Roald Amundsen, born in 1872 near Oslo, Norway, left his mark on the Heroic Era as one of the most successful polar explorers ever born. His career of adventure began at the age of 15, originally studying medicine, but dropping out to go to sea where he soon moved his way up to the rank of mate. His first experience in the Antarctic was with Adrien de Gerlache's 1899 BELGICA EXPEDITION. He became the first to travel the Northwest Passage, in his ship Gjoa in 1903-06. After this expedition, plans were assembled to drift across the North Pole in Nansen's famous FRAM, but news arrived of Peary's successful attainment of the pole which caused Amundsen to make new plans--covert plans--for an expedition to the Antarctic and the subsequent capture of the South Pole. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen and four others stood at the South Pole, a month before Robert Scott. This expedition was an incredible masterpiece of organization

BALTIC CRUISE.

DOVER.  OSLO.  HELSINKI.   ST.PETERSBERG.,  STOCKHOLM.  GDANSK.  WERNEMUNDE.  COPENHAGEN.  DOVER.

 

 

NORWAY...OSLO

 

 

ROALD AMUNDSEN... 1872 - 1928..

See writeup in right hand column.

  HIS SHIP WAS THE "FRAM"

ABOARD THE "FRAM."

BEHIND THE MUSEUM HOUSING THE "FRAM."

ANOTHER VIEW FROM BEHIND THE MUSEUM.

SUSPENSION BRIDGE LINKING SWEDEN AND DENMARK.

RUSSIA...ST. PETERSBERG.

DOCKED IN A SHIPPING CANAL.

St.PETERSBERG THEATRE.

WELCOMING HOSTESSES FOR A BALLET PERFORMANCE.

HOSTESS.

PERFORMANCE OF THE BALLET "GISELLE".

YOUNG RUSSIAN BEAUTY.

ON THE WAY TO PETERHOF PALACE.

INSIDE THE PETERHOF PALACE.

 

WALLPAPER MADE OF SILK.

THE UNIT IN THE CORNER IS A HEATING OVEN.

PETERHOF GARDENS AND FOUNTAINS...BALTIC IN THE DISTANCE.

PETERHOF PALACE.

MEMORIAL TO THE REVOLUTION.

BOUTIQUE LOCATION FOR VISITORS... CONCIERGE AT DOOR.

Our private driver and guide took us there, with special parking outside with Concierge service.  Our driver & guide, Boris and Tanya, were very easy to get along with, and very open in describing how they live. We parted good friends.

STATUE OF PETER THE GREAT.

BOUTIQUE. WE WERE TREATED TO VODKA AND CHOCOLATES, FOLLOWED LATER BY RUSSIAN TEA, ALL ENJOYABLE.

FINLAND...HELSINKI.

THE CHURCH BUILT INTO THE ROCK.

ROCK CHURCH ROOF.

SIBELIUS MEMORIAL.

SWEDEN......STOCKHOLM.

THE FOLLOWING PHOTOS WERE TAKEN ON A CANAL CRUISE

 

POLAND....GDANSK.

 

SOLIDARITY MEMORIAL.

GERMANY......WERNEMUNDE & BAD DOBERAN.

THE MOLLI TRAIN NARROW GAUGE RAILWAY.

THE MOLLI TRAIN PASSES THROUGH THE TOWN WITH PICK UP SPOTS ALONG THE WAY.

THE ABOVE PHOTO AND THE FOLLOWING ARE TAKEN IN BAD DOBERAN ON THE BALTIC COAST.

 

 

DENMARK...COPENHAGEN.

DOWNTOWN.

THE ELEPHANT GATE

 

COLOURFUL BUS.