Introduction: A Trip Around the Baltic

Hello again! It's Gabe, and this is going to be a new type of post. This is going to be the first of a seven part series, where we will be taking an extended vacation to the North of Europe, exploring a variety of AMAZING cities along the Baltic Sea. This week will be a short introduction to each city we will take a look at, and then the following posts will go more in depth.

Stop 1: Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark, which is consistently ranked as the world's happiest nation; so you're sure to have a great time here. Highlights in Copenhagen include Tivoli Gardens - where Walt Disney visited during the "Imagineering" phase of Disneyland; Rosenborg Slot - a renaissance castle, that was originally envisioned as a country summer retreat; the Nyhavn - which is the former port area of Copenhagen, and is now a nice waterfront area that houses several restaurants, and is perfect for a leisurely walk; Amalienborg Palace - the current home of the Danish royal family; and the Stroget - which is one of the longest pedestrian streets, and features a plethora of shopping (including Copenhagen's Disney store!). If you wish to wet your appetite for Copenhagen, view my previous photo collection here.

Stop 2: Rostock, Germany

Rostock is a seaside town in North-eastern Germany, many visitors are here in passing from their cruise ships to visit Berlin, however there are other, closer sights - including Schwerin, which is the capital of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the state where German Chancellor Angela Merkel is from. In Schwerin, guests can visit a castle, take a cruise on the lake, or walk around the quaint town. Both Rostock and Schwerin were former cities of the Hanseatic league, which was a major merchant confederation in this region of Europe. 

Stop 3: Stockholm, Sweden

Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden, and is an absolute joy to visit! Stockholm is situated slightly inland from the Baltic coast, meaning those arriving into Stockholm proper by ship are guaranteed breathtaking scenery in the Stockholm archipelago. In the city, many visitors turn to famous sights such as the Royal Armory, the Gamla Stan, Skansen, and the Vasa Museum. All of these sights are quintessentially Swedish, and are sure to impress.

Stop 4: Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki is the capital city of Finland, and is another great city to visit! Helsinki features many wonderfully Finnish sights that are sure to impress visitors, these include but are not limited to; the Helsinki Cathedral, the Rock Church, the Olympic Stadium, and the Uspenski Cathedral. Helsinki is a great stop along our tour that is sure to impress!

Stop 5: St. Petersburg, Russia

This stop, is probably the most exotic, just based on the fact that it is in Russia; and is sure to impress, just like the others. In St. Petersburg, we will visit the Spilled Blood Cathedral, take a cruise on the Neva River, the Hermitage, and St. Isaac's cathedral. We will also talk about those famous Russian souvenirs, which intrigue almost every visitor to the country. St. Petersburg is really going to be a highlight of our tour, if you wish to wet your appetite for St. Petersburg you can see my previous post of photos here.

Stop 6: Tallinn, Estonia

Our final stop will be Tallinn, which is the capital of the wonderful country of Estonia! Tallinn, and Estonia, have some of the world's best preserved Medieval sights, so that is just one great reason for a visit here. Some of those other reasons include the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, the wonderfully preserved city walls, the Museum of Soviet occupation, and various Estonian freedom monuments dotted around the city. Tallinn should be a joy to visit, so b sure to join us for that post.

Thanks for joining as we make our way around these fantastic locals! As always, leave a comment below!