Summer in the North 2008

Recent Comments RSS

2009-03-25
15:07

Summer in the North Higlights 2008

Finland
http://public.fotki.com/LadySmiles/finland/summer-in-finland-2008/

Sweden
http://public.fotki.com/LadySmiles/sweden/summer-in-sweden/summer-in-sweden-hi/

Norway
http://public.fotki.com/LadySmiles/norway/summer-in-norway-hi/

Svalbard Norway
http://public.fotki.com/LadySmiles/norway/svalbard/svalbard-highlights/

Comments (0)

2008-08-08
19:54

To be Continued

Hi Everyone

My Summer in the North came to an unplanned end today.

So the visit to the south of Sweden, Estonia and Latvia will be continued at a later stage.

I am just so glad that I still got to see Anne-Marie before I left Sweden. We had a fantastic day cruising from the Gota Canal to Mariestad on the MS Marianne. Perfect sunshine weather and blue sky! Thanks Anne-Marie!

Take care and have a great weekend!

Comments (0)

2008-07-29
15:31

Moose!!!!

Hi Everyone!

Greetings from Lappland. Perfect weather and lovely nature.

It has happened! After a search of 25 000 kilometers we have finally come across moose in the wild! It was amazing to see them slowly walking through the forest.

Have a wonderful week!

Comments (0)

2008-07-21
10:08

Svalbard

Hi Everyone!

Greetings from Svalbard. One of the most amazing places I have ever visited!

It is so different and feels like another world. I have done a safari around the glaciers and smaller fjords of the Isfjord. Travelling with an open boat, with 7 people aboard, wearing bright orange floating suites. Seeing these orange figures marching through a barren landscape, remembers of a scene from a science fiction movie! And this time we are the aliens!

I haven't seen any live polar bears. Maybe it is for the best, lots of guns walking around. Camping along the fjord, we had a polar watch around the clock. The guide with his gun at stand-by in case of emergency.

Sitting next to the fire, in the middle of the night, not dark at all, watching out for polar bears was a wonderful moment to reflect on life. It was so silent! The only sounds made by birds.

The conclusion: Life is beautiful we must just make time to appreciate it!

Comments (0)

2008-07-14
15:13

Lapland

Hi Everyone!

Greetings from Lapland. Today we visited Santa's Village close to Rovaniemi to meet with Santa Claus. No need to say that Snappie has been spoiled again. He has a new Lapland hat and shoes!

Thanks for all your messages and comments. I will reply as soon as I can. Hearing from you always add an extra sparkle to my often cloudy and rainy day!

Leaving Finland today and heading towards Sweden.

Take care and have a great week

Comments (0)

2008-07-06
15:52

Oulanka

Hi Everyone

Greetings from wild and beautiful Oulanka. It has been a great weekend even if the rain is more or less a constant factor.

But luckily for me the mosquitoes have made a plan. Yesterday when I went canoeing on the Oulanka river, welcomed by millions of mosquitoes whenever I set foot on land, I got stung by a mosquitoe on my eye lid. This morning I woke up with a swollen eye. So now I can only see half of the rain! :-)

A blessing in disguise?

On Friday night I heard the sound of running feet and when I looked out of the window I saw a whole heard of reindeer running pass. It was an amazing experience!

Tomorrow I will continue to Lappland, and am looking forward to it.

Have a great week!



Comments (1)

2008-06-30
11:49

Ruunaa

Hi Everyone

Greetings from the lovely Ruunaa district! It is a beautiful wild forest area. Perfect for walking and canoeing!

I have had a great few days in the forests. So beautiful and green! I came across this place with rapids in the river. A whole team of people in their little canoes were trying to steer in the rapid. They did this for hours and it was fun to watch. Some were more succesful than others!

I like canoeing or kayaking as well, but then in quiet waters.

The mosquitoes are wild! I hope it will be a bit better at the next place. Maybe it is beacuse I have stayed in the forrest and there isn't a lot of wind. If one stays in an open place with a wind it also helps to keep them away.

Today I will leave again. I am thinking of heading for the hills of Koli.

Have a great week!

Comments (0)

2008-06-26
23:16

Vaasa

Hi Everyone!

Greetings from friendly Vaasa!

I have planned a quick photo stop in Vaasa, since I want to spend as much time in the countryside. But the quick stop has changed into a longer visit. The people here in Vaasa are so friendly and very proud of their city.

At the Lutheran Church the guide was friendly enough to tell me the history of the church regarding art works and architecture. He also gave me a summary of “must see places” in and around Vaasa.

So I started the day with a full schedule: Vaasa Car and Motor Museum, then travelling to the northern part of the city to the Raippaluoto Bridge, then to the Brage Open-air Museum and a city walk.

At the Brage Open-air Museum I was welcomed by a fantastic guide. After a warm waffle and tea she gave me an extended tour of the museum. With interesting facts about the architecture and traditions of the region and country. She also invited me on a sailing cruise around the archipelago with a post boat depending on the weather and winds.

After a short city walk it was time for the sailing adventure on the Postijahti with just the right wind condition. Little green islands rising from the sea, with cosy wooden cottages everywhere.

Thank you to the Friendly people of Vaasa who welcomed me to your city!

Comments (0)

2008-06-24
22:03

Merikarvia

Hi Everyone

Heading north in a western direction, zig sagging to the east again later this week. The original travel route has changed a bit, due to weather forecasts and interesting travel tips that I have come across.

Today I have spend the day in Merikarvia next to the west coast. It was a very stormy day with strong winds.

Not sure when the summer weather will catch on! But not yet giving up hopes for beautiful sunshine days with blue skies.

Take care!

Comments (0)

2008-06-22
10:30

Helsinki

Hi Everyone

Safely arrived in Finland and have had a rainy start! The south of Finland is beautiful! Reminds me a bit of Sweden. Nature is amazing!

The Midsummer Festival was fun even if I have missed a lot of the activities due to the rain! Even tried a few polka dances around the big bonfires on the island of Seurasaari in Helsinki.

Tommorow I will start with the journey to the north.

Have a great weekend!

PS. Snappie has seen a real moose! This time we visited a Moose farm in Markaryd on the first day in Sweden. If we see another moose during our travels it will be an added bonus! :-)

Comments (0)

2008-06-11
10:44

Summer in the North

Finland Norway Svalbard Sweden Latvia Estonia Summer
June
14/6 Sa Netherlands to Markaryd, Sweden, Elk Farm 1000km
15/6 Su Markaryd to Stockholm 483 km 5hrs
16/6 Mo Stockholm to Turku Ferry 10hrs
17/6 Tu Turku - Pori 137km 2hrs 12min
18/6 We Pori - Kristiinankaupunki -Vaasa 191km 2hrs 45min
19/6 Th Vaasa - Tampere 240km 3hrs 33min
20/6 Fr Tampere - Hämeenlinna Fort - Helsinki Midsummer Seurasaari 177km 1hr47m
21/6 Sa Helsinki Porvoo City Garden/Winter Garden near the Olympic Stadium
22/6 Su Helsinki ****
23/6 Mo Lahti 103km 1hr
24/6 Tu Kouvola 61km 1hr
25/6 We Imatra; Lake Saimaa; Punkaharju Ridge; Lappeenranta 7km 1hr 25m
26/6 Th Savonlinna 157km 2hrs 19min
27/6 Fr Mikkeli 104km 1hr 35min
28/6 Sa Jyvaskyla 115km 1hr 40min
29/6 Su Joensuu - Koli 247km 3hrs 41min
30/6 Ma Kuopio 136km 2hrs

July
1/7 Tu Lisalmi 78km 1hr 15min
2/7 We KajaanI 92km 1hr 20 min
3/7 Th Paljakka, Hyrynsalmi, Vaisala, Oulu 190km 2hrs 45min
4/7 Fr Oulu
5/7 Sa Ruka Vuoseli, Ruka - Valtavaara 10km
6/7 Su Kuusamo Karhunkierros, The Trail of a bear, Juuma 7km,
7/7 Mo Kuusamo
8/7 Tu Kuusamo
9/7 We Kemijarvi
10/7 Th Utsjoki
11/7 Fr Kirkenes **** 201km 2hrs 50min
12/7 Sa Inari 198km 3hrs
13/7 Su Inari - Sodankyla - Rovaniemi 327km 4hrs 38min
14/7 Mo Rovaniemi ****
15/7 Tu Karesuando 319km 4hrs 36min
16/7 We Karesuando - Tromso 272km 4hrs
17/7 Th Tromso ****Longyearbyen, Svalbard
18/7 Fr Alkhornet
19/7 Sa Ekmanfjorden - Nordenskiöldbreen glacier
20/7 Su Pyramiden
21/7 Mo Longyearbyen Adventfjord
22/7 Tu Longyearbyen ****Tromso
23/7 We Tromso - Abisko 297km 4hrs
24/7 Th Abisko
25/7 Fr Kiruna
26/7 Sa Kiruna
27/7 Su Kiruna
28/7 Mo Kvikkjokk 319km 6hrs
29/7 Tu Kvikkjokk
30/7 We Sorsele 352 km 6 hrs 38min
31/7 Th Storuman

August
1/8 Fr Solar Eclipse 11h50 am Vilhelmina
2/8 Sa Stromsund
3/8 Su Offerdal / Berg / Sorsjon
4/8 Mo Berg - Mora
5/8 Tu Mora - Mariestad 295 km 4 hrs 29 min
6/8 We Gota Canal
7/8 Th Sjotorp - Nykoping **** Nykoping 210km
8/8 Fr Vimmerby Astrid Lindgrens World 198km
9/8 Sa Jonkoping 120km, Granna sweet factory 40km
10/8 Su Nykoping 191km 2hrs **** Nynashamn 120km
11/8 Mo Latvia Ferry 10hrs Ventspils
12/8 Tu Ventspils - Riga 184km
13/8 We Riga - Parnu 182km - Haapsalu -Marjaama 62km - Tallinn 68km 129km (309km)
14/8 Th Tallinn
15/8 Fr Tallinn - Tartu 189km
16/8 Sa Tartu - Valmiera - Rundale - Sigulda - Riga 246km
17/8 Su Riga
18/8 Mo Riga - Ventspils 184km
19/8 Tu Ventspils
20/8 We Latvia - Sweden Ferry - Nykoping
21/8 Th Nykoping - Ryd 395km
22/8 Fr Ryd
23/8 Sa Ryd Caves
24/8 Su Ryd - Netherlands 997km 11hrs
25/8 Mo Netherlands

Comments (3)

Advertise on Fotki