Where in Europe Photo Quiz
Can you match the picture to where in Europe it was taken? Comment below with how many you got correct and which ones you didn’t know. All photos were taken by me and can be read about in my blog posts 🙂
Tag: finland
Rovaniemi, Finland Travel Blog
Rovaniemi is the official hometown of Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle in Lapland, Finland and the ultimate Winter getaway! There’s snow on the ground for approximately six months of the year, which makes this European city feel like Christmas even in the off-season. Although the Coronavirus forced us to go home early, we were still able to enjoy many winter activities in just 48 hours. Without a doubt, we will be going back for more Nordic adventure! When to Go The best time to travel to Rovaniemi depends on what you are after – the constantly changing seasons all have their own characteristics and activities. Rovaniemi locals think their weather conditions are in a constant state of change and say there are up to eight seasons in a year: midwinter, snowy spring, spring, summer, harvest season, autumn leaf color, first snowfall, and Christmas. I think that you can go to a lot of other Nordic countries in Spring and Summer and get a similar experience, but the winter experience in Lapland can’t be beat! Who wouldn’t want to go meet the “real” Santa Claus, take a Reindeer sled ride, and snowmobile through the forest?!? The one winter activity that I was bummed for being closed was SantaPark. We wouldn’t have had time anyways since we had to leave early, but next time I visit, I would like to go during a time when it is open, which is end of June to early August for summer, and beginning of November to beginning of January for winter. Winter I, personally, would recommend visiting Rovaniemi in the Winter season. December and January are snowy months covered in the darkness of the Polar Night. The sun comes out in February and marks the start of the snowy, light-filled spring. March is often terrific for Northern Lights viewing, although unfortunately we were only there for two nights, and both nights it was snowing. Christmas is a special time of year to visit the Official Hometown of Santa Claus, although be warned that hotels book up a year in advance. I do feel that it would even more festive and cheery closer to Christmas, as compared to when I went in March. But even in March, you can meet Santa Claus, hear Christmas music, and see elves at work. Typical daytime temperatures in the winter: December: -20 to -10 degrees Celsius (-4 to 14 F) January: -30 to -15 degrees Celsius (-22 to 5 F) February: -20 to -15 degrees Celsius (-4 to 5 F) March: -15 to -5 degrees Celsius (5 to 23 F) Spring April is still considered a snowy month in Rovaniemi and Lapland, but the snow gradually disappears as May approaches. The ice on rivers and lakes starts melting, and big chunks of ice can be seen flowing downstream. In early April, the last of the Northern Lights displays can be seen. Towards the end of April, nights are too light for the Auroras to be spotted. In May, northern nature starts getting ready to blossom once again after a harsh winter. Typical daytime temperatures in the spring: April: 5 to 10 degrees Celsius (41 to 50 F) May: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 F) Summer The Midnight Sun period officially lasts from early June until early July, but night are white throughout the summer. The warmest time of year brings people out in masses to celebrate various events until the wee hours, as the sun never goes down. Typical daytime temperatures in the summer: June: 15 to 20 degrees Celsius (59 to 68 F) July: 20 to 25 degrees Celsius (68 to 77 F) Autumn Early August is still considered summer by many, but by the end of the month, it’s definitely autumn in Lapland. The Northern Lights start appearing in late August, and September and October are ideal Aurora viewing months. Temperatures start dropping below zero in October, and first snow usually falls at around the same time period. A permanent snow cover is expected in late November. Typical daytime temperatures in the autumn: August: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius (50 to 68 F) September: 5 to 15 degrees Celsius (41 to 59 F) October 0 to 10 degrees Celsius (32 to 50 F) November: -10 to 5 degrees Celsius (14 to 41 F) Where to Stay When visiting Rovaniemi, I suggest staying in one of the accommodations located within walking distance of Santa Claus Village. Majority of your time will probably be spent here, so it is worth staying at one of the three conveniently located accommodations below. Santa Claus Holiday Village I stayed in the cute cottages in Santa Claus Holiday Village. The hotel greeted us straight away by picking us up from the airport and transporting us for free to our cottage, where we dropped our bags off before heading to reception. When we arrived to the cottages, I felt like I was in a Hallmark Christmas movie! The cabins are designed with traditional Finnish style. Each room has its own sauna, kitchen, and lovely Christmas tree on the porch. The holiday season was over, but it still felt like a Christmas Winter Wonderland! Santa Claus Holiday Village has 144 apartments in total. The reception is open 24/7 and has a desk just for tour bookings. You can choose between the classic or superior cottages or suites. All options include a free buffet breakfast. The location is fantastic as it is only 10 minutes from the center of Rovaniemi, 5 minutes from the airport, and a 2 minute walk to visit Santa Claus! The staff was always cheery and helpful. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay and highly recommend it for everyone considering a mid-budget accommodation. It was definitely a beautiful, romantic place that was super cozy. Santa’s Igloos Arctic Circle About a 10-minute walk from Santa’s Village, the Igloo Hotel should be considered if you are wanting a good view of the Northern Lights from the comfort of your bed. The
9-Day Scandinavia Russia and Baltic Cruise Travel Blog
My third cruise was with Norwegian Cruise Line again and this time was to visit cities on the Baltic Sea. I set sail on the Norwegian Getaway from Copenhagen on an exciting vacation that was filled with history, art, and culture. Click on the linked headings to read more about each city. St. Petersburg, Russia After 2 days at sea, we reached St. Petersburg, Russia. Founded in 1703 by Peter the Great, it was the imperial capital for 2 centuries. It remains the country’s cultural center with venues like the historic Mariinsky Theatre hosting opera and ballet. Also the Russian Museum showcasing Russian art, from Orthodox icon paintings to abstract works by Kandinsky. St. Petersburg is also home to numerous parks and gardens. While in St. Petersburg, I witnessed the amazing Swan Lake ballet and also took a guided tour of the most iconic cathedrals of the city. Helsinki, Finland The next port was Helsinki, Finland’s southern capital that sits on a peninsula in the Gulf of Finland. Its central artery, Mannerheimintie, is flanked by institutions including the National Museum (tracing Finnish history from the Stone Age to the present), imposing Parliament House and Kiasma contemporary art museum. On busy Senate Square, you’ll find the neoclassical Helsinki Cathedral which stands in contrast with the Uspenski Cathedral and its cupolas. Tallinn, Estonia Tallinn, Estonia was my favorite port of call and is now my favorite Eastern European city. Tallinn, Estonia’s capital on the Baltic Sea is the country’s cultural hub. It retains its walled, cobblestoned Old Town, home to cafes and shops, as well as Kiek in de Kok, a 15th-century defensive tower. Its Estonian History Museum is dedicated to the country’s 20th-century history and its Gothic, towering Town Hall is among the Baltic region’s oldest. Stockholm, Sweden The only city that I had previously been to was Stockholm, Sweden. Laced by an ingenious network of waterways and bridges strung between a freshwater lake and the sea, Stockholm is easily seen on foot or by waterway cruise. Its gabled old townhouses peer over cobblestone streets, while its magnificent 17th-century palace sits watching over the harbor. The city is spread across a total of 17 islands and was founded in 1252 by a Swedish statesman Birger Jarl. Visby, Sweden The last stop on the cruise was Visby, Sweden. I had never heard of Visby before so I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it. The first thing that catches your eye when arriving at the Port of Visby, is the impressive cathedral and all the rooftops of the stone buildings in the town, surrounded by the mighty medieval town wall with its towers. Centrally placed, Visby was for a long time the natural meeting point for sailors and merchants from all over the Baltic region. Still today, you can enjoy the majestic merchants’ houses from 17th and 18th century along with almost 200 stone buildings – some of them dating back from the 12th century. Copenhagen, Denmark After one more day at sea, we arrived back at Copenhagen where I spent two days before heading back home. It is one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and is also one of Europe’s busiest hubs. On just about every street you will spot something beautiful.
Helsinki, Finland Travel Blog
Helsinki is the capital and most populous city of Finland located on the shore of the Gulf of Finland. It is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green parks. Since I only had one day in Helsinki, I tried to fit in as much as possible. I started the morning off by taking a ferry from Market Square to the Fortress of Suomenlinna. The literal translation of Suomenlinna in Finnish is Castle of Finland. It is a UNESECO World Heritage site and very picturesque location. The fortress was built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress and a base for the Archipelago Fleet. After catching the ferry back (departs every 20 minutes), I admired Uspenski Cathedral. This Eastern Orthodox cathedral is the main Orthodox Church in Helsinki. It was designed by the Russian architect Aleksey Gomostayev and was built after his death in 1862. I then enjoyed strolling through Market Square. It sits right on the Baltic Sea and maintains a year-round ferry link to Suomenlinna and other nearby islands. From spring to autumn, the Market Square is bustling with activity with vendors selling fresh Finish food and souvenirs. There are also outdoor cafes at the square. Just up the street is Helsinki Cathedral. This Neoclassical cathedral presiding over the Senate Square is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki. It is notable mainly for its green-colored dome and splendid architecture. The interior may seem quite plain but it is still worth visiting. Also in Senate Square is the University and Palace of the Council. Every day, precisely at 5:49 PM, you can hear a sound installation called Sound of the Senate Square, which plays carillon music, traveling from one building to another. I enjoy walking in cities versus taking public transportation, so I just walked down the streets of Helsinki. I stopped at Fazer Cafe, which is located in the mall across from Helsinki Central Railway Station. I needed a small pastry and smoothie to hold me over until lunch time. I continued walking and passed Helsinki Parliament House. I think it is a beautiful building. I then took a stroll along Toolonlahti Bay. This is a great park to walk around. Here, you can also find Finlandia Hall, a congress and event venue in the center of Helsinki. About a 20-minute walk from the bay is the Sibelius Monument by Mila Hiltunen, which was dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius. The monument is located at the Sibelius Park. If you are still looking for something quick to eat or drink, I recommend going to Regatta, which is a cute cafe very close to the monument and located on the sea. Walking back toward the center city, I went to Rock Church. Temppeliaukio Church is a Luthern church, designed by architects and brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969. It is called Rock Church because it is built directly into solid rock. It is worth the small admission price to enter. Next, I went to Kamppi Center, a shopping complex in the center of Helsinki. This is a convenient place to grab lunch. In the Narinkka Square, you will notice the Kamppi Chapel. It is also known as the “Chapel of Silence” since it is intended to be a place to calm down and have a moment of silence in one of the busiest areas in Finland. This ended by time in Finland since I had to get back on the cruise ship. However, if you have more time, I also recommend visiting Well Park, Observatory Hill, and Old Market Hall.