I love Stockholm :-)
happiness, man must have ... My luck was that I was a huge and luxurious cruise ship to Stockholm was allowed to drive - as a gift! This I got from my colleague Super Sirpa :-) I thank you again for an incredibly good time (even if they unfortunately could not come :-()!
The anticipation started but long before this great event!
On my first Helsinki sightseeing tour in early March, I already have the seen gigantic cruise ship "Silja Line" the port of Helsinki and was overwhelmed due to its size and majestic effect. I was told that this ship daily by 17 clock moves to Stockholm and one night 300 € (http://www.seaeurope.com/pdffiles/STO_HEL_MIN.pdf; in U.S. dollars). Back then I thought: "Wow, how cool that would be to experience something like that once ..."
opened in the week after my "mentor" Sirpa in school, that it was club member at the Silja Line and a special offer would have received for a short trip to Stockholm in a 4-bed cabin. This would they invite me! "WWWWWWWAAAAAASSSSSSS? I? Can an individual have so much happiness? "I was pleased, of course, totally over the invitation and said at once! A short time later we had the period 29.04. for the outward journey, 30.04. for Stockholm and the return journey and 1:05:09 for the agreed arrival. Since mid-March, I was looking so forward to the big event - my first cruise and then also to Stockholm :-)
The week before the trip even though my colleague had to cancel their participation in the journey from school grounds. The disappointment of course was great. Sirpa But the ride was over after a few Arrangements with the operator on me and offered me to take someone (after all, was the 4-bed cabin already booked!)! Thank you, Sirpa! Fortunately, I had met in the meantime, a very nice Finnish couple of my age: Henna and Jari. I had pretty frequently done anything with them and they were immediately hooked when I told them 'my' invitation to Stockholm by cruise ship "Silja Line" opened! Henna had already worked one summer in Stockholm (she loves this town) and knew his way! Perfect :-) Now, the two had only two days (29 and 30.04.) Get free (May 1 holiday, and therefore also in Finland free). Despite the short notice they both have had no problems leave it ... so should be ;-)
After all the initial difficulties, I finally started at 15.30 clock so happy and full of anticipation with Sirpa the terminal of the "Silja Line" in Helsinki, and they got the tickets from. We met by chance Rainer Dominguez, Board of Education in the highest school authority of Finland (National Board of Education), which we were in the course of the German project at our school in constant and close contact. He had the same thing before we
:-) After I had taken leave of us and Sirpa wanted a nice ride, henna and Jari came to the terminal and we could not believe our luck. Our joy was great!
Then we boarded the ship and felt like in another world! All guests were welcomed by the staff at the entrance friendly. The ship was like a 5-star hotel and a town center in one and then another move! We searched our first cabin. I was pleasantly surprised by the cleanliness and spaciousness of the rather small cabin in which four people had been square. We had an inside cabin on the eighth "floor" with a view of the "Promenade" of the ship. There were shops, restaurants, cafes, gaming machines, a night club and the evening offered the "shopping street" Space for consumer shows. There was simply nothing at all! Just in time by 17 clock, the ship ran out of the harbor.
We went to the sixth floor and ordered the buffet for 35 € per person (!)! I know it sounds incredible and I can even still do not grasp that I have been through this, but I do not regret it! It was a very unique, special experience and belonged to the culture of the ship! Each table (and there were many) was used! And the offer - incredible! You could eat as much and drink as you wanted (or could ... ;-))! The selection had nothing to miss: cold dishes of fish, seafood, cheese, sausage, salad, Vegetables, wraps etc, hot meals with different components such as meat, fish, vegetables, potatoes and the delicious sauces and dips, breads, and then the desserts: a number of cakes, ice cream and desserts locations as well as typical Finnish and Swedish candy. For drinks were on every table from the start to two bottles of wine (each red and white) and in addition one could even serve coffee, tea, water, Coke, Fanta, etc. etc.
It was incredibly delicious, but almost impossible, to try anything! Fairly typical Finnish: we have three of less than two bottles of wine made! In both, depending almost half had no choice ... Other tables however, more bottles and plates were saturated
people ... good and good cheer we started after two hours of breakfast, explore the ship (twelve "floors") and the sun deck. Inside, we discovered in addition to what we could already see from our cab, a big business only for alcohol and sweets (tax free), game rooms, a Playstation Lounge, karaoke bars, pubs, beauty shops, a sauna (which may of course not missing ;-)) and a swimming pool. Outside, we shot a few rounds on the decks, enjoying the setting sun. It was just wonderful and so relaxing! The sea was totally calm (which my stomach did a very good) and the sun managed to donate despite the strong wind, heat (well, as usual, here goes without a winter coat yet). On the way back from Stockholm the next day I actually got a sunburn on the face - at 19 clock at night! I have to go to Sweden to get a sunburn! :-) :-) :-) In Finland, no sun or heat and I'm going to Sweden once and get a sunburn! I really had to laugh at myself. Of sun cream I have in the recent temperatures here (max. 15 ° C, but this is a total exception) do not of course intended.
At midnight we looked at a wonderful and brilliant dancing and singing show! The Ensemble and the selected songs were simply super good! Some Finns made it even (with plenty of alcohol in the blood), showing more emotion than just clapping
;-) The beds were very comfortable and we had a short but restful sleep. The next morning we did something crazy again: we went to the breakfast buffet for 10.50 euros! All you can eat and drink! In my defense I must say that really strengthened us for the whole day in Stockholm and we had to eat anything all day ... Then at last we could
on land - for the first time I walked into Swedish soil! And what I saw spring hungry eyes? Trees with bright green leaves! Lush green meadows! Even a tree with pink blossoms! I could not believe it! Stockholm in the spring had already moved in! In Helsinki I wait until today for the spring. No leaves on the trees, no flowers, dull-green meadows and really warm it will not be ....
Even the Green alone gave me so much energy! I had the whole day, the rose-colored glasses on and have seen everything in a beautiful light (but actually it seemed the sun all day and it was relatively warm)! The more I saw of Stockholm, the more I fell in love with this city! She has a great atmosphere and charisma! Through its many small islands and bridges, it offers a great view of much water, yachts, ships, bridges, meadows, harbor cafes etc. and thus has a Mediterranean ambience. This impression is supported by the numerous parks, green spaces and the architecture of buildings, roads and official places. The Art Nouveau style dominates the city skyline in many parts. Especially the old town (Gamla Stan) is worth the walk. It is ruled by a jolly atmosphere, the people are friendly, happy and relaxed and it feels really good! On original Swedish ice should not miss any case here, too ;-) the postcards are beautiful! But beware of the stamps: a 1.20 €! One small thing: there is hardly any public toilets and many cafes are so small that there is no customer toilets available ...
A special highlight for me was the henna and visit Junibacken . This is a children's museum where one can get especially Astrid Lindgren's characters and stories in more detail in a special way. There were childhood memories alive! Even Villa Kunterbunt could be explored. We even had the good fortune of Pippi Longstocking - to witness idea! What fun! The kids there loved Pippi and I have the piece in spite of the Swedish Language understood! Pippi is simply the best and strongest ;-) It was striking in this context, the cultural differences between Finnish and Swedish children: the Swedish children have sung with Pippi, she responded to their questions, talk with the pirates, etc. So a clapped and openness happiness I have in the two months in Finland never experienced ...
Unfortunately, then the time was already over :-( We had to go back on board the Silja Line. It struck us all hard to leave Stockholm. But I'll be back definitely !
evening we again saw a great show and are then totally fell into bed exhausted, I slept like a stone, even if the wind was a little more that night and the boat swayed a little more ... But on the eighth floor of which was not much to remember - fortunately ;-)
The next day at 10 clock in the morning we entered again the Finnish soil, but the adventures of the trio Henna, Jari and Liz was not yet over: it was the first May in Helsinki - the need to have experienced ... More in my next blog post!
In the gallery some impressions can be found, but nothing works like the original ...
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| Stockholm on 30 April 2009 |
So better: Let's go to Stockholm!
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