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| Tallin, Estonia |
When I last tootled around Europe in 2007, it was mostly in and around the Mediterranean Sea. It reminded me of a much older and developed version of the Caribbean. This summer I really wanted to see a different side of Europe so I decided on the countries that are accessible via the Baltic Sea.
Not knowing much about the Baltic Sea I really thought it would be like the Gulf Of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, or even the Mediterranean. Boy was I wrong. The Baltic Sea is eerily calm - dead flat with a brown hue to it. It almost seems dead except for the prolific jellyfish.
Around the end of June the night sky never gets dark. The midnight sunset made for beautiful images. It was so light that stars were not visible. Explains why the Vikings liked to stay close to shore during the summer months.
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| Midnight Sun |
Copenhagen Denmark was my first stop. The single most shocking thing about Copenhagen was the price of goods. All goods. Just about everything was at least double what one would expect to pay anywhere in the United States or where the Euro is the currency. After getting over the sticker shock (~$3/liter for Gasoline; $5 for a cup of coffee; $12 for a burger combo at Burger King) I settled in to have a look around Copenhagen. Lovely gardens, museums, palaces, parks, and sculptures are found throughout the city. Massive shopping areas are found along Stroget street for those tourists wanting to spend more than they need to for goods. The public transport system of buses and subways is top notch - but not in English. You'll need to study the map to get the spelling right for your stops. Christiana was a special place with a mood and a vibe that was relaxed and mellow.
Warnemunde Germany is a quaint little fishing village that has become a summer destination for beach lovers. They have a massive white sand beach which is just blocks from the train station. People come from as far away as Berlin via a 2.5 hour train ride to spend the day on the beach.
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| Stockholm, Sweden |
Stockholm Sweden was a truly special place. The miles and miles of Archipelago islands with their summer homes and estates made for a grand entrance into Stockholm. Rich in history and architecture, Stockholm remained neutral during the European wars of first half of the 1900's and as a resultant their historic buildings were not decimated by bombing. Stockholm is made up of several islands so the water and their harbor are integral to life in the city. Very efficient public transportation along with an economy based on the Euro made this an affordable stop for the independent tourist type. Maybe my favorite spot on this trip (in the summer).
Helsinki Finland was similar to Stockholm but with a more developed or urban feel to it. The parks were wonderful and the people of Helsinki turn out in great numbers to enjoy a warm summer day. The open air market was a uniquely special place. Fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood as well as arts, crafts and prepared foods were on offer throughout. The market is a place I would be at least once a week.
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| Hermitage Museum - St. Petersburg |
St. Petersburg Russia was an interesting city. It is rich in history, recognizing its victories and finding humility in its defeats. I think many Russian people are hopeful that a Democratic future will bring prosperity while many also are happy to exploit the freedoms and vulnerabilities found in such a young transformation to capitalism. Crime and corruption remain the top concerns of the average "Sasha" on the street. You do require a Russian Visa to enter. This is something you should get well in advance of your planned visit. It is uncommon to meet people on the street who speak any English. Many signs around tourist attractions are also in English, but this rapidly diminishes as you get out of the heart of the city. Organized tours are a good idea - but if your adventurous.......
Tallin Estonia was a really cool place. Beautiful, laid back and purposeful would describe it for me. They have preserved much of the old Architecture in what was the center of town many decades ago. What surrounds that is a modern city with a thriving economy supporting a burgeoning lifestyle and young population.
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| Aarhus, Denmark |
Aarhus Denmark is a quaint town that was once primarily a fishing village. Now it is a thriving shipping port and distribution point for Denmark. They have worked hard to maintain the old-world charm despite the economic struggles the region has faced.
Oslo Norway is a much bigger city than my American paradigm had allowed for. It's roots as a fishing and trade port city are evident but its place as a financial services and retail center is not so apparent. Their are many affluent people enjoying a wonderful lifestyle in the harbors around Oslo. Tourism plays a vital role for Oslo. Again, public transportation was easy, reliable and affordable. As in Denmark and Sweden, many people in Oslo speak English as well.
After this it was back to Copenhagen for a day of rest and preparation for heading back to North Carolina.
Link to my
Europe portfolio..
Cheers,
Monty
