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After a few days in Stockholm, we were off in the direction of Finland and Russia. The plan was to sail the Viking Line to Helsinki, see around there for a day or so, and then take a train eastwards to St. Petersburg. But before any of that we’d have the remarkable experience of an overnight voyage across the Gulf of Bothnia, the Baltic Sea and through the land of the midnight sun.
Not far outside Stockholm sits the rousing Palace of Drottningholm – the official residence of the Swedish Royal family and a very worthy visit if you’ve got time to spare, or simply if want a break from the city. While parts of the interior are understandably closed off, this is more than compensated by the sections that can be accessed, as well as the expansive grounds that are open to explore.
Stockholm is a northern jewel, far enough from Central Europe to have it’s own idiosyncratic differences yet close enough to be familiar. Set on a picturesque series of islands, the city is bridged by a fascinating array of antiquated and gleaming architecture. Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace have character while the modern centre has cafe culture and shopping streets.
My journey to Scandinavia took an abstract form. Due to Lufthansa’s odd route network, we had to connect both through Frankfurt and Munich in order to reach Stockholm. It was full day travelling, and I could have flown to Asia in the equivalent time, but I’ve never been one to complain about the gift of flight, especially when it’s taking me somewhere I haven’t been before.
