Nordic-Baltic Cruise

Friday July 31st. A nice walk from the ship lead us to the heart of the town. We again used the GPSmyCity app to see the sites around town. Stan and Lisa headed for a ferry ride to the Strip where the rented bikes and had other fun activities. Theresa and Karen walked around more looking for souveneir pins, postcards, stamps, and a place to mail them, then headed back to the ship for lunch. Because our friend Rodney was no longer on the cruise and it had been his request to go to Belgium after the cruise, we decided to cancel that trip and fly home directly from Copenhagen at the end of the cruise. So we went to Guest Services to check on the flight changes we had requested through Princess and EZAir. This began a 3-day process and increased flight costs each day. But we did eventually get things straightened out.

Klaipėda is the 3rd largest city in Lithuania, the only major seaport in the country, and the busiest port in the Baltic states. The Old Town is famous for its collection of unusual decor and statues, including a soviet-era fountain, a giant chess set and piano, a bronze cat, and a tiny Magic Mouse, which is said to grant wishes when you whisper one into its ear. Other statues include a tribute to Antanas Poška, an anthropologist, on his motorcycle, the "Tower", and the Childhood Dream which has a boy waving a sailor's cap at the passing ships while his dog stands nearby.

The Klaipeda Chain Bridge crosses the castle canal, changing from a pedestrian crossing to an openway for boats to pass through. It is made of riveted iron and decorated with chains (thus its name although it's also known as the Kaipeda Swing Bridge). It is still operated by hand -- Two people turn it using its mechanical mechanism.