Stockholm to Helsinki
Septermber 20, 2008
The city of Stockholm is a really nice city. This picture was taken from the back of the ship as we were leaving the port.
Stockohlm is built on a series of Islands and outside of the town itself are a group of hundreds of small islands known as the Archipelago Islands. Our route took us through these Islands, which are stunning. The weather was a little overcast and it was certainly chilly…probably in the mid 50’s, but the scenery was well worth roughing the cold to sit on deck and enjoy the view.
Not to worry, I can have fun anywhere so I decided to take in the grand opening in the “Fun Club”. To lay the groundwork here…..in Stockholm, most everyone speaks English and menus and signs are all usually in both Swedish and English. Not on Viking lines. I quickly learned that there is no English being spoke here. It became painfully obvious with the comedy act of the grand opening. I didn’t get a word of it, but it seemed funny to the Swedes. Not to fear....another Newcastle and I’ll laugh along with everyone else.
I’m glad I found the church but I’m tired and face a long walk back so decide to move on. I decide to take a different route on the way back, which ends up to be significantly shorter than the way over. Sweet! I pass through another open air area and come across a Finish folk band playing in the back of a boat pulled by a truck. Odd.
Perhaps the coolest thing that I saw on my trip was the Dallas Cowboys logo. GO HESBERGER!
Hesburger Cowboys????????
My first trip to Helsinki left little to be remembered, so I decided to take the Viking Cruise line from Stockholm this weekend. The cruise ship leaves Stockholm at 4:45pm on Friday afternoon…arrives in Helsinki at 8:00am on Saturday morning and then returns back to Stockholm Saturday afternoon arriving at 9:00 am Sunday morning. So you basically have a 12 hour cruise, 8 hours in Helsinki and then a 12 
hour return cruise. All aboard a luxery cruise line with your own private cabin. This all comes at a price of about $350.00 USD. Not a bad price, so I decided to check it out.
hour return cruise. All aboard a luxery cruise line with your own private cabin. This all comes at a price of about $350.00 USD. Not a bad price, so I decided to check it out. 
The city of Stockholm is a really nice city. This picture was taken from the back of the ship as we were leaving the port.
Stockohlm is built on a series of Islands and outside of the town itself are a group of hundreds of small islands known as the Archipelago Islands. Our route took us through these Islands, which are stunning. The weather was a little overcast and it was certainly chilly…probably in the mid 50’s, but the scenery was well worth roughing the cold to sit on deck and enjoy the view. 
The ship itself (Gabriella is her name) turned out to be a little dissapointing. I’ve been on a couple of cruises before and I had this grand picture in my mind of a Huge Casino, Tons of Restaraunts, Deck Chairs, Lounges and Overall Luxery. Not happening on Viking Lines. There is a Casino on the ship with 1 Blackjack table and 1 very unfriendly Roulette table. There are also lots of slot and video poker machines. There are a couple of lounges with live entertainment and there are 3 places to eat, but overall it is all very plain. Not what Americans would consider Luxerious by any means.
Not to worry, I can have fun anywhere so I decided to take in the grand opening in the “Fun Club”. To lay the groundwork here…..in Stockholm, most everyone speaks English and menus and signs are all usually in both Swedish and English. Not on Viking lines. I quickly learned that there is no English being spoke here. It became painfully obvious with the comedy act of the grand opening. I didn’t get a word of it, but it seemed funny to the Swedes. Not to fear....another Newcastle and I’ll laugh along with everyone else.
Act 2 consisted of a live band with a Japanese singer singing popular old American songs including lots of hits by Elvis and even a Ricky Martin song. My favorites were: “Sransssssssssssgers in dee nighhh”, Lirrrring La Reeraa Loca, and “Onree You”. As my brother, Rick, pointed out, it was a Japanese singer, on a Finish Ship, singing Latino Songs to a bunch of Swedes. What an experience.
Saturday morning I awoke to Helsinki out my cabin window. The weather looks gloomy but my main reason for coming on the cruise was to spend a little time seeing more of Helsinki. Leaving the cruise ship, Helsinki does not look inviting. I am in an industrial area, it is misting out and I don’t see any cabs. It doesn’t help much that I didn’t take the time to do any research on the city so I’m not even sure what I should be going to see. Not to worry, I see a big Church in the distance and I’ll head that away. Along the way, I come across a Scandic hotel so I went inside to look for an ATM. Instead of finding the ATM, I found a brochure with a map of Helsinki and some of the top attractions listed. Now I know where to go!!!!!!!
One of the cooler sounding places on the brouchure is the Temppeliaukio Church, which is a Lutheran Church that was blasted out of solid rock. So I set my sights on finding it. On my journey I first came across Market Square. This is an open air area where the locals sell their crafts as well as fresh fish, meat and produce. I shopped a bit but decided I would stop on my way back for sourveniers. So far I’m still skeptical that I made the right decision in seeing Finland again but it is too late to turn back now. As I continue walking I start to see more neon signs and in the distance I can see a lot of people walking the streets. As I get closer and look at my map I realize I am approaching the city center. Now I am feeling better as the city center is a very modern collection of stores and shops and restaraunts. This is more like it. I find a McDonalds for a quick Big Mac and do a little window shopping in the mall. I come across a small shop that sales coins and collectibles so I decide to venture in and see a little more. I was completely shocked to find that I could buy a US quarter from Iowa for 6 Euros….or about $9.00 USD. WHAT? I have an entire stack of quarters at home…I could get rich! The coin shop owner positions US quarters with the individual states as collector’s items. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Back on the road again I get a little lost, but finally make it to the Church and it was well worth the walk. I estimate it was about 3 miles from the ship to the church and my feet are starting to ache a little, but wow what a site. The church is literally built into a gigantic rock. The roof is dome like, but all the walls are solid rock. Very cool. Take a look for yourself.
One of the cooler sounding places on the brouchure is the Temppeliaukio Church, which is a Lutheran Church that was blasted out of solid rock. So I set my sights on finding it. On my journey I first came across Market Square. This is an open air area where the locals sell their crafts as well as fresh fish, meat and produce. I shopped a bit but decided I would stop on my way back for sourveniers. So far I’m still skeptical that I made the right decision in seeing Finland again but it is too late to turn back now. As I continue walking I start to see more neon signs and in the distance I can see a lot of people walking the streets. As I get closer and look at my map I realize I am approaching the city center. Now I am feeling better as the city center is a very modern collection of stores and shops and restaraunts. This is more like it. I find a McDonalds for a quick Big Mac and do a little window shopping in the mall. I come across a small shop that sales coins and collectibles so I decide to venture in and see a little more. I was completely shocked to find that I could buy a US quarter from Iowa for 6 Euros….or about $9.00 USD. WHAT? I have an entire stack of quarters at home…I could get rich! The coin shop owner positions US quarters with the individual states as collector’s items. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Back on the road again I get a little lost, but finally make it to the Church and it was well worth the walk. I estimate it was about 3 miles from the ship to the church and my feet are starting to ache a little, but wow what a site. The church is literally built into a gigantic rock. The roof is dome like, but all the walls are solid rock. Very cool. Take a look for yourself.
I’m glad I found the church but I’m tired and face a long walk back so decide to move on. I decide to take a different route on the way back, which ends up to be significantly shorter than the way over. Sweet! I pass through another open air area and come across a Finish folk band playing in the back of a boat pulled by a truck. Odd. The Boat Band.
Perhaps the coolest thing that I saw on my trip was the Dallas Cowboys logo. GO HESBERGER!Hesburger Cowboys????????
By now it is getting late and I still need souveniers and maybe a little something else to eat so I cruse back to Market Square. The choices for lunch are mostly fresh fish or salmon soup but I manage to find a Reindeer sausage with potatoes and dill pickles. Very tasty. With a full belly and tired puppies, I find a souvenier stand for some trinkets and head back to my cabin for an afternoon nap.
All in all, I can’t say I’d recommend taking the Viking cruse by yourself to Finland, but if you have a group of people I think it could be pretty fun. For me, the cruse out of Stockholm and the “Rock” church were two highlights that I’ll remember.
posted by barry c at 5:57 AM
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