Even though Northern Europe was expensive it was a nice change from the places we usually visit. This is the second article of the Northern Europe series. Having left Stockholm via the Viking Ferry, we arrived that same evening in Turku, Finland. And after a few days we took the bus down to Helsinki. Here are some of the highlights.
We saw several homesteads like this that were alone on their own island. Traveling in unaccustomed style.We made a stop at Mariehamn, Aland Islands. On the cliffside path facing the sea there were several residents watching the ferries pass by. Mariehamn and the Alan Islands are an autonomous region of Finland where the residents speak Swedish. Mariehamn (“Marie’s Port”) was named after the 19th century Russian Empress Maria Alexandrovna (Marie of Hesse).Stenkrossen, an abandoned quarry by Mariehamn’s Western Harbor.Turku Castle, built in the 1280’s, greets us shortly after we disembarked from the ferry. A fire in 1614 destroyed most of the castle and after it was rebuilt and made into a warehouse.Even though the walk to the apartment was cold and we had several blocks to go I just had to stop and take a photo of this building.Market Square with the Orthodox Church of Saint Alexandra on the right.Läntinen Pitkäkatu. We trudged through snow and more snow on our way to the bus station and back. Left: Läntinen Pitkäkatu. Kauppiaskatu 20. The house was designed by Robert Lyly and was completed in 1926. Right: Detail of the Woman & Girl statue gracing the corner. I’m not sure who did the artwork. It dates to the same time as the building.They really love licorice in these northern countries. I do too …. but a whole tupperware-type container of it? And of course there is also Fudge. Licorice flavored!Left: “Turku Cathedral is a medieval basilica located in Turku, Finland. It was originally built out of wood in the late 13th century and dedicated as the main cathedral of Finland in 1300.” – Wiki The main cathedral was in Turku (earlier called Abo) because it was the capital of the country. Right: I wanted to get a closer photo of the facade and interior but it was just too cold to go over the bridge in my decidedly unwinterly clothes so I had to settle for this shot from the bus as we were leaving town.Finally heading south to Helsinki. We could enjoy the scenery … or decide just who to vote for in the upcoming elections, each candidate conveniently also given a number.Three photos of the landscape as we went in and out of snow flurries.Red seems to be the preferred color of Finnish barns.I can almost hear one of Sibelius’s symphonies to accompany these vistas. We really wanted to spend more time in Helsinki but it was just too cold and budget-breaking.A telephoto of the Helsinki Train Station, taken as we were walking down to our next hotel. I was hoping to get a closer look the next day but getting ferry tickets for Estonia was a higher priority. Can’t see everything.I wasn’t able to find out what this building was. I had seen another one almost identical to this one.The bitter cold walk to the ferry dock still had some pretty interesting sites. Halfway to the ferry we ducked into a nice hotel lobby to warm up.
Our travels in Africa having come to a sudden end, we decided to go someplace totally different. Northern Europe was indeed just that: more expensive (which is why we didn’t stay too long), modern, but much safer than South Africa. And much colder. And we still had our sandals from Africa!
This is the first of several articles of our journey through five countries: Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Most of this article has to do with Stockholm. A very interesting city. Even though we were not dressed for the freezing temperatures we forced ourselves to make the most of it.
To the right is the Skinnarviksberget. Cold morning, bracing gusts of wind near the water. But beautiful architecture. Our hotel is just beyond the rocky outcrop.A view of the Ryddarfjarden. One cold morning we decided to do the whole circuit around it. Quite a walk!A Fieldfare, a common thrush, faring pretty well in a frozen field. Unlike money in many other countries, Sweden’s currency has artists, filmmakers, and novelists. The actress Greta Garbo graces this 100 Kronor note.Above and below: glimpses of a more countrified part of the city, the island of Langholmen, the eastern half of which is mostly parkland. Notice the sod and thatched roof. This was more commonly done earlier. And a lot of 19th century Swedish immigrants to the US took this practice with them.Picturesque long building facing the South Malarstrand AvenueWe are back in the land of articulated buses! Behind it is the Riddarhuset (House of Nobility).Ridderholman Church. It started to really snow on the morning that we walked around the harbor.The Sofia Church, sitting like a squat rocket on the hilltop, was more impressive on the outside.Sofia Church interior. There used to be beautiful ornate art on the wall you see there but it was replaced by this modern mural. It “improved the acoustics” is what one brochure claimed. Hmm.Stockholms Tingsrätt (City Courthouse) behind an iconic line of harbor-fronting Hanseatic buildings.A closer view of the City Courthouse.Thanks to Voi, Lime, Bolt, and about six other electric scooter rental services, you are never far from convenient wheels to take you from A to B. Prices vary between 2 or 3 SEK per minute. No wonder they are always speeding!The Guardian of Valhalla getting ready to whack the sacred pinatas. I know my Norse mythology!This morning we left Stockholm for Turku, Finland. On a viking ship! Well, the company is Viking Line.Escorting our ferry through the Stockholm Archipelago is one of Odin’s ravens. Hmm. I’m not sure if this dapper fellow is Huginn or Muninn. Actually this isn’t even a raven, but a Hooded Crow.Slowly snaking our way through the suburbs east of Stockholm.Oskar-Fredriksborg Fort, a defensive redoubt on the island of Rindö. Built 1877. It was still used during WW2. The casemate facing the water was connected to the command structure uphill by hallways well-protected with reinforced concrete. But I don’t think this fort was ever really put to the test.Have sandals, will travel. Relaxing as we ease our way out of the Stockholm archipelago.
From NOwhere 2 nowHERE 