Stockholm to Helsinki...and the days are getting longer

Hei (hello in Finnish) from Helsinki!
It's been an amazing couple of days and I can't wait to tell you about it! But first, a special 'Hei' to Uwe and Skye...thanks for your comments. Its great when I get back to the internet and the blog, and see that somebody has dropped by....makes it all worthwhile! [grin]

Tuesday 17/6 - Stockholm to the middle of the Baltic Sea

The photo above is us in Stockholm where I last left you. ...as you can see by the sunnies, we had some sunshine after our rainy bus trip to get there so walking around and taking in Stockholm was a really pleasant experience. (Don't worry Skye...I always enjoy travel no matter what the weather is...but sunshine is extra nice.) [smile]

Started our day with a tour of Stockholm including getting to see inside some of the lovely buildings, and walking around the old city. Had a really good local guide again (Katerina) which always makes it fun. Even Klaars (our Globus guide) said quietly "I think she's started her day with at least 4 coffees." [laugh] She was incredibly bubbly and energetic and waved around this amazing 'Darth Vader' green plastic tube so that we would see her in the crowds. She kept threatening to use it to beat off other tour guides who were 'moving in on her space'. [giggle]

At one point when we were standing in a city square, Katerina mentioned that the King's son was currently at home. Because there was a flag flying above the building? Nup...because his car was parked out the front! The royal families in this part of the world are a lot more 'reachable' than the royal family in England. Katerina had us all in stitches when describing them because she said that "...the Queen is very smart but the King...well...the lift doesn't quite go to the top of him." [roars with laughter]

In the afternoon we joined an optional excursion to the WASA Ship Museum. Now...stop yawning everyone! This was definitely another one of those 'take your breath away' sights!!!!! This ship was built in 1628...and on her maiden vogage, she sank. In total, she stayed afloat for all of TWENTY MINUTES! But what is really amazing is that she sank in the Baltic Sea which has very little salt and no woodworm, so when they raised her in 1961 she was 95% intact. Unbelievable! And the ship is huuuuuuge!!!!! The exhibition is amazing and fascinating....and everything is translated into English.

Speaking of language, everyone here speaks English. Not like in Germany where the kids learn it in school and then forget most of it. I mean...EVERYONE we've come across speaks absolutely fluent English in Scandanavia. And I've found out the reason. In Germany, the TV programs are dubbed into German....and there is nothing funnier than watching an American sitcom like 'My Wife & Kids' with everyone talking in German! But here in Scandinavia, they aren't. Every English program is screened in English with written sub-titles in the local language. So.... you know how kids and teenagers love to watch TV....well to watch Sex and the City or something similar, they can only get it in English! And gee, it makes a huuuuuge difference!

And they are up to date with special diets too...had gluten-free bread in a basket served on the breakfast table. Norbert is absolutely amazing with supporting me with this diet...he spends ages scouring a city looking for gluten-free bread for me - and usually finds some! We finally found some in the basement of a shop in Stockholm. :-)


Here's a question for you. See the photo to the left? (You can click on it to see it bigger) What do you think it is? Perhaps the inside of a shopping mall....or maybe looking out from an upper floor of a large hotel? If you thought that, you are way out! [self-satisfied grin] It is where we spent Tuesday night - and it is the inside of a ferry! Not exactly the ferry at Cadell, is it...not even the SeaLink to Kangaroo Island! It was 12 floors of restaurants, shopping, gym, lounge bars...and of course, cabins. Here is a photo of Norbert inside ours - the second bed is on the left and it just folds down from the wall making 2 comfy single beds. There was an ensuite-bathroom and best of all, a changing view outside of the window.
Here is a photo of what it looked like sailing serenely between the islands on our overnight journey to Helsinki. First we entertained ourselves with a couple of drinks on the top deck, then went down to the 7th floor Promenade for dinner in a seafood restaurant. [sighs] Aaaahhh.....this is the life. Its going to be hard to go back to rushing home from work and throwing left-overs into the microwave. :-)

Tuesday, 18/6 - Short nights and exploring Helsinki

Woke up in the night to go to the loo..... (message to young people - this is something old people do a lot [grin]) ...except I first thought it was morning because it was quite light outside and I could see a ship passing by on the horizon as I climbed back into bed. Then I thought to check the clock....to find it was only 3:30am! We had watched the sun set just before midnight and gone to bed, but apparently night was finished by about 2:30am and it had started to get light again. Weird...but amazingly fantastic to experience!

By 10:30am we were back on the bus, ready for a tour of Helsinki. My impression? Hmmm....a modern city but the buildings tend to the functional rather than the elegant. Streets are small...but not quaint.

I took a photo of one strange thing I noticed...all the cafes line up their tables and chairs, and when people sit down on them to eat, they don't move them - rather, they sit side by side. [grin]

Our local tour guide (Christina this time) showed us around Helsinki, and one of the most fascinating places was the Lutheran Church. They held a competition years ago for architects to submit suggested plans for a site which was a rocky outcrop on top of a hill. The one that won was the only plan which suggested that the church be built INSIDE the hill...and so it was. There was already a cave there which was originally carved out as a bomb shelter, so they basically enlarged that.

When you go in it is very simple with little ornamentation because the impact is the rocky walls. When it is raining or damp, water trickles down inside the walls and is quite beautiful. While I was there I lit a candle for Rebecca, my niece who died not long ago. Rebecca was a vivacious girl who loved travel and standing in that church in Helsinki, Finland on the other side of the world from Australia, I felt sure that if she could have, she would have wanted to see it. So I left a lighted candle there for her.

We had free time in the arvo so Norbert and I just wandered the streets and local markets to 'soak up' the sights, sounds, smells and culture of this faraway place.

I took a photo of Norbert buying from a little stall....see the deer antlers? No...he wasn't buying any. [grin] And have a look at the photo below - what do you think I look like in this furry hat? I wonder about the reaction if I wore this in Tea Tree Plaza? [howls with laughter]

Anyway, must be off now as we have another early start tomorrow. So far, internet has been easy to get as WIFI is available (for free) at every hotel...lets hope that lasts!

Until next time....hei hei! (That means goodbye in Finnish)