Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
July 30, 2017 in Estonia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Main Russian Orthdox cathedral on Tallinn. I got one pic of the iconostasis before I found out their no picture rule. I did get to see part of an Orthodox baptism.
Palmse manor
July 31, 2017 in Estonia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
A country manor. I arrived at the front door in a carriage drawn by Shetland ponies. Entered to the main hall. Many impressive rooms. Visited the Orangerie and took a forest walk to the gazebo over aRead more
Jagula Juga
July 31, 2017 in Estonia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
OK, it ain't Iceland, but it is the highest natural waterfall in the Baltics at about 25 meters. Gives you a sense of how much topography there is around here. I do suspect that at high water, itRead more
Narva
August 1, 2017 in Estonia ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Sad to say, my least favorite stop so far. Narva sits at the border with Russia. The castle on the foreground is in Estonia while the one in the background, across the river, is in Russia. This placeRead more
Tartu
August 1, 2017 in Estonia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Nice university town. The first pic is of the town hall square. The second is the hotel where I'm staying. The building is one of the oldest wooden structures in Tartu, dating from the early 18thRead more
At sea aboard the ferry Finlandia
August 3, 2017, Gulf of Finland ⋅ 🌬 20 °C
Traveling from Tallinn to Helsinki by ocean going ferry. A bit over 2 hours. Pics are leaving Tallinn, about half way across, another ferry going the other way, and approaching Helsinki.
White cathedral
August 4, 2017 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
The Lutheran cathedral in Helsinki. I had to be sure to include pics of the pulpit and the organ
Helsinki harbor tour
August 4, 2017 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
I started on the rain. Then it cleared up. No way I can do this justice in 6 pictures, but here they are. Mostly taken in the eastern part of the archipelago.
Helsinki Central Market
August 4, 2017 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
I really enjoy these central markets. It seems most places have them. The largest I've seen was in Riga. This one in Helsinki is right at the harbor. The pics are outside and inside the market, andRead more
Suomenlinna
August 5, 2017 in Finland ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Old sea fortress in Helsinki harbor started by Sweden in the 18th century, taken over by Russia in the 19th century and finally became Finnish in the 20th century at independence with the fall of theRead more
Porvoo
August 6, 2017 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 17 °C
Second oldest city in Finland. Old town is small and a nice visit for a rainy day. Pictures are all of the old town: waterfront houses, a longer look to town, street scenes and the cathedral bothRead more
Aboard the J L Runeburg
August 6, 2017 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Took the Runeberg from Porvoo back to Helsinki. First is the vessel itself. Then leaving Porvoo, among the islands of the archipelago, looking through the islands to the open ocean, and a drawbridgeRead more
Birka
August 9, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Important trading center in viking era. Original town is under the Meadows. Many burial mounds exist, probably in the thousands. The Celtic cross seems out of place, but was erected as a monument forRead more
Birka Village
August 9, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Reconstructed Viking era village with small dock. Only one house was open
Arija Restbergs
Can't imagine someone wearing that helmet. But I know they did. Wonder if they got head aches?
Arija RestbergsI'm so happy you are having a good time on this great adventure. Also glad that you able to share it with every one🙂
Vasa
August 10, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Museum dedicated to the Vasa, a 17th century ship that sunk still in Stockholm harbor. Keeled over in a squall--too little ballast. Found intact, recovered and now exhibited. Pics are of the ship, aRead more
ABBA Museum
August 10, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Yeah. Really. And it's exactly what you would expect. Costumes, gold records, karaoke and all the rest
Uppsala Cathedral
August 11, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Seat of the Lutheran church in Sweden. The building is pretty spectacular, even to thge point of 3 organs. I only show the one th at was being played while I was there. The chancel cross with all theRead more
Arija Restbergs
That organ must have sounded awesome. I love to hear the pipe organs play, especially the long low notes
Carl Linnaeus
August 11, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
For all you biologists, here is his home, study, a look over his garden from upstairs in the house and some closer pics of parts of the garden. The elevated boxes in the last picture are "monkeyRead more
Uppsala
August 11, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
University town since the 15th century and former capital. Pics are of the castle, castle garden, cannons aimed at the cathedal since this was built just after the reformation, and a view over UppsalaRead more
Stockholm city hall
August 12, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Site of the Nobel banquet every year. Yes, the gold room is all 24 karat gold. The dinner is served in the other large room. The gold room is for the dance.
Riddarholm church
August 12, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Royal church now used primarily for royal funeral and burials. I am most taken with the open work steeple. I've not seen anything like it. That chandelier is solid silver
Storkyrkan
August 12, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Stockholm cathedral, officially St. Nicholas Church from the 13th century. The altar piece is silver and ebony and even more striking than the pictures. The spherical candle holder represents theRead more
Skansen
August 14, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Open air, living history in Stockholm. Pics are some farmsteads, interiors. Including painted fabric (look closely--its all biblical scenes) and an 18th century windmill
Seglora kyrka, Skansen
August 14, 2017 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Built in the 1730s and moved to Skansen in 1906. The cieling is paonted. What you see is original from the 1700s. The circular communion rail is something I hadn't seen before. The organ (barelyRead more
