Sailing the Baltic--From Stockholm to Helsinki--Come Aboard for the Smorgasbord!

Those of you who have read my book, Postcards Along the Way (Notes From a Scribbling Traveler), know  that I'm not a fan of cruising. Fortunately, however, the Silja Cruise Line which we selected to take us from Stockholm to Helsinki was only a two-day sail! This was my husband Norm's idea and with reluctance, I went along with his wishes. Now I must admit I'm glad I did. But, I must add that the Baltic Sea felt quite rough from my bed about two o'clock in the morning.

Now to the good part:  The Silja ship offered a GIGANTIC smorgasbord, one of the largest in Scandinavia. It's a seafood lover's dream. Unfortunately, I'm allergic to shellfish, but I still discovered plenty of delicious selections--especially desserts.

 This is an early, September morning approach to Helsinki Harbor leading on to the Gulf of Finland. The cruise ship docked at a terminal at the edge of the Market Square. Once off the ship, we walked through the Market Square onto one of the main streets in the city and bumped right into a tour company. Here we bought a couple of tickets, then hopped on a bus to see the sights.

Entrance to "Church of the Rock"

Along the tour we spent some time visiting the stunning Temppeliaukio Church. It is the Lutheran "Church of the Rock". The church was actually excavated from the existing solid rock at its location. The rock walls are exposed and provide spectacular acoustics. It is a popular venue for concerts. The church organ has about 300 pipes. An ice age crevice serves as the altar. The church was completed and consecrated in 1969, but the actual planning of the church began in the 1930's. Also, there is an air raid shelter beneath the church that will hold 6,000 people.

Organ, altar to the right of organ, skylights, and copper dome

Another spectacular location is the Sebelius Monument which honors the greatest Finnish composer and violinist, Jean Sebelius. His music was instrumental in developing a national identity for Finland while pursuing independence from Russia. He is best known for Finlandia. It was composed as protest against the Russian Empire censorship.

The Sebelius Monument was built from 600 pipes and weighs 24 tons.

Some of the older buildings in Helsinki are reminiscent of Russian architecture. It is a beautiful city with trams flowing through out the streets. It is certainly worth taking the cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki.

And as an added note of trivia: the movie Dr.Zhivago was filmed in Helsinki. At the time of the filming, the Cold War was in process so the film could not be made in Russia.

If you wish to plan a trip to Scandinavia, I recommend you purchase a copy of Rick Steves' Scandinavia. It is full of valuable information and serves as an excellent reference book as one travels.