Sweden and Helsinki Cruise Trip

Its been really long-time since I updated the blog, reason... I was busy and did not have any time for serious fun. So come 21st April Friday holiday and off I go, breaking away from the ever monotonous life in Downtown Copenhagen.

The weather has been really wonderful in the Scandinavian countries from 15th April and with Sun shining bright till 8.30 in the evening; it’s a very good life. The central Europe wasn't all that bright and sunny. It was raining in almost whole of the central and southern EU. I initially thought of visiting Milan and Venice (Italy) but due to Pope's death all the flight to Italy was booked. I was so keen to visit Venice that I went to the Venice of North EU ;-) Stockholm. As Danes say København is the Paris of Scandinavia( Scandinavia consist of Denmark, Sweden,Norway and Finland) , Stockholm is Venice and Oslo the biggest Village in whole of the Nordic region(Include Greenland and Iceland in Scandinavia).So, I was off to Stockholm. I was late to book flight or train ticket to Swedish capital so I took euro lines bus ticket. The trip is supposed to be really 'cool'.

I boarded the big 40 seater Volvo bus of SweBus Express bus at 9 pm from Copenhagen Central, the bus was almost empty. By 9.05 pm it was quarter full with tourist from all across EU and few from America. The bus was on its way to Stockholm via Malmö(The across sea city of Sweden from Copenhagen, around 15 mins ferry ride from Copenhagen Airport), Helsingborg and Göteborg(Volvo city and the second biggest City in Sweden). It is a long 9 hour journey. Initially I anticipated it to be a boring and uncomfortable ride but to my pleasant surprise it wasn’t a bit what I thought. The Volvo buses are really very cosy. The outside temperature was between +5 to -1 degrees Celsius but the inside it was really snug and I had to get rid of my jacket. I was dead tired after a hectic day at office and soon slept. After a while the bus halted at the border check post, an officer on a routine check up did a round of questions with a group of girls from Spain and a boys from Turkey. The bus was soon on the way without much delay. It was the only 1 hour of proper sleep I could get the whole night. The tunnel towards Malmö(beneath the Sea) is really very well constructed and the cars go zipping on the track. Even the bus did easy 90 km/hr.

The Swedish cities are based more on modern architecture as compared to Denmark. The roads are not that good as those in Copenhagen and other cities in Denmark but still very good. Copenhagen to Malmö, Malmö is near Copenhagen Airport, actually it is the very next city after Kastrup where the ‘Lufthavn’(airport) of Copenhagen is. You can reach the city fro Copenhagen in about 20 mins by train, with some part of the journey under water. Most of the Swedes living in the vicinity use Copenhagen International Airport for air travel. The bus picked more passengers at Malmö and within 10 mins was on the way to Helsingborg (as you might remember Helsingborg is the closet Swedish city from Denmark). To read more about Helsingborg please read the previous post ;-) Few passengers got off and got on and we all were on our way to Göteborg. It was 2 in the morning and mostly everyone was sleeping. A little beautiful Swede girl sat next to me and she was so conscious that she had a tough time sleeping. Once the bus stopped for the change of drivers I got to talk to her and then she was so relaxed that she slept on my shoulder the rest of the night. Her name was Sophia and she was visiting her grandparents in the city of Norrköping.

I reached Stockholm at 6 am. I got information and map of Stockholm, the capital of Sweden is a beautiful culmination of old and modern architecture. Stockholm, Sweden's capital city and major port, lies between Lake Malaren and the Baltic Sea. Part of the city is situated on an archipelago of twenty islands and part on the Swedish mainland. The city, with its bridges and canals, its large open spaces and both old and modern buildings, creates an efficient, harmonious city.The old city, which, when founded in the 12th century, had a city wall. This area is made up of Stadholmen. Riddarholmen and Holgeandsolmen islands. Even though the city has suffered a lot of damage from fires, the centre has still managed to maintain its medieval feel. This is the site of two highly important religious buildings, dating back to the 13th century, the Saint Nicholas Cathedral, on the island of Stadholmen, site of royal coronations and the Riddarholm Church, on the island of the same name, resting place of Sweden's Kings and Queens. Stadholmen island is also the site of the Royal Palace. Completed in 1754, the building contains 608 rooms, some of which still host official royal ceremonies. The National Museum, located in front of the Palace, is housed in a 18th century building and contains the largest collection of Swedish art. The 17th century House of the Nobles ((Riddarhuset), on the island of Riddarholmen, is a splendid example of Dutch Baroque and once served as the residence of the Nobility. Holgeandsolmen island is the site of the Parliament building (1905) and the old State Bank (1906) and the Town hall, which is located in the centre of the Kungsholmen district. This red-brick building was constructed between 1911 and 1923 and features a 106 metre bell-tower, which chimes twice a day. The building's blue room is the site of the Nobel Prize presentations, which take place on the 10th of December every year, on the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the rich 18th century industrialist.The lush, green island of Djurgarden is located to the east of the centre, beyond the small island of Skeppsholmen, site of the 1998 Modern Art Museum. Djurgarden was the royal hunting zone and today is the site of the Vasa Museum, inaugurated in 1990 and home to a large battle-ship. The Skansen, a large open-air ethnology museum is situated a short distance away. The museum houses exhibitions of Swedish farming life, with entire ancient Scandinavian buildings on display, which have been transported and re-built on site.The ultra modern district of Norrmalm is located on the mainland to the west of Lake Malaren and north of the old city. The district is home to the main railway station and the Kungstadgarden, one time royal gardens and now an important meeting point. The Stadium, built in red brick in 1912, for the Olympics of that year, is situated in the Ostermann district. The large district of Sodermalm, south of the old city and linked to it by the Centralbron (central bridge), is the location of the Globen Stadium. Built in 1989 and site of sporting events and concerts. The 1883 Katarinahissen, is a 38 metre high panoramic lift, which provides the visitor with spectacular views over the city.Like other large cities, Stockholm is best appreciated by walking around it. The public transport system is , however, clean and efficient. I got to see Alfred Nobels house and the museum.I took a sight seeing trip of Stockholm by bus but if you visit Stockholm I recommend a boat trip. The sight seeing was very informative and it was really nice because you appreciate what the Swedes think of their heritage and the trips take you up close to the monuments.

The only bad thing of this sightseeing trip was that the bus did not stop at any of the picturesque location but I clicked loads of pics from the moving bus . After the sight seeing trip was over, I ate Pizza at ‘Pizza Hut’ as getting Vegeterian stuff is too difficult so I had no option to eat Veg Pizza, though I love it as that’s also one of my favourite food. Then I went to big shopping malls in Stockholm, I must admit except for the designers brands available it is nothing different from malls back home in India. Got bored of looking I saw the information about the cruise to Helsinki (Finland). I went to the port and booked my tickets for the trip.The Stockholm-Helsinki cruise.Silja Lines operate cruise per day from Stockholm to Helsinki. A one way trip is about 15 hours and is between two time zones. Finland is 1 hour ahead of Sweden and Denmark. The ship starts at 5 pm Swedish time and reaches Helsinki at 9 am Finnish time. The ship was a huge cruise liner with 13 decks.Good fun. I met my colleagues who too were travelling to Helsinki. To know more about the ship click the following link http://www.silja.fi/FLEET/Silja%20SymphonyI had a rocking time on board. I got to feel the midnight sun although it wasn’t the exact midnight sun. The sun and the moon were looking eye to eye at 9 pm. The islands on the way are really very beautiful. The ship was huge and had approx 2200 tourist on board, a complete 5 star hotels in itself. I had good fun exploring the casino and pub on deck. I saw Magic show and a live dance performance. The Tax-free shop was a major hit with the tourist. Every one was stacking vodka and beer cases. I went to the discotheque and had a great time. The karaoke was a real crowed puller and then the DJ took over; Indians were dancing at Swedish and Finnish tunes, awesome it was until 2am that everyone danced and rocked the floor. I went to bed at 2.30 in my Cabin, which was shared by my room mate. I woke up early in the morning at around 8 and was enthu to arrive in Helsinki and Helsinki didn’t disappoint me.
It is really a very beautiful city. You don’t need to be an artist to appreciate the picturesque landscape. I already had signed on the cruise liner for the sight seeing in Helsinki. The lady guide was really old she was around 60. She had a Finnish accent and spoke everything slowly in English but she was very good at what she knew about the history of the city. The bus tour was really very good I recommend it all who wish to see Helsinki.
Finland was once a part of Russia before communist rule. The country’s 90% population talks Finnish and the rest talks Russian. The city is very clean and is surrounded by the Baltic Sea from three sides. The retirement age in Finland is 65 yrs. There are far too many women in country then men. The city is very well planned and the people are very friendly. Had my breakfast at the Mac …and there in Mac Vegeterian means that you don’t want beef, so had to personally instruct No Beef, No Meat, No Fish. What I got in the end was Bun with Phool Patthi(Cabbage and Suace, No Aloo burger).. O MY GOD…I started hating being a in Europe because of my different food habits. I have loads of pictures from Finland and a few souvenirs. Returning to ship after an unforgettable trip around the city I was tired but decide to go for Swimmping pool and Saunaa and Jacuzzi bath on Ship. It was great fun and relaxing and with all gorgeous women beside you gazing around J After that, went up to the top deck and spent most of the time looking at the beautiful sunset. Recharging myself with orange juice for dinner at the bar playing live music, the band played all sort of numbers. I was then back to disc on the thirteenth floor. The party was getting hot at 1 am. I was there till 4 am and there were some really good babes from Russia and every Indian friend of mine found a Dance partner cum GF. But poor me I am getting engaged in July, so could only miss my Darling in India J

I woke up at 10.30 Swedish-time. Got ready for another day in Stockholm this time I covered the old city ‘Gamla Stan’. It is nice to walk past the old style houses. The parliament complex is accessible for public. Had a look around, ate ice cream and then basked in the summer sun in the park near Opera house. It was already 1pm and I had to catch the bus back to Copenhagen at 2.30. I went back to Stockholm central and ate Veg Pizza again loaded coke and water for the trip. I enjoyed the return journey. The Swedish country side scenery was breath taking. The bus reached Copenhagen Central at 12 am, reached my apartment at 12.35 am and Amitav started all over again cooking rice and Daal for dinner. Enjoyed the supper and went off to sleep at 2.30… don’t ask what happened next morning in office. I was half asleep almost whole day ;-)
To see all the pictures please click the following link:

http://photos.yahoo.com/paresh_mishra