We've signed up for tours through SPB Tours, a Russian company that offers tours in the Baltic ports and gets very good reviews on Trip advisor and Cruise Critic. They are a bit cheaper than the cruise ship tours, but more importantly the groups are small. We met our guide, Brit, at 9:00 and were happy to learn there were only 10 of us with her.
We had a nice overview tour with the highlights including The Little Mermaid statue and the Royal Residences (outside only) and Royal Rooms in their parliament building. Lots of bicycles - 62% of the population commutes to work by bike. Recycling is very big also. There is a new processing plant to dispose of the waste with a grass ski slope on the roof. We had a short break during which we got a beer for Michael and an elderflower soda and mozzarella sandwich for me at an outdoor cafe. The weather was perfect so we were able to people watch and listen to a little local music while we relaxed with lunch. There is lots of construction everywhere. Their metro system opened in 2006 and they are expanding it by almost double the number of stations. The soil they dig out is used to expand the city through fill. No earthquakes here, apparently, since all the buildings are brick or stone, and a good portion of the city is landfill.
Back at the ship we lounged around the pool for a bit before Michael went to the gym and I did some reading. Another lovely dinner where Michael had calf's liver, something he NEVER gets at home. We didn't make it to the show tonight.
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