Warnemunde, Germany.  6 June 2014, Friday

Today, our first day of real sunshine and (some) warmth. 

Overnight, we passed through strait connecting the islands of Zealand and Funen.  I was sound asleep by the time we passed under the Great Belt Bridge, but Dave took this photo (left)..

A very funny dinner last night - at least I thought it was funny, DB wasn't amused.  For some reason, the  waiters in the Italian restaurant waited on me exclusively, pouring only my wine and checking with me that it was OK.  It was as if Dave was invisible.    He was still speechless about it today.

Opening our curtains this morning showed us the town of Warnemunde in the old East Germany.  It's described as a  "pleasant seaside resort and spa" but which also has a role as an important element of the nearby industrial city of Rostock.

right:   First time so far on this trip - no jacket!!! - but it didn't last.  As soon as I moved out from the sheltered spot outside our cabin, the chilly wind struck again.

An easy day - this morning, just lazed around the ship, and admired how good the screen was for the outdoor movies, even when in direct sunlight. Watching a Tina Turner special while drinking cafe lattes was as much energy as we expended this morning.

There weren't too many other passengers around - I think most took off for Berlin on a chartered train, involving a round trip of six hours travelling plus sightseeing time.  They left well before I was out of bed this morning, so the ship was pretty quiet by the time we made it to breakfast..

Those of us left behind went up river this afternoon on a cruise to Rostock to check out the old town there.  We had a guide who, in my intolerant view, was a pain in the neck, and I'm being kind.  I'm also being kind about the river cruise past the industrial area of the port - probably on a par with a cruise on the Hunter River.  Not overwhelming praise, I know. 

However, approaching the town area by river gave a sense of its medieval history:

A few things of note - Rostock had the first University (above left) established in continental Europe (around the year1400, I think), and the town was largely rebuilt by the Soviets after the demolition work of the RAF in World War II (it was considered a major industrial target).  The Soviet rebuilding was mainly in the concrete block style which characterised much of the post-war Iron Curtain, but on the waterfront here, in an attempt to provide a more pleasing face to the world, it was softened by some European touches.  Anyhow, that's how guide explained it. 

Rostock has two main streets, and one was taken over yesterday by festive crowds celebrating some holiday (above right).  This street still features buildings from a few centuries ago, and gives the town a picture postcard look.

Also of interest was the Church of St Mary. St Mary's was lucky to escape virtually unscathed from the war devastation of the 1940s.  Judging by the photos we saw, all around it was flattened.

It's a very large brick building, now Lutheran, originally Catholic,which houses one of those fascinating astrological clocks (see photos below).  They've been described as the Google of their times, since they display all sorts of information necessary to the people of a few centuries ago. Sort of like a farmers' almanac.

(later)

The departure of Royal Princess  from Warnemunde this evening was spectacular.

 Several hundred locals turned out on the dock and breakwater to watch the manouevre, a delicate one for a ship so big. It would have been a wonderful sight from onshore, and I could see many flashlights going off (rather pointlessly, since ordinary camera flashlights don't extend more than about three metres).

Dave and I watched from the very front of the ship as the captain (I presume) did a complete U-turn to line it up with the outgoing channel.  Ship's horns were blaring farewell, and the Princess even played a tune on the horn!  One horn directly behind me on the top deck was so deafeningly loud that I jumped in fright, clutching at my ears.

above: Just after sunset, heading for the channel leading out to the Baltic Sea waterways from Warnemunde.

Next; a day at sea