Cruising in Sweden & Finland

This weekend we took a cruise from Stockholm, Sweden to Helsinki, Finland and then back to Stockholm. We had a great time and we both absolutely loved Sweden. Stockholm is a beautiful and charming city made up of 14 islands - it was probably the most beautiful city we have ever seen. Our cruise was nice; we took a ship on the Royal Viking cruise line. Helsinki was also nice, but it had a very Soviet feel to it because it was under Russian rule during most of time the city was built. Finland seemed a little more rugged and hard - there are a lot of straight lines in the architecture, and you could tell the focus was on a hunting and fishing lifestyle. It was a really great vacation, and it was neat to visit places that a lot of Americans don't visit often. We highly recommend Sweden to anyone - it is such an amazing place (but make sure to visit it in the summer or late spring). Check out some of our pictures!


Welcome to the city of Stockholm!


Taken from a bridge in Stockholm.


One of many Stockholm bridges that connect
its 14 islands.


Entrance into the "Old Town" in
Stockholm


Another great view of Stockholm


Our cruise ship


Stockholm from our ship


Leaving Stockholm


Swedish countryside


Cruising down the Stockholm Archipelago


A little Swedish village on the Archipelago


Welcome to Helsinki, Finland!


The famous "Rock Church" in Helsinki that was
blasted out of solid rock


Monument to Jean Sibelius (famous composer)
in a park in Helsinki


A beautiful church in Helsinki


Nice view of Helsinki as we leave on our ship


Leaving Helsinki


Cruising back out to the Baltic Sea


Randy and I on our ship outside of Helsinki


A beautiful sunset on the Baltic Sea (at about 11:30pm)


Back in Stockholm!


View of the Stockholm port (all the old buildings
in the background with cool spires)


Randy and I an a pier in Stockholm getting ready
for our water tour of the city


Another beautiful view of Stockholm from a bridge


Side streets in Stockholm's "Old Town"


Me in Stockholm's "Old Town" enjoying
some ice cream and taking in my Swedish
heritage


One last look at Stockholm