes not cheap but not ridiculously expensive either but 100 percent yum.It can also cater for those travelling by car and has accommodation etc. They are also extremely flexible as to what time you leave etc to catch ferries. Staff wonderful. Top class campsite.

Nice and warm but snow on the Pecs mountains. Look in the opposite direction and it's the lovely unspoilt beach!

Anyhow I love the place so off to the ferry. Walking along minding my own and I hear someone screeching my name..what in Santander?!

What a lovely surprise Louise and Mick as it certainly was a long crossing!

It was great to see my family again,albeit a little manic. 

Oh a word of warning. Although my caravan didn't need a service as it's only 18 months old I had it serviced. I nearly died when the engineer showed me the tyres. They were threadbare on the inside! Yes that's no exaggeration. I check tyre pressures etc regularly and nothing was visible from the outside of the caravan. The engineer thinks that maybe,only on one or a part trip that the motor mover hadn't been properly disengaged and that had caused it. He said that it was possible to tow and have not felt it! Yes it cost me 2 new tyres but if I hadn't had it serviced it could have been my life! Scarey or what?!

Anyhow on Saturday night we caught the worst ferry in Europe. Hull to Rotherham.  I believe that I have done my fair few crossings to and from various European countries but I have always favoured our local one until now. All I can say that this ship is a total disgrace to bare the name "Pride of Hull" Can you imagine people from Europe arriving for the City of Culture on that?! From the shambolic loading procedure to beds that had bigger sagging bottoms than me to six POUNDS for a glass of wine, to queueing for hours to try and get your breakfast that you had paid for....I could go on . Yes there were a lot of motorbikes on the ferry. Yes it was bank holiday weekend but hello ooh you should know how many bloody people are getting on the ferry and how many staff you will need! I won't rant any longer, needless to say that there has been an official complaint! This was once a great service P &O. If you can't run this route sell it to Brittany ferries as well or someone that can!

So yesterday we got off the dawned thing very tired and hungry. We had plenty of stops and made it across Holland to where we are now,just south of Hamburg, Brenan.

The drive across Holland was great. A little boring as it's totally flat but quick. We had our first stop just into Germany,when we pulled into a lay by.  What were the chances of not only meeting a fellow British caravanner but a York ie too who just happened to also be going on the same Tour! Shame we only got to meet over a cup of coffee as they seemed lovely people. Off we went to some random campsite that we chose out of the huge caravan club book. Not an inspected one....only another 2 units all heading north to do the same Tour! Who said it's a small world?!

Today,if Stoney ever gets out of bed it's Denmark here we come. I just love Europe.  3 countries in 2 days. What an amazing  continent we live on. Enjoy!

http://www.caravanclub.co.uk/overseas-holidays/european-tours/st-petersburg-and-the-north-grand-tour

My 3 angels exploring our family home. What a lucky girl I am. Xx

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