The Romance of Northern Europe (14): Russia’s Glorious Hermitage

The Hermitage in Saint Peterburg, Russia  is one of the largest, oldest, and most magnificent museums in the world.The Hermitage houses over three millions items  and includes the largest collection of paintings anywhere in the world.  This extraordinary palace was founded by Catherine the Great in 1764  as her personal residence and private collection of treasures,   but since 1852 it’s has been open to the public. (Picture above from Wikipedia. Attribution: A. Savin.) The collections occupy a large complex of six historic buildings along Palace Embankment on the River Neva and include the Winter Palace, which was a former residence of Russian emperors. It was our great privilege to enjoy a performance at their theater and tour this monumental complex during our Northern European cruise,   and I wanted to share some of the Hermitage’s mind-boggling beauty with you.I think one of the major differences between The Hermitage and other of the world’s greatest art museums that I’ve visited—such as the Louvre in Paris,  the British Museum in London, the Smithsonian Institution, and Metropolitan Museum in the U.S. and the Uffizi in Italy—all of these were built as museums. The Hermitage was built as a palace, and for this very reason,  even the intricate details of each wall are gold-encrusted displays of opulence. Catherine wasn’t showcasing world treasures, she was showcasing her home, and she wanted it to be unsurpassed for beauty apart from any furnishings.As in the Catherine Palace, every detail in each room is artistically crafted, right down to the colors and designs in their elaborately parqueted floors. But don’t look down for long. Looking up takes your breath away!There are massive chandeliers in every room, and every ceiling is a masterpiece of art. The windows are dressed with richly embroidered draperies, silk,  and velvet (note the marble window sills inlaid with gold-plated duct work)! and a closer inspection of things only leaves one more and more enthralled! 🙂 For instance, notice the balance and beauty in this rose sitting room. Now notice the gold and satin! Imagine reclining on one of these chairs! Oh, and have I mentioned that each room has its own hand-crafted fireplace? Can you imagine sitting by a snug fire playing the harp in this room? Frankly, it’s hard to imagine trying to sleep in a room this huge and grand…but I could get used to eating at a silver table inlaid with mother of pearl. Besides being palatial, The Hermitage is one of the world’s greatest museums. There are rooms filled with “first editions” and original works by famous authors and composers, ETC. Also, the Hermitage holds the world’s largest art collection, including a phenomenal portrait gallery…and my personal favorite: The Raphael Loggias, a long corridor filled with pictures depicting the Biblical narrative from Genesis through Revelation. There are also entire rooms dedicated to the artwork of Rembrandt and other of the world’s greatest artists. Even if you couldn’t read, I think by the time you’d finished studying the pictures, you’d have some conception of God’s great love for us through the life and sacrificial death of Christ, making a way for all of us to be reconciled to God through repentance and faith in the atoning work of Jesus. Furthermore, God is preparing a home for his children in heaven that is far more marvelous than we can even imagine—even more beautiful than the Hermitage! It is my prayer that everyone who reads this post will find refuge in God and that—before you exit this life, you will have peace in the assurance that God is preparing a special abiding place just perfect for you in heaven!

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

(Spoken by Jesus Christ in the Bible:  John 14:1-3)

The Romance of Northern Europe (13): The Magnificent Catherine Palace

Someone asked me if I actually saw the Catherine Palace or just promised to write about it. If you’ve ever seen Disney’s Condor Man (which is a ridiculous spoof on From Russia with Love…but our family all thought it was very funny), then I’d like you to know that, like Woody, I test out everything before writing about it in the comics (or this blog, whichever comes first).Yes, we really did go on a marvelous cruise of Northern Europe in the springtime and although this one picture (showing the magnitude of the palace complex) was taken by “Royal Russia,” all the rest of these pictures were taken by  yours truly and my trusty husband of 41+ years,  who has endured and enjoyed world travels and cultural experiences with me!  The Catherine Palace was originally commissioned by Catherine I in 1717  as the summer residence of the Russian tsars. Through the years, it changed in style and grew in magnitude and opulence,  but in January of 1944, the palace was totally destroyed by the German army  as they left after the bloody 872-day siege of Leningrad during World War 2. Today, much of the Catherine’s Palace has been restored to its former Rococo grandeur, but in order to raise funds for completing their renovations, the Catherine Palace now rents out its dazzling “Great Hall” for special events, & we enjoyed being beneficiaries of one of their magical evenings of entertainment! Alan and I were part of a group who arrived at the front gates early enough to tour the palace before the concert, but even then we were welcomed with music!It is said that more than 100 kilograms of gold have been used to guild the glorious rooftop and intricate stucco facade of the Catherine Palace, but I think the complete value of this treasure house is beyond estimation.For example, the walls in every room are enhanced with gold-guilding, and artfully adorned with exquisite furniture and statuary. Stunning curtains line the windows.The floors are crafted with intricate parquet inlays; the ceilings are graced with ethereal scenes from the world’s great artists;and each room has a gigantic, blue and white porcelain heat radiator.  The Portrait Hall covers 100 sq. meters and is filled with superb oil paintings.  In the Light Gallery (and on the evening we were there) over 696 lamps are lit near the mirrored walls and windows and hanging from the chandeliers,  giving the room a magnificent, golden glow. (Does this look like Lumière from Beauty and the Beast, or what??!)  Well, besides touring the palace and the Royal Carriage House,  we were treated to an evening of classical music  and a royal reception (not really at this table) to try some of Russia’s famous champagne (which I opted out of) and caviar (which was exotic but excellent). The evening ended with a stroll through the perfectly manicured palace gardens while enjoying even more musical entertainment! I couldn’t help but be impressed with all the music, and I believe it’s really true that Russians (and probably all of us) love beauty, music and dancing. It’s hard to even imagine the beauty and joy that awaits us in heaven!

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
(1 Corinthians 2:9)

The Romance of Northern Europe (12): St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg is the world’s most northern city with a population of over 5 million. It is also Russia’s second largest and most western city. St. Petersburg was named for St. Peter, the Apostle of Christ, and  it’s filled withfantastically ornate, colorful and unique churches and cathedrals.  The historic city center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site  and hosts one of the world’s largest and most impressive art museums,  The Hermitage (which I’ll write about in an upcoming post).  Tsar Peter the Great founded St. Petersburg in 1703 at the intersection of the Neva River delta and the marshlands at the Eastern shore of the Baltic Sea in the Gulf of Finland. Tens of thousands of workers died building the intricate grid of canals and (eventually) the 342 bridges that interconnect this beautiful city. St. Petersburg has earned such nicknames as “Venice of the North”  and  “The City of 101 Islands.” Personally, I would call her the Amsterdam of the North, since the canals are lined with colorful buildings  and alive with boats of every size and description. There is the ultramodern “Western High Speed Diameter” for road vehicles, but I would say that—in St. Petersburg—ships rule! Unlike most cities, St. Petersburg has gone through a series of name changes that reflect the political upheaval of this great nation. During World War 1, Lenin changed the name to Petrograd, and after his death in 1924, the city was named Leningrad in his honor. It wasn’t until 67 years later when the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991 that St. Petersburg was again called by her first (and—to me—best) name. Do you know what your name means? Mine means “pure battle maiden,”  and I’ve tried to live up to that name, but over the course of my life, —in troubled times—someone might have called me something less. 😦 None of us are always consistently what we aspire to be, nor is life as idyllic as we wish it to be, but it is our “name” and aspirations that make us truly unique.No matter what your name is, or if  you’ve changed it several times or failed to live up to it, there is a “name above all names.” We don’t have to die for our God; He died for us! All He asks is that we repent of our sins, believe in Christ and trust Him to save us. He will help us grow in our ability to love and be kind.It’s true we’ll never be as flawless as we’d like to be, but God loves us anyway! “Jesus, name above all names
Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord.
Emmanuel, God is with us.
Blessed Redeemer, Living word.”

~Naida Hearn

“Let them praise the name of the Lord: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven” (Psalm 148:13).

The Romance of Northern Europe (11): Peterhof Palace

 

There have been many palaces in Western Europe that have taken my breath away, but the stunning opulence of St. Petersburg’s Grand Palace at “Peterhof” caught both Alan and me by surprise. Peterhof has been called the “Versailles of Russia,” and I think it’s a well deserved title! The 30 great rooms of this baroque mansion are exquisitely decorated with lavish chandeliers, inlaid parquet floors,magnificent murals by masters, and decorative artwork embossed in gold. In fact, in 1717 Peter the Great resided at Versailles’ Grand Trianon, and many of the features of Peterhof (like this flooring) are almost exact replications. There are both upper and lower gardens at Peterhof and a brilliant system of water reservoirs and storage pools to provide for spectacular water fountains.If you have a chance to visit, be sure to take time to stroll through all the lovely formal gardens. (Yes, the fountains and gardens are also a bit Versailles-like!) Peterhof was built on a 200-foot bluff with sweeping views down to the Gulf of Finland along the  shore of the Baltic Sea,  and there are delightful pathways through the woods  leading to other retreats and royal residences along the shoreline. It’s definitely worth taking the time to  explore the grounds, and you never know whom you might meet along the way! Of course, if you can’t jaunt over to Russia just now and are wishing for a beautiful stroll through some gardens filled with  spring flowers and tulips, you can always join me here (see below) in Holland (MI) for the Tulip Festival!

Have you ever thought about the way to try to imitate what we admire, no matter who we are? Not only do we try to imitate the gorgeous gardens of Holland here in Michigan, even someone as “great” as Peter the Great studied the palace of Louis XIV and incorporated many of the French king’s ideas when planning his own “yard and garden” show…which has lasted as a stunning spectacle for almost 300 years and has become a UNESCO World Heritage site. Way to go, Peter! I do admire your style! However, I have to confess, I admire the Apostle Peter even more (for whom the entire city of St. Petersburg was named)…who worshiped and imitated Jesus Christ. Although Jesus never built a monument, He has influenced more people than anyone else throughout history, and I study Him every day, trying to become like him…his grace, his love, and his goodness. Whom do you admire and imitate? I hope Someone GOOD!

                “Ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”           (1 Thessalonians 5:15)

 “There is none good but one, that is, God.” (Matthew 19:17)

(Credit for the three pictures from inside Peterhof goes to their official literature, since no one is allowed to film inside the palace.)

 

The Romance of Northern Europe (10): Exploring Tallinn, Estonia

Although Tallinn is the birthplace of Skype, one of the world’s top ten digital cities, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back 5,000 years, has a population of 430,000,* and is the capital and largest city in Estonia, I had virtually never heard of it until we went on our Northern European Cruise last spring. We came into the city via the Tallinn Passenger Port, which is one of the busiest cruise destinations in the Baltic Sea. We docked very close to Toompea Castle, part of the fortification system for “Old Town,” the ancient city center, and commenced with a delightful walking tour of the city. St. Olaf’s church (far right) was the tallest building in the world  from 1549 to 1625 and is still an impressive landmark today, although there are many beautiful churches! (Lutheran, St. Mary’s Cathedral)(Russian Orthodox, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral) (St. Nicolas Church, was dedicated to the patron of fishermen and sailors in 1275, but today it’s a concert hall and houses a museum of ecclesiastical art.) In many ways, Tallinn has never lost its Medieval look and charm,  although now everything has a touch of modern class added! Ancient walls are adorned with modern art for sale, and the town center is flanked with inviting open air cafes,some with snuggly sheep skins adorning the chairs. Talk about warm and plush!We visited in May—a great time to travel!—and there were flowers blooming everywhere. The markets were also bursting with colorful bouquets for sale. The Town Hall Square (aka “Raekoja plats”) is home to “Raeapteek,” founded   in 1422 and one of the world’s oldest continuously operating pharmacies! Of course, not all the attractions on the square are quite so ancient. 🙂 After a long morning of trekking all over Old Town  learning about Tallinn’s heritage and taking in the sites,  we were treated to a traditional tea  featuring both savory and sweet, stuffed croissants  in a historic restaurant. (This fresco was painted on the ladies’ bathroom door!)I mean, this was a seriously, authentically ancient building! After a chance to rest and relax, we made our way past some lovely lassies in traditional garb to the “Fat Margaret” Tower and city gate, which now houses a fascinating little “Estonian Maritime Museum.”There’s also an excellent open air museum in Tallinn, which we didn’t see, because we just didn’t have time to see it all, hear it, taste it, or experience it all.But, I think that’s just the way it is! My dad used to always paraphrase Huckleberry Finn: “You pays your nickel, and you takes your choice.” No matter how hard we try, we’re only going to experience bits and pieces of life. We’ll notice certain things, but we may never really understand them. We’ll figure out some things…but there will be all sorts of things we miss.       That’s why I’ve chosen to put my trust in God, who alone is omniscient! On this wonderful “cruise” called life, we’ll never get it all figured out, but God knows and understands everything, and He can lead us into the ways of peace.“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12).

(*The above aerial view of Tallinn was taken from Wiki Commons)

The Romance of Northern Europe (9): Berlin: Bustling and Hopeful

Berlin, Germany,  built along the Spree River,  is the largest city in continental Europe,  and second only to London in the European Union.  During World War II, it was the third most populous city in the entire world,  and still today, its metro area hosts nearly 4.5 million people from 180 nations around the world.  Before Alan and I visited last spring, I envisioned Berlin as a city still in recovery   from the massive destruction of World War II,  but I was truly delighted with what I saw. It looks to me like Berlin has overcome  —but not forgotten, and I hope will never forget—her past.   I believe Berlin is passionately pursuing the present and working toward a hopeful future.  The city is full of beautifully restored historic landmarks,  like the Brandenburg Gate  and the Berlin Cathedral (Dom), but the downtown area is filled with dazzling, new architecture, and everywhere you look, Berlin is still very much under construction. If you ever want to visit Berlin, know that it houses Europe’s largest grade- separated train station, the Hauptbahnhof, which has free internet, luggage lockers, some 80 shops, and provides excellent service to around 300,000 passengers every day! Also, if you’re downtown and looking for a good lunch  spot, I can definitely recommend Reinhard’s in the Kempinski Hotel!  Although many things have changed about Germany since World War II, some things haven’t changed…like their scrumptious traditional dishes and their world-famous apple strudel. (Altho, Jon’s Gerlinde makes the best!)Well, there’s no end to the fun things I could share about Berlin, but I want to leave you with a thought shared with us by our charming tour guide. The tallest building in Berlin is the TV tower, the Fernsehturm, which dominates the skyline. (Photo bombs in fact…look back at the museum & cathedral pix.) Our tour guide called this “the Christian’s Revenge,” because no matter where you are, the sunshine reflects so that you see a cross shining over Berlin, rather like the crosses you can see in this hospital window, reminding us that through Christ there is forgiveness, healing, and hope for all nations and people.

“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32).

The Romance of Northern Europe (7): Aarhus—Come See with Me!

Okay, I’m going to make a few embarrassing confessions: 1. I’m a baby boomer  2. Alan and I are now “senior citizens,” and he usually wants to take the guided tours rather than zipping around on our own where we don’t know the language and haven’t much clue about where we’re really supposed to be going  3. Even though I was a history major in college, I’ve really never studied “Aarhus” in my entire life. Have you? Aarhus is Denmark’s second largest city, but it’s actually the largest port. It’s roughly the geographic center of the country: on the east coast, midway north on the Jutland Peninsula (in red). In addition to its commercial importance to Denmark, Aarhus is a lively cultural center, and hosts “Aarhus Festuge,” Scandinavia’s largest themed festival, at the end of each summer.  However, we came when spring was just bursting into bloom, and that’s a perfectly wonderful time to visit too! 🙂 Our tour guide took us first to visit Aarhus Cathedral, which is so large that  I couldn’t get a good picture with my camera of the real thing! It’s  the tallest church in Denmark (96 meters high) as well as the longest (93 meters) and seats 1,200 people. It was built between 1190-1300 but renovated with Gothic vaulting in the 1500’s. We were able to spend some time appreciating this majestic place of worship, & the tour was perfectly timed so we could also enjoy a magnificent organ recital! After a guided bus tour of the city generally, we stopped briefly at the   ARoS Aarhus Art Museum, which is brand new, one of the largest museums  in Northern Europe, and still planning finishing touches. It has a circular “your rainbow  panorama” at the top from which people can view the city through rainbow-colored glasses. If you come to Aarhus, the ARoS is definitely worth a visit! However, my favorite stop was our last: to “Den Gamle By,” which takes you back in time from the 21st century to the 16th century. If you’ve ever enjoyed a visit to Greenfield Village in Michigan, you’d probably love the Den Gamle By outdoor museum! It premiered in 1914 and is the oldest outdoor museum as such in the world. Seventy-five historic structures were collected from all over Denmark and transported to this site. Most of the buildings are from the 15-18th centuries, and they’ve been arranged into street scenes to give you the feel for life during the different time periods. Also like Greenfield Village, it is a living, active community  where friendly souls in period dress carry on with life just as they would have 300-500 years ago! Luckily for us, pastries have apparently been around for many centuries. “And as ’twas a June day, and just about noon day” (well, maybe May afternoon), “they wanted to eat—like the best of us!”  (What? You’ve never heard “The Embarrassing Episode of Little Miss Muffet” ??) No hideous spiders, but we sat near the city well and sure enjoyed our pastries! All told, our day in Aarhus was just splendid from beginning to end. Many things were delightfully unique, and many things were comfortingly familiar. Travel is like that! It expands our horizons and helps us grow…makes the world seem smaller because of how much we humans share in common, and then it makes the world seem bigger because of how different we are too, and how much more there is to learn! 🙂

Have you ever considered taking a trip to heaven? You may have never even heard of it, the way I’d not heard of Aarhus, but it’s a real place, even though neither of us has ever been there yet.  Did you know that “heaven” is mentioned 550 times in the Bible? Jesus tells us that “no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven” (John 3:13). That same person (Jesus) tells us that he can take us to heaven when we die if we repent of our sins and trust Him to take us there, surrendering our lives to him as our Lord and Savior. Are you interested? Are you on your way? I am, and it’s been the trip of a lifetime…even more exciting than the best ports of Northern Europe! I hope to meet you…either on the way down here…or  up there someday! Blessings—

“I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 11:25).

(Aerial view of Aarhus, Denmark from Wiki Commons)

The Romance of Northern Europe (6): Cruising Fjords in the Baltic Sea

One of my favorite joys in cruising is just that: cruising! Cruising through the fjords along the coast of Norway was especially enchanting. We weren’t in rugged mountain areas like we’ve seen in New Zealand and Alaska but lollygagged through gentler fjords filled with islands and dotted with homes. On this particular cruise of Northern Europe, we only had two days “At Sea” where we traveled throughout the day without ever reaching a port. On those days, we were filled with fresh sea breezes from the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same…until the sun set in lilac and golden splendor.Alan and I spent a lot of time walking & soaking up the views during days at sea.Our captain gave great commentary and would tell people just where to look and what they might be seeing that would be of special interest. I probably should have kept a journal with notes so I could give you more details on what we saw. But, alas, my eyes were so full of wonder at all thefascinating townsand remote, romantic islands, that I failed to retain much specific information to share, although I hope you’re able to enjoy my “Impressions of Norway.” I will say that cruising through the Baltic Sea— especially through the fjords of Norway—was an experience I’ll always treasure. It’s an adventure I would happily repeat. But, if I ever get to go again, I’d like to sail up the northern coast of Norway to some of the more wild, remote fjords. “From the rising of the sun to the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised” (Psalm 113:3).

The Romance of Northern Europe (4): Gourmet Cuisine

So, the most frequently asked question I get about cruises is: “How’s the food?” I’m going to discuss cruise food, but all the pictures are from our last trip to Northern Europe with the Emerald Princess so you can see what you think! The dishes are as good as they look. (This was from an excursion into Berlin.) Also, you can order milder, more simple food than you see in the pictures, such as this classic Fettuccini Alfredo in a parmesan basket that was amazing! Alan gets tired of gourmet and orders hamburgers or hotdogs sometimes.If you don’t like what’s on the menu, they always have a list of standbys you can order, such as sirloin steak or salmon (at least, on the Princess Cruise Line), and there are always vast buffets with oodles of choices. Alan and I have been on so many cruises, and on so many different cruise lines, that we’ve occasionally tasted food we didn’t relish and have definitely developed preferences. We are not connoisseurs of octopus, and although people flocked back to the buffet line when a fresh octopus emerged from the kitchens of Costa, we would rate their cuisine at the bottom of the list for our personal taste. Their dinner “steaks” were about as thin as breakfast steaks in America, and it might be simply a cultural difference, but the food was not “up to par” by our standards. Our first cruise was to the Hawaiian Islands for our 20th anniversary, and I remember the luxurious feeling of being able to order anything off the menu without worrying about the price—a totally new experience for me. It reminded me a little of being  in the hospital after having a baby, where I could happily order orange juice, milk, AND tea for breakfast, along with whatever else I wanted on their menu. As we were always on the raw edge of feeling poverty-stricken in those days, so this was a great luxury to me. Of course, hospital food is not to be compared with cruise food, which is in a totally different league, and second only (perhaps) to extraordinary local specialties (such as salmon in Alaska or Clyde’s in the U.P.) Still, Alan and I often order three desserts between the two of us, and nobody bats an eye. And, we’ve both had more than one lobster for dinner, although in recent times we’ve had to use much more discretion about what we  eat so that we don’t gain too much weight!! (However, with such a busy schedule of 12+ hour days sight-seeing this time, we actually didn’t gain any weight, which was happily shocking to both of us! 🙂 ) I think both Alan and I agree that so far our 3-continent transatlantic cruise with Celebrity is our #1 favorite as far as all-around excellence, although Celebrity is generally more  pricey. I am a “great deal” shopper, and to date, the majority of the “great deals” that I’ve tracked and purchased have been with the Princess Line. I usually buy  one of the least expensive cabins (inside), and I wait for remarkable deals, such as our Tahiti 10-day cruise that I snagged for $399 per person (20 years ago). Alan used to worry that cruises were “too expensive,” so I encouraged him to plan a trip and compare costs. He planned a one-week trip to Florida: We flew down, rented a car, stayed at a beach front hotel, and ate out. The tab for that trip was more than I’d been paying for our two-week cruises. So, cruising is extremely luxurious, but if you’re a bargain shopper, it can actually be a great way to get to exotic places that you might never otherwise afford. And, I figure the food alone would more than cover the price of the cruise—if you actually bought and paid for at a restaurant what you would eat on a ship  (which I would never do because it would be too expensive). So, over all, Alan and I were delighted with the food on the Emerald Princess. In fact, I think cruise food is generally excellent and cruising is a great way to travel, especially if you want to experience a lot of different places and cultures in a short time. I don’t know about you, but I love to cook and I love to eat! I often use my cruise experience to help dream up new recipes to try and expand our home menu. In the Bible, we learn that human beings need spiritual food as well as food for their bodies (Matthew 4:4). God is the “Master Chef” of all chefs and offers to feed us if we’ll come to him! I hope that you—like me— are daily feasting at the Lord’s table, learning new spiritual lessons to try and being nourished by His Word. 🙂

“I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it” (Psalm 81:10).

The Romance of Northern Europe (3): Cruising with the Emerald Princess

I’ve met a few very rich people who disparage cruise ships as “cattle haulers,” butfor my Scottish dollar, I think cruising is an incredibly good deal  and pretty much like Disney World afloat…but with even more to offer for less. Let me illustrate this by discussing our voyage around the Baltic Sea last May. We entered the terminal in Copenhagen & sailed aboard the Emerald Princess, a 5-star ship christened in 2007 that’s nearly 1,000 ft. long and hosts 3,080 passengers served by 1,200 staff from around the world—which translates into a  whole lot of personal attention per person and an opportunity to meet people from many lands & cultures—even better than a trip around World Showcase! The Emerald Princess has 4 pools and 7 whirlpool spas, sunning decks, a library,shops, a jogging track and exercise gym, organized sports and games, classes,  various types of games, over a dozen restaurants…& mostly all complimentary. In the evenings you can watch movies under the stars or take in one of their live shows. One evening we heard an amazingly gifted violinist, although we usually opted out of the organized entertainment, preferring quiet time together.You can stroll around the decks enjoying the breath-taking scenery… morning noon, or evening, and the views are ever changing and always stunning…even better than Disney! Well, at least most days. One day looked like this! 🙂 But remember, the ship isn’t just for entertainment, it’s also for spending quality time together.For me, it’s like staying at an all-inclusive world class resort that also provides  transportation from fascinating port to port across the seas while you sleep! Once you’re on the ship, you never have to unpack your bags again, and “they” do all the driving, so all “we” have to do is enjoy the view! Or, if you’re in a mood for something even more relaxing, you can generally find some beautiful live music playing somewhere, although there are also many quiet lounges where you can read or talk quietly. There are art galleries with dazzling paintings by renowned artists, and art auctions where you can bid on famous reproductions as well. And, the food is OUT.OF.THIS.WORLD. (Yes, this was my dessert one night!) There are fabulous buffets (if you like) for each meal where you can choose your own food and sit wherever you want…most always with a gorgeous view. You can also dress up and go out to “your table” every night if you wish, whichwe always did, because we the loved the gourmet cuisine & romantic ambiance. For the hungry-hearted or those who may have missed a meal, there is food available I think pretty much 24/7…again, free and really appealing! In fact, the food was so remarkable that I might write a separate post about it tomorrow, because that’s one of the most commonly asked questions I get:    How was the food? The food was great! In fact, our entire trip was just incredible! The only thing nobody relishes is the mandatory rehearsal at your muster station so you’ll be prepared in case of emergency. Everybody has to show up with their life jacket and know just where to go and what to do in the event of disaster.

Having experienced the Emerald Princess, I can definitely commend her to you if you’re considering taking a cruise. May I also ask you, have you considered taking a journey that will lead to heaven? Having committed my life to Jesus as the Captain of my soul, I can unequivocally commend him to you as a pilot whose ship will never require an emergency evacuation. It will not sink, because Christ has risen from the dead as the “first fruits,” proving that those who believe in him will also be resurrected “in the last day.” It is also a ship loaded with spiritual abundance that makes the cargo of the Emerald Princess look paltry… spiritual blessings like love, joy, peace, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit to guide us. Jesus provides everything for our journey, so all we need to do is climb aboard. And, the final destination is heaven through a mysterious expanse of universe that we can’t navigate on our own. Are you ready? Are you willing? Are you aboard? If you’ve got any questions, please ask. Or, read the Bible, where answers can be found!

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there you may be also…I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me” (John 14:2,3,6).