When Iris Eyes Are Smiling

I thought I would give all my readers a real treat by including a photo I took with my Iphone this afternoon.  The iris smells even better than it looks and we've placed a vase full in our bedroom.
I received a 17 page booklet from CIBT the visa company to help me navigate through
the application for a Russian visa.  However, here's the good news.  I don't have to get a Russian visa if I use the ship's tourist agents to see the sights of all
the ports we visit, including St. Petersburg.  This will save me a great amount of time and rubles as well.  Now all I have to do is contact the tour planners and make arrangements for the individual tours.  Our experience has shown that it is best to take the morning short tours when everyone is fresh and friendly rather than grumpy after a long day of sightseeing.  Fortunately the Royal Caribbean can make arrangements for small groups in vans or even vehicles for two people and a

guide.  I plan to check this out before we leave the States. Gradually everything is falling into place.  Of course I'll have to look under all the mattresses for
whatever loose change I can muster to pay the freight for this journey, but as in all our recent voyages, the tooth fairy comes through and every time it rains, it rains pennies from heaven.(from the movie of the same name)

I finally made contact with the RC Tour Planning Department, which wasn't too helpful since the planner had a difficult time describing the tours in English so
I politely thanked her and turned to the online program for Tours.  I was able to sign up for 6 Tours for the ports we will visit during our Baltic Adventure.
We stop at the following ports; Copenhagen (we visited before), Helsinki, Stockholm ( I stopped at 50 years ago on the way to Russia) Tallinn, Gothenburg,
and 2 days in St. Petersburg with one day devoted to the Hermitage Museum.  It is
quite an ambitious schedule but I eliminated all of the walking tours that might be too hectic for Annabelle.  Now my remaining task is to schedule a flight back
from England when we return from the Baltic.