2017 – A Whirlwind in Estonia & Sweden

Baltic Sea Cruise- Part Two (Estonia to Sweden to Finland)

Jon: After our bustling tour through Russia, the next day brought a new city – Tallinn, Estonia. I had brought a walking guide for the Old Town section. There was a feel of historical charm before we even arrived.

A brief walk from the ship brought us to the gate entrance. From there, narrow streets serpentined up toward the square and onto Toompea Castle that overlooks the town. The buildings are colorfully painted and the churches are grand. Because the area is relatively small, we were able to follow the guide with little difficulty. For me, this experience was more about the location as a whole than specific buildings. It’s a charming section of medieval Europe that allowed for a walk back in time.

After our day in Tallinn, we jumped on the boat and headed to Stockholm, Sweden for our last stop before returning to Helsinki. The morning cruise was remarkable, as the ship made its way past many sunlit islands of the Stockholm archipelago.

Interestingly, the city of Stockholm is comprised of several islands connected by bridges. We took another Hop On – Hop Off tour to see the unique city hall and other sights of interest. Much of our time was spent in Gamla stan, Stockholm’s Old Town. We strolled on old cobble stoned streets finding our way to the picturesque Stortorget, which translates to the Big Square.

Timing was with us as we arrived at the Royal Palace in time to watch the changing of the guard. The military band played as mounted guards road by. Stockholm is an amazing city that blends old and new exceptionally well.

We set sail for the final night aboard the Princess Anastasia. Amy and I played cards on the back deck while we kept eyes on the charming island cottages on the way out to sea. We’d enjoy one last buffet dinner with Lapin Kulta beer and red wine on tap, and checked out the evening variety show while peaking behind the window curtains to see the last of the sun as it dipped below the horizon. The experience on the boat was nearly as memorable as the different cities.

We arrived back in Helsinki with nothing but time on our hands. We had a full day to do whatever we pleased – no need to rush off the boat and no need to rush back. With that in mind, we took our time at breakfast and didn’t bother with the cues to deboard. We leisurely found our way off the boat, into town, and to the Hotel Finn. We revisited the sights and relaxed with beers and salmon soup, which proved to be delicious.  We ended our day with visits to unique neighborhoods and a stroll along the waterfront.

The next day was, again, relaxed. We locked our bags at the hotel, found a nice breakfast buffet nearby, and then hopped a ferry to Suomenlinna, an 18^th-century sea fortress strategically located on islands a short distance from the city. We arrived as sailors from the Chinese navy entered. Two of their ships had participated in Russia’s Navy Day and were now at port in Helsinki.

Amy and I explored the fortifications, buildings, courtyards, and cannons as we sauntered around the islands. We returned to Helsinki via the ferry that offered fantastic views coming and going, made some souvenir stops, and found more salmon soup. Alas, our time in Helsinki was coming to a close. I tried to absorb the sights, sounds, and smells of the city before taking the train toward the airport hotel where we’d spend our final night.

This trip was, for the most part, a whirlwind. Amy and I would have liked to spend more time and get a better feel for the different places. Nonetheless, we were able to gain many experiences in the time we had and I would gladly revisit any of the cities. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around all this. I feel very fortunate to have had this opportunity.

(Dates: July 31-August 3, 2017)