Helsinki to Estonia on the Viking Line

Viking Line Ferry from Helsinki to Tallin. We caught the number 3T tram to the terminal, theen got on the Ferry. Our cabin on the Costa Mediterranea was huge compared to this. The ferry took 2 1/2 hrs. We walked from the ferry terminal to our aprtment in Tallin, Estonia.

Thesubmarine Vitesk

Built in 1930 this submarine saw service in WWII for the Finnish navy - who were allied with Germany.
This submarine sunk a Russian transport ship in the Baltic during the war.

Suomenlinna Island- Helsinki- A UNESCO World Heritage Listed site

Inside the Fortress walls

And on top of the Fortress walls.
The fortress has been in place since the 1600's and part of it was destroyed in the Crimean war!

Helsinki - Finland

This is the huge Lutheran church in Helsinki.

And here I am having climbed up all those steps to reach the Church,

And this is what it looks like inside.

Stockholm - Sweden

In 1988 Dad stood here and had a photo taken; now I'm having my photo taken. This is in a little alleyway on Gamla Stan the Royal Family Island in Old Town Stockholm/ The little alleyway gets much narrower the higher you go.

And here I am, in the Royal Palace of the Swedish Royal Family, with the solid silver coronation throne in the background. The throne was made in 1625 ( I think) and is used for coronations still. I think it's pretty cool that in Sweden you can walk through the Royal palce - and see rooms that are still used by the Royal amily on State occassions today.

Like this room, that is based on the French palace of Versailles. There are big mirrors that reflect light from the windoows into the room. The ceiling is covered in paintings.

And we sawa full changing of the Guard at the Palace from a regular army troop to the Royal Life Guards ( in the dark bluue) up until the 1960's only the Royal Life Guards guarded the palace - since then it has been shared - so we were their on a special day to see a full changing of the guard to the original Royal Life Guards. The band you see in the background is the Navy Cadet band - 55 gifted and talented junior musicians - everyone cheered when they played "Dancing Queen" by Abba.

Indian Show at High Chapparal

I am standing with a First Nation chief from Canada at High Chapparal in Sweden. Up until a few years ago the Idian dance show at High Chapparal was done by dancers from Spain. When the First nation people from Canada found ou they approached High Chapparal about doing the show for six weeks each year to educate the Swedish people about the traditions of First Nation people. The dancers find it really strange that they get "shot" at by all the Swedish little kids while they are dancing.  The First nation dancers come from different parts of Canada.

Dad is here talking with another of the First Nation Indian Dancers from Canada. He really wanted a photo of me in my UEFA cup t-shirt because of the design of the shirt. Dad got this guy's email address because he is coming to Australia in 2012.

High Chapparal- Sweden with Anders and Maria

Who would have thought that the wild west was alive and well in Sweden? Anders and Maria took us to High Chapparal, a wild west theme park in Sweden. It was great, and I had a lot of fun, but was shocked that so many llittle kids were playing with toy guns.