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July 2022

Baltic Sea: Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Estonia & more! Read more

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Day 12
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 11:50 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 72 ft
Sweden S:ta Karins Ruin 57.639583, 18.29627257°38’22” N 18°17’47” E
Fika
July 10, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
“Fika” is a Swedish word for a coffee and snack break. This sign seems to be inviting passersby to come down for such refreshments.
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Day 12
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 11:19 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 121 ft
Sweden Kronviken 57.702345, 18.37941757°42’8” N 18°22’46” E
Gotland Island
July 10, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
I just thought this place was cute! (Gotland island, Sweden.)
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Day 12
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 11:03 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 115 ft
Sweden Kronviken 57.693655, 18.37375357°41’37” N 18°22’26” E
Wildlife Tunnels
July 10, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
There’s an extensive bike path on Gotland Island. It has special tunnels beneath it so wildlife, such as foxes, can cross under the road and bike tunnels without being run over.
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Day 12
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 10:54 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 138 ft
Sweden Stora Torget 57.641217, 18.3027257°38’28” N 18°18’10” E
Walled City
July 10, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
The medieval section of Visby is surrounded by a wall with a perimeter a little over 2 miles long.
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Day 12
Sunday, July 10, 2022 at 10:42 AM
⛅ 59 °F
Altitude: 69 ft
Sweden Vibble 57.609755, 18.24546257°36’35” N 18°14’44” E
Pippi Crossing
July 10, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 59 °F
Pippi Longstocking crossing sign in Visby, Sweden!
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Day 11
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 3:15 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 52 ft
Sweden Danvikskanalen 59.316364, 18.10287959°18’59” N 18°6’10” E
Billboard ship
July 9, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
I e never seen a billboard ship before. Reminds me of Blade Runner, somehow!
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Day 11
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 12:29 PM
⛅ 68 °F
Altitude: 95 ft
Sweden Helgeandsholmen 59.329812, 18.06548359°19’47” N 18°3’56” E
Mime
July 9, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
Why am I posting this pic? Because a mime is a terrible thing to waste!
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Day 11
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 12:13 PM
⛅ 68 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
Sweden Axel Oxenstiernas Palace 59.325222, 18.06902859°19’31” N 18°4’9” E
Gamla Stan
July 9, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
Many alleyways in Stockholm’s old town, aka Gamla Stan, offer intriguing slices to explore.
It’s a lovely place to wander and wonder.
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Day 11
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 12:04 PM
⛅ 68 °F
Altitude: 66 ft
Sweden German Church 59.324322, 18.0702759°19’28” N 18°4’13” E
Dala Store
July 9, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
These handpainted Dala horses have become a symbol of Sweden. This shop was making them on-site.
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Day 11
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 11:48 AM
⛅ 68 °F
Altitude: 98 ft
Sweden Stortorget 59.324797, 18.07045659°19’29” N 18°4’14” E
Pippi Longstocking
July 9, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F
Who else read Pippi Longstocking as a kid? (I even dressed as her for Halloween once. I used a wire coat hanger in my braids to get the look.)
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Day 11
Saturday, July 9, 2022 at 10:24 AM
⛅ 66 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
Sweden Danvikskanalen 59.316045, 18.10435359°18’58” N 18°6’16” E
Such a green city!
July 9, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F
Stockholm’s parks have cranked up the saturation. The word”lush” keeps coming to mind. I still get hits of car exhaust, but overall it smells quite nice here, much better than most cities.
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 5:09 PM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 36 ft
Sweden Vasa Museum 59.32778, 18.09157259°19’40” N 18°5’30” E
Vasa Museum
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
In 1628, Sweden’s Vasa warship had such a top heavy design that it sank 20 minutes into its maiden voyage. After it was raised and restored, they built a museum around it. Really fascinating!

The entire ship is covered in intricate carvings including lots and lots of lions. That’s because King Gustav Adolph wanted to fulfill a prophecy about “the lion of the north conquering all.”

Researchers were able to find the names of several who drowned on the ill-fated ship’s maiden voyage, and even did facial reconstructions of them from their skeletal remains.Read more
Two to TravelWe were fascinated by the Vasa and spent nearly all day there.
7/9/22Reply
TravelerIt’s a wonderful museum! We spent the afternoon there.
7/9/22Reply
Now, this is something to see. Wow! [Maria A Gonzales]
7/24/22Reply
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 3:16 PM
☁️ 68 °F
Altitude: 26 ft
Sweden Junibacken 59.3293, 18.09120859°19’45” N 18°5’28” E
Whats in a name?
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
Why was King Gustav Adolph’s massive warship named Vasa? According to our guide, “vasa” means “wheat” and is referenced in the ship’s masthead and elsewhere as a bundle of wheat.

In addition to symbolizing abundance, this bundled wheat is also meant to be similar to the ancient Roman symbol for power, which is a bundle of rods with an axe jutting out of it.

This Roman symbol is called a fasces, and gives the word “fascism” its root.Read more
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 3:16 PM
☁️ 68 °F
Altitude: 26 ft
Sweden Junibacken 59.3293, 18.09120859°19’45” N 18°5’28” E
Propaganda carvings
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F
At the Vasa Museum in Stockholm: “The man under the bench is a caricature of a humiliated Polish nobleman. According to a Polish tradition, a slanderer was forced to crawl under a bench, bark like a dog three times, and beg for mercy. The sculpture was meant to remind the crew [of the Vasa warship] how they should think of the enemy.”Read more
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 1:44 PM
☁️ 70 °F
Altitude: 33 ft
Sweden Ladugårdslandsviken 59.3278, 18.09557559°19’40” N 18°5’44” E
Stockholm Cemetery
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 70 °F
It smelled of roses and fresh rain as we explored this lush historic cemetery in Stockholm, although the sound of children screaming as they rode amusement rides at a nearby amusement park added an amusing touch to the scene.

I found a tree with little gnomes and a cherub tucked into it beside what looked to be a caretaker’s cottage. I hoped to meet them because I have many questions, but no luck.

Larry saw a rabbit the size of a cocker spaniel hop by while I prowled around, but I missed it. Dang!

As with other seaside towns, many graves were for sailors. Some of them featured actual anchors and other nautical gear.

Once again, (just as in Iceland, Norway, and elsewhere on this trip)I encountered thin-but-sturdy slate as cemetery monuments.Read more
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 1:34 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 46 ft
Sweden Kungsträdgården 59.330956, 18.07293159°19’51” N 18°4’23” E
Bits & Bobs
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
I don’t know the stories behind these statues and architectural details in Stockholm, but here are a few of my faves.
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 12:26 PM
⛅ 70 °F
Altitude: 82 ft
Sweden Humlegården 59.34038, 18.07619259°20’25” N 18°4’34” E
No umbrellas
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 70 °F
We didn’t bring umbrellas, so every time it rains we hop back on the Hop On/Hop Off bus in Stockholm, Sweden.
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 10:35 AM
⛅ 64 °F
Altitude: 7 ft
Sweden Saltsjön 59.321302, 18.08235259°19’17” N 18°4’56” E
Greetings from Stockholm!
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F
Beautiful pic [Maria A Gonzales]
7/24/22Reply
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 8:24 AM
☁️ 61 °F
Altitude: 7 ft
Sweden Beckholmen 59.319537, 18.09614259°19’10” N 18°5’46” E
Swedish giraffe
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 61 °F
Remember a few days ago when I said this type of crane looks like a giraffe? Guess I’m not the only one.
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Day 10
Friday, July 8, 2022 at 8:18 AM
⛅ 61 °F
Altitude: 7 ft
Sweden Valdemarsviken 59.3185, 18.11716459°19’7” N 18°7’2” E
Sailing into Stockholm
July 8, 2022 in Sweden ⋅ ⛅ 61 °F
We’re sailing into Stockholm and it’s so picturesque! I didn’t realize it’s an archipelago.

As much as I travel, I’ve always been terrible at geography until I visit a place in person. Maybe it’s ‘cuz I tend to be a hands-on learner.

How about you?Read more
Two to TravelDefinitely more of hands on learner, though I do research in advance.
7/8/22Reply
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Day 9
Thursday, July 7, 2022 at 2:54 PM
🌧 61 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Baltic Sea 58.658052, 19.48579558°39’29” N 19°29’9” E
Classroom at Sea
July 7, 2022, Baltic Sea ⋅ 🌧 61 °F
Travel is my favorite classroom, but not everyone agrees. The other day I saw a couple of women emerge from the spa clad in fluffy robes and slippers.

As they leisurely strode to the buffet, I overheard one tell the other, “He’s always Googling stuff and going on about history. I keep telling him, ‘all that history stuff is in the past,’ y’know?”

“Yeah,” the other replied, “Who travels to learn, anyway? I’m on vacay!”Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 10:27 PM
☀️ 63 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Gulf of Finland 59.625037, 23.41605359°37’30” N 23°24’58” E
4 Countries in 4 Days
July 6, 2022, Gulf of Finland ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F
In a perfect world, we would have a sea day after every port. This would give us time to digest all the sights and sounds from our shore time.

In reality, it rarely works out this way. On this leg of our journey, we’ve had 4 countries in 4 days.

That’s a lot of travel to take in!

I don’t want the ports to blur together, so I leaf through my paper travel journal again each night.Read more
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Day 8
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 5:50 PM
☁️ 64 °F
Altitude: 85 ft
Estonia St. Catherine's Dominican Monastery (historical)59.4376, 24.74925559°26’15” N 24°44’57” E
A Wander-ful Time!
July 6, 2022 in Estonia ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
Tallinn, Estonia has the oldest intact medieval city center in Northern Europe.

The labyrinthine streets are filled with cafes, taverns, shops and delightful nooks and crannies.

It’s the perfect place to wander aimlessly, which is exactly what we did.Read more
Two to TravelLove Tallinn … we’ve visited on a cruise ship stop, but our favorite visit was when we took a ferry from Helsinki for a day trip and wandered all around the city.
7/6/22Reply
TravelerThat sounds fun! It’s a lovely city to explore.
7/8/22Reply
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Day 8
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 4:39 PM
☁️ 64 °F
Altitude: Sea level
Estonia Naval Harbour (historical)59.450294, 24.76244959°27’1” N 24°45’45” E
TV Tower
July 6, 2022 in Estonia ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F
During the Soviet occupation, the Russians erected this TV tower to broadcast propaganda.

These days, it houses a coffee shop with a great view in Tallinn, Estonia.
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Day 8
Wednesday, July 6, 2022 at 12:53 PM
☁️ 66 °F
Altitude: 92 ft
Estonia Pirita 59.467597, 24.86436359°28’3” N 24°51’52” E
Forest Parks
July 6, 2022 in Estonia ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F
The cemetery in Tallinn is kept forested and lacks fancy monuments. Three times a year, candles are placed on all the headstones. Our guide said it’s a beautiful sight.

Tallinn is full of forest parks. These parks have streetlights for wintertime when sunlight is limited. I love how wooded it is here!Read more
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