tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41477018163659257692024-02-25T03:38:53.614+02:00Simona's Fleet (2013-2018)No longer updatedSimona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-72777655103674383282019-01-07T22:44:00.000+02:002019-01-07T22:44:25.789+02:00The 100th post and the goodbye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is the 100th post to this blog, not counting the maybe two or three I have unpublished for various reasons. It is no secret that the vast majority of that hundred were written in 2013-2015, and in the later years I have severely struggled to keep it alive. Therefore, this is also the final post of this blog. To all of those who read this blog for for no other reason than the ship talk, I thank you for your support and hope you had a good time; but to those who read this blog more because of me or my writing style, I do have good news -<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have started up a new blog at <a href="https://simonascribbles.blogspot.com/2019/01/whadappened.html">simonascribbles.blogspot.com</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(please note that this link will take you straight to the first post of the blog, so if you're reading this post months or years later, you will probably find more stuff if you head to the front page)</span></div>
I have written a little more about my thoughts and reasons behind this change in the first post there, so if that interests you, come on over!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mIvwTaaef0OjCVOtSMHZ6hQJXBJk2VpbA7HbqVZ3_cdz0PQgM4j1mNQzvdUQxjbU7tJfFRcbROdFBj9rp0swf1eZI4lZzzJqvXUUsYmBWCASEMOxhtHki4iZdZtdm0vw9xVrqC6dRG0/s1600/DSCN5602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mIvwTaaef0OjCVOtSMHZ6hQJXBJk2VpbA7HbqVZ3_cdz0PQgM4j1mNQzvdUQxjbU7tJfFRcbROdFBj9rp0swf1eZI4lZzzJqvXUUsYmBWCASEMOxhtHki4iZdZtdm0vw9xVrqC6dRG0/s320/DSCN5602.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lovely photo of Color Magic I took on the hottest day of the year in the Oscarsborg fortress. The fortress is built on two islands in the narrowest part of the Oslofjord, making it a prime location for shipspotting as well as plenty of other nice summer activities. </td></tr>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-51612570857885884412018-03-19T14:17:00.000+02:002018-03-19T14:17:09.058+02:00My 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yet another year has passed and it is thus time to sum it up, unprecedentedly late into the following year, and following an unprecedented blog silence, due to either being extremely busy, or extremely drained, as you will see. However, that does by no means indicate a lack of blog-worthy events, and I do fully intend to catch up on posting the highlights separately.<br />
2017 has generally been somewhat similar to 2016; very eventful and interesting, but also somewhat difficult, I would even go as far as saying remarkably more so than 2016. So, without further ado-<br />
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<b>January</b></div>
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After one of the loveliest New Year celebrations I've had, I disembarked the ship in Stavanger, and after another day there, took a long and exhausting journey home. Still having many days before the start of school, I spent some time updating this blog (much like I am now), and additionally, having just scored a really good camera, decided to start<a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1322606497811485.1073741831.100001864415253&type=1&l=c5a1851df7"> a public Facebook album</a> of photos that either I have taken, or that I'm in, from various stages of life, events, adventures, and so on. In the very end of the month, Tallink's new and shiny Megastar came into service, and together with other exceptions happening on the Tallinn-Helsinki route, it was appropriate to do a ferry-thon, which included being on board the Megastar for her entire first day in service. In January I also <a href="https://issuu.com/ulkomatala/docs/um_2017-1">had an article published in Ulkomatala</a>, which felt pretty great.<br />
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<b>February</b></div>
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February was a rather school-heavy month, and thus quite uneventful. Other than school, I spent time preparing for a trip in March, and simultaneously crossing my fingers that school duties wouldn't force me to cut it short. Among other things, I acquired a nice new suitcase and looking at it, felt a strong urge to get creative. The suitcase still serves me well and I'm yet to see worthy competition in terms of looks.<br />
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<b>March</b></div>
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The main event of March was my partner Sverre celebrating a nice round birthday, which meant that I visited him for a while and joined several celebrations. Fortunately, I did manage to arrange school duties so that I could also accompany him on trips on his two favourite cruiseferries, the Color Fantasy from Oslo to Kiel and back and Silja Symphony from Stockholm to Helsinki and back. Afterwards, I had more business at school, learning how to maneuver a ship in the simulator, and also some celestial navigation.<br />
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<b>April</b></div>
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In early April, I voted for the 2nd time in my life, in the 2nd country of my life, as I was eligible to cast my vote in the local elections in Turku, Finland. Neither my candidate nor their party got any seats, as usual. Having spent several weeks in the simulator at school, I took my first attempt at the important simulator exam and did not pass, as I failed to notice a ship without AIS approaching until it was too late to stick to the Closest Point of Approach limits given by the examiners.<br />In late April, Sverre came to visit which resulted in some adventures, including my ninth visit to Linnanmäki amusement park in Helsinki on the first day of the season.<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>May</b></div>
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In early May I successfully retook the simulator exam, thus finishing my 2nd year at school. As the 3rd year is meant entirely for on-board training, I no longer had much real business in Turku; however, as I felt I had not had much of a summer for two years, I delayed that a little. As I no longer needed to use the city buses a lot, I decided to give my father in Estonia a visit so we could have a look at my long-idle and deteriorated city bike. Some days and one dentist's appointment later, I was on my way back, happy to have a viable replacement for a bus card. In the very end of the month, I headed over to Norway to visit Sverre.<br />
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<b>June</b></div>
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I welcomed June in Norway, with a nice roundtrip through Strömstad, Sandefjord, Kristiansand, Hirtshals, Frederikshavn and Gothenburg, which included nice visits to the zoo in Kristiansand and the impressive Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg. From Gothenburg, I headed straight to Tallinn again, requiring just a little more dentistry. During my short stay there, my mother and I stumbled upon a huge sale in a fabric store, and with the help of that and mum's nice sewing machine, I left Tallinn for Turku again with several new and unique clothes.<br />
However, I did not have much time to rest in Turku; as Sverre was returning to work and I had a period of time where I did not originally have much to do, I had decided to kill two birds with one stone and go spend some time and have fun on board a school ship whilst simultaneously gaining on board training days for school. The ship was Helena, a small tall ship, and I joined her for the following three weeks. The part that was in June included a transfer journey from Turku to Halmstad on the west coast of Sweden, with stops in Utö, Visby, Nexø and Helsingør.<br />
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<b>July</b></div>
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By the start of July, our beautiful tall ship had arrived in Halmstad, well in time to join the yearly Tall Ships Races regatta which was starting from there. Firstly, it was a few days of getting ready and celebrating in Halmstad, and then it was time to set sail for the first leg; the destination was Kotka in Finland, but the finish line was actually quite close to Tallinn. The first two days the winds were favourable and we, our ship being specially built to make good speed in good winds, sped past everyone else. Then, however, as we were near Gotland, the winds were turned off and the rest of the race towards Tallinn was spent drifting with close to no speed whatsoever, so it took another 3-4 days to get to the finish line, during which one ship gained up and stole our line of honour award. Additionally, we had issues with our auxiliary engine, which meant limited electrical power. After crossing the finish line, we immediately fired up the engine and headed to Tallinn for one night, and before we had to show up in Kotka, we also squeezed in one night in Helsinki. When we finally got to Kotka, it was some more days of celebration, but hereby my time on board came to an end and it was time to return to Turku. However, that stay was very short as already the following day I headed to Tallinn for more errands, before returning to Finland and meeting up with Sverre for a short trip through Porvoo and Tampere, and then finally <i>properly</i> back to Turku. By now, the Tall Ships Races had caught up with me, as now the entire armada was in Turku, together with the crowds and celebrations, and Sverre and I were there just in time to enjoy it together as spectators.<br />
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<b>August</b></div>
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After the ships sailed and Sverre returned home, it was time for me to pack up my life in Turku into a storage and hand my apartment over to a subtenant; my goal from now on was to spend as much time as possible on ships for on-board training, and live either in Tallinn, Fredrikstad or on someone's couch in Turku inbetween, depending on convenience. Before moving out, I did manage to squeeze in a quick visit from mum, with whom we cruised the wonderful Viking Grace (which was potentially very fortunate, as there was a stabbing attack with several victims in central Turku while we were on board). Initially, I gathered some essentials in a suitcase and went off to Fredrikstad, but mere days later I had to head back to Finland yet again to start my 2nd on-board training on a large cargo ship; this time, Containerships VII; I believe I need not clarify what type of ship she was.<br />
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<b>September</b></div>
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The entire month of September, I was on board Containerships VII, spending daytime watches doing various work around the ship, and night time watches on the bridge. All in all, it was a pleasant time and I got several chances to go ashore in new and exciting destinations, and the weather was very nice throughout.<br />
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<b>October</b></div>
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<br />The first week of October continued on Containerships VII, but I already had a nice vacation with a belated birthday celebration to look forward to. However, during my last days on board we struggled with delays which threatened to throw my nice plans into jeopardy; and even just as we were about to be on time, mere hours before I was due to disembark, our ship experienced a fire in the engine room as we were underway from Kronstadt in Russia to Helsinki, where I planned to catch a ferry to Stockholm. Now having no hope to catch that, I disembarked Containerships late in the evening, stayed in a hotel and caught a plane to Stockholm. There, I met up with Sverre and we could start our trip together, though the stress of the final days on board had shaken me up quite badly.<br />Nonetheless, I enjoyed my late birthday cruise on Viking Line's Cinderella, which was followed by a quick daytrip to Turku before we returned home to Fredrikstad.<br />Having barely got home, I was already placed on another cargo ship for on-board training. So, after just some days home, I flew to Tallinn before going onward to Loviisa to board the ship, a small bulker named Prima Lady.<br />
However, my time on the Prima Lady was short-lived; I was still exhausted from Containerships VII, I had close to no vacation inbetween, and the tiny old ship was very slow and rocky, making me seasick. Additionally, my condition was worsened by paint fumes and cargo particles which were hard to avoid on such a tiny ship unless I was to sleep with a mask on, and thus, feeling quite unwell at almost all times, I decided to disembark on the last day of the month.<br />
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<b>November</b></div>
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After disembarking the Prima Lady in Vaasa, I travelled again to Tallinn as it was the closest place I could stay, and spent a week recovering there before flying back to Fredrikstad. Now, I realised I should be taking it easier, relaxing, thinking things through and only go back to sea whenever I felt ready. The only other remarkable event from the month was a nice cruise Sverre and I took, from Oslo to Frederikshavn and back on the Stena Saga, with a day at the destination, during which we also took a short train trip to Skagen.<br />
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<b>December</b></div>
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December continued much on the same note as November; I attended several Christmas celebrations with Sverre earlier on, and celebrated Christmas itself with Sverre's family, although Sverre himself was at work. And as I had masterfully managed to break my computer already in November, I decided to spend New Year in Tallinn and at the same time get it fixed where it was produced. So it was there that I sent away a rather stormy (in every sense other than the weather) and eventful year, with high hopes for 2018 to give me the boost I needed.</div>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-70749512072669545402017-06-06T21:06:00.000+03:002017-06-06T21:08:56.900+03:00The Saga of the Estonian Main Island Ferries<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<i>This is the updated English version of my article that was published in the <a href="https://issuu.com/ulkomatala/docs/um_2017-1">1/2017 edition of Ulkomatala</a>, there translated to Finnish by Olli Tuominen and Kalle Id. </i><br />
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Over the past years there has been a lot of fuss and scandals around the Estonian island ferries, most notably those connecting the mainland to the two largest islands, Saaremaa (Virtsu - Kuivastu) and Hiiumaa (Rohuküla - Heltermaa). In fact, it could almost be said that few people remember any times at all when there wasn't any fuss around the said ferry services.<br />
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Since the beginning of times (also known as 1994), the two shipping routes, along with several other routes between smaller islands and mainland, were operated by Saaremaa Shipping Company or its subsidiaries. Over that time, stockholder Vjatšeslav Leedo, sometimes referred to by the media as the “Ferry king”, or more literally <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.com/2017/06/the-saga-of-estonian-main-island-ferries.html#footnote">"Barge King"*</a>, became a widely known face of the island ferry monopoly, both the improvements made to the ferry services as well as the controversies.<br />
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Starting from 1997, over the course of some years, several larger ferries – Ofelia (1968, Kröger Werft), Scania (1972, Aalborg Værft), Viire (1989, North East Shipbuilders; chartered), St. Ola (1971, Meyer Werft) - were introduced on the routes, remarkably improving the quality of the service, as well as capacity compared to the older and smaller ferries. However, a decade later those 2nd hand ships had become very outdated and in 2007, an order was placed to BLRT Fiskerstrand for three new ferries. As a result, Muhumaa, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa entered service in March 2010, June 2010 and May 2011, respectively. The newbuilds, being much faster and larger, brought an end to a number of problems, for example slow and occasionally unreliable service in heavier winter weather, and vehicle queues in ports that could sometimes be many kilometers long.<br />
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However, Vjatšeslav Leedo's ways of running the business more often than not came with controversy. Almost constantly there was an air of dissatisfaction with the sums of subsidies he extorted from the government. On some of the colder winters, he was accused of breaking ice just shortly before the Estonian Maritime Administration prohibited it in order to let the ice grow thick enough to open up ice roads that people could use to drive to the islands for free - which would then replace the profitable ferry service.<br />
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Considering the aforementioned, it is no wonder that sometimes, proposals popped up for building a bridge to connect the mainland with Saaremaa, or at least to nationalize the ferry service. The former has never gone beyond the stage of investigation due to several reasons, most of them environment-related, as well as due to the decreased need after the arrival of the new ferries in 2010-2011. However, a chance to do the latter was looming as the contract with Väinamere Liinid, a subsidiary of Saaremaa Shipping Company was due to expire in October 2016.<br />
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Research and analysis to determine whether nationalizing is feasible started already in 2011 and the initial plan, coined by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (hereinafter Ministry) in 2013, was to buy or build the ships for a state-owned company and rent them to a private operator. Already then, some said that time is pressing, but that it is realistic if action is taken right away. Slow action was taken and state-owned Port of Tallinn was looking into procuring the ships and awaiting a final go-ahead from the Ministry, but in early 2014 the Estonian prime minister resigned, bringing with him the entire government as required by the constitution. The new Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Urve Palo (hereinafter Minister) looked into the matter and some months later decided to cancel the old plan, accusing the previous minister of acting too slowly and saying that there is no longer any guarantee that the new ships would be ready by October 2016. With that, on the last day of June 2014, public procurement was announced to find an operator who would have four new purpose-built or up to 86 months old ships to operate on the Saaremaa and Hiiumaa routes by the start of the new contract period. Another condition was that the government reserved the right to buy the ferries after the contract period ends in 2026.<br />
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That course of action was highly unpopular, because the hopes to end the monopoly of Vjatšeslav Leedo and his Väinamere Liinid had stemmed and now it was looking a lot like another 10 years with no change. Väinamere Liinid themselves protested too, by making a proposal to change the conditions of the deal, pointing out, among others, that it is not possible for them to build a fourth new ship in time (their Saaremaa, Hiiumaa and Muhumaa met the conditions). That proposal, however, was rejected. Still, they put forward an offer, but it was deemed non-compliant.<br />
Port of Tallinn, at the same time, announced a procurement to find builders for four new ships in order to be able to put forward an offer. However, they received no offers themselves and thus were not able to participate; nonetheless, they moved forward to direct negotiations with potential builders.<br />
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As no suitable offers were received by the Ministry, direct negotiations were started with both Väinamere Liinid as well as Port of Tallinn. The former displayed a very open attitude, but warned that the connection with the islands might be suspended when their contract ends - if Port of Tallinn wins, stating that it is impossible to have four new ships built by that time. Port of Tallinn continued negotiations and upon being announced as winners, ordered two ferries from Remontowa shipyard in Poland, and two from Sefine shipyards in Turkey. However, the contract with the government could not be signed right away as, quite predictably, Väinamere Liinid disputed the outcome. Nonetheless, the dispute was lost and on the 11th of December 2014, a contract was signed between the Minister and Port of Tallinn, making the latter responsible for the Saaremaa and Hiiumaa ferry traffic until end of September 2026.<br />
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Väinamere Liinid, again quite expectedly, did not give up the fight so easy, suing the Minister and even taking the matter to European Commission. Relevant court cases are still going on at the time of writing this article.<br />
Additionally, the newbuilds of 2010 and 2011 were taken to Germany in August 2015, where they started serving the Cuxhaven-Brunsbüttel route where they still sail now, an action seen by many as revenge from Vjatšeslav Leedo and Saaremaa Shipping Company, despite opposite claims from Leedo himself. The connection with the Estonian islands was continued with the older ferries, bringing back long lines in the harbours, some degree of unreliability and a very large degree of public dissatisfaction.<br />
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Meanwhile, Port of Tallinn held a naming contest for the new ferries and in May 2015 it was announced that the four new ships will be named Tõll, Piret, Leiger and Tiiu after local mythological heroes. But then, in August 2015, things got very bitter as the chairman and one member of the board of Port of Tallinn, along with several other people were taken into custody, suspected of large scale bribery and money laundering, partially in relation to the ferry building contracts. As a result, over the course of some months, the entire board was switched.<br />
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As 2016 started, so did the first doubts that the newbuilds will be ready for service by October. Promised deadlines for the arrival of the ferries were pushed several times, starting from one ferry making it a bit later than well in time, then a couple of the ships not arriving by October, and eventually it became clear that none of the ships would arrive in time to start service according to the contract. It was speculated that the shipyards have no real motivation to hurry now that the people they negotiated with were out of the business; in any case, the new board took the beating, chartered the old serving ferries from Väinamere Liinid and successfully started operating on the 1st of October, taking the stand that it's better to have good quality ferries rather than rushed and unfinished ones. A fifth spare ferry, the Regula was bought from Väinamere Liinid, sparking another scandal as the 4-million price that was paid for her was considered outrageous; the sale as well as the charters drew attention to Vjatšeslav Leedo again, as his company was very nicely profiting from the mess, much as if they had retained the contract – exactly what was supposed to be prevented by the whole story.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZBBRvfJioGfBc88YvAW_vjITQg-EFAuYJEeuiWxRrQOHAlLbOOOpKRcqW0HQGh4-sogFN6ZVf6IAR__mN_PfRz-xA0OhevdlzZ_AgvPV7TTeSXrnSrUJIk6CnzPcuezb1GV3ccboMtA/s1600/DJI_0041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZBBRvfJioGfBc88YvAW_vjITQg-EFAuYJEeuiWxRrQOHAlLbOOOpKRcqW0HQGh4-sogFN6ZVf6IAR__mN_PfRz-xA0OhevdlzZ_AgvPV7TTeSXrnSrUJIk6CnzPcuezb1GV3ccboMtA/s320/DJI_0041.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiiumaa of Saaremaa Shipping Company, Leiger of TS Laevad and Ionas, chartered by Saaremaa Shipping Company to replace the newer ferries that were sent off to Germany.<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo: TS Laevad OÜ</span></td></tr>
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Finally, on the 19th of December, the first of the ferries, Leiger, was christened in Tallinn by Helgi Põllo, having arrived in Estonia 9 days earlier after a strenuous journey of over a month from Turkey. The shipyard had made several attempts to deliver her earlier, but TS Laevad, the subsidiary of Port of Tallinn responsible for the ferries, rejected, apparently due to minor shortcomings. Nonetheless, the ferry received positive feedback from the crew and started service on the Rohuküla-Heltermaa route on the 22nd of December.<br />
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The 2nd ferry, Tõll, arrived from Poland on the 9th of January 2017, and was christened by Lelet Aavik in Kuivastu on the 21st of January, before starting service on the Virtsu-Kuivastu route.<br />
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The 3rd ferry, Tiiu, started her journey from Turkey on the 13th March, and made it to the Baltic Sea just so neatly that there were hopes that she could be joined by the 4th ferry, Piret as she comes from Poland, but as the latter stayed in for a little longer, that didn't quite happen. Still, the two last ferries arrived with just a few days inbetween, so it was possible to see them together in Tallinn for some time, which was possibly a rare opportunity, as the ferries serve on different routes.<br />
Tiiu was christened by Helen Kõmmus in Heltermaa on the 8th of April, and joined Leiger in service on the following day.<br />
Piret was christened by Mareli Ots in Tallinn on the 12th of April, and joined Tõll in service on the 14th.<br />
Despite the long wait, or perhaps exactly because of the long wait, it seems that the new ferries have quickly become loved by the people and got mostly positive feedback.<br />
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Additionally, it was recently announced that the spare ferry Regula will get a refit and a new livery to better match the newbuilds.<br />
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<div id="footnote">
<i>* The estonian word for barge (praam) is very often mistakenly used instead of the correct word for ferry (parvlaev).</i></div>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-5528016667034469012017-02-18T20:11:00.000+02:002017-06-01T23:46:26.472+03:00Experience: A Megastar was born!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Two years have flown by quickly; I remember when <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2015/02/meanwhile-in-tallinnk.html">Tallink announced a newbuild</a> for their Shuttle service in early 2015, and it feels like yesterday. Yet, somehow, a whole ship was designed, built and fine-tuned in that time. And she wasn't even rushed at all, which I saw first-hand when I embarked on her maiden voyage on the 29th of January. And I did not only do the first crossing; in fact, I was on board during her entire first day in service, a total of four crossings. In addition to Sverre, with whom I did the entire trip, I met tens of other ship enthusiasts as they also did her first sailings either from Tallinn or Helsinki, or both. In addition to the arrival of the Megastar, there was plenty of other things happening on the Tallinn-Helsinki route to be excited about, as well, such as the thoroughly refit Silja Europa, and the Rosella filling in for the Viking XPRS.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6EgCsNJii0U0VoST0dmOPJ2L7gYAkbzBzag9zfmKAnqaQsIdkjGvQ6cmMU1ibmEbYnjErTcTYE_h6yojqowm3ra0b-bKd4NMLSp0QTsreoQCS7dPRgM01GaK_rR3YVixHQzuUrqiS2g/s1600/IMG_7302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM6EgCsNJii0U0VoST0dmOPJ2L7gYAkbzBzag9zfmKAnqaQsIdkjGvQ6cmMU1ibmEbYnjErTcTYE_h6yojqowm3ra0b-bKd4NMLSp0QTsreoQCS7dPRgM01GaK_rR3YVixHQzuUrqiS2g/s320/IMG_7302.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Megastar in the outfitting stage at Meyer Turku in November 2016</td></tr>
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In addition to the first voyages of the Megastar, we also did the last voyage of the Superstar with a smaller group of other enthusiasts. The atmosphere on the ship was almost eerie with foggy weather and only 228 passengers on board out of her capacity of 2080. After being replaced by the Megastar, she was taken over by Corsica Ferries and left Tallinn a few days later, bound for the Mediterranean for the next chapter of her life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMeRW2PAC-CKhx2yv1YbVSVPIKZuuIZ6IAQ9eEfPNsCyY18fERQfySBK5phWEK01FtSEf9_SIERW0UxJ-9bj_fpMrCmf2aUH2Ey1g-5Mpry3Im5tjiNXuLgUhc8EVroIwfz4p7IsKfEE/s1600/DSCN0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMeRW2PAC-CKhx2yv1YbVSVPIKZuuIZ6IAQ9eEfPNsCyY18fERQfySBK5phWEK01FtSEf9_SIERW0UxJ-9bj_fpMrCmf2aUH2Ey1g-5Mpry3Im5tjiNXuLgUhc8EVroIwfz4p7IsKfEE/s320/DSCN0791.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gangway signs in Helsinki had already been prepared with a makeshift solution. No surprise there, as a completely new terminal with new arrangements and new signs will be ready soon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbh2rpi-OgdaGSksca5EEr4kO39EOlegknqGbZQKmEda3P_O8JdnfnWCEUnZshtbFxOa_NmYc4R4KDLD2Z4QFLXn1zTjaavMz069wk8TyTg6W_pvvXzYOXITUrX7PAzjaOclhtMAt344/s1600/DSCN0818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbh2rpi-OgdaGSksca5EEr4kO39EOlegknqGbZQKmEda3P_O8JdnfnWCEUnZshtbFxOa_NmYc4R4KDLD2Z4QFLXn1zTjaavMz069wk8TyTg6W_pvvXzYOXITUrX7PAzjaOclhtMAt344/s320/DSCN0818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Looking at the signs on board, and considering the ship was built in Italy, you could hardly say that she's leaving - instead, that she's returning home. I doubt her new owners will feel the need to change much.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrO-5agzYIO4FoVhukzL9H2bvgikGraWUYm58h7mjBNNJG3UP_GPldTyEEqvnekwPq3jDH7uq41vQffG6bgVDFr1uXCHnwSbVIbW9a811_gc195dblOu4fMdOKMSEOrNzS9pVF2Wfcfk/s1600/DSCN0823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrO-5agzYIO4FoVhukzL9H2bvgikGraWUYm58h7mjBNNJG3UP_GPldTyEEqvnekwPq3jDH7uq41vQffG6bgVDFr1uXCHnwSbVIbW9a811_gc195dblOu4fMdOKMSEOrNzS9pVF2Wfcfk/s320/DSCN0823.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzn3dheeyXtCJKcYlSAujHQFszbLAHh06Z24J6YFj_iD0rwFXnC1D3LVvB9yeP0euLD4c6xiszXP9Gm8_qXXCOccj7HrGiO1AcRopc_13J2axdOSf4DSZMpkiAgDGYuoRCO-xrOD83Pk/s1600/DSCN0837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfzn3dheeyXtCJKcYlSAujHQFszbLAHh06Z24J6YFj_iD0rwFXnC1D3LVvB9yeP0euLD4c6xiszXP9Gm8_qXXCOccj7HrGiO1AcRopc_13J2axdOSf4DSZMpkiAgDGYuoRCO-xrOD83Pk/s320/DSCN0837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">The view of ships in Tallinn seen from the Superstar as she parked on the most remote berth. As the sight of the Megastar on her designated berth has since then become common, the biggest oddity here is actually the Rosella replacing the drydocked Viking XPRS. </td></tr>
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The maiden voyage was very nicely scheduled into the afternoon of the following day, departing at 13:30. The festive mood started already in the terminal, with lots of passengers gathering, a small wind orchestra playing, balloons tied to the rails near the boarding area and complementary sparkling wine coupons being distributed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqcCN3tDHD4MQnmvXCd3RhjHCDxztOY5IpnN4TAByiiB16XnD_6aXJXGP_eVfTgzmsgVtGwxVn2Th1XcMrofITewlzuvji9UcBpBXUH1Y94iViO_dHcjgaM_wEO73WVQgQwF4rnDZP_s/s1600/DSCN0857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqcCN3tDHD4MQnmvXCd3RhjHCDxztOY5IpnN4TAByiiB16XnD_6aXJXGP_eVfTgzmsgVtGwxVn2Th1XcMrofITewlzuvji9UcBpBXUH1Y94iViO_dHcjgaM_wEO73WVQgQwF4rnDZP_s/s320/DSCN0857.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW64QJ4shg4F5xr5QgCNi5c9TBdJMTBksFUp8tAW7Cw73FUQQvcqCsE5nV9UfR-UnUxtsjLXEw-yCpY1zbX68t8PMVQ7vonhU67spG3AuTfaVeMMBd6qaido66p_tB1ODd0uImEXZu5Sc/s1600/DSCN0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW64QJ4shg4F5xr5QgCNi5c9TBdJMTBksFUp8tAW7Cw73FUQQvcqCsE5nV9UfR-UnUxtsjLXEw-yCpY1zbX68t8PMVQ7vonhU67spG3AuTfaVeMMBd6qaido66p_tB1ODd0uImEXZu5Sc/s320/DSCN0868.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am generally not too keen on sparkling wine, so I decided to keep this coupon, as it has much more value to me. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jgN9wYd9h_xEa1GT1FDc1L2x6uXaW9lEQodrIVkhzSCFBcIs3xiJ22al112Fn9rpPe5kFGJot5Q_TuvUH5uUps2YF0rwQJo1tJ_p3Y6uxmPxB0KBDCQ-aAIuFIoQcSiHH05WBSGfZkw/s1600/DSCN0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1jgN9wYd9h_xEa1GT1FDc1L2x6uXaW9lEQodrIVkhzSCFBcIs3xiJ22al112Fn9rpPe5kFGJot5Q_TuvUH5uUps2YF0rwQJo1tJ_p3Y6uxmPxB0KBDCQ-aAIuFIoQcSiHH05WBSGfZkw/s320/DSCN0883.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first thing I photographed on board was the already famous horse in the Victory Bar.</td></tr>
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Around the time of departure, most of the ship enthusiasts gathered on the outside decks, which sort of ended up as the meeting point where we all became aware of how many and who of our friends and acquaintances had showed up for the occasion. Another set of people came on board in Helsinki for her 2nd voyage, so altogether, we met a lot of like-minded people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNRAtCpRzR1xN7-3GpxJiMdpfJuJXmvOVtSw59TJIny6tqcSOc0WyTcLOj9tpLMcqyCUIfC4gxPActJZo3Ld0z30TEZtRDZdFbLJGBZ4dG3-HqOO2NrDtilemUQPYKNZr_AvFIco68-M/s1600/DSCN0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNRAtCpRzR1xN7-3GpxJiMdpfJuJXmvOVtSw59TJIny6tqcSOc0WyTcLOj9tpLMcqyCUIfC4gxPActJZo3Ld0z30TEZtRDZdFbLJGBZ4dG3-HqOO2NrDtilemUQPYKNZr_AvFIco68-M/s320/DSCN0890.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overnight, the Superstar had been moved to another remote berth on the opposite side of the basin. The crew on board waved to us and horn blows were exchanged. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaa5VRMcVmk1tv2OvHJSyVHzOQ7uRXNShTm9m8yTmO106mbbBIaVaqxyxDm2rgt-1Ss1IMYFU9jS_-TrC56wRkL8lGtaEd80y_JvwsjZ4PxdtJAFJtXcLPlGwh_Nyy85162nCWuZ7l2s/s1600/DSCN0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixaa5VRMcVmk1tv2OvHJSyVHzOQ7uRXNShTm9m8yTmO106mbbBIaVaqxyxDm2rgt-1Ss1IMYFU9jS_-TrC56wRkL8lGtaEd80y_JvwsjZ4PxdtJAFJtXcLPlGwh_Nyy85162nCWuZ7l2s/s320/DSCN0891.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel Photo</td></tr>
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After arrival in Helsinki, as most passengers disembarked, we had excellent opportunities for taking some unobstructed interior photos, with the shiny interiors looking exactly like in a brochure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglObsxBP8IUwQTTqmIJygvB7uPSn7sBRylbphcT4UdYvE52pYuYYncyDYNfa3I4iCRFeH-aA2sAsDRToox0rw4VD9_4KSQcD_26-7r6BQSUeypF1dNzDahjzw_vNLJFqfn-KDRDjJXl0s/s1600/DSCN0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglObsxBP8IUwQTTqmIJygvB7uPSn7sBRylbphcT4UdYvE52pYuYYncyDYNfa3I4iCRFeH-aA2sAsDRToox0rw4VD9_4KSQcD_26-7r6BQSUeypF1dNzDahjzw_vNLJFqfn-KDRDjJXl0s/s320/DSCN0921.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful winter garden, deck 9 aft. Slightly heated, sheltered from wind and thankfully, a non-smoking area, it was very nice and cozy.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAi2ZoPbd3h5yfliBiZjRm_iNQwaIwMEhJVrIm2Z4ifwrEL_ptPRLXBJJVJpwKbVJHmLi-K4SQWOV8sTqaEqPyUpQtCS8knlaU1zUMSOTnY2FtFgCwP995xpuUXFCUxCBbCoRvQ4xecM/s1600/DSCN0931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijAi2ZoPbd3h5yfliBiZjRm_iNQwaIwMEhJVrIm2Z4ifwrEL_ptPRLXBJJVJpwKbVJHmLi-K4SQWOV8sTqaEqPyUpQtCS8knlaU1zUMSOTnY2FtFgCwP995xpuUXFCUxCBbCoRvQ4xecM/s320/DSCN0931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sea Pub, just inside from the winter garden.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxgujV50EkfHMS2kNtT7BUzxlZ8c7LW55Ao8h7wz8KthrCSZIO2R4UflWhH_0NMhay0lwpPphLbZlPXhrrveQ_lEKxhsilfgA6kDdJpXwqVonkDxCdtm0sWzL4ENfCrjiVUglHPkFi3s/s1600/DSCN0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxgujV50EkfHMS2kNtT7BUzxlZ8c7LW55Ao8h7wz8KthrCSZIO2R4UflWhH_0NMhay0lwpPphLbZlPXhrrveQ_lEKxhsilfgA6kDdJpXwqVonkDxCdtm0sWzL4ENfCrjiVUglHPkFi3s/s320/DSCN0941.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victory Bar sitting area</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiAYnojVbwM57um4SmExajmMDOrpd2sZhaOHUsRZvnS7U9328_yxFaDPsj5kR_7-gevD97M2sWopdzG-BoL-pRGRKPK5iC68lKBC8uQSLvykbejyxWx13L7IclRdUUWB94qw8ZhyphenhyphenV0SI/s1600/DSCN0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisiAYnojVbwM57um4SmExajmMDOrpd2sZhaOHUsRZvnS7U9328_yxFaDPsj5kR_7-gevD97M2sWopdzG-BoL-pRGRKPK5iC68lKBC8uQSLvykbejyxWx13L7IclRdUUWB94qw8ZhyphenhyphenV0SI/s320/DSCN0951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a lot of variety in the interior. This one from Fast Lane self-service restaurant.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTYT1L3-F4Rrnm9IDV_ljyG3C6_H-O__XNspzbRgfz4A0Y8wRaUhUai6arbAN2mlShljOHHb50J_xl4Nm0H1Ui6T8im8gKRQq8HdcAnpa-vKtSgQZ27ZNe4Fw5nV3sMmMgibcsw4ROac/s1600/DSCN0957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicTYT1L3-F4Rrnm9IDV_ljyG3C6_H-O__XNspzbRgfz4A0Y8wRaUhUai6arbAN2mlShljOHHb50J_xl4Nm0H1Ui6T8im8gKRQq8HdcAnpa-vKtSgQZ27ZNe4Fw5nV3sMmMgibcsw4ROac/s320/DSCN0957.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast Lane</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZ1brDs8C4vhmkeMmWhUUYDP_DS0fcwsW6wH73LjBXvQ8ahyphenhyphenbg3X3KMxYa7viybNslt2VMrSWwYhQdYmXsKfAhKuGZL9LsAOFlKJyecJdbdoc-N0jGcG3DL7CnJoPpX_I_TE-L3pVb3o/s1600/DSCN0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZ1brDs8C4vhmkeMmWhUUYDP_DS0fcwsW6wH73LjBXvQ8ahyphenhyphenbg3X3KMxYa7viybNslt2VMrSWwYhQdYmXsKfAhKuGZL9LsAOFlKJyecJdbdoc-N0jGcG3DL7CnJoPpX_I_TE-L3pVb3o/s320/DSCN0959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fast Lane servery area </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnQ2Qm_Sc-4LMWwI90wlpG4sTWPf3R3faeGMGTtkuR8Bnt5Xu2yrmSxEvzWNlf5L0c-84GJyb7AJDnSjT7oFCjGQFsB80mP79HEF30q6Xyr0bbvLdeHmj5TUJpmLUyFeynBh1RGwpzmg/s1600/DSCN0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnQ2Qm_Sc-4LMWwI90wlpG4sTWPf3R3faeGMGTtkuR8Bnt5Xu2yrmSxEvzWNlf5L0c-84GJyb7AJDnSjT7oFCjGQFsB80mP79HEF30q6Xyr0bbvLdeHmj5TUJpmLUyFeynBh1RGwpzmg/s320/DSCN0974.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starboard side of the Lobby on deck 8, an area I'd like to refer to as "Area X" due to the x-shape created by the walkways going through as they divide the area in four...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvWcPFpcwzO7IzYpuS9f1kak1Wi7pRfV0T9sTIq69FsfG_FIYL3SgKqIY5TWBDg9YWxHtgQYWAVtPIXXTfzJlAcRBqGw1MyaepZdVQWYQsd-hXzCOehjCV2HUa9S4xdKla4fuwV1Y8lc/s1600/DSCN0949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtvWcPFpcwzO7IzYpuS9f1kak1Wi7pRfV0T9sTIq69FsfG_FIYL3SgKqIY5TWBDg9YWxHtgQYWAVtPIXXTfzJlAcRBqGw1MyaepZdVQWYQsd-hXzCOehjCV2HUa9S4xdKla4fuwV1Y8lc/s320/DSCN0949.JPG" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... as can be seen on this mandatory deck plan photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dbXmwtvSI2NO59pz11p8fSi9VmmpuaOM0P9ZRI-Cm_-xVfcOVjRbHCDyqHFkEDlw56Oilkw7z2Jh4v0Osdl_DJ9Rn29yGV4JWdionVLZDCKojOvhiu8DQE3jEeoxOsq_IuvcKheImCQ/s1600/DSCN0978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dbXmwtvSI2NO59pz11p8fSi9VmmpuaOM0P9ZRI-Cm_-xVfcOVjRbHCDyqHFkEDlw56Oilkw7z2Jh4v0Osdl_DJ9Rn29yGV4JWdionVLZDCKojOvhiu8DQE3jEeoxOsq_IuvcKheImCQ/s320/DSCN0978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee&Co in the forward part of the lobby</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDJorRZHdt5LOcfQ7fiDegU85b50Vwfbj-z0PYwzxq_5QDl723sAbh371dBXvRKSuHrhSSEuIy7SzvsEC-g2izGclrKBaLdQWqhe-vuoLgKLQI-Xh_z6VEtUHXb-LJlf9DCOnOW4lFxc/s1600/DSCN0982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaDJorRZHdt5LOcfQ7fiDegU85b50Vwfbj-z0PYwzxq_5QDl723sAbh371dBXvRKSuHrhSSEuIy7SzvsEC-g2izGclrKBaLdQWqhe-vuoLgKLQI-Xh_z6VEtUHXb-LJlf9DCOnOW4lFxc/s320/DSCN0982.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby Shop in the aft part of the lobby, perfect for some light purchases and souvenirs, in case the gigantic Traveller Superstore just aft from here is too much, being entirely dedicated to the usual tax-free goods (although not actually tax-free in this case).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vC0nEfvOXslmc3UbZYGSpfiWOxlRoJEojGnPjX4jd2jaouPr-8Dzdwgqo0DVJTbKhVK4ocf-EfNbeCUWIqyiUkr9WFEmge7_Lud3DyUJJP4yyE-melIk9RiFSQbUt1S5A1GLqQnT8Yc/s1600/DSCN0990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vC0nEfvOXslmc3UbZYGSpfiWOxlRoJEojGnPjX4jd2jaouPr-8Dzdwgqo0DVJTbKhVK4ocf-EfNbeCUWIqyiUkr9WFEmge7_Lud3DyUJJP4yyE-melIk9RiFSQbUt1S5A1GLqQnT8Yc/s320/DSCN0990.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What baffled all of us was the rather minuscule information desk, occupying one little corner of coffee&co.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Yu3sAXkQtiblPYkfHkXspZCzOVzegs9x2w0Dt5Lzs-WZ9hsuJ_f-dJD9y9zCI-dlGvkgSJqm3ah6QGIplTvO93FvsiBNWQjlDmCPZrQEEiBdiV6Nvy-iC-q2r-RXEW5lqvb2TTxJ8A/s1600/DSCN0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm3Yu3sAXkQtiblPYkfHkXspZCzOVzegs9x2w0Dt5Lzs-WZ9hsuJ_f-dJD9y9zCI-dlGvkgSJqm3ah6QGIplTvO93FvsiBNWQjlDmCPZrQEEiBdiV6Nvy-iC-q2r-RXEW5lqvb2TTxJ8A/s320/DSCN0996.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">An addition surely welcomed by many is the sitting lounge, providing a nice working and resting space for those who are not so keen on the bars and restaurants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhtpDyEzz94lLQMaN-3ZoAiIqQKuk_i0gvixQb1Kd5DxAP_etzUnDjdw65Dbvh4JUDXBUCIVQsMUSvuvuswxX6fZfeC0MpYAkTUISmHFykrHuh33YOze5Jw5VFd7_7f_RAAFXoD1hP8A/s1600/DSCN1005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUhtpDyEzz94lLQMaN-3ZoAiIqQKuk_i0gvixQb1Kd5DxAP_etzUnDjdw65Dbvh4JUDXBUCIVQsMUSvuvuswxX6fZfeC0MpYAkTUISmHFykrHuh33YOze5Jw5VFd7_7f_RAAFXoD1hP8A/s320/DSCN1005.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">The new and fancy suction mooring system was not yet used on her first passenger-arrival in Helsinki; instead, a rather large team of deckies were working the ropes.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6FDog1MBz9bZqaWTw6QCWKuSi1cMZGtsAxshclH8H_Yzxn6vxfC8EWwh2iCiYummPW7-9j1Jnv0AzsegAp1ieVZepcMs2fOSHHABun0UU-sZdRgGasWb3A7ZE6d2QLzMLCazu8fnkAo/s1600/DSCN1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6FDog1MBz9bZqaWTw6QCWKuSi1cMZGtsAxshclH8H_Yzxn6vxfC8EWwh2iCiYummPW7-9j1Jnv0AzsegAp1ieVZepcMs2fOSHHABun0UU-sZdRgGasWb3A7ZE6d2QLzMLCazu8fnkAo/s320/DSCN1016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The buffet restaurant</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqDcD9gvA-D34Cn5PnJsqECu-vuUwF1sKCKQgLbapMP0PP4nibSxNBa149jlzL4yduZ2hoNssHBoadTbXp3NWcbxJShAsEH0hslI-_vzER0n24R-JIvDkA8FtNBIYKnhFBrLUETaeedQ/s1600/DSCN1014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqDcD9gvA-D34Cn5PnJsqECu-vuUwF1sKCKQgLbapMP0PP4nibSxNBa149jlzL4yduZ2hoNssHBoadTbXp3NWcbxJShAsEH0hslI-_vzER0n24R-JIvDkA8FtNBIYKnhFBrLUETaeedQ/s320/DSCN1014.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back in Tallinn again, as we entered to claim our buffet dinner, the nice angled window just under the bridge gave a nice view of the loading of the upper cardeck.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HCVnu0E2RRH49cvlHvxIkNUA3M6jhhK0-8z6R6wPN8jL-9zmGVPi_xRDfOysv3asR4FgNGEw_arzC6ubkD37OfUS-434FhkR7Da2r9GO8fd6wSRv6fZw9t5aTqe2cW5H3Vc704nikjo/s1600/DSCN1027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_HCVnu0E2RRH49cvlHvxIkNUA3M6jhhK0-8z6R6wPN8jL-9zmGVPi_xRDfOysv3asR4FgNGEw_arzC6ubkD37OfUS-434FhkR7Da2r9GO8fd6wSRv6fZw9t5aTqe2cW5H3Vc704nikjo/s320/DSCN1027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another view of the Buffet restaurant with the said window in the middle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKWOaiHa2qylTJxCnOrSGY1tbyTS7CSb1xPNTV0LCPEvIjjLqS3h2iK7pH4qtjbF0qj6nM22JEiRMVArLnZNbucLmIxu-IStEHbZ6y6YR_H7yzv_XOm3rueD3DUa6ywTQOMEgY-E5dMk/s1600/DSCN1029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKWOaiHa2qylTJxCnOrSGY1tbyTS7CSb1xPNTV0LCPEvIjjLqS3h2iK7pH4qtjbF0qj6nM22JEiRMVArLnZNbucLmIxu-IStEHbZ6y6YR_H7yzv_XOm3rueD3DUa6ywTQOMEgY-E5dMk/s320/DSCN1029.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a nice hearty dinner, it was time to look at the huge Traveller Superstore, which occupies a huge aft area on two decks and features a nice atrium...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFggNlPjH57wJWV_H0kOaeOo13vz9tdP_0vblJAxBMUpm7TBJpBmcMX4pd0NV3HHcUhMZGX-zA7ydSIcgeTYNJL3NtUqCWnBI3mq-CRljTNP-fAKM9lwkbzqSt9uWvnMiP7P2URkvhYnU/s1600/DSCN1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFggNlPjH57wJWV_H0kOaeOo13vz9tdP_0vblJAxBMUpm7TBJpBmcMX4pd0NV3HHcUhMZGX-zA7ydSIcgeTYNJL3NtUqCWnBI3mq-CRljTNP-fAKM9lwkbzqSt9uWvnMiP7P2URkvhYnU/s320/DSCN1033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... as well as a separate elevator to provide better accessibility on both store decks without any need to go out of the store.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNMpbKDu6SmjAAFuZSXQVmey8YP8NGqFipDEKj9e6Fz99aknF7k7g2lRlx0AnzFAc4ogr6lCSnngyjflFkuxncYw6q2IA29IDSPPcdDLTc5aCmCa5dXKFWvJO_U4T0YAKRLun1fkIghg/s1600/DSCN1041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNMpbKDu6SmjAAFuZSXQVmey8YP8NGqFipDEKj9e6Fz99aknF7k7g2lRlx0AnzFAc4ogr6lCSnngyjflFkuxncYw6q2IA29IDSPPcdDLTc5aCmCa5dXKFWvJO_U4T0YAKRLun1fkIghg/s320/DSCN1041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forward of the store on deck 7 is the Garage, a first-in-the-world feature allowing the passengers parking there to access their cars during the entire voyage since passenger access to cardecks was banned following the Estonia disaster. Here, cars are seen exiting the garage as the ship has arrived in Helsinki.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL34m0kRHchyphenhyphenivz0qss8amUKPnwYB_woWh0XRrk00dDjNqtBdkAfc7_XlE0A7TGqo_h88ED-v4bDDpk2gtc7hqg68mcPJHU3wz75wD57-0B8Yti-tELWSUczI3fWqWdwuK05s8RD9Lyr0/s1600/DSCN1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL34m0kRHchyphenhyphenivz0qss8amUKPnwYB_woWh0XRrk00dDjNqtBdkAfc7_XlE0A7TGqo_h88ED-v4bDDpk2gtc7hqg68mcPJHU3wz75wD57-0B8Yti-tELWSUczI3fWqWdwuK05s8RD9Lyr0/s320/DSCN1054.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garage and entry to the store look very much like any mall parking lot on land.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtMQ0ewb_-oXIsI_vTqkspCafWEWpXFPlyQxVw25DAZdiRLR30ogHCld9Vg4hn9ca-uLziaQmQoFP4y2DCWSYirafgiYISv1__6NCGTtB9cbycv5FIJwUULa7JZO8KSCVwzFa9GOJz0k/s1600/DSCN1071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtMQ0ewb_-oXIsI_vTqkspCafWEWpXFPlyQxVw25DAZdiRLR30ogHCld9Vg4hn9ca-uLziaQmQoFP4y2DCWSYirafgiYISv1__6NCGTtB9cbycv5FIJwUULa7JZO8KSCVwzFa9GOJz0k/s320/DSCN1071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The kids' playroom</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDkbepSfAlBR0lfBTlud87NL9V8jpNOxnn5iWblAWthUQEtz_MIeciWxRQLTiK1K96uWMO3-7npC1m2S0hK-0eBINd9oaXADcrySHgZHJQ3YW7RCHUsESDe6V-2qAEIcrdOvfRo9UQj4/s1600/DSCN1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDkbepSfAlBR0lfBTlud87NL9V8jpNOxnn5iWblAWthUQEtz_MIeciWxRQLTiK1K96uWMO3-7npC1m2S0hK-0eBINd9oaXADcrySHgZHJQ3YW7RCHUsESDe6V-2qAEIcrdOvfRo9UQj4/s320/DSCN1081.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">On the fourth and final voyage of the day we had one of the ship's just 47 passenger cabins for ourselves, which is where we spent most of the voyage too, as it was definitely getting late and it had been a long and active day.</td></tr>
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Her first week in service was far from uneventful, which unfortunately caused delays; she has had issues with her bow ramp, and when that wasn't an issue, a passenger had a medical emergency. But technical issues are not unexpected in very new ships, and as it has now been some time since anything was heard, I dare to presume that the challenges have been overcome.<br />
As for my impression, I'm definitely happy to see that Tallink, Meyer and their partners have put a lot of thought and effort into her, as it certainly shows. She has that modern look and feel that I definitely am a fan of. It is hard to compare her to the other serving Helsinki-Tallinn ships, as I would say that she represents a new generation of fast service on the route, dealing with many of the problems the previous purpose-built ships tend to have as well as improving the experience with new features. So, I definitely dare to recommend her.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9qd8Y8bTn1nKhwuOtm60B4Dk5THzTt82aljVlDc8ErcVALK1Hv_wL7KBD-FiO_wtyrbceO0gxbjadF0pz13qXmgZWFqdnpdHVtOGKEvpo6YiYXHrlmhrICTVJ1pRoUhDU3rGgmpHRY4/s1600/DSCN1094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9qd8Y8bTn1nKhwuOtm60B4Dk5THzTt82aljVlDc8ErcVALK1Hv_wL7KBD-FiO_wtyrbceO0gxbjadF0pz13qXmgZWFqdnpdHVtOGKEvpo6YiYXHrlmhrICTVJ1pRoUhDU3rGgmpHRY4/s320/DSCN1094.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Megastar coming out of Tallinn on the following day, slightly delayed...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRHz5y-4ZGZVxyTtAkGgVUSrsVXBVEMytgSNh9yf-jsTEpJvJ4Fy8ZhOiGQVQhb3aL8wTyxt59JEMFwZNi_K5S7QHgpPmdhZfLoLm5xoRuQ4V0SKRK_2tKlcGYkKVyQqHKPMAMrNDjuc/s1600/DSCN1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRHz5y-4ZGZVxyTtAkGgVUSrsVXBVEMytgSNh9yf-jsTEpJvJ4Fy8ZhOiGQVQhb3aL8wTyxt59JEMFwZNi_K5S7QHgpPmdhZfLoLm5xoRuQ4V0SKRK_2tKlcGYkKVyQqHKPMAMrNDjuc/s320/DSCN1112.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and going, leaving behind an impressive wake. Seen from the Rosella.</td></tr>
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</div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-66721434030594350172017-02-05T05:35:00.001+02:002017-02-05T06:32:35.000+02:00Experience: New Year on Stavangerfjord <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Although 2017 has barely started, one thing is for sure - I will remember it as a year I got to welcome on a wonderful cruise. This time it was a special New Year cruise organized by Fjord Line; both the Bergensfjord and the Stavangerfjord were put to do these special cruises, and our choice ended up being the Stavangerfjord from Bergen to Copenhagen via Stavanger, and back. For practical reasons we decided to disembark in Stavanger instead of Bergen, which gave me an additional city to discover.<br />
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But before I got to embark on the Stavangerfjord, I had to get to Norway.<br />
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And as I did not want to fly, mainly due to the condition of my old shabby suitcase, the trip started with taking the lovely Viking Grace - the ferry where I welcomed 2015 - to Stockholm.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTdaDAdM4Q93aNsjAio5Li4lHhzB8r9-sDKOs57hDzPpweWJvxJVxtj96x_ut6S8XUS6X2G-DaoAF64HpgCVkH4simI9qCWCCDM0S4jOUk0wF5qOy_6aVUEjs_ycVLAn7r4DNk8ka8fw/s1600/20161226_210432.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTdaDAdM4Q93aNsjAio5Li4lHhzB8r9-sDKOs57hDzPpweWJvxJVxtj96x_ut6S8XUS6X2G-DaoAF64HpgCVkH4simI9qCWCCDM0S4jOUk0wF5qOy_6aVUEjs_ycVLAn7r4DNk8ka8fw/s320/20161226_210432.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My delicious dinner on the Viking Grace</td></tr>
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Fortunately, unlike the previous time in August, my wait in Stockholm before the train to Oslo was much shorter this time; I spent all of it in the train station, which definitely deserves 10 points for free WiFi and charging plugs.</div>
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In late afternoon, just shortly after it had got dark, I arrived in Oslo and was greeted by Sverre. We spent the first night at his mother's place and he showed me the places where he grew up. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeTOp_DWfLP2_kl9PQ7IY0mfoZuUUq4VJ0UUNpP3ri2nnl-pTH1aIBnxOlDeLwqwf2iZpV4eSyOcSPbWK-2Ca1vgAXW0V21q2fJCLuw6glTsWpIpVE15gkYegvcTAqFPnjw0tVngIO8M/s1600/DSCN8951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeTOp_DWfLP2_kl9PQ7IY0mfoZuUUq4VJ0UUNpP3ri2nnl-pTH1aIBnxOlDeLwqwf2iZpV4eSyOcSPbWK-2Ca1vgAXW0V21q2fJCLuw6glTsWpIpVE15gkYegvcTAqFPnjw0tVngIO8M/s320/DSCN8951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Oslo seen from Tveita</td></tr>
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The following morning was a rather early wakeup as we had to rush back to the Oslo Central station to get on the train to Bergen, a journey I remember fondly from spring as a very beautiful one. And once again, I certainly wasn't disappointed; our journey just exactly covered the period of daylight, and my new camera was put to a nice test.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AC-WctiutBwz6mW4M4M2RM8j-0lY9ep-Y_0YLvXDHSIE93BgHhfGLP21hv2hTu5dzqchII-rQb48DrqqZK8VS48vZCabr8tc6fcp1wXs2HZ9AcXPm3IZN90gqWdPyiX3dIGT5jOJV9Y/s1600/DSCN8967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0AC-WctiutBwz6mW4M4M2RM8j-0lY9ep-Y_0YLvXDHSIE93BgHhfGLP21hv2hTu5dzqchII-rQb48DrqqZK8VS48vZCabr8tc6fcp1wXs2HZ9AcXPm3IZN90gqWdPyiX3dIGT5jOJV9Y/s320/DSCN8967.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drammen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avalanche fences near Finse</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back down on the lower altitudes as we near Bergen</td></tr>
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Testing my new camera continued as soon as we arrived in Bergen, after checking in to Clarion hotel Admiral. It was dark, but we went for a walk and even took the funicular up on top of the Fløyen mountain, where I got some shots I'm very proud of.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloC62jPxbijpAukJK7QhZa9O3COekGuX4Tnt8oYZ_XPj3jfDRJYi6L08fiKC9h3SAERth6sRDsTWHRfHrIjMAphP8fAB9r1GnQ86vJNGDnhixYpOlrWdTiKf0CGUhh2BBhqkmuDfP6rY/s1600/DSCN9204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiloC62jPxbijpAukJK7QhZa9O3COekGuX4Tnt8oYZ_XPj3jfDRJYi6L08fiKC9h3SAERth6sRDsTWHRfHrIjMAphP8fAB9r1GnQ86vJNGDnhixYpOlrWdTiKf0CGUhh2BBhqkmuDfP6rY/s320/DSCN9204.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the city and Fløyen viewpoint on top</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknSquvMPUM7Nox2qQPOX_NxG-N0-QPz71aCy0qMIRtWplLAPZ762yqViqcQJXtKH5RSzCht2NY27c4zuiMu_Rc3RKBr2GUf7QKIZfAVGPYuDadPRg9g9WMvmsftVulULR1zqhZhOZjC8/s1600/DSCN9216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjknSquvMPUM7Nox2qQPOX_NxG-N0-QPz71aCy0qMIRtWplLAPZ762yqViqcQJXtKH5RSzCht2NY27c4zuiMu_Rc3RKBr2GUf7QKIZfAVGPYuDadPRg9g9WMvmsftVulULR1zqhZhOZjC8/s320/DSCN9216.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View southeast from Fløyen, with Ulriken mountain </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ruM-wfVaVwIIrIQDHGOFK1bKutrWBmVuUXJD82RMHW_waPATcpzGmiw-r4j0Z6913xp4ipJxSSn4yU-JahUHGkuVvt4aOA1HYOxcIcE6ssZvCbvu5S41VTG055sc5w4Ag9TqfSVCoGk/s1600/DSCN9236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4ruM-wfVaVwIIrIQDHGOFK1bKutrWBmVuUXJD82RMHW_waPATcpzGmiw-r4j0Z6913xp4ipJxSSn4yU-JahUHGkuVvt4aOA1HYOxcIcE6ssZvCbvu5S41VTG055sc5w4Ag9TqfSVCoGk/s320/DSCN9236.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View down from Fløyen, with the funicular railway in the bottom right corner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZO969v3l34wMAGr0CoVQ2fjof3MskxMxRfdi55ry5qAqshtFNTihWNjchHiwm9aYrbHZAcHQVN2wWR7-rwaRC0UTeMRh2Kf7VVy6-bI09p5iyhdYrWC_9lefZ9uLUs2I15vLGURs1GE/s1600/DSCN9254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZO969v3l34wMAGr0CoVQ2fjof3MskxMxRfdi55ry5qAqshtFNTihWNjchHiwm9aYrbHZAcHQVN2wWR7-rwaRC0UTeMRh2Kf7VVy6-bI09p5iyhdYrWC_9lefZ9uLUs2I15vLGURs1GE/s320/DSCN9254.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sign seen from the window as the funicular train as it stopped in the middle of nowhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlMtyi9Sfi2wSvfa1MLZQj4rM4e5GmjmdkRPF6Js0FVz_EAbaD8nkBmEuumzy3-km0n-szwVBxV1CrCrsRw51-9hMiT-4QK6ZOC_RUCmn6dmPiVXJvq26jeJpUTt1RsX50svxVQbaU1U/s1600/DSCN9257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlMtyi9Sfi2wSvfa1MLZQj4rM4e5GmjmdkRPF6Js0FVz_EAbaD8nkBmEuumzy3-km0n-szwVBxV1CrCrsRw51-9hMiT-4QK6ZOC_RUCmn6dmPiVXJvq26jeJpUTt1RsX50svxVQbaU1U/s320/DSCN9257.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St John's Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Finally, the next morning it was time to board the lovely Stavangerfjord. She is quite new, having started service in July 2013. She is also somewhat small compared to what I'm used to seeing here in the Baltic Sea, however, for a ship that is used primarily for transportation, she is very lovely.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRa8nBLW_b498XId30_cOks5y5ahl1cBgwxMtfexiYd14ENph27V1oNVdHuW8dzu9VfJr8qiLQbnWBQ8oqGsfI2GBl1mWWfuFo7xjnTiyXi-GKyRJn_-xeZCtwrRfyH6CHK-Ur4URxxY/s1600/DSCN9277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJRa8nBLW_b498XId30_cOks5y5ahl1cBgwxMtfexiYd14ENph27V1oNVdHuW8dzu9VfJr8qiLQbnWBQ8oqGsfI2GBl1mWWfuFo7xjnTiyXi-GKyRJn_-xeZCtwrRfyH6CHK-Ur4URxxY/s320/DSCN9277.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stavangerfjord sailing into Bergen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKVG9Luq3XPF4MAiv_D4qmngGoDR6BixIAiGcLo-pxLrY92VuHx5nE_IBOKd1uETyRcLigfBOiNaQhOY8dvENYwKumMIKWN95GuPy7cPDA58r8xFPx8sxZuw1B9l5RBRxPYCXirRpsl8/s1600/DSCN9297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKVG9Luq3XPF4MAiv_D4qmngGoDR6BixIAiGcLo-pxLrY92VuHx5nE_IBOKd1uETyRcLigfBOiNaQhOY8dvENYwKumMIKWN95GuPy7cPDA58r8xFPx8sxZuw1B9l5RBRxPYCXirRpsl8/s320/DSCN9297.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cabin 8202. Note that it is a 4 person cabin, with two more beds stowed in the ceiling...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKlIyOZA0YMgvtyfWLLiNtDqXzo8yz00wkKU6VyMDGhWBNh76OPFZMOYm06y8bDfGDqFbpGc4qF5BNSSziYC96XlC6SXVvtKK77GORoYwMxqEhyFBsDZjV2sfcTl456DXjlYEq7emdvE/s1600/DSCN9300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKlIyOZA0YMgvtyfWLLiNtDqXzo8yz00wkKU6VyMDGhWBNh76OPFZMOYm06y8bDfGDqFbpGc4qF5BNSSziYC96XlC6SXVvtKK77GORoYwMxqEhyFBsDZjV2sfcTl456DXjlYEq7emdvE/s320/DSCN9300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... like this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO0gl5ikQ1jEXwOqjKHdRQ3ouGk9pv5ScSaAiQZMj4uosZal-NY4W4-jRpihuUs6DFUE-w4SPfMEWoMyCHffWZDbAHR0Z5G1rud7_DcxYWp-UZqmzOBNryN7hCPFnYldVjq_KcGicvC0/s1600/DSCN9314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO0gl5ikQ1jEXwOqjKHdRQ3ouGk9pv5ScSaAiQZMj4uosZal-NY4W4-jRpihuUs6DFUE-w4SPfMEWoMyCHffWZDbAHR0Z5G1rud7_DcxYWp-UZqmzOBNryN7hCPFnYldVjq_KcGicvC0/s320/DSCN9314.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing under the Askøy bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FR4Xe3EuL7RaqHcg43I_Xf5xkbVbJc4ZQ0hmIcbGug-9AdmFuJj5CX8Yp9i3qxdt3Y11H6NdpXQ3HLlDqdpxZ0OKdOBvLMe-TGx5ISTREoe3ke0uEYVesO6ft5U8hCmn1A-Rh4y5WmE/s1600/DSCN9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_FR4Xe3EuL7RaqHcg43I_Xf5xkbVbJc4ZQ0hmIcbGug-9AdmFuJj5CX8Yp9i3qxdt3Y11H6NdpXQ3HLlDqdpxZ0OKdOBvLMe-TGx5ISTREoe3ke0uEYVesO6ft5U8hCmn1A-Rh4y5WmE/s320/DSCN9327.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Builder's plate</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9mAQ-9pKm0X78VeLwmNRCFeYozVmuNQsJO3lBuwRAIjoWekYpNiBck59oXlWHv9Qyw7LDWZStdFLl_ZVquW5AWw7I98R01Nq_cz_m1CMvw0fgHlp-28Hd9qmBcTiYjYZTyKR8w3JtAc/s1600/DSCN9328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb9mAQ-9pKm0X78VeLwmNRCFeYozVmuNQsJO3lBuwRAIjoWekYpNiBck59oXlWHv9Qyw7LDWZStdFLl_ZVquW5AWw7I98R01Nq_cz_m1CMvw0fgHlp-28Hd9qmBcTiYjYZTyKR8w3JtAc/s320/DSCN9328.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUx6kOoTBLEuAK9rMysvpCbqhBqLOwaKOdsLJvZcgEXMia0piKlzHJ7FyL13qshM14lBbRnj2ogFF7wtR_1lK5yY4Upr5t3E4dro0eCh5Jz4Vk5ZsIohEn1PNPccxAzehzZAiun7Si1E/s1600/DSCN9335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUx6kOoTBLEuAK9rMysvpCbqhBqLOwaKOdsLJvZcgEXMia0piKlzHJ7FyL13qshM14lBbRnj2ogFF7wtR_1lK5yY4Upr5t3E4dro0eCh5Jz4Vk5ZsIohEn1PNPccxAzehzZAiun7Si1E/s320/DSCN9335.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Staircase Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMy2nOuqb5inIuXNksa9tLH_Mlfy5DgvJ84svWxqp3OGvdMDRiFKfB0l3KwDyEtTPDAPL4XYcXxF2RPAhYB_10kvsgPS0sNGCvw-nEd_cyVrHjLuTIxpk7IVNO0ndknRzF7fK45IegaE/s1600/DSCN9345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMy2nOuqb5inIuXNksa9tLH_Mlfy5DgvJ84svWxqp3OGvdMDRiFKfB0l3KwDyEtTPDAPL4XYcXxF2RPAhYB_10kvsgPS0sNGCvw-nEd_cyVrHjLuTIxpk7IVNO0ndknRzF7fK45IegaE/s320/DSCN9345.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A model of Stavangerfjord - there was at least three of those on board.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTnnokXKNX4gF6qum1LQ1xJV6CuUjGW8zcqlnuEp6J_RO2mfhd9y4Gr1t_I7ob2AUcYh5CX0Hq6gL2l4HS0vX0LAXllfz8o8l9rB1mhf1N49WsU0eXj5r6g3Q_DaSJgbkxpFr4jKRGQQ/s1600/DSCN9356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTnnokXKNX4gF6qum1LQ1xJV6CuUjGW8zcqlnuEp6J_RO2mfhd9y4Gr1t_I7ob2AUcYh5CX0Hq6gL2l4HS0vX0LAXllfz8o8l9rB1mhf1N49WsU0eXj5r6g3Q_DaSJgbkxpFr4jKRGQQ/s320/DSCN9356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pier 42 sports bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80jfHPOiV8XlA94s2dBpY755mnFf2ydxR7oAPJMnUjh_SWVm9nJ0ZR4Rn2HxKk6fYnyjZA2ZqlXpsaLDhlrF9ZG89lAEzrDt0vyYl2ImxqEL0MDeIhyigAFeNlvlgVzHFSKeNm2aBgPk/s1600/DSCN9498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80jfHPOiV8XlA94s2dBpY755mnFf2ydxR7oAPJMnUjh_SWVm9nJ0ZR4Rn2HxKk6fYnyjZA2ZqlXpsaLDhlrF9ZG89lAEzrDt0vyYl2ImxqEL0MDeIhyigAFeNlvlgVzHFSKeNm2aBgPk/s320/DSCN9498.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Fjord Lounge, the main entertainment venue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YYND1fF06P9SqSsR4Q01W6ZwcSXtI9jez8TLST4ranzvCE7b4w9RGQBIJw4YysKYvXbRGOhok-TAarZmV0eix-q0oUvxoWxxzXRqYqqmEKIgJq79tk5s4zE5iMJ0mJnuB7VD-OXmt9c/s1600/DSCN9359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5YYND1fF06P9SqSsR4Q01W6ZwcSXtI9jez8TLST4ranzvCE7b4w9RGQBIJw4YysKYvXbRGOhok-TAarZmV0eix-q0oUvxoWxxzXRqYqqmEKIgJq79tk5s4zE5iMJ0mJnuB7VD-OXmt9c/s320/DSCN9359.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A smaller, separate piano bar part of the Fjord Lounge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kUpI6ZSALpZANbD7XhYsz8h1Vc7Ah2vyDMnCUzlFxDPYnaSTfpOsAug7jlOzuKOI3Qh4O7LUC4IvgTbN1NdSmYggSHoX1nix9sz19PH-oaQ3HQXdROoh8IM7fE4akCbwKnjkQagz9WA/s1600/DSCN9406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-kUpI6ZSALpZANbD7XhYsz8h1Vc7Ah2vyDMnCUzlFxDPYnaSTfpOsAug7jlOzuKOI3Qh4O7LUC4IvgTbN1NdSmYggSHoX1nix9sz19PH-oaQ3HQXdROoh8IM7fE4akCbwKnjkQagz9WA/s320/DSCN9406.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel Photo II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXR21uDvhAX5h3sY2QoDPSVOZBMVEAWPI2P5qa3kDyNV86Oh_jEHDvG9J1KfgdpLe9fEQ544yMkEKd6Ahy0XInvFD4HTXdCPXy9G7ukBTfJdKAIfWZAdQvbbOEH5AtnTp84xC_gGMY-E/s1600/DSCN9348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXR21uDvhAX5h3sY2QoDPSVOZBMVEAWPI2P5qa3kDyNV86Oh_jEHDvG9J1KfgdpLe9fEQ544yMkEKd6Ahy0XInvFD4HTXdCPXy9G7ukBTfJdKAIfWZAdQvbbOEH5AtnTp84xC_gGMY-E/s320/DSCN9348.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Mandatory Staircase Photo II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXWeSBcRhxeXRhqW4X8SOBeeaSag_hJERrbhIewhEHnT_dDd0oy1RB1OPc0Wh-wCnDf-pkMvqS8JRxHphBv4qZ1oAxMZCRTgSSdVHstsduEYHL4NLdGXd9tIi_3qbew4oNZswzoMRmBI/s1600/DSCN9429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXWeSBcRhxeXRhqW4X8SOBeeaSag_hJERrbhIewhEHnT_dDd0oy1RB1OPc0Wh-wCnDf-pkMvqS8JRxHphBv4qZ1oAxMZCRTgSSdVHstsduEYHL4NLdGXd9tIi_3qbew4oNZswzoMRmBI/s320/DSCN9429.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oasis Garden Cafe</td></tr>
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The most notable thing from the first evening was our dinner at Grieg Steakhouse, being one of the lifetime top experiences regarding both the food and service, for both of us.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grieg Steakhouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RCoCKTGHhMUE3eZ6o_TNyXhZ3dv8zpfgVDDvVybbe8X5rxmyZ4hYOcyhBTHa9lI_jgx8UBljkFDP3Zns2l3RExCiDaCw6OKb3Ti1CfDN4L2_1K50VkTQb8aaEWe9heZ77c8y8otCeeY/s1600/15781676_10157991358990298_7595305439763563060_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_RCoCKTGHhMUE3eZ6o_TNyXhZ3dv8zpfgVDDvVybbe8X5rxmyZ4hYOcyhBTHa9lI_jgx8UBljkFDP3Zns2l3RExCiDaCw6OKb3Ti1CfDN4L2_1K50VkTQb8aaEWe9heZ77c8y8otCeeY/s320/15781676_10157991358990298_7595305439763563060_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sverre and our waiter, who was a very <br />
professional and funny guy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uv8pX0kfnNil3C3POXIOgx4PbfkqZ7ecENKIfcSnzHKfkPRtKAiIeARGyxZtR45_ZfUgzGPDXvGx5TvrMM0gd9A5aWyIxIs6f88YHEt-DhKR19qOfmLiMMlof2HwAxSB5Xtcr557inE/s1600/15822703_10157991359615298_3839377378924554877_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8uv8pX0kfnNil3C3POXIOgx4PbfkqZ7ecENKIfcSnzHKfkPRtKAiIeARGyxZtR45_ZfUgzGPDXvGx5TvrMM0gd9A5aWyIxIs6f88YHEt-DhKR19qOfmLiMMlof2HwAxSB5Xtcr557inE/s320/15822703_10157991359615298_3839377378924554877_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our main courses, with Sverre's fried cod on the foreground<br />
and my crazy-delicious rib eye steak on the background.</td></tr>
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The following afternoon we arrived in Copenhagen. As the crowds immediately started to flow off the ship and ashore, it gave us a wonderful opportunity to take the above interior photos; after a nice long tour of the ship, we also packed up and headed to the center, namely, to Tivoli, where we looked at the beautiful light decorations and fireworks, and had a nice dinner before heading back to the ship for the night.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promenaden, the dining place we ended up choosing, out of tens, if not hundreds of various choices Tivoli has to offer.</td></tr>
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The following day, the 31st of December, we woke up and headed back to the center, to take the most of our time there before our ship was due to depart again in the afternoon. Meanwhile, sistership Bergensfjord had arrived and docked right next to us. Neither of the ships ever visit Copenhagen during their routine trading; So, the first thing we did was taking a canal sightseeing tour, with the aim of getting a good view of the two ships and take photos. And we got a nice guided tour as a bonus.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwurj53ROiW1zgFW-CPR7XBW7S_zq0DX_cjXvrKhMAhNc0Y2f9vkKxdooS-B2kUrbi0-K7qFG-13_ZJp5wsTm74BYkOD0fKwH0URSQrb9PD-IBHZ92lkmFx70HxbBKXIxgrg_86N1YlU/s1600/DSCN9698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtwurj53ROiW1zgFW-CPR7XBW7S_zq0DX_cjXvrKhMAhNc0Y2f9vkKxdooS-B2kUrbi0-K7qFG-13_ZJp5wsTm74BYkOD0fKwH0URSQrb9PD-IBHZ92lkmFx70HxbBKXIxgrg_86N1YlU/s320/DSCN9698.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Little Mermaid statue we passed as we walked to the center</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Alban's Church</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergensfjord and Stavangerfjord</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tight fit</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stavangerfjord seen from Langelinie, where she is docked.</td></tr>
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After the nice trip ashore, it was time to return to the ship and get ready for the New Year celebrations. For us, it started with a nice buffet dinner, where we were seated with a nice older couple who were a wonderful company throughout the dinner. Soon after that it was time for the countdown at the Fjord Lounge, and in what seemed like mere minutes later, it was already almost 4 hours into 2017 and the ship was starting to look empty when we finally decided to hit the bed. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The buffet restaurant on New Year's Eve moments before running very full</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMO399fXxjS7-xl1-1tdfngtWwtg2FiiAfjnK84Vehp66iCZ-xDnTdXVQo6kUSEGzYCjKZKealj1hKNoijc2DWqoQ3HHt6eXqquZWBS8CMXLdhjWQeJl0ovxbyimGT3FJHnByqqy8lM0/s1600/16473720_10158182574645298_25068694609433965_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBMO399fXxjS7-xl1-1tdfngtWwtg2FiiAfjnK84Vehp66iCZ-xDnTdXVQo6kUSEGzYCjKZKealj1hKNoijc2DWqoQ3HHt6eXqquZWBS8CMXLdhjWQeJl0ovxbyimGT3FJHnByqqy8lM0/s320/16473720_10158182574645298_25068694609433965_n.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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<div>
The morning of the 1st of January was a little more peaceful, but nonetheless a lot of fun. Inbetween other activities we slowly packed up as we were due to disembark already in Stavanger. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCkiyer-tzFTdvXBCMK2KDBriArsQG_WogYlZ7jbWmT1WJx2MxSTXEBpMb9_GMIuLpRNjzqFzqWXPNM_3FIDUsH_dIImcHEDpNczSUoB8zSE2LOUS6o_k-d6MLl02YGCZJ8_xubUduBc/s1600/DSCN9842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPCkiyer-tzFTdvXBCMK2KDBriArsQG_WogYlZ7jbWmT1WJx2MxSTXEBpMb9_GMIuLpRNjzqFzqWXPNM_3FIDUsH_dIImcHEDpNczSUoB8zSE2LOUS6o_k-d6MLl02YGCZJ8_xubUduBc/s320/DSCN9842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the morning, there was a medical emergency on board and we were visited by a helicopter. I could only hope it ended well, and catch a photo of the helicopter leaving.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzm5sqOnPkm68sjHuHt_lTjvMUxeXEzKzY3PTvFXhy8Q140yztrL3JIOAdgr5aLXIDUf4qzbb7q84g-Do5eD7tfaCBqPJSHKPGPqTBlamKqYGY02mV7RW9yASApbTS_szEFIfgyeiDnw/s1600/Photo+01-01-2017%252C+13+56+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjzm5sqOnPkm68sjHuHt_lTjvMUxeXEzKzY3PTvFXhy8Q140yztrL3JIOAdgr5aLXIDUf4qzbb7q84g-Do5eD7tfaCBqPJSHKPGPqTBlamKqYGY02mV7RW9yASApbTS_szEFIfgyeiDnw/s320/Photo+01-01-2017%252C+13+56+15.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sverre, me, and our 10 bingo tickets - in his best "Fuck it, it's New Year's Day!" attitude, Sverre sent me to the bar with a bill and told me to get as much as that buys. Little did we know that would end up being much, much more than we could ever hope to keep track of. We ended up sending quite a few tickets forward to others. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2lL_ChsnLheYULiyE2M7cvw1_x9Q2Mw9I4xhs9qL49KRZ5vluNr9fSmkilwWRc9fAGrbeYpNqrCWboAi-nD_tiEbLlZ3AKlClGctYhqOWq-8mpvJgViJcHsl9VFwsFcyoEzaTjRMBEI/s1600/Photo+01-01-2017%252C+15+01+34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga2lL_ChsnLheYULiyE2M7cvw1_x9Q2Mw9I4xhs9qL49KRZ5vluNr9fSmkilwWRc9fAGrbeYpNqrCWboAi-nD_tiEbLlZ3AKlClGctYhqOWq-8mpvJgViJcHsl9VFwsFcyoEzaTjRMBEI/s320/Photo+01-01-2017%252C+15+01+34.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's me in a good party mood like a minute or so before disembarking. I did return the glass just before leaving the ship, in case anyone's wondering. </td></tr>
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After disembarking we walked to a nearby bus stop, took a bus to the center, checked in to our hotel and afterwards, went to meet up with a friend of Sverre's.<br />
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We had one more full day in Stavanger after that, and we spent it walking around, visiting the Stavanger Oil Museum which I found very interesting, and later on, after a lunch, we took a local ferry out to Tau and back.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJfiPxRBbHqHxEwS-MC_A3OHQi7UxmLw-fub18hPsl0tlGu73ge9GIOGoyv9Pcops8gl6yYqRiMhPulCaqjwMCn_3bPr2Yx7Xmr6iiAMLZYabjtiqT4DoP9jLAnNZJtYA8axqmxlQga4/s1600/DSCN9864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJfiPxRBbHqHxEwS-MC_A3OHQi7UxmLw-fub18hPsl0tlGu73ge9GIOGoyv9Pcops8gl6yYqRiMhPulCaqjwMCn_3bPr2Yx7Xmr6iiAMLZYabjtiqT4DoP9jLAnNZJtYA8axqmxlQga4/s320/DSCN9864.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stavangerfjord in Stavanger</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The well-lit pub where we met up with Sverre's friend</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26KMic1ykc4C-twdD6C7Z_CRMECpsPFbdNYnwQNUCwClToZsi8P0roHrWcv8KXp6vvA6QeOS2jmDH04mTQYLFR6CnrxvsPpPrm4n8A5EdVMMjfCey8iRajjbpmT_vKiCEEhV3i4Db0GM/s1600/DSCN9894.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26KMic1ykc4C-twdD6C7Z_CRMECpsPFbdNYnwQNUCwClToZsi8P0roHrWcv8KXp6vvA6QeOS2jmDH04mTQYLFR6CnrxvsPpPrm4n8A5EdVMMjfCey8iRajjbpmT_vKiCEEhV3i4Db0GM/s320/DSCN9894.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Departing Stavanger for Tau</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7IpjYrj4rWTOg0-HRBRFIMtX___mbKlZly93RiOSJ1oLxvGBUNi-43U-Zr6tUj-3JeQ91Juzt79tMI3y2Lh27jE4nBVs5ej0ox81MDfTF0u_8oY_M0imB1r1m71BPD-e4KhaP0W40kw/s1600/DSCN9968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7IpjYrj4rWTOg0-HRBRFIMtX___mbKlZly93RiOSJ1oLxvGBUNi-43U-Zr6tUj-3JeQ91Juzt79tMI3y2Lh27jE4nBVs5ej0ox81MDfTF0u_8oY_M0imB1r1m71BPD-e4KhaP0W40kw/s320/DSCN9968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the other ferry, Hardanger, shortly after passing under the Stavanger City Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A heavily zoomed view of a distant shore </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Houses in Tau seen as we arrived </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmemL70qktGquA_pmSLdrpFpLPkAq6qP6dxlcnwI13b69gusG5kpxk2Pjx6JSjoWzVRSqb1TsabTHo9Ck4VMrG5INQCe8ubkbDWXHulygTQ5h3k9rxVw0QFa-QE0X0cqiW_MGZHG_B2s8/s1600/DSCN0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmemL70qktGquA_pmSLdrpFpLPkAq6qP6dxlcnwI13b69gusG5kpxk2Pjx6JSjoWzVRSqb1TsabTHo9Ck4VMrG5INQCe8ubkbDWXHulygTQ5h3k9rxVw0QFa-QE0X0cqiW_MGZHG_B2s8/s320/DSCN0329.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stord, the ferry we came with, on her way out and back to Stavanger </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoqGmoJ_phyphenhyphenoJ-qp2C2iaTwJnKUCjr6hELmIFOcLE75N7818CF57uaY0aw0ALAErMEZt4RdcX-cpG7Mzbbqb3HwUM2_-QJI4wPp7ZSP4rAVUzVcSzQzfnKRh_t10JZnjH7EuGZeV9Rpg/s1600/DSCN0337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEoqGmoJ_phyphenhyphenoJ-qp2C2iaTwJnKUCjr6hELmIFOcLE75N7818CF57uaY0aw0ALAErMEZt4RdcX-cpG7Mzbbqb3HwUM2_-QJI4wPp7ZSP4rAVUzVcSzQzfnKRh_t10JZnjH7EuGZeV9Rpg/s320/DSCN0337.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small bulker Linnau in Tau</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bXKnJummnvCOo_GY71GU5QnJOLVfN1HmbzCRkQ8OYBea8L3LgkKdA-omv3IEheQRZJKM9UCkXfpCD624mQ9SONIA8WFPki3U4HfXn4n3UG_JYXEOj_a5X3-_JJ-D4hqPa30JCAhY40k/s1600/DSCN0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1bXKnJummnvCOo_GY71GU5QnJOLVfN1HmbzCRkQ8OYBea8L3LgkKdA-omv3IEheQRZJKM9UCkXfpCD624mQ9SONIA8WFPki3U4HfXn4n3UG_JYXEOj_a5X3-_JJ-D4hqPa30JCAhY40k/s320/DSCN0381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmg1iNZuwOSDxYgSAeev13GD_46VaL1dSdOTGk7ti22VdItBD_Cvw3jzJPJ2bG4lUkQkrhV_6U0qOT96-wYIku3DdZwA7cNon0EUchJvmXN99k20Eei6DahxVN6CHYxuRwE1Ydvaabhk/s1600/DSCN0411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmg1iNZuwOSDxYgSAeev13GD_46VaL1dSdOTGk7ti22VdItBD_Cvw3jzJPJ2bG4lUkQkrhV_6U0qOT96-wYIku3DdZwA7cNon0EUchJvmXN99k20Eei6DahxVN6CHYxuRwE1Ydvaabhk/s320/DSCN0411.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandnes and Rogaland</td></tr>
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<div>
On the morning of the 3rd of January, it was time for Sverre to return to work and for me to start my long journey back home. First, I took the everlasting train journey from Stavanger to Oslo, stayed in Oslo for the night, then took a train to Stockholm and boarded the Amorella for an overnight crossing back to Turku.</div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXD-1wDes3yd15uOtPq95BTb6yAyyNUh2HTVNwEsk2_L446Pc_IYMpACjV1Hxh1HI8xr2KSmHQcB1loLGa8VREeSoZpuNJVNzUvDynUm5MwKqRAPac4gbFB5jLERx_vKbFXqmvT0W34o/s1600/DSCN0435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXD-1wDes3yd15uOtPq95BTb6yAyyNUh2HTVNwEsk2_L446Pc_IYMpACjV1Hxh1HI8xr2KSmHQcB1loLGa8VREeSoZpuNJVNzUvDynUm5MwKqRAPac4gbFB5jLERx_vKbFXqmvT0W34o/s320/DSCN0435.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The train journey from Stavanger to Oslo includes a reverse in Kristiansand (which is a terminus station); here the locomotive is about to be reconnected to what is now about to become the front of the train.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC9N1hyF7agATE-hYf0NEZ-r1TXg7Y3bgszZCeCF7_ah4l9qKalz25ZENeqlR5_o6hhi2u-mMXQrbZroG-ilXzYpJeMXmqG0ZHCHoKT2gDZc0PEvUtodSZx54K3evm1ZjZuzP7FkeGRY/s1600/DSCN0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC9N1hyF7agATE-hYf0NEZ-r1TXg7Y3bgszZCeCF7_ah4l9qKalz25ZENeqlR5_o6hhi2u-mMXQrbZroG-ilXzYpJeMXmqG0ZHCHoKT2gDZc0PEvUtodSZx54K3evm1ZjZuzP7FkeGRY/s320/DSCN0455.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Saga departing Oslo for Frederikshavn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25sGr5iyEvuWWsrjQTNBSdTlygBV9NUyh6QwzdN-7iXmY-OW5sVV9JMBeIpma_zD6nU0UdZcSRif9RGt_n_bZgQ-zPJUr3AS-zsIHnHJTjgMueWEusrcw2LpnWA5f4h13rcd7QfHhYds/s1600/DSCN0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25sGr5iyEvuWWsrjQTNBSdTlygBV9NUyh6QwzdN-7iXmY-OW5sVV9JMBeIpma_zD6nU0UdZcSRif9RGt_n_bZgQ-zPJUr3AS-zsIHnHJTjgMueWEusrcw2LpnWA5f4h13rcd7QfHhYds/s320/DSCN0509.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nicely lit Aker Brygge in Oslo</td></tr>
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</div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-48889237967970619822017-01-23T02:21:00.000+02:002017-02-05T06:33:16.010+02:00My 2016<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With yet another year behind, it is time to write a summary of what it has been like for me. I noticed quite loud wishes for the year to be over faster, particularly in relation to all the celebrity deaths, but I've always wondered why are people hating on 2016 if it is just a certain period of time, a social construct, like any other year, with no further meaning than what we give it ourselves. And the night between the 31st of December and the 1st of January, like any other night, has no magic powers to end all misery. So in the end, all we can really do is take life as it is, do what we can to make the world a better place and not worry about what we can't do.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
For me, 2016 has been very challenging and difficult on one hand, but on the other hand it has contained some of the most amazing experiences, so, funny enough, I can call it both the worst and the best of my life so far. I have never had so many challenges and things to worry about and fix before, but I have also never travelled so much before.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
New countries I visited in<br />
2011: United Kingdom<br />
2012: none<br />
2013: Sweden<br />
2014: Does Åland count?<br />
2015: Poland<br />
2016:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjcojjaeMCPUNDSvc0SMZzKsl0LkuqoRrYehBudWiEo8ZaSMOl46xHRF4MlRFvDmZVQG-s6zrm4Gf0wgoPu_KaMEHSWOimEyaUqcoEHKPafdRldJ5Wh-mCC3u-uhyNBmjDC-xLF3haTk/s1600/a5eh0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjcojjaeMCPUNDSvc0SMZzKsl0LkuqoRrYehBudWiEo8ZaSMOl46xHRF4MlRFvDmZVQG-s6zrm4Gf0wgoPu_KaMEHSWOimEyaUqcoEHKPafdRldJ5Wh-mCC3u-uhyNBmjDC-xLF3haTk/s320/a5eh0.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where do I even start?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</blockquote>
But as always, I will do a brief month by month summary.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>January</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm16ITGEYRk9qEzYy5OP9NOzAK1j_ypLYSBWlWP60JxQiu7JNnx8VMQFa4gmmN0-BeSx3zDfHuyZbcW3NTupjcPISDdTDDTcCevgmV2QbBuWoj4bUyA6LSF3_wF5A4ipIOTvN5oS8FTso/s1600/IMG_20160117_174720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm16ITGEYRk9qEzYy5OP9NOzAK1j_ypLYSBWlWP60JxQiu7JNnx8VMQFa4gmmN0-BeSx3zDfHuyZbcW3NTupjcPISDdTDDTcCevgmV2QbBuWoj4bUyA6LSF3_wF5A4ipIOTvN5oS8FTso/s320/IMG_20160117_174720.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
January was generally a quite peaceful month; I had some interesting courses at school, for example a Swedish course where we were taken to various places around Turku. I also had my first (and also last, as it turned out) sea swim of the year in an ice-hole. On the last days of the month I embarked on the first <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/02/experience-cruising-with-style-part-1.html">Baltic Sea ferries-trip with Sverre</a> (which unexpectedly turned out to become several more over time), doing the Finlandia and Superstar from Helsinki to Tallinn and back, and then starting a cruise to Stockholm on the Mariella.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>February</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI47vkEc_hCTXzDcyxWEOMalmdiC1ny1uBpL-lc0Bjy8WHJb3DTota2lvzK3HWdj82BPjiXBT-DO-V0CKfRYPRsyTRqeTtvl2F1_4XHSRRlJPVnRHJqE-kzgdS6UARhzof_3L-lkXSKgI/s1600/IMG_20160202_145227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI47vkEc_hCTXzDcyxWEOMalmdiC1ny1uBpL-lc0Bjy8WHJb3DTota2lvzK3HWdj82BPjiXBT-DO-V0CKfRYPRsyTRqeTtvl2F1_4XHSRRlJPVnRHJqE-kzgdS6UARhzof_3L-lkXSKgI/s320/IMG_20160202_145227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
February started as I was still travelling with Sverre, and in addition to the aforementioned, we took a chance of cruising on the Gabriella while she was replacing the Amorella on the Turku-Stockholm route. After returning home, I built the two ship models Sverre had given me as late Christmas presents (Trollfjord and Color Fantasy), and I filed my collection of ship boarding passes (which I have mentioned a couple of times in the very early days of this blog, such as <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2013/05/experience-viking-xprs.html">here</a>.. needless to say, the collection has grown more than tenfold since then). Later on I had a cruise on the Silja Serenade with my mother.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>March</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioakcFevoCl1Ag4dyEKj9s5VTBo1ZmJQncsotKA_-sDdM0vwCpORi9jWgtLIwybLfZioP-6bxQ59Fk-bVRcw6R5kAL_Wjl4YnOZ7bS0gaH0ZhCarFyIDkswtmN5HJLr-hb6cGTXG8q0E/s1600/IMG_20160312_090823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioakcFevoCl1Ag4dyEKj9s5VTBo1ZmJQncsotKA_-sDdM0vwCpORi9jWgtLIwybLfZioP-6bxQ59Fk-bVRcw6R5kAL_Wjl4YnOZ7bS0gaH0ZhCarFyIDkswtmN5HJLr-hb6cGTXG8q0E/s320/IMG_20160312_090823.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
February ended and March started peacefully, but the one single brightest memory from the month is my 2nd <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/09/experience-wave-of-baltic-sea-ferry_66.html">Baltic Sea ferries-trip with Sverre</a>, which we did to celebrate his birthday and the return of the Silja Europa from Australia; during that trip I also visited my old home (and most importantly, was briefly reunited with my sweet kitty) for the first time since I moved away. However, it was also in March that I split up with my boyfriend of the time, which dropped a huge extra load of problems on me, which I had to deal with over the year. Already before the end of the month I was back in Tallinn again, mainly aiming to pick up my new shiny Seafarer's Discharge Book.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>April</b></div>
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<br />
April started with one of my more memorable courses at school, the Radar course; most of it took place in the bridge simulators where we made plenty of mistakes, often resulting in hilarity. That course was followed by an enormously fun Basic Safety course, which was mostly practical, using various lifesaving equipment and most importantly, swimming! And after that, I had some days of practical work on the tall ship Amazone. So, my wait for one of the absolute highlights of the year wasn't long and boring at all; and I made it even less so, when I went on a daycruise in the archipelago just some days before, also seizing the opportunity to sail on the Baltic Queen while she was here replacing the Galaxy. And then the <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/09/experience-norway-part-1-color-fantasy.html">highlight itself</a> - on the 21st I flew off to Norway for the rest of the month, having no clue what awaits. And what I got was some of the greatest adventures of my life so far.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>May</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzxHxGxaeD5HF4FTcptSrkPwKDBAPKGwqQS458Vb2S-yilJ_zBDDTpgNMpQhBeISEpjef8Md9oxcBDlpr7pFGHaFa6qSagV9FO7HuBlTHmUvzwsHskXLXTQ1qt6uHYeUUSCkr8uMvvYw/s1600/IMG_4924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzxHxGxaeD5HF4FTcptSrkPwKDBAPKGwqQS458Vb2S-yilJ_zBDDTpgNMpQhBeISEpjef8Md9oxcBDlpr7pFGHaFa6qSagV9FO7HuBlTHmUvzwsHskXLXTQ1qt6uHYeUUSCkr8uMvvYw/s320/IMG_4924.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
After returning from Norway on the 2nd of May, I immediately had a practical firefighting course, and after some weeks of inactivity, another practical course with more focus on lifeboats and liferafts. My mother visited me for a weekend. Towards the end of the month I was in touch with the Apprentice Mill, which means that I suddenly got very busy. And so, on the last day of the month I took two buses to Kotka and embarked on Finnlines' <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2017/01/a-very-finnsunny-summer-part-1.html">Finnsun for my first on-board training</a>.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>June</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpp2ok2ATaulFzTDBlk2WHVttlH5w1jPjq30AgEcS7z8n3XuhveAZ-N8c_qKur6PYQZ86lhUOr9M-3jtoI_euAZjo2dFpi3udCcGm5XWh1K8-22BfXcEMtlEFHhnp9XLN0KaXi6z01zk/s1600/IMG_5110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEpp2ok2ATaulFzTDBlk2WHVttlH5w1jPjq30AgEcS7z8n3XuhveAZ-N8c_qKur6PYQZ86lhUOr9M-3jtoI_euAZjo2dFpi3udCcGm5XWh1K8-22BfXcEMtlEFHhnp9XLN0KaXi6z01zk/s320/IMG_5110.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The entire month of June was spent on the Finnsun, with a few exceptions when I got to go ashore. Nonetheless, there was a lot of excitement for me on board as well. And in June, the Finnsun took me to see Lübeck in Germany, Kotka (again), Santander and Santurtzi in Spain, Paldiski in Estonia and Aarhus in Denmark, as well as several other ports where I did not get to go ashore.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>July</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VSs2OI1V7-AoQLSxm849sYMbk7dAcXQ2EyqraFwt4SW8t2OeymusSF2iHKVwB9GiDibw7INxFgPN_dMaEHieFb6zE7FlYzGmqHle71ORhXuilXLWTKRFeMTeRpzAx4J71LZnHfiWVj4/s1600/20160712_140853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3VSs2OI1V7-AoQLSxm849sYMbk7dAcXQ2EyqraFwt4SW8t2OeymusSF2iHKVwB9GiDibw7INxFgPN_dMaEHieFb6zE7FlYzGmqHle71ORhXuilXLWTKRFeMTeRpzAx4J71LZnHfiWVj4/s320/20160712_140853.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Most of July was also spent on the Finnsun, now feeling much more comfortable on board. The weather was generally nicer too as we did another trip to Biscay; this time I went ashore in Ferrol and Santander in Spain, Rauma in Finland, St. Petersburg and Aarhus. After finally disembarking on the 28th, I flew straight to Norway again, where I spent some days resting and having a good time.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>August</b></div>
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In early August I finally returned home, though only for a couple of peaceful weeks that I spent mostly watching the olympics and killing time, as well as visiting a friend in Helsinki. Towards the end of the month, I headed off to Norway again, this time for my own <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2017/01/experience-crown-pearl-seaways-bohus.html">birthday celebrations</a>, which lasted well into September.<br />
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<b>September</b></div>
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On the 5th of September, a day after returning home from Norway, I started school again, with a course of radio communication, effectively replacing the Restricted Operator's Certificate I got during my pleasure boat license course with a General Operator's Certificate. I also participated in the filming of a commercial clip for my school and met up with my parents for a day in Helsinki.<br />
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<b>October</b></div>
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October was the last month when I could enjoy living alone in a huge family apartment, however the stress of having to find a cheaper place was taking a toll on me. Very fortunately, just two weeks before the end of the month I stumbled upon the perfect offer, so the rest of the month was spent packing up. Towards the very end of the month, Sverre came to visit me and we had a daycruise to Stockholm.<br />
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<b>November</b></div>
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On the first day of November, it was time to free up my old place and move a short distance to a similarly nice, though remarkably different place. Then it was all about settling in as well as having a good time with Sverre during the rest of his visit. After Sverre left, it was more settling in as well as quite a lot of schoolwork.<br />
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<b>December</b></div>
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In December, it was mostly attending school as well, almost all the way up until Christmas. Christmas itself was somewhat dull, but right after Christmas I embarked on a journey to Norway again, and welcomed 2017 on a special cruise on Fjord Line's Stavangerfjord somewhere in Kattegat, underway from Copenhagen to Stavanger.<br />
And as the said New Year trip started, Sverre gave me his spare little-used camera, which was a remarkable upgrade for me and means that 2017 will definitely be a year of better photos!<br />
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<i><b>Happy New Year!</b></i></div>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-34261259457904688332016-12-30T04:45:00.000+02:002017-02-05T06:33:52.187+02:00Experience: Crown & Pearl Seaways, Bohus & Oslofjord, and best birthday ever!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After disembarking from the Finnsun, I did not actually head home - instead, I flew straight to Norway again and spent a few peaceful days there with Sverre before he had to head back to work on his ship. Nonetheless, already before the end of August I was back in Norway again, this time for a remarkably longer and more adventurous stay, which also included a worthy celebration of my 20th birthday. It also marked the first time I chose to travel to Norway without flying; I started the journey by taking my old favourite Viking Grace to Stockholm.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starboard side panorama shortly before departing from Turku</td></tr>
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With a ridiculously early arrival in Stockholm, and considering that I never manage to go to sleep earlier than silly o'clock when on the Grace, I was quite tired the following day, but I had more than 8 hours to kill in Stockholm before my train to Oslo departed. And the weather was lovely, so I chose to leave my suitcase in one of the extremely overpriced lockers in central Stockholm, and go for a long walk.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giraffe crane and a drydocked ferry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodQN8b8BLyEu2jZz_w_la9miN80v4iF_R3X1rkV7oULIw2LaCsBkE6PPXP_ko1m2jxI_zM0vVb2qwyF-gZPGEemyklNqmHgFjvGgOw7a-pnw9luekyJMvnH8UWfdBAlGOO1TKQjZG0UM/s320/20160823_094136.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My walk took me to Värtahamnen just as the Silja Serenade was coming in, still a while before the Romantika was due to arrive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And while I was already there, I decided to have a look at how the new terminal is progressing; since the previous time I was there in March, the new terminal building had been opened and the walk from the ship to the terminal was not so ridiculously long anymore. However, the walk out of the terminal was. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a while of resting in the terminal, I headed southward again, more or less following the coastline. As my experience is, on a fine summer day, especially in Stockholm, there will be plenty of bigger or smaller things catching your eye. Af Chapman had divers working on her that day. I also saw several vintage trams that day, and a marching band or two, which is something I somehow see almost every time I'm there.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After another long rest in the beloved Slussen McDonald's, I took the sweet chance to take photos of the Mariella, too. </td></tr>
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After a long day of a lot of walking, I was very happy to sit down on the train for 5 hours. However, as the train arrived in Oslo, my legs were feeling so weak that I gave poor Sverre a nice selection of very emotional rants for daring to make me walk again. Fortunately I did somehow manage to make it to our hotel, and after some resting I even managed to walk to TGI Friday's for a dinner, and back. </div>
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The next day I was fortunately alright again, because we were in for a lot of walking. We started the day with a walk in and around Akershus fortress, after which we took a ferry to Bygdøynes, a tip of the Bygdøy peninsula not far from central Oslo, where we photographed the departing Color Magic and had a look in the Norwegian Maritime Museum. Then we returned and took another ferry trip to Nesoddtangen, which itself isn't far from central Oslo either, but the way there by land would be very long, due to the location being at the tip of a large peninsula. Our purpose of going there was no other than the fun of sailing on commuter ferries and photographing the outbound Crown Seaways. After those trips we had a dinner and then took a train home to Fredrikstad. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the City Hall from Akershus</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Mein Schiff 5</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHDKFvbBceg5cs3wby1ebhOl_6YAs4QEcYBLszpuUeNpk2wNlj8RN1KQuzg2KyOVhqACIuha2QjyK5DYnGuxu0_CcEnbJN8oR4cvYpLsqclYjcz6sF-l7T46FO6-BHh85gjaW7KR6gXA/s1600/20160824_140257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglHDKFvbBceg5cs3wby1ebhOl_6YAs4QEcYBLszpuUeNpk2wNlj8RN1KQuzg2KyOVhqACIuha2QjyK5DYnGuxu0_CcEnbJN8oR4cvYpLsqclYjcz6sF-l7T46FO6-BHh85gjaW7KR6gXA/s320/20160824_140257.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Magic about to back out of her spot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbX6wyc9XW0KGGRSYX2vCVcZH6J16NpenbS2R2tQ8bbzckEykw66L4YarCNwLvpNV8aP-FxrIFUo3ns3lWQJ5tmk3FBvJfEZF53MajnFXORsNsGLUnz7HV36oW881dLqhQEY-vpxwt-ro/s1600/20160824_140535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbX6wyc9XW0KGGRSYX2vCVcZH6J16NpenbS2R2tQ8bbzckEykw66L4YarCNwLvpNV8aP-FxrIFUo3ns3lWQJ5tmk3FBvJfEZF53MajnFXORsNsGLUnz7HV36oW881dLqhQEY-vpxwt-ro/s320/20160824_140535.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... turn around... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHD-oxNXcwsKpUe9FzLCHa9x8Km088HUaySKOFvTMr-WbWkhWlUpeZpayMG0toiJZRcaZew86CZnGiUkVsaP_zETW34mQ9m5Tv9LfLlFj3XZpFpSAXKi57WVw_RM2HM-GqFR_W4TN4RE/s1600/20160824_141009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHD-oxNXcwsKpUe9FzLCHa9x8Km088HUaySKOFvTMr-WbWkhWlUpeZpayMG0toiJZRcaZew86CZnGiUkVsaP_zETW34mQ9m5Tv9LfLlFj3XZpFpSAXKi57WVw_RM2HM-GqFR_W4TN4RE/s320/20160824_141009.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and sail away.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKQuPnVQLb-zXZzZdJ8rzDJwbkv3D4PRTNH0DO1KWc0kjFeAU9gdMSqxiKUQnQX3KyZTpad_z9ewlgBUWMyjrOv7uWfoD0kRW4TARSQzhIaVI7v5vIFyNEpmRQUGb0dD3mR7vTMVl6x0/s1600/20160824_164535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEKQuPnVQLb-zXZzZdJ8rzDJwbkv3D4PRTNH0DO1KWc0kjFeAU9gdMSqxiKUQnQX3KyZTpad_z9ewlgBUWMyjrOv7uWfoD0kRW4TARSQzhIaVI7v5vIFyNEpmRQUGb0dD3mR7vTMVl6x0/s320/20160824_164535.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And some hours later, we observed the Crown Seaways sailing away too.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVNvEqne0QYp4wMAXMcNMNvqPIRxE1NVrJu7SNJveJw42yMfJCeSKkxmKFMcD1UheVrCfqoWCQgUmRHWdola2ne3iYxTMO2R-lTfiARnbT8x8_lObkQKufBdsTGdVvpV5wolrnN9PjhU/s1600/20160824_185644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVNvEqne0QYp4wMAXMcNMNvqPIRxE1NVrJu7SNJveJw42yMfJCeSKkxmKFMcD1UheVrCfqoWCQgUmRHWdola2ne3iYxTMO2R-lTfiARnbT8x8_lObkQKufBdsTGdVvpV5wolrnN9PjhU/s320/20160824_185644.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before going home to Fredrikstad, we went to the Skybar on the 34th floor of the Radisson Blu Plaza hotel; a place we wanted to visit all the way back in April, but couldn't due to a hotel workers' strike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The following couple of days were more peaceful, we were mostly chilling at home in Fredrikstad, and we attended a joint birthday party of some of Sverre's friends.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNkk3QiQGGraYTo166LJLatef3wk4r-hhVjIB7BOW_QbdRGSl5P3iF4j_Al4aAizuE96e0jX4s-3KhokGyac3rlCNkvvg1qsMPbBPViuYJPoEcVL4ZAN2Yj7IoojPcBR7Rxv2eOiQfWY/s1600/Photo+27-08-16+17+17+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpNkk3QiQGGraYTo166LJLatef3wk4r-hhVjIB7BOW_QbdRGSl5P3iF4j_Al4aAizuE96e0jX4s-3KhokGyac3rlCNkvvg1qsMPbBPViuYJPoEcVL4ZAN2Yj7IoojPcBR7Rxv2eOiQfWY/s320/Photo+27-08-16+17+17+09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The day after the party we headed to Oslo again, to start my three days of birthday-fun. </div>
<div>
First of all, we boarded the Crown Seaways for an overnight trip to Copenhagen. The Crown Seaways thus became the third of the four sisters I've tried, the other two being Viking Line's Amorella and Gabriella, and Isabelle of Tallink still remaining undone, hopefully not for long. </div>
<div>
Much like her sisters, the Crown Seaways was a very nice and cozy ferry. Perhaps that impression was further fueled by our choice of cabin, being Commodore Balcony up on the highest deck. We did spend most of the voyage sitting and chilling, most of the time in the Commodore Lounge, and we also had a nice dinner in Explorer Steakhouse. </div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHp2L2Rcrgr6SAhqaZBaPmAM3TLRQR64LFqQAhUhyphenhyphenTc2Ely7jM420MsJtTSbX-zlYh6eOsPhcIcL9-S8ri1K1R2lCzgfJ2cT_V7p57GAEYri2lunVJLDbFsbeNiUUTzA2Zr9XZ2NEKjw/s1600/IMG_6669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKHp2L2Rcrgr6SAhqaZBaPmAM3TLRQR64LFqQAhUhyphenhyphenTc2Ely7jM420MsJtTSbX-zlYh6eOsPhcIcL9-S8ri1K1R2lCzgfJ2cT_V7p57GAEYri2lunVJLDbFsbeNiUUTzA2Zr9XZ2NEKjw/s320/IMG_6669.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sky Club </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjzyMPaeEtbZgj7VZBxx2nd3BxpmJLFU44emnwVq_2njHDENPn9f8tDkMDUPQbOecd6YisxJ8W6eZ9EhkAVGfHLXhRejXgslnqhT2FOkcPfF0mHD0RuyhxbJ4JKJVIx_Cp2Jz33QN8y0/s320/IMG_6674.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Same place, upstairs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkjzyMPaeEtbZgj7VZBxx2nd3BxpmJLFU44emnwVq_2njHDENPn9f8tDkMDUPQbOecd6YisxJ8W6eZ9EhkAVGfHLXhRejXgslnqhT2FOkcPfF0mHD0RuyhxbJ4JKJVIx_Cp2Jz33QN8y0/s1600/IMG_6674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhJj6oOnXXZtkxy9pjfEbeDk_ShxhIt94v33b5xxe5FhDM0RHR9hnUYC3gYhcziAIfATDkHw3B8ImedO4-2vgs4PrhOxqPgrJT1Zk49uJRxac29GNH8LM7ENpZ0FQD-Zy6hknPOqsr5A/s1600/IMG_6683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOhJj6oOnXXZtkxy9pjfEbeDk_ShxhIt94v33b5xxe5FhDM0RHR9hnUYC3gYhcziAIfATDkHw3B8ImedO4-2vgs4PrhOxqPgrJT1Zk49uJRxac29GNH8LM7ENpZ0FQD-Zy6hknPOqsr5A/s320/IMG_6683.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Columbus Club</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xr3ZrzJE63ZITRPfsLWOYgSj5dA3-pLK0E212yX_NpOpVRULLhxU9MrHCXj03ikxUq92hdrvLYryFEc5uPYxpFe7oo0zE4MNh6JAhIKsZEpasPRlgpHbx9EyCXgSZ_MhP8IMHPhskz8/s1600/IMG_6723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xr3ZrzJE63ZITRPfsLWOYgSj5dA3-pLK0E212yX_NpOpVRULLhxU9MrHCXj03ikxUq92hdrvLYryFEc5uPYxpFe7oo0zE4MNh6JAhIKsZEpasPRlgpHbx9EyCXgSZ_MhP8IMHPhskz8/s320/IMG_6723.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel Photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOxeUTOF80uhXaysTaTBTj2VAm21EkNu22_xbgfDxwE7OZCpgZ1qF6uoqgwu3c1GTONPA8IM7LfawRSdolzMxoQkc12NVg-1s_MspMW7_6g8QadANEudet92awDWIsRSfljtMdNrY0dc/s1600/IMG_6702.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOxeUTOF80uhXaysTaTBTj2VAm21EkNu22_xbgfDxwE7OZCpgZ1qF6uoqgwu3c1GTONPA8IM7LfawRSdolzMxoQkc12NVg-1s_MspMW7_6g8QadANEudet92awDWIsRSfljtMdNrY0dc/s320/IMG_6702.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory deck plans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjza9oHY5ekip27hLILuquWXA7TCAaAOrjhKdSGblFdamXdwnGxgOgfV5xMRV67h2SxMn-jf4H7nifYT1VIK2iuodr10QOMp3rFbdNyI4r24Rl6yqlOFh0_Xk3A0gGm_8eT4JBeMYJqvs/s1600/IMG_6697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjza9oHY5ekip27hLILuquWXA7TCAaAOrjhKdSGblFdamXdwnGxgOgfV5xMRV67h2SxMn-jf4H7nifYT1VIK2iuodr10QOMp3rFbdNyI4r24Rl6yqlOFh0_Xk3A0gGm_8eT4JBeMYJqvs/s320/IMG_6697.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ceiling selfies are starting to become somewhat mandatory too nowadays</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMBJHy84yxHORWkSyXmuaYJCszMdnFNuwmgXXGyyyzmYP5kV-4uMfjYvwSfsmZdGc6MV7pweG0ABq1xRao85DkQEKW3UOARjuH8-Wnd-0PbDNvQ2tZR6HCmyok0Cjs7jj8aTdz4DZlg4/s1600/IMG_6699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMBJHy84yxHORWkSyXmuaYJCszMdnFNuwmgXXGyyyzmYP5kV-4uMfjYvwSfsmZdGc6MV7pweG0ABq1xRao85DkQEKW3UOARjuH8-Wnd-0PbDNvQ2tZR6HCmyok0Cjs7jj8aTdz4DZlg4/s320/IMG_6699.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobby floor tiles</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX8-LOb-0Z0hNACHGcNZlJaHi3ImDEiVylnhaUfTcZYrprsAS2Ks2BQAuGUlLxDYkGVMRiqFMTV3Zg992TobOSikGAn7tAUgJPHjwiiOTbftXxD4qAIMD0VKwPXIZYiKQpEe9CS0j3EA/s1600/IMG_6706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUX8-LOb-0Z0hNACHGcNZlJaHi3ImDEiVylnhaUfTcZYrprsAS2Ks2BQAuGUlLxDYkGVMRiqFMTV3Zg992TobOSikGAn7tAUgJPHjwiiOTbftXxD4qAIMD0VKwPXIZYiKQpEe9CS0j3EA/s320/IMG_6706.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inbound Stena Saga in the Oslofjord </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The following morning, which was the day of my 20th birthday, we disembarked, checked in the Palace Hotel, had a short nap and hit the road, or to be more accurate, the railway, bound for Helsingør.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhJW0oz5FGLYcR_AzdZRcSbjsoZp-0nrx88m0Nm8XtNnhJFVXCyADloV95TOo-N0nbF3kPTNzx4DVpOLUoY8lURgMGa7B9jy5BYeiQ6BF51QxbQ3MBIcTjgumC6eiBLYMqrRlZiVB4g0/s1600/IMG_6760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifhJW0oz5FGLYcR_AzdZRcSbjsoZp-0nrx88m0Nm8XtNnhJFVXCyADloV95TOo-N0nbF3kPTNzx4DVpOLUoY8lURgMGa7B9jy5BYeiQ6BF51QxbQ3MBIcTjgumC6eiBLYMqrRlZiVB4g0/s320/IMG_6760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Copenhagen train station outside...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4-iiLXSUPzLe3OJE3HdgG8anzMgPBI8mP0tL2QLozVP3lorL0VoRxHKz7qj38kf-rueJNKHO9uWA897r13lgkREq7gv4SBDaijUXtdgaD9QMSPsBiuFj5Kp97LFch56bWknOd6W3KiQ/s1600/IMG_6764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio4-iiLXSUPzLe3OJE3HdgG8anzMgPBI8mP0tL2QLozVP3lorL0VoRxHKz7qj38kf-rueJNKHO9uWA897r13lgkREq7gv4SBDaijUXtdgaD9QMSPsBiuFj5Kp97LFch56bWknOd6W3KiQ/s320/IMG_6764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and inside. Intentionally or not, Sverre managed to ensure his presence in every single photo I took of the train station.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In Helsingør we spent a couple of hours walking around and having lunch, and we also both got brand new backpacks.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lXi97UytCgacDwJVF9w0575a6Tbx93lgad3dck8a5ktIIsy0E5K059r41Ewu_RvKgTiFDUPMmZ2x4xjU9igkdg7HLwhKQEEJHG_xhtmF8-dVa9H6KDFu_goJ_UaxE9zkNhNjwEAl4w0/s1600/IMG_6766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6lXi97UytCgacDwJVF9w0575a6Tbx93lgad3dck8a5ktIIsy0E5K059r41Ewu_RvKgTiFDUPMmZ2x4xjU9igkdg7HLwhKQEEJHG_xhtmF8-dVa9H6KDFu_goJ_UaxE9zkNhNjwEAl4w0/s320/IMG_6766.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Helsingør train station building was very beautiful, both inside and out.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc7z4aqS3SOPtkqcEMUAHpC5WhcmkzNIz8kmrZTahu3T13fhd-KhziSivoxky4UvrbaDU37LcTKaBNvGABVEE83NhbUhjtwfQ63EOwhn58odbeWHc76xpYKY_9JJKzXZ3hvdC7Syk9v0/s1600/IMG_6769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFc7z4aqS3SOPtkqcEMUAHpC5WhcmkzNIz8kmrZTahu3T13fhd-KhziSivoxky4UvrbaDU37LcTKaBNvGABVEE83NhbUhjtwfQ63EOwhn58odbeWHc76xpYKY_9JJKzXZ3hvdC7Syk9v0/s320/IMG_6769.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helsingør Castle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4c_mLXy2WSL6AgnpzP2lgK6_uXrP7q1MYxOD3ec2x19KmcPxiLgw2vV9VO4NJ1K-FkD8W6wZGlh3dlKFqfqwy70JgXfbYzuWIBXW3MfbFGAL6UGvywYVDSqJ2lO5tELvxGu-ur3MW2s/s1600/IMG_6771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4c_mLXy2WSL6AgnpzP2lgK6_uXrP7q1MYxOD3ec2x19KmcPxiLgw2vV9VO4NJ1K-FkD8W6wZGlh3dlKFqfqwy70JgXfbYzuWIBXW3MfbFGAL6UGvywYVDSqJ2lO5tELvxGu-ur3MW2s/s320/IMG_6771.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plastic waste fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After some hours in Helsingør, we took Scandlines' ferry Tycho Brahe over the strait to Helsingborg, a journey of only 5 kilometers. In Helsingborg it was just a quick walk around and a drink in a bar before we took another train onward to Malmö, where we had a longer walk looking around and also a nice evening snack at TGI Friday's.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2mtHoNXCUhghNv9xSYMXyc_ZMeI7UmIGOOsWiomvTf5tu2fDLkXjox4K1yoA-ZLaXqDKhZa0ea5KibMSqrZ-cDWoxynmPyDFsoaXyQZEHW0dY3BgnZCIP-xzu78byL7lgikFQOsh9BY/s1600/IMG_6784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz2mtHoNXCUhghNv9xSYMXyc_ZMeI7UmIGOOsWiomvTf5tu2fDLkXjox4K1yoA-ZLaXqDKhZa0ea5KibMSqrZ-cDWoxynmPyDFsoaXyQZEHW0dY3BgnZCIP-xzu78byL7lgikFQOsh9BY/s320/IMG_6784.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helsingborg Gustav Adolf Church</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM9Yb-vI4hOYmmigk0MSZlr2cbQyr1HmijQESHv4c4K67c9MftYBaZmXZS3Qehr42NXG6rN4ZgtgoAD-8hzJlibR7pB0pGfhUpEUmBfMXYk1rsEY1W_68sCsoDFqW6X4cZxGrSJOkOJ0/s1600/20160829_185723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfM9Yb-vI4hOYmmigk0MSZlr2cbQyr1HmijQESHv4c4K67c9MftYBaZmXZS3Qehr42NXG6rN4ZgtgoAD-8hzJlibR7pB0pGfhUpEUmBfMXYk1rsEY1W_68sCsoDFqW6X4cZxGrSJOkOJ0/s320/20160829_185723.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Malmö was a city of many beautiful views, even during our very short stay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_HNAU9ldj36wWmAc9pSrr2XrnMTNGbkp37kzu6dOLgCbLKJUQv1nTsYCgs0PU4JIfR7BSEUgTGqZ41Vf0WEXlj9kmjCNT5QKmYo4WmtX2E6IODU-Y5J0eMHAyRXhgTSyGFY6GycmJ5Q/s1600/20160829_185753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_HNAU9ldj36wWmAc9pSrr2XrnMTNGbkp37kzu6dOLgCbLKJUQv1nTsYCgs0PU4JIfR7BSEUgTGqZ41Vf0WEXlj9kmjCNT5QKmYo4WmtX2E6IODU-Y5J0eMHAyRXhgTSyGFY6GycmJ5Q/s320/20160829_185753.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0P4ahXkDexrzBvRsGGpp-HPnOHvD3WoEApE7xvEi5LPXyKGLDnbtDsd1hSyADjxlznK-o7OLe1GmksUFM_vu1RyqtsW3pDhnWlV-H1KnWf7PTxsxh115hh6BbnEDDhJvMXTWKe_NxR8/s1600/20160829_190134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid0P4ahXkDexrzBvRsGGpp-HPnOHvD3WoEApE7xvEi5LPXyKGLDnbtDsd1hSyADjxlznK-o7OLe1GmksUFM_vu1RyqtsW3pDhnWlV-H1KnWf7PTxsxh115hh6BbnEDDhJvMXTWKe_NxR8/s320/20160829_190134.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j7Jm3A_qwKaQWCisuEYCUfp6YVoKhy2Cf46eeUDj9RKRG214w41G32c4M9nSWA-x-gTepU6z0TTE2_ckysk-QVBtig4yCrfMMnDmQqkWFK2SCT9RM_ge1c37LgvbuX69BKxbVFJQfwc/s1600/20160829_190245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0j7Jm3A_qwKaQWCisuEYCUfp6YVoKhy2Cf46eeUDj9RKRG214w41G32c4M9nSWA-x-gTepU6z0TTE2_ckysk-QVBtig4yCrfMMnDmQqkWFK2SCT9RM_ge1c37LgvbuX69BKxbVFJQfwc/s320/20160829_190245.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEovXfmjSDQhN1u-UnKs3viBUpMXCidm1_G8Yl1f-GovH7kwYT7to3y7fm7UQmpRuLbKR_oMVXQburTG-1PEVSz6X3vMZWpNlEo0llfdb-lhA_DZvZ6Kt_PY6KNWadJsoY4EyGA0T_XDA/s1600/20160829_191151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEovXfmjSDQhN1u-UnKs3viBUpMXCidm1_G8Yl1f-GovH7kwYT7to3y7fm7UQmpRuLbKR_oMVXQburTG-1PEVSz6X3vMZWpNlEo0llfdb-lhA_DZvZ6Kt_PY6KNWadJsoY4EyGA0T_XDA/s320/20160829_191151.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I told you guys I see a lot of marching bands whenever I get out and travel a bit, it's almost as if they're chasing me around!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjOeHSD6UVQX6Je7DKcvE0CHIr_m821GaR3ccxCw4k6sg_GsNdhHOqo12-ynfhJqgy8hRWWOhtBHeKPMPwyCo9wQB5nltqoVMpl4jcyJ0ygAlqVx3qz6R86rtaqlvukF2RepWzkq9Ia8/s1600/Photo+29-08-16+19+03+53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjOeHSD6UVQX6Je7DKcvE0CHIr_m821GaR3ccxCw4k6sg_GsNdhHOqo12-ynfhJqgy8hRWWOhtBHeKPMPwyCo9wQB5nltqoVMpl4jcyJ0ygAlqVx3qz6R86rtaqlvukF2RepWzkq9Ia8/s320/Photo+29-08-16+19+03+53.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be fair, I sometimes rudely intruded photos that Sverre took, too.</td></tr>
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<div>
After a while in Malmö, it was time to take the train over the Öresund bridge and tunnel back to Copenhagen, change into something nicer and go to the nearby Hard Rock Cafe for a celebratory dinner.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPB0gF6BoBorEPQ6kZ4J_57G5HRWSyGZRNAqVislNsEyG-iLHapdTqAhOaAM7iSP4ch8-86tJzRxsjqu04Nv3R2uwejqulRocE-EwgaTKRy_inioChMvsW-2MS1oe6NKdfQHbhYTeJsI/s1600/14088644_10157373482435298_7541682632929071447_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPB0gF6BoBorEPQ6kZ4J_57G5HRWSyGZRNAqVislNsEyG-iLHapdTqAhOaAM7iSP4ch8-86tJzRxsjqu04Nv3R2uwejqulRocE-EwgaTKRy_inioChMvsW-2MS1oe6NKdfQHbhYTeJsI/s320/14088644_10157373482435298_7541682632929071447_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I still sometimes wistfully think back to this holy mother of a party platter that we started with...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4_7VgzBNe-RzAwSpL0xGhYGKzjNsR1T3Zf_qEWPwiKd2rfDxdaBwDAo8_e6XmVjJpDqiheIYcdgeKSmfIpNsi-GcXVDxNI2Z5ibZ-SzmOBGGH8ZOUxZwEZihmvuJqwWrQGPOPSaIj8E/s1600/Photo+29-08-16+22+36+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4_7VgzBNe-RzAwSpL0xGhYGKzjNsR1T3Zf_qEWPwiKd2rfDxdaBwDAo8_e6XmVjJpDqiheIYcdgeKSmfIpNsi-GcXVDxNI2Z5ibZ-SzmOBGGH8ZOUxZwEZihmvuJqwWrQGPOPSaIj8E/s320/Photo+29-08-16+22+36+40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and by the time we got to having this picture taken, we were both stuffed so full of very birthday-worthy food that we could barely move. 10/10.</td></tr>
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<div>
The following day we spent looking around in Copenhagen, until it was time to board the Pearl Seaways, returning to Oslo.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJc1NLV-EuZ32jOFK1yzeLYye-BfG36x9nn1VjIRL4sn7aKRf0VwE9UjKV080ghFxmS8tcBsN92u9jhUgVQ2ouBWRbyEiWYVmXkko32ZN8sM8TLXCy_JPDUJ7tRiUbXOWDY-M1SA4m34/s1600/IMG_6790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJc1NLV-EuZ32jOFK1yzeLYye-BfG36x9nn1VjIRL4sn7aKRf0VwE9UjKV080ghFxmS8tcBsN92u9jhUgVQ2ouBWRbyEiWYVmXkko32ZN8sM8TLXCy_JPDUJ7tRiUbXOWDY-M1SA4m34/s320/IMG_6790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Italian school ship Amerigo Vespucci, one of the more majestic tall ships in the world, was visiting Copenhagen at the time.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJak5xnAtOF8ARlLjzNkx2YDdEe4BXh8S1SS8XOdlgeBH9b2iToLy04PSPtGSw4a5RpGTKbtEpOKH2SmQk3UXfk5bvjTkBCZAMcbzev19i16de_ywN4pXAYVWqUpPoUf9nyDEeQit6TwM/s1600/IMG_6808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJak5xnAtOF8ARlLjzNkx2YDdEe4BXh8S1SS8XOdlgeBH9b2iToLy04PSPtGSw4a5RpGTKbtEpOKH2SmQk3UXfk5bvjTkBCZAMcbzev19i16de_ywN4pXAYVWqUpPoUf9nyDEeQit6TwM/s320/IMG_6808.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtppaSgz-VKLqtJsrnx_B2rO8zhUwIe6s-ae7v_62RWm1QNQ-8qDLtXq8hXZfXQxVwu1atVUc6IlW2HdVm7gNZLLNJsgDVVvx-1budyRuW5SkMBxTkxH_HWl9NTqhg5BId8rT1YrGxMoA/s1600/IMG_6824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtppaSgz-VKLqtJsrnx_B2rO8zhUwIe6s-ae7v_62RWm1QNQ-8qDLtXq8hXZfXQxVwu1atVUc6IlW2HdVm7gNZLLNJsgDVVvx-1budyRuW5SkMBxTkxH_HWl9NTqhg5BId8rT1YrGxMoA/s320/IMG_6824.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb03Nqmql4lWxVcwUg4re_QrNCJBqZQmB1TByMwdgAEUJ2TheoGKh2eMzG4NACi0bEBEa2J4mmNceM1WIj3di47vlVtqyKFgEdQEtFw_KJe7b1Lkv0KZov1yr8NWXaUxkmxEttwakwJrE/s1600/IMG_6835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb03Nqmql4lWxVcwUg4re_QrNCJBqZQmB1TByMwdgAEUJ2TheoGKh2eMzG4NACi0bEBEa2J4mmNceM1WIj3di47vlVtqyKFgEdQEtFw_KJe7b1Lkv0KZov1yr8NWXaUxkmxEttwakwJrE/s320/IMG_6835.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Trinitatis Church </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxdtZl24eZsSRnmrvXxH6Vuyj7Bom9XuSfFX0tZO-Yi0N4UBRvQ9KDyyioyHQDVbFsywjRParLGiRXH3qxf-zHneSkxs2-zTITcngVDJeqG0GRMNx5L2mNWctfx5P-hFP3b0B44oOyis/s1600/20160830_130056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxdtZl24eZsSRnmrvXxH6Vuyj7Bom9XuSfFX0tZO-Yi0N4UBRvQ9KDyyioyHQDVbFsywjRParLGiRXH3qxf-zHneSkxs2-zTITcngVDJeqG0GRMNx5L2mNWctfx5P-hFP3b0B44oOyis/s320/20160830_130056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Mandatory Copenhagen view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPG19XSWFiiFNTShszSLk4ub1-JXpTqXrLFuYyrzM2XnGyeFajju4-2tb2pcZjKtlnwpOxpMakPy4Xnh_kaw2hNmeHat1JCZ1gaN7Xiv47Ul7lZEuo65tkengWajABsrWFK59rJErySLk/s1600/20160830_154142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPG19XSWFiiFNTShszSLk4ub1-JXpTqXrLFuYyrzM2XnGyeFajju4-2tb2pcZjKtlnwpOxpMakPy4Xnh_kaw2hNmeHat1JCZ1gaN7Xiv47Ul7lZEuo65tkengWajABsrWFK59rJErySLk/s320/20160830_154142.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl Seaways in Copenhagen</td></tr>
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<div>
On the Pearl Seaways we also had a Commodore cabin, however this time on deck 7 with a "limited" view, most of which was the top of a port side lifeboat. Nonetheless, the cabin was very nice and spacious and as close to public areas as it gets. Most of the journey was once again sitting and chilling; we dined in 7 Seas buffet and enjoyed some wine in the Red + White wine bar.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCmYcvQ_jdCir8iPu-3NBB1Bo4zu_9Mbf3VIBbo-qZpIbOM6jWRBVlEWVwSDXVKdxv6i316qZr655vi22k2SCiYFFLJq4aQqYSEVBItwvecJUJihnO80OYDQzmiW5Zwz9Zm3PnMMA1EY/s1600/15970574_10158041900890298_1150189393_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCmYcvQ_jdCir8iPu-3NBB1Bo4zu_9Mbf3VIBbo-qZpIbOM6jWRBVlEWVwSDXVKdxv6i316qZr655vi22k2SCiYFFLJq4aQqYSEVBItwvecJUJihnO80OYDQzmiW5Zwz9Zm3PnMMA1EY/s320/15970574_10158041900890298_1150189393_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of our cabin from between the bed and the window</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFaYRnLYK5EhHnIxIJuuQJ53ruM1jlPP11J4fxbvS7W6z1plu4G4jAZbqF6ptzI6s73phBBYIVaiFNiGUNKqbea-2BA11nuLDS994MOZKrkr-qRUQqWLxGjYcP4LYe1REFg5W32bxKzo/s1600/IMG_6859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFaYRnLYK5EhHnIxIJuuQJ53ruM1jlPP11J4fxbvS7W6z1plu4G4jAZbqF6ptzI6s73phBBYIVaiFNiGUNKqbea-2BA11nuLDS994MOZKrkr-qRUQqWLxGjYcP4LYe1REFg5W32bxKzo/s320/IMG_6859.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Riband, a banquet restaurant forward on deck 8 </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEVVvjSfrtkU8s0Rec-Mn10Y0Y5x6eDSCb9WdizXp7NBCpFuej5RBiVaj9HF-Lp1dAaRJMlnF9B9PJBLk7gYPlabEtWnPWRcePO6fQX8O6teuc9Q136AjeVVy1hhS3IObLYhpQ2mtxdg/s1600/IMG_6868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEVVvjSfrtkU8s0Rec-Mn10Y0Y5x6eDSCb9WdizXp7NBCpFuej5RBiVaj9HF-Lp1dAaRJMlnF9B9PJBLk7gYPlabEtWnPWRcePO6fQX8O6teuc9Q136AjeVVy1hhS3IObLYhpQ2mtxdg/s320/IMG_6868.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Columbus Club, looking almost the same as that on the Crown.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi7yzil8bPyahOMD4FbK6EWv_YF6vcSgCEfosPtcna99uZX07-ch7T6N6wzeJ2N7uC7PiBcTXKUAY9tR_V9BIf3vSo5GYpPgmrbSoUeamvIEgcPjPZIxgFSCsdjm0VuDCiy0dnaDJ4r8/s1600/IMG_6870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxi7yzil8bPyahOMD4FbK6EWv_YF6vcSgCEfosPtcna99uZX07-ch7T6N6wzeJ2N7uC7PiBcTXKUAY9tR_V9BIf3vSo5GYpPgmrbSoUeamvIEgcPjPZIxgFSCsdjm0VuDCiy0dnaDJ4r8/s320/IMG_6870.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel Photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvue9F0ojmjEgSUJAE31KwFuVnCpy0jwNWbihu9pzsbj2__KNTF9xN315HZf4TFtJOpYpEoJxnH5vA1k6OMVhbv1vb2X-IpdmHohO078JY86wAZh1QMzdnDFGRIJp6nGe3VbKH8yVUBc/s1600/IMG_6876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnvue9F0ojmjEgSUJAE31KwFuVnCpy0jwNWbihu9pzsbj2__KNTF9xN315HZf4TFtJOpYpEoJxnH5vA1k6OMVhbv1vb2X-IpdmHohO078JY86wAZh1QMzdnDFGRIJp6nGe3VbKH8yVUBc/s320/IMG_6876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passing the strait between Helsingborg and Helsingør, with two of the ferries caught in the photo.</td></tr>
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The following morning we arrived, quite expectedly, in Oslo. After disembarking, we dropped off our luggage, walked around a little and took a ferry out to Hovedøya, a lovely green island, where we spent several hours resting and enjoying the nature.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhme2v899YmQQ_W15swUdob1D024c6XXVC6fLAI2MoYyuo-lFavnLML-CAoKOvcBGpD5g9IdP4rQ9EFET7s-tbZMpYLsPEIxi02LJxhxialmXvzAy-M-Cd1-5u3ah294fN-oukdC9YCcI/s1600/20160831_093521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhme2v899YmQQ_W15swUdob1D024c6XXVC6fLAI2MoYyuo-lFavnLML-CAoKOvcBGpD5g9IdP4rQ9EFET7s-tbZMpYLsPEIxi02LJxhxialmXvzAy-M-Cd1-5u3ah294fN-oukdC9YCcI/s320/20160831_093521.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Regal Princess arriving in Oslo </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2446yjTQqGtRtUyRdk2juJPpMmxyS21zDpJsx14H4uRxjQUoRjcrMqU1bl5mQyl2asRr9YCQ_3ac-YDje1wDlbR0A1CRAos3CcMxXd24uBTPyb5CsZk9NosiXFyE28FTxtdI70ITgGLY/s1600/Cover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2446yjTQqGtRtUyRdk2juJPpMmxyS21zDpJsx14H4uRxjQUoRjcrMqU1bl5mQyl2asRr9YCQ_3ac-YDje1wDlbR0A1CRAos3CcMxXd24uBTPyb5CsZk9NosiXFyE28FTxtdI70ITgGLY/s320/Cover.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Color Fantasy departing</td></tr>
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After a while, we returned to mainland and took the metro up to Frognerseteren end station, 469 meters above sea level. The view from there was quite spectacular, though not quite comparable to Fløyen in Bergen. From there, we took a walk downward, going through the Holmenkollen area and then taking the metro down again from the Holmenkollen station, 277 meters above sea level, meaning that during our short walk we descended almost 200 meters.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObhLdxw_Ld1jDpnG_X0q4OZjSPF-LcCRHB9fRSEIhQXDbD-7Wr5QpScR-0WnNCfRypavox7hYAH-aOK2w7kjA8tp3goNqqzM3rMRAI0SeQwFQNTZAhLiDGSxVVI6IpOpLekR2FK1Nlgg/s1600/20160831_160256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhObhLdxw_Ld1jDpnG_X0q4OZjSPF-LcCRHB9fRSEIhQXDbD-7Wr5QpScR-0WnNCfRypavox7hYAH-aOK2w7kjA8tp3goNqqzM3rMRAI0SeQwFQNTZAhLiDGSxVVI6IpOpLekR2FK1Nlgg/s320/20160831_160256.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Frognerseteren station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBf0Oz_X7xnYcUaxyJD84NL5-Ba7nm3X3xQWpZGINOwgWPsaAIRX2m091j5GFiK8ZlBe-CCj9KioumOnaKy8siSwvB_y1jiV4oQYsusqjnHs4OSirag82k9m1zWHphbQeMO5aaVWZG6s/s1600/20160831_161057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBf0Oz_X7xnYcUaxyJD84NL5-Ba7nm3X3xQWpZGINOwgWPsaAIRX2m091j5GFiK8ZlBe-CCj9KioumOnaKy8siSwvB_y1jiV4oQYsusqjnHs4OSirag82k9m1zWHphbQeMO5aaVWZG6s/s320/20160831_161057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Frognerseteren view</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRM_3w8SLpWwwjW66jZuR1CfXeh25i09lw8UmjaQT14se3LEExYBfn8bWXeQ7MNIIxtAynTydASKu-Utwmlxgs6XIfZHxwY7p56aAyLE3EYFDYixSSdWO3As2308evGv7tajlLezdzCw/s1600/IMG_6936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRM_3w8SLpWwwjW66jZuR1CfXeh25i09lw8UmjaQT14se3LEExYBfn8bWXeQ7MNIIxtAynTydASKu-Utwmlxgs6XIfZHxwY7p56aAyLE3EYFDYixSSdWO3As2308evGv7tajlLezdzCw/s320/IMG_6936.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pearl Seaways heading out again</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Descending...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7_M6XzyAjuLQEh1PMriIXhRyWwUTmwFUTFoWYrSC7crOr_UAMBT4ulN3uLeBUnAmSpzCZPPURbOGnV8v_nV8GkRmM2hICc4gaIBQ1zrA5dBirdymyqG7CvaA_1mRd9IMZd8GPzKZQlM/s1600/IMG_6945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7_M6XzyAjuLQEh1PMriIXhRyWwUTmwFUTFoWYrSC7crOr_UAMBT4ulN3uLeBUnAmSpzCZPPURbOGnV8v_nV8GkRmM2hICc4gaIBQ1zrA5dBirdymyqG7CvaA_1mRd9IMZd8GPzKZQlM/s320/IMG_6945.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Holmenkollen Chapel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2lPEVcrdV_nPPnu3F4RNCGfaejx2KhGFm6gRrRkNxve4VCw-26KaekBa8703xQ1pUk2D1fDE746DWhRWdfzybcJEZdxzXwIZ9a8IZ4jma2MJmArkcasUMMtkKVUw8R7KGdZsuPLtn0A/s1600/20160831_165650_Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2lPEVcrdV_nPPnu3F4RNCGfaejx2KhGFm6gRrRkNxve4VCw-26KaekBa8703xQ1pUk2D1fDE746DWhRWdfzybcJEZdxzXwIZ9a8IZ4jma2MJmArkcasUMMtkKVUw8R7KGdZsuPLtn0A/s320/20160831_165650_Pano.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Holmenkollbakken </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgssfN7REemj42U1Fe_xs78sfWxBWAILfwYKjHqFjyDVo8VdQ7MccMcC0jPrOkXiBcnyXM0fRTk9tALGhEWxwtd3EPvcSBDtpM0r4JYBT3Ph2x9qytlnM0vYUbhEL4On3oJHjUthye7CQ/s1600/IMG_6962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgssfN7REemj42U1Fe_xs78sfWxBWAILfwYKjHqFjyDVo8VdQ7MccMcC0jPrOkXiBcnyXM0fRTk9tALGhEWxwtd3EPvcSBDtpM0r4JYBT3Ph2x9qytlnM0vYUbhEL4On3oJHjUthye7CQ/s320/IMG_6962.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8fQXDtoqhwFs_rVFTCbMsow6k0ybtIZYq-jgUiaUSLOXKj_09Ij5qOCxacVcFQjqhAYjRvOVcBsepZs8R8dM9RSlAKZ6V4Udrywp1M-0qf0kcWCZcYnL3VF6dWeirKUJA3ybduUTSw8/s1600/IMG_6965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8fQXDtoqhwFs_rVFTCbMsow6k0ybtIZYq-jgUiaUSLOXKj_09Ij5qOCxacVcFQjqhAYjRvOVcBsepZs8R8dM9RSlAKZ6V4Udrywp1M-0qf0kcWCZcYnL3VF6dWeirKUJA3ybduUTSw8/s320/IMG_6965.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Holmenkollen station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Back in the centre, we met up with Sverre's mother, had a nice dinner and then took a train back home to Fredrikstad. </div>
<div>
Two days later, on the 2nd of September, we hit the road again, this time southbound, to Strömstad, just across the Swedish border. There we boarded the old, 1971-build Bohus of Color Line for a crossing to Sandefjord. </div>
<div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9cknTuJqXi4VMgSp_I61keXD2LtL718t_2FD2QexR-CxaCs-rqoyXTLSu3bRPKofvT8hvafwxvdr58Xv3EzEI2CML58raZgoEQ4jWaRQL07qGZ3_H91Tkw96hFM43FrLEj10Mr01hs4/s1600/IMG_6976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV9cknTuJqXi4VMgSp_I61keXD2LtL718t_2FD2QexR-CxaCs-rqoyXTLSu3bRPKofvT8hvafwxvdr58Xv3EzEI2CML58raZgoEQ4jWaRQL07qGZ3_H91Tkw96hFM43FrLEj10Mr01hs4/s320/IMG_6976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bohus arriving in Strömstad </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLaCuyhrcNz5WgaZR3Gfl06veI5Xo_owyuDfjQOcuXmfIxl8PUhpzGZRgb9r3AYAnLqtxRxZ90DCClAekuHHUor26_HEEl20o5fOjPDY8k75S0ZWV2CjeaNDIuRUB3AFFyuMJZc67_9k/s1600/IMG_6985.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLaCuyhrcNz5WgaZR3Gfl06veI5Xo_owyuDfjQOcuXmfIxl8PUhpzGZRgb9r3AYAnLqtxRxZ90DCClAekuHHUor26_HEEl20o5fOjPDY8k75S0ZWV2CjeaNDIuRUB3AFFyuMJZc67_9k/s320/IMG_6985.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Semi-mandatory ancient lifeboat photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk_yXsqYAtVvMmiRsy6FGFBLJd7kJcJ-44kEMt47nkuyBZXhItSrZRixnCHYJ_ni2bSOFyZVOs0E_JtuerpEn0QfKQOnYFwf7W4NEJN0iNNEGxLgCEbqlyhUDW5oiLHEvFQFIUpWO1To/s1600/IMG_6988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLk_yXsqYAtVvMmiRsy6FGFBLJd7kJcJ-44kEMt47nkuyBZXhItSrZRixnCHYJ_ni2bSOFyZVOs0E_JtuerpEn0QfKQOnYFwf7W4NEJN0iNNEGxLgCEbqlyhUDW5oiLHEvFQFIUpWO1To/s320/IMG_6988.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A bit of a mismatch </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2La6CaETcu88isRhDZXBC8p4HdCvlRtlnH7BmAsBxqAnQ8e_EKGSdvHrKUnUcBzxLt-vC9OQKnVCoywanPNDHBrSgzc1W01cV-2tI8Y54tR6v5hNC3LIBCWcPD93r9VL_HRaqcKoTckM/s320/IMG_6993.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View of Strömstad from the sundeck of Bohus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2La6CaETcu88isRhDZXBC8p4HdCvlRtlnH7BmAsBxqAnQ8e_EKGSdvHrKUnUcBzxLt-vC9OQKnVCoywanPNDHBrSgzc1W01cV-2tI8Y54tR6v5hNC3LIBCWcPD93r9VL_HRaqcKoTckM/s1600/IMG_6993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMieNIB7BkeUlTKfGiciXhKjzeqx9Z8I2B6dBWqtSPWWPQIt7xODy5TqsMp18fOjUyfYzHMc2B4ILt2CbBDyvbPQuNB7cYd_kp0sSNJItZtxUI7uttbu5gkamCICG5rLm48dAjkb7B7fU/s1600/IMG_6997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMieNIB7BkeUlTKfGiciXhKjzeqx9Z8I2B6dBWqtSPWWPQIt7xODy5TqsMp18fOjUyfYzHMc2B4ILt2CbBDyvbPQuNB7cYd_kp0sSNJItZtxUI7uttbu5gkamCICG5rLm48dAjkb7B7fU/s320/IMG_6997.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mandatory Funnel Photo </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J-OgAGI5vGGVhvrlxYGQhN2UEFwpQ72aNFpQeFXxCoMt1K7frvF4MRDFr8xzrHhm9GvXVcDhK2kTgiDIYIOvRRzDHh5zEd2ypWPdwcV3G_bhiNZGPB9MPJ22_pSfHBeKVp3NOh8dpfo/s1600/IMG_7008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-J-OgAGI5vGGVhvrlxYGQhN2UEFwpQ72aNFpQeFXxCoMt1K7frvF4MRDFr8xzrHhm9GvXVcDhK2kTgiDIYIOvRRzDHh5zEd2ypWPdwcV3G_bhiNZGPB9MPJ22_pSfHBeKVp3NOh8dpfo/s320/IMG_7008.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The best deck plan photo I got. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The Bohus was a small and lovely ferry, reminding me a bit of the 8 years younger Rosella. We had a light snack on board, looked around and in no time, we were already sailing into Sandefjord. Unfortunately, none of the interior photos I took turned out publishable.<br />
In Sandefjord we met up with Sverre's father and stepmother, had a look in the Sandefjord Whaling Museum and had lunch, when it was time to rush back to the port to board Fjord Line's Oslofjord for our journey back. </div>
<div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7_NRJQOvdUPWAU7WyI_DmjJXOJXPM2Nt4XewfrWJ3EEC29gR_L0ov5EW6hSusrzZUndgFuYGr_Y8oew9QkfaBOx3P7g-fPgCGpkFfgVTWfHYxWqeXwTauFGdW5RaP05hXrShrT-XAdU/s1600/IMG_7023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7_NRJQOvdUPWAU7WyI_DmjJXOJXPM2Nt4XewfrWJ3EEC29gR_L0ov5EW6hSusrzZUndgFuYGr_Y8oew9QkfaBOx3P7g-fPgCGpkFfgVTWfHYxWqeXwTauFGdW5RaP05hXrShrT-XAdU/s320/IMG_7023.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtW0yRrzDCPlmp0xWtRXHM_v6dTuLP8AeFywcj4qBzeU4w6k-wEJ9Sx1K4B5LulI99AMQmnruAspLOn2otTA1Mvoz9eJ6oaLFSkjc-xwepQXdomqclqt6JpTmi540UcAV7hwe2ovwX0o/s1600/IMG_7038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNtW0yRrzDCPlmp0xWtRXHM_v6dTuLP8AeFywcj4qBzeU4w6k-wEJ9Sx1K4B5LulI99AMQmnruAspLOn2otTA1Mvoz9eJ6oaLFSkjc-xwepQXdomqclqt6JpTmi540UcAV7hwe2ovwX0o/s320/IMG_7038.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View of Sandefjord as we sailed out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCeDVo9LP3ExMovrZ-QuczB6L4RhDpwmKhzbd4Av3zOznlQR_kvbveOHsiH3FIBShpJ5scLXKAiMgoIVVCY_63UefBl6O62rlqVIpRM1-wqMctw_N0XZWrQXLdWiAeIb134GCLzi5Ygo/s1600/IMG_7048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQCeDVo9LP3ExMovrZ-QuczB6L4RhDpwmKhzbd4Av3zOznlQR_kvbveOHsiH3FIBShpJ5scLXKAiMgoIVVCY_63UefBl6O62rlqVIpRM1-wqMctw_N0XZWrQXLdWiAeIb134GCLzi5Ygo/s320/IMG_7048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Meeting the 1985-built Color Viking, the third ferry sailing the same route</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GyOwlFoTND6JO4bLOJMm2C00zeB_A3AIqZBH7zcYg_gS5f5ox7uFCHwAfHyY4uRX8IkLeNqTo1Llbkx7wY7JgfkasNcqj7GQEAgoQYx7TMnSGmCGM55EiH7KlC4zR87Mk7wDQTwWiaY/s1600/IMG_7057.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GyOwlFoTND6JO4bLOJMm2C00zeB_A3AIqZBH7zcYg_gS5f5ox7uFCHwAfHyY4uRX8IkLeNqTo1Llbkx7wY7JgfkasNcqj7GQEAgoQYx7TMnSGmCGM55EiH7KlC4zR87Mk7wDQTwWiaY/s320/IMG_7057.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9nLcSliO9jNUPrVZoeTJTGsgFcfUx-0VhyphenhyphenNof1P4QFQW8utuUS9wtHPrW1zm6J5ieXXKWZKRTz_2tIkYekIGpyTbeGord0iHWGM8ITXDuR8KBKXzKKyCX8iEBYYR4JRzaJCoEjEo4DI/s1600/IMG_7033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH9nLcSliO9jNUPrVZoeTJTGsgFcfUx-0VhyphenhyphenNof1P4QFQW8utuUS9wtHPrW1zm6J5ieXXKWZKRTz_2tIkYekIGpyTbeGord0iHWGM8ITXDuR8KBKXzKKyCX8iEBYYR4JRzaJCoEjEo4DI/s320/IMG_7033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mandatory Funnel Photo </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6drDfis_x4oEElMb8Dt9H0XAhgf6VVRii1Bg1AvGqzcfF9aeZzWbzru42kPbLGCoYWB2RNGvM8pQIxb3Y0-RYMo2r5aiZiHrijrymrplIXhK_lf9Wn1w3qbcFHYgxWNH30Ee3TsG8Mc/s1600/IMG_7058.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig6drDfis_x4oEElMb8Dt9H0XAhgf6VVRii1Bg1AvGqzcfF9aeZzWbzru42kPbLGCoYWB2RNGvM8pQIxb3Y0-RYMo2r5aiZiHrijrymrplIXhK_lf9Wn1w3qbcFHYgxWNH30Ee3TsG8Mc/s320/IMG_7058.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Oslofjord, built in 1993, received a very extensive refit in 2014 and therefore feels very fresh and modern. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY10Vgs4E2RIMMGifT6a5s9e3BLmHtyVRdj9huCSi_Bxmv9lAnI5EKJYNJBJ3Xw46HdVSVQ8EUmgI6t0Y-WwBzF28HDRveEGctOKdfKDkPV_UtJuW5o77kd-6RG9xmb9Wmlfch0wd9wvM/s320/IMG_7061.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Oslofjord also got her current name during that same refit; previously she was named Bergensfjord, but in 2013 and 2014 Fjord Line took delivery of two new sisterships, the latter of which was then named Bergensfjord.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfQPi22H38rosnHsQ1JkS7xZLCMtkpXm6RROC7zb9jPWeGBMGIybq0S_omKHhhcczOpJkrybzSDXEBg7C3jm6lHepfAcHaZkHrfV2CjZWu3fBFUSZayvsDKQGg_uxz0YDOJNNzGfNlbU/s1600/IMG_7065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfQPi22H38rosnHsQ1JkS7xZLCMtkpXm6RROC7zb9jPWeGBMGIybq0S_omKHhhcczOpJkrybzSDXEBg7C3jm6lHepfAcHaZkHrfV2CjZWu3fBFUSZayvsDKQGg_uxz0YDOJNNzGfNlbU/s320/IMG_7065.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY10Vgs4E2RIMMGifT6a5s9e3BLmHtyVRdj9huCSi_Bxmv9lAnI5EKJYNJBJ3Xw46HdVSVQ8EUmgI6t0Y-WwBzF28HDRveEGctOKdfKDkPV_UtJuW5o77kd-6RG9xmb9Wmlfch0wd9wvM/s1600/IMG_7061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B73Z2_SNsfkaXDwdfiuRmc5bTSzJasbhKp2PYtn55DQHDcKy-IvdYquefFFmk58jY1QWpkLHttbrYvdvuHZvLgcPV9U_PqRR1aOpzkaP2XuVnkBO1KrZhbL8bUrZK00X6CzYpKwJGLQ/s1600/IMG_7068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8B73Z2_SNsfkaXDwdfiuRmc5bTSzJasbhKp2PYtn55DQHDcKy-IvdYquefFFmk58jY1QWpkLHttbrYvdvuHZvLgcPV9U_PqRR1aOpzkaP2XuVnkBO1KrZhbL8bUrZK00X6CzYpKwJGLQ/s320/IMG_7068.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div>
After arriving back in Strömstad, we returned to Fredrikstad via Halden, and as I was due to start school again only some days later, it was time to pack up and fly back to Finland for the time being. </div>
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</div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-22288546034868647042016-12-29T14:35:00.000+02:002017-01-08T22:49:04.010+02:00A Very Finnsunny Summer part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-very-finnsunny-summer-part-1.html">For part 1, click here</a></div>
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As time went by, many things and tasks became routine and other aspects of life at sea prevailed. I was no longer excited like a little kid for a usual evening bridge watch or to grab the paintbrush to give a fresh touch to some railings or walls, or even less, the dreadfully boring ISPS watch. The crew changed over time and with that, so did the environment and I had to learn to work with different people who have different expectations, and I saw differences between the good, the great and the amazing (as, very fortunately, I did not meet any bad people during this OBT). I also started to realise that working at sea is definitely not good for people with fear of missing out, as life on land never stops and having to miss something amazing due to being "stuck" on a ship can sometimes be quite the bitter pill to swallow.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>"Saw you w/ binoculars. Turned East. <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/closest_point_of_approach">CPA</a> 1,8 nautical miles in approx. 20 minutes.<br />On your starboard side. See you there!"</i><br />
Several of my best friends met up and had a Baltic Sea ferries trip that I couldn't attend because I was on board. However, I was very happy when I realised that we'll meet at sea. Photos were taken from both sides; so, this is Gabriella underway from Helsinki to Stockholm with my friends on board, that I took as we were underway from Hanko to St. Petersburg.</td></tr>
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Along with the whole life on board, the tasks I was given also became more interesting. Perhaps I should mention that the accessibility of different areas on the ship can not quite be compared to the public areas on a passenger ship. With plenty of vertical space, namely four high cargo decks, the superstructure above them and no elevators on board, just getting around was plenty of exercise. It did not take me long to see why the forklift was used for transportation around the cargo decks more than for anything else.<br />
I have warm memories from the days when we were spending most of our time working inside the (<i>mostly</i> empty) port freshwater tank. The environment in and around the tank was warm and very humid, feeling well like a sauna after just some minutes of working. The only way to access the said spaces was to climb almost the entire ship's height in ladders, which we did several, if not more than ten times per shift. For me, that was extremely exhausting, but also fun and thrilling, in a way. Still, when we were done with that for the time being, I sure felt I'd had enough of that tank.<br />
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The usual painting and rust chipping was still a thing, though, and as I noticed over time, no matter how well I covered up (which I could've done better on some days, especially when it was hot and sunny), there was always some heavy duty ship paint that found its way into my hair (which has not entirely worn off even now, nearly 6 months later), and some metal, rust and paint dust all over my face, hair and body. The most fun was had when I'd just finished coating some spots with primer, climbed down, unbuckled, removed some of the protective equipment and was more than ready to call it a day and hit the shower, when the jolly bosun came around with his "here, you missed a spot!".<br />
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Meanwhile, I had to start making sure that I get my required hours of hand steering before it is too late. Most of the time, the ship was on autopilot, only in some areas where accuracy was needed, a deckhand was ordered to steer. I started my steering exercises in the open seas, mainly Baltic and North Sea, where I just had to keep the ship steady on her course, and sometimes make some minor changes. As I was getting the hang of that, the areas got more demanding, and the final three hours of steering I did as we were sailing up the Scheldt estuary to Antwerp, following the orders of the pilots. In fact, Antwerp was one of my favourite destinations, even though there was never a chance to go ashore. The steering experience was very thrilling, with a somewhat narrow passage, a lot of other ships and very sharp turns. And when I wasn't steering, I enjoyed the industrial landscapes of the area, with factories, power plants, warehouses, harbours, cargo trains, chimneys and pipes as far as the eye can see, and also the bunnies hopping around on the patches of grass around the locks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Antwerp lock bunnies</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the lock was filling with water, there was not so much to do, unless you brought a camera!</td></tr>
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Generally, I became quite aware that I have a thing for metal (still not the music genre) and pipes and machinery during my time on board. I enjoyed doing safety rounds in the engine room, especially when we were at sea. It was warm, very noisy (even with earmuffs on, because without, it would've been unthinkably painful) and somewhat addictive to stand right between the two huge engines as they were running at full power.<br />
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Another destination where I got to enjoy some industrial landscape was St. Petersburg; the photo below is one of my absolute favourites.<br />
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Going ashore in St. Petersburg was for somewhat obvious reasons much more difficult than in other cities. As a sailor with a Seaman's Book, I did not need a visa or have any related troubles, but I could very easily see why it could turn out difficult without any Russian language skills; most of the Finnsun crew had been ashore there once, but had mixed experiences and no wish to return. For me, language was fortunately not a problem. Nonetheless, the port we docked at, one of very many, was really enormous, with three security gates, all somewhat far apart, on the way out and shuttle buses within the harbour territory going every 30 minutes.<br />
Once out, it was about 4km to the nearest metro station, and then at least two stops to the enormous city center. I did not keep track of time as I headed towards the city. However, as I returned, considering that the only mishap was just barely missing a harbour shuttle after entering and thus having to do the 30 minute walk to the ship, it took me some 2 hours to return and I ended up returning a bit under an hour later than the Captain's just-in-case order. Had he not given it to be well before the departure, I could have ended up missing it altogether and getting in some deep trouble.<br />
Considering those circumstances, while I did enjoy St. Petersburg very much and would definitely travel there again, I would probably not bother going ashore under the same conditions anymore, either.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWH5PHrgxgFqQ_-5raHeKNXv2EGqhKN0hOmGqEUd22FzZPTNLEVhBEAhu962ohRgMXWBCU4pAzmIY8Zln7N6m5gDl8jnXYfLCIM1Zkt22epCtjfaYRuc5dbHc3L0NRXT9EGG1X9s150w/s1600/20160721_150851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWH5PHrgxgFqQ_-5raHeKNXv2EGqhKN0hOmGqEUd22FzZPTNLEVhBEAhu962ohRgMXWBCU4pAzmIY8Zln7N6m5gDl8jnXYfLCIM1Zkt22epCtjfaYRuc5dbHc3L0NRXT9EGG1X9s150w/s320/20160721_150851.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The food in the wide selection of restaurants and canteens was very affordable and gave me a good chance to enjoy the wonderful Russian cuisine, which I have come to miss quite a bit while living in Finland. Afterall, the Estonian cuisine is very heavily influenced by the Russian. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seamen's Cultural Center near the port gate, looking somewhat abandoned</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUurPD4jTMn9NmK6kfKWWcQjsswDEv0-h7Uj2Y1H-FxSdnLlpWyAbobkDLY1wKMCDXwQ0IUb4WEqtlGwTQRyajJrgSJhMGgLkLl5Mn2wVwCsioQ7OfrDhF68XyoIDnssBe9KLXU6sIAY/s1600/IMG_6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUurPD4jTMn9NmK6kfKWWcQjsswDEv0-h7Uj2Y1H-FxSdnLlpWyAbobkDLY1wKMCDXwQ0IUb4WEqtlGwTQRyajJrgSJhMGgLkLl5Mn2wVwCsioQ7OfrDhF68XyoIDnssBe9KLXU6sIAY/s320/IMG_6295.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street view somewhere between the port gate and the nearest metro station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_UEYW1r9pbH64C3B8imm3nQfACiX1-j6gNsvRuRLugMWPsUW_LZel3o5p7eVg-V6vSjW4AXJJaIQh6ymG8vUBBXuIxubjvTxZjsJMu59O9PNYjq41VQmjZP3b8UCWnOlWbT4tKyv75Q/s1600/IMG_6300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_UEYW1r9pbH64C3B8imm3nQfACiX1-j6gNsvRuRLugMWPsUW_LZel3o5p7eVg-V6vSjW4AXJJaIQh6ymG8vUBBXuIxubjvTxZjsJMu59O9PNYjq41VQmjZP3b8UCWnOlWbT4tKyv75Q/s320/IMG_6300.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trinity Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuopm4nY169tDEpCDbXwLjhlQUk4JP-9lkV1SKv2qc7cZ8eLMhBrwfyay1E44b2Y9ILkpjNsLTRxmsmqMLmm87OWJlOXIQDvishHHeI5Uoizs6sueQBlMQlT86wa0xaFXJOHYrpWxc3c8/s1600/IMG_6311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuopm4nY169tDEpCDbXwLjhlQUk4JP-9lkV1SKv2qc7cZ8eLMhBrwfyay1E44b2Y9ILkpjNsLTRxmsmqMLmm87OWJlOXIQDvishHHeI5Uoizs6sueQBlMQlT86wa0xaFXJOHYrpWxc3c8/s320/IMG_6311.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small part of Admiralty Building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPgaR7XuX2V5BKv1oFnwJBLekFArXR_0vdKhoQh3XyaTSWdVPS6AIRp2zqTs5Kbd6gTDnaDzgdTMDkkClrOp3aEoWF5qYONtLKP9ljoQtLVeCBQasK_aHN7BNf5wkG5LVaQ8LEKFXOVg/s1600/IMG_6321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPgaR7XuX2V5BKv1oFnwJBLekFArXR_0vdKhoQh3XyaTSWdVPS6AIRp2zqTs5Kbd6gTDnaDzgdTMDkkClrOp3aEoWF5qYONtLKP9ljoQtLVeCBQasK_aHN7BNf5wkG5LVaQ8LEKFXOVg/s320/IMG_6321.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Neva River is not very small.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9NWrw9kVOHlbwuXSd8vFtPatVsNc5mXPwJGO7b2T8TnKQUbkRwDOkoulrr1mnkW_VOScdbNZ9FurPe_PHyWdK54T3lEbqlEQtoC-oz-Z2tZCZFmYR9PUuHpZtNFilhWUSJl2ylpdeW8/s1600/IMG_6344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9NWrw9kVOHlbwuXSd8vFtPatVsNc5mXPwJGO7b2T8TnKQUbkRwDOkoulrr1mnkW_VOScdbNZ9FurPe_PHyWdK54T3lEbqlEQtoC-oz-Z2tZCZFmYR9PUuHpZtNFilhWUSJl2ylpdeW8/s320/IMG_6344.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">General Staff Building opposite to the Winter Palace</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGPesEzJcy4TuN7GNvPz_-pHhMPb7InDmU6QzNIAJtFHnkyCcOOKv2de2t9OCD6G-d8mrM_2e_jbusiMXRi5R09im1x3dYHS6OZdG1GJL04K7OLPuQYRe018qevLXucJJH2pKWqcNrHo/s1600/IMG_6351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGPesEzJcy4TuN7GNvPz_-pHhMPb7InDmU6QzNIAJtFHnkyCcOOKv2de2t9OCD6G-d8mrM_2e_jbusiMXRi5R09im1x3dYHS6OZdG1GJL04K7OLPuQYRe018qevLXucJJH2pKWqcNrHo/s320/IMG_6351.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kazan Cathedral</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO2Qh9Yr5PTP_Hh5wbhDQ-gJPpK-XibFHv9qG5Ch0IPIasAcgPaLuw67gYvDmrAd0RboNRkFzPQXhy5NbpJjW86bwE7fWWsdw5PLef2UVj_IvpMa0lRwoBeGkIqsKjLGE8hKCCxchCk4/s1600/IMG_6355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCO2Qh9Yr5PTP_Hh5wbhDQ-gJPpK-XibFHv9qG5Ch0IPIasAcgPaLuw67gYvDmrAd0RboNRkFzPQXhy5NbpJjW86bwE7fWWsdw5PLef2UVj_IvpMa0lRwoBeGkIqsKjLGE8hKCCxchCk4/s320/IMG_6355.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monument to the People's Militia of the Lenin District</td></tr>
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Between the trips to Spain, we also did trips to Denmark, namely Aarhus, a wonderful city where I was lucky to get to go ashore twice, although the 2nd time was with the mere purpose or restocking on some really delicious, white chocolate and strawberry powder covered almonds, and then I also ended up keeping an eye on the ship's electrician to make sure he doesn't end up in any silly situations while playing Pokemon GO.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXwoubOsysynvW13j-STE64dzBIbx1-1K4lTlYHLFvtZ1c10AOfvqwzu6lelhmwBweC0eV_tHl0WUYi_J0_t3YINemcKRyEzQDiIH0eLAcKPuEXDSn4Q6PTIvdn6Y6ypu5Q2-5bO7vWc/s1600/20160628_165125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXwoubOsysynvW13j-STE64dzBIbx1-1K4lTlYHLFvtZ1c10AOfvqwzu6lelhmwBweC0eV_tHl0WUYi_J0_t3YINemcKRyEzQDiIH0eLAcKPuEXDSn4Q6PTIvdn6Y6ypu5Q2-5bO7vWc/s320/20160628_165125.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a lot of marine life in Aarhus, such as jellyfish...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCE2vqXKQIMkfnIjdIIb_WDA1oiVGdJKkJanPIJt3Ty6nrJ4p3vmUG184HwrrmBbOSzDfnm-NvweVBd9dPirjH-9FuwDIfUfVD9wqhkd-ECcuLsLjdPTGShWicJsoSSgjU3Y5jvEGy9Qc/s1600/20160726_112458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCE2vqXKQIMkfnIjdIIb_WDA1oiVGdJKkJanPIJt3Ty6nrJ4p3vmUG184HwrrmBbOSzDfnm-NvweVBd9dPirjH-9FuwDIfUfVD9wqhkd-ECcuLsLjdPTGShWicJsoSSgjU3Y5jvEGy9Qc/s320/20160726_112458.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and dolphins!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPFOrJElHnf7LExnKV-IDUdDDwTjRg6Nl89EWbpwaOnN0-zsYsBMzibozqHJloS_tuNBMXuyd0UqGtAEkjsfojvQaeIus3Vf_S3Bd7RJ4z-wmnTAQteb7CfvI_yZvtUD1YDhg2M_-JMw/s1600/IMG_6006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvPFOrJElHnf7LExnKV-IDUdDDwTjRg6Nl89EWbpwaOnN0-zsYsBMzibozqHJloS_tuNBMXuyd0UqGtAEkjsfojvQaeIus3Vf_S3Bd7RJ4z-wmnTAQteb7CfvI_yZvtUD1YDhg2M_-JMw/s320/IMG_6006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Belt Bridge as we passed underneath during my night watch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ARoS art museum is nicely visible from many places in the city</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Never enough almonds, nor pretty jars!</td></tr>
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Finally, on our 2nd trip to Spain, we made an additional stop in Ferrol, which had one of the most beautiful natural landscapes as we sailed in, and was generally a very charming small town.<br />
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All in all, while the whole thing was a wonderful experience, it was definitely not a walk in the park, even if most of the crew I met would probably laugh out loud at this and remind me of the epic stories they told me of when they were apprentices.<br />
And of course it is known that ships as isolated hierarchical environments can become very interesting in terms of human relations, that is also something one cannot really imagine without seeing it first hand. Stories of apprentices, of the crew members themselves, their thoughts, insights and aspirations, conversations or pretty much anything that I witnessed or heard could sometimes be quite the knot to untie and taught me a lot about myself and other people and things that are not so obviously related to running the ship. And despite being there only temporarily, I ended up feeling somewhat involved and having my own thoughts, ideas and views on the various matters and happenings on board. And in that way it was even somewhat sad to leave, knowing that I'm not going to return, because the people had become more than just some random crew members and it would have been interesting to stay and get to know more and see how the evolution continues in this small ecosystem.<br />
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But nonetheless, while there has been quite a lot of variation, valuable lessons, beautiful destinations, different people and experiences that I can definitely not overestimate, and of course work, and time flew by very fast, I definitely found myself looking forward to going home over the last couple of weeks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxj4UUPulCCU2bBPRajDANF7qiUhvNYC_uElZCGZvjAECs2OccToZX5XOvYSn_3ZkG5tZIoxfYkOaQCYJ4VceggjcJp7EZMYKKq557e8_vfBGKTnaNkIrxvt-GQzFkXNfNNVL4GyaKkU/s1600/Cover4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxj4UUPulCCU2bBPRajDANF7qiUhvNYC_uElZCGZvjAECs2OccToZX5XOvYSn_3ZkG5tZIoxfYkOaQCYJ4VceggjcJp7EZMYKKq557e8_vfBGKTnaNkIrxvt-GQzFkXNfNNVL4GyaKkU/s320/Cover4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Anastasia inbound to St. Petersburg, 23.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlwLPIzKzXN5-9MuXFPUgHGjnlDAudE_O4xiJUQ-cXwhCtUQjgv_8pp-iM_H5nR_kT8LgzmNlnnP9EuL7h3D0lIfV0IMRc1wRQ7TnZDCrIcZviw1XkbmdnwtxZ16XlML3VoY378K1Ytk/s1600/IMG_5924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlwLPIzKzXN5-9MuXFPUgHGjnlDAudE_O4xiJUQ-cXwhCtUQjgv_8pp-iM_H5nR_kT8LgzmNlnnP9EuL7h3D0lIfV0IMRc1wRQ7TnZDCrIcZviw1XkbmdnwtxZ16XlML3VoY378K1Ytk/s320/IMG_5924.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotsman Fyodorov, the St. Petersburg pilot boat, 23.06 </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidamar in Rostock, 02.07</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e2whCuhXRgDdcpCt8NPxydTSkO-CqjW8tC6_18Z1YsN1__NM73vNPHN8Zyf74ClDudCxI6v3zBLD9Zy5-pBabf8PhzvOGLjb3IPv0rfBpuaRGdnMWxfuxFVz6jsCVsR2yv4lwsyG0ek/s1600/IMG_6090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_e2whCuhXRgDdcpCt8NPxydTSkO-CqjW8tC6_18Z1YsN1__NM73vNPHN8Zyf74ClDudCxI6v3zBLD9Zy5-pBabf8PhzvOGLjb3IPv0rfBpuaRGdnMWxfuxFVz6jsCVsR2yv4lwsyG0ek/s320/IMG_6090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Viking Star in Rostock, 02.07</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCufqeNxOniukeKlp7c2b0mEwECRnEthVqGFegs9j0WXABB96UxXDDBgz_XOIOqE8QajuFv1oplIYD5xTfgtYVF70l8LuuL8m8RYqnsfO70l0nRk5jZ4Zsacay0vC2Y7OMkNZfjO0cdU/s1600/IMG_6154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCufqeNxOniukeKlp7c2b0mEwECRnEthVqGFegs9j0WXABB96UxXDDBgz_XOIOqE8QajuFv1oplIYD5xTfgtYVF70l8LuuL8m8RYqnsfO70l0nRk5jZ4Zsacay0vC2Y7OMkNZfjO0cdU/s320/IMG_6154.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidaprima in North Sea, 11.07</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_yrNRT7EJZLjrpWzxH-ozOcaEfQYwi0Qj29C6hRqGcwpBd8bWhHHsmU7OYb1V-hXLlkIJ5UHzlDp2vIDPb1DrNEfbqpbulx_mAVQWFp_A6HYLTlFoi93HJr0GaxYYOeJtJgok347Jjg/s1600/20160719_113327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh_yrNRT7EJZLjrpWzxH-ozOcaEfQYwi0Qj29C6hRqGcwpBd8bWhHHsmU7OYb1V-hXLlkIJ5UHzlDp2vIDPb1DrNEfbqpbulx_mAVQWFp_A6HYLTlFoi93HJr0GaxYYOeJtJgok347Jjg/s320/20160719_113327.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Kaja and Øresund bridge, 19.07</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPGeHa0b1-1z80MkgOQz-_0wyrDo8CDK_NUUcsUU4wEwVs5Qr3FZbMAHpwHKarevAwTQGImSlaT6nTrvH9kcsmNqc2tURKFjQn3633_7ZBa3KaKreNzgn4oT4wYLlXG8Md1J1rfqh6rg/s1600/IMG_6270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPGeHa0b1-1z80MkgOQz-_0wyrDo8CDK_NUUcsUU4wEwVs5Qr3FZbMAHpwHKarevAwTQGImSlaT6nTrvH9kcsmNqc2tURKFjQn3633_7ZBa3KaKreNzgn4oT4wYLlXG8Md1J1rfqh6rg/s320/IMG_6270.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidamar and Aidadiva in Baltic Sea, 20.07</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DxqBPp_PZEJMVERfFpiVaDUBAx2UOHANFZMZ9RLDU0nWty09hj9hEXaSd_EbNt3-k0h8couKs6ghe_AA7fefPhyNquyKIycetL3D125ofcQ4e7rzKkAASZobueiQZWBeMO_53N-gDxc/s1600/20160724_150541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6DxqBPp_PZEJMVERfFpiVaDUBAx2UOHANFZMZ9RLDU0nWty09hj9hEXaSd_EbNt3-k0h8couKs6ghe_AA7fefPhyNquyKIycetL3D125ofcQ4e7rzKkAASZobueiQZWBeMO_53N-gDxc/s320/20160724_150541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kronprins Frederik in Rostock, 24.07</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG4mtqr3N9E2mopi8WKggh4rTapr2j6pW0VRdDKLafnTnrYP4P28KJuJfyDwQ1gDdxQ7odiISbq073hRBE-4G9IbLN9l9sy5BxemupVDdqTJRs1wSfoSbx41MkllpwakoKdBqb7a12BI/s1600/IMG_6408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG4mtqr3N9E2mopi8WKggh4rTapr2j6pW0VRdDKLafnTnrYP4P28KJuJfyDwQ1gDdxQ7odiISbq073hRBE-4G9IbLN9l9sy5BxemupVDdqTJRs1wSfoSbx41MkllpwakoKdBqb7a12BI/s320/IMG_6408.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Magic and Majestic Maersk, both among the largest ships of their type near Samsø, 26.07</td></tr>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-79629626171689689382016-12-28T12:36:00.000+02:002017-01-08T22:49:24.041+02:00A Very Finnsunny Summer, part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As I mentioned in the end of my previous post, it was well known to me that to ensure the best progress with my studies, I would have to do 60 days of on-board training (OBT) during the first summer break. I admittedly had many doubts and worries about whether I'll manage to do that; while my school has very excellent opportunities for on-board training and there is a very nice and handy OBT placement system for students of Finnish maritime schools, I was worried that my still not very fluent Finnish skills would deter my opportunities there. However, it was during my very last course of the year when I was notified that I have been placed on a large ro-ro cargo ship called Finnsun for 60 days - just as I had requested, as my wish was to get it over with in one go. That was then some 4 days before I was due to board. Needless to say, I got very busy and on the 31st of May I took my suitcase and sat on the bus, bound for Kotka.<br />
<i style="font-family: inherit;"></i><br />
<a name='more'></a><i style="font-family: inherit;">Name: </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Finnsun</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtlddcNM5WJIlfaczxkAex3e3R8OsU1f3HVDV60WqHmwhUNM7-m0ArnGEthV1AwCZpEVLxYJd3JO3Swq-UommA95yjGIaVB0R1z5slc5oMqNEoaHSkNP5Ou-4AHK2Mmf_qC1Btr9hOCw/s1600/Finnsun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCtlddcNM5WJIlfaczxkAex3e3R8OsU1f3HVDV60WqHmwhUNM7-m0ArnGEthV1AwCZpEVLxYJd3JO3Swq-UommA95yjGIaVB0R1z5slc5oMqNEoaHSkNP5Ou-4AHK2Mmf_qC1Btr9hOCw/s320/Finnsun.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© Nils Junge</span></span></td></tr>
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<i style="font-family: inherit;">IMO number: </i><span style="font-family: inherit;">9468918</span><br />
<i>Built: </i>2012 in Nanjing, China<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Lenght: </i>188m</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Beam: </i>26,5m</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Draught: </i>7,1 m</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Tonnage: </i>28 002 GT</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Type: </i>Ro-ro cargo ship</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Speed:</i> 21 knots</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Capacity: </i>3291 lane meters</span><br />
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Now, whenever Kotka is mentioned, I always come to think of the many hours I had to kill there, as the Finnsun was in some hours late, a change that happened after I had already booked my bus journey. Finally, when I observed her nearing the pier on Marinetraffic, I got on a taxi and arrived to the pier just as she was lowering her ramp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV-q7jZpbu6KjpIR4MZsgKmafXyu2I84euvnNi-w_f5L_5TrYa_ERbW79gNM-Kw_xcS3nlgpC_5m5HfNIaPb-QsFJ7KWsUewrRlfvAXssO58jypDH29-LmK3hcOncRAbGJ75aIs4fbzo/s1600/20160531_195634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpV-q7jZpbu6KjpIR4MZsgKmafXyu2I84euvnNi-w_f5L_5TrYa_ERbW79gNM-Kw_xcS3nlgpC_5m5HfNIaPb-QsFJ7KWsUewrRlfvAXssO58jypDH29-LmK3hcOncRAbGJ75aIs4fbzo/s320/20160531_195634.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What awaits behind those slowly opening ramps?</td></tr>
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As I had never been crew on any vessel larger than pleasure craft, I really had no clue what to expect. I was encouraged to look around and explore and the entire crew was being very helpful, but I felt more like being very careful; perhaps wisely, as I did manage to accidentally lock myself in the fore mooring room once, fortunately (and knowingly, as I wouldn't have gone there otherwise) a short time before arrival. It took me some days to get used to the fact that the "no unauthorized personnel" signs did not apply to me. At the same time, as just about everything I saw and heard and felt was entirely new to me, the first two weeks or so on board were a period where I probably learned more and faster than ever before. Every little thing that I later came to see as usual was extremely fascinating. I felt happy about rails and walls I'd painted and being told that I did well; I was very excited about mooring operations and the fact it did not take me too long to learn the basics. Over my first few days I was given several different familiarization rounds, the most memorable was the one I had with the Chief Engineer, which was so unexpectedly long and thorough that my little bucket of paint was rock solid when I returned, and the bosun was not very jolly about that. Totally worth it, though.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrbrZhSyj0-SXw7oQiHSFeWoKZXd93MaPHBS5iq03PkcBqkXqY3DM8SjgyPGTrTSX23Do5B2FGWue-_Y_ArDra67Q4yJ-E8EUfkhoZ2kWpieujoLRQDlplMMwaITRAX1QCQdaYU-SdDA/s1600/IMG_5019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrbrZhSyj0-SXw7oQiHSFeWoKZXd93MaPHBS5iq03PkcBqkXqY3DM8SjgyPGTrTSX23Do5B2FGWue-_Y_ArDra67Q4yJ-E8EUfkhoZ2kWpieujoLRQDlplMMwaITRAX1QCQdaYU-SdDA/s320/IMG_5019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of Kotka from my cabin the evening I boarded</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-DsY1wxve4teO9JkXAwPcjyGQEOZKAn2-Pb69EnzdwMyJrXE3YWmAiYWitDCGQrhGcnBpOFtT4EW3tODcn-sWeihJLWv5h2yfuKBawbVSBVacCTIix4_kvKCjl4RODQoycdXvxOuCGk/s1600/IMG_5020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD-DsY1wxve4teO9JkXAwPcjyGQEOZKAn2-Pb69EnzdwMyJrXE3YWmAiYWitDCGQrhGcnBpOFtT4EW3tODcn-sWeihJLWv5h2yfuKBawbVSBVacCTIix4_kvKCjl4RODQoycdXvxOuCGk/s320/IMG_5020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first of hundreds of ships I photographed over the time - tugboat Jupiter inbound to Kotka.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoJjC8210LGChzucEnxnY3CuHOI4BNvM_DEYHRnd8cKTN4pZwak8_v1nrcATRiP_HwttWDe9AciLkDkG0-5czQHtwZEV7cSUHaYFkAJ3F8wuyWHogRBr-k6cnXBZcpPPyYdF1m8fLJxY/s1600/20160531_205550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoJjC8210LGChzucEnxnY3CuHOI4BNvM_DEYHRnd8cKTN4pZwak8_v1nrcATRiP_HwttWDe9AciLkDkG0-5czQHtwZEV7cSUHaYFkAJ3F8wuyWHogRBr-k6cnXBZcpPPyYdF1m8fLJxY/s320/20160531_205550.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cabin; unexpectedly luxurious, private, somewhat remote (if anything can be called that in the small superstructure of a cargo vessel), and I was the only crew with no walkway behind my window. I only had to consider crane drivers when alongside to not accidentally expose myself, because they sometimes moved by quite close.</td></tr>
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Despite all the safety awareness and training given at school, the true realisation of the amount of various smaller or bigger risks or ways to die or otherwise screw up big time truly came around as I learned to know the ship. I also thought I knew that ships are very complex and detailed, but the extent of that still amazed me. Besides the common "Bridge n' maybe Engine Room package" that's most commonly offered to visitors, I was now getting familiar with spaces for bow thrusters, rudders, countless various kinds of pumps, tanks, endless pipes and valves and other installations, control rooms, as well as the mandatory safety equipment of all sorts, that in total forms a rather big part of a ship.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hbVMQop6mU7SY7NP-uqwLs-81llz7lLCDmr17tXv0Go4wxIXSlWkOqRGvwDw-2kKPdtoQfC9gQRFTI5erfJssCr_YEHyoKtai8dJS_75xY9P2VpFRrKSvl2zc6i-3lk8INE2duiIGJc/s1600/IMG_5077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hbVMQop6mU7SY7NP-uqwLs-81llz7lLCDmr17tXv0Go4wxIXSlWkOqRGvwDw-2kKPdtoQfC9gQRFTI5erfJssCr_YEHyoKtai8dJS_75xY9P2VpFRrKSvl2zc6i-3lk8INE2duiIGJc/s320/IMG_5077.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel Photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiMXVrxvrZPIHLf-SFzs9-7CllqsyoPDo064IAIFp3cgHZu96bGhbaALrcgouDrl-kIZtY31HALNLulFy21i5asWfRxvzQ00gGUPq0GQVjYe8qkZjHoMHLcKp64vdi7JA6ZkO7ND9lFQ/s1600/IMG_5181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXiMXVrxvrZPIHLf-SFzs9-7CllqsyoPDo064IAIFp3cgHZu96bGhbaALrcgouDrl-kIZtY31HALNLulFy21i5asWfRxvzQ00gGUPq0GQVjYe8qkZjHoMHLcKp64vdi7JA6ZkO7ND9lFQ/s320/IMG_5181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to tie 'er up! Mooring remained one of my favourite common tasks throughout my time on board.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoHWj6H_U62djNkRyqKV_6xJcBqGB0tWUNEwb-0nqk7Eyg9rR2YyKumTwcHGEai6dpbulIO_0Kn_VvDDqemlZpYaql0gulxD1XFyHmtI8in86L30-4FLKf8MFUiuqcFhAVe-U8TKrStE/s1600/IMG_5254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoHWj6H_U62djNkRyqKV_6xJcBqGB0tWUNEwb-0nqk7Eyg9rR2YyKumTwcHGEai6dpbulIO_0Kn_VvDDqemlZpYaql0gulxD1XFyHmtI8in86L30-4FLKf8MFUiuqcFhAVe-U8TKrStE/s320/IMG_5254.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Ship_and_Port_Facility_Security_Code">ISPS</a> watch is an important part of the security of a ship, and one of the most common and dull tasks on board.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlvJlPHwgnNCJAMZF0kyAaddGU725F2kId5FFmQDAZHkuOnLpQVRWX0TutfAqcibJole-fs6w56WlS7neZ47pqxqfe9YdnW6SrpGjI3qVLUu3xpE4_oOsQqif-D67g5Qxl2U6s3l7DpE/s1600/20160628_160439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlvJlPHwgnNCJAMZF0kyAaddGU725F2kId5FFmQDAZHkuOnLpQVRWX0TutfAqcibJole-fs6w56WlS7neZ47pqxqfe9YdnW6SrpGjI3qVLUu3xpE4_oOsQqif-D67g5Qxl2U6s3l7DpE/s320/20160628_160439.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Extinguishing a forest fire with an eyedropper</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFvYSuIXbT1C1t1bU1hO8QlAI2soJeRckLq0fYbKeJJQti5zzN75Zwe3NBIIH5rDaMtG7SWkr0mf8l1SCYCPmqjAXohXsUmR1q0TpVsy-LxhMn1O4OPW9pmQGHSa6v8EQ-WBR9KXsx3E/s1600/IMG_5331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFvYSuIXbT1C1t1bU1hO8QlAI2soJeRckLq0fYbKeJJQti5zzN75Zwe3NBIIH5rDaMtG7SWkr0mf8l1SCYCPmqjAXohXsUmR1q0TpVsy-LxhMn1O4OPW9pmQGHSa6v8EQ-WBR9KXsx3E/s320/IMG_5331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ways to die on (or around) a ship, vol. 489275: now, kids, if this line snaps...</td></tr>
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Eventually the basics of life and work on the ship became familiar and routine, even though I did get to try all possible watch hour combinations. There were days with a lot of excitement, and there were also those days with, for example, keeping ISPS watch at the ramp from midnight to 4 o'clock in the morning, with nothing happening as far as the eye can see, or the bridge watch in the vast open sea without a single course change, radio call, ship or shore in sight during the whole shift.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1jgpdhYR4zk-et5caybwVlbQF5IsoLSHBZYR5DT8CIl7zflKBTYQG8PveM9wzgRQoYuqRI7CtAhMMbto0iWe7rE3PThC7bRszvuOWrHCzOSrSXlVS0NklhKOaUELz4PKytjCOzSSSyw/s1600/20160625_035738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia1jgpdhYR4zk-et5caybwVlbQF5IsoLSHBZYR5DT8CIl7zflKBTYQG8PveM9wzgRQoYuqRI7CtAhMMbto0iWe7rE3PThC7bRszvuOWrHCzOSrSXlVS0NklhKOaUELz4PKytjCOzSSSyw/s320/20160625_035738.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or the days when there would've perhaps been plenty of beautiful ships and shores to see, but we couldn't even see our own tail. View aft from just behind the bridge.</td></tr>
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One part of the deal I had definitely looked forward to was seeing new places; ever since I was old enough to grasp the concept of the world and travelling I've been very keen and fascinated with it. During my OBT, the new places I saw were a somewhat trivial part of the whole experience, but nonetheless a very nice and important extra. The first city where I went ashore was Lübeck. I grabbed a bike from the ship and after getting lost in the port and finding my way out by communicating in sign language, I got to do some sightseeing for a few hours. However, here I made the grave mistake of having the "Oh, we'll be back soon anyway" attitude; after that voyage, the Finnsun was put on the Biscay trade and I have not been back since.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fairytale views on river Trave, as seen from under the starboard lifeboat.</td></tr>
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Lübeck is by far the most bicycle-friendly city I have been to so far; the bicycle paths were well made and the few times I did have to use the car road, the drivers were very polite and considerate. Another thing I noted was that bank cards were not accepted in the vast majority of stores in and around the Old Town, which was a huge inconvenience for me and adds a bit to my bitterness about never getting to return.<br />
However, other than missing Lübeck, the new route was a very welcome change, adding a whole lot of excitements. The Danish straits, the Bay of Biscay with a bit more waves than what I was used to so far and port calls in Spain and Belgium, to name just a few. My first, last and favourite port in Spain was Santander. During my OBT we were there twice, and I got to go ashore for many hours and enjoyed it a lot both times.<br />
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Another Spanish port we visited twice was Bilbao, or to be more accurate, Santurtzi. There I only got to go ashore on the first time; perhaps I should have taken the metro to central Bilbao then, while I could, but nonetheless, I enjoyed Santurtzi very much, too, and made some shopping discoveries I'm still very happy about.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEf0ZotIyap-tNQ5cxeiHcq6-WZUbC4ByDuADJxikOOxQZsiPt7qWDHrKgVXs7q7mAze0FcFBkWkyY3LNUvuBK97pEt0UKjp4JA6dnBoIP1JhXcegCs39JL7voNzODrB9N-EEtQDuZwc/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBEf0ZotIyap-tNQ5cxeiHcq6-WZUbC4ByDuADJxikOOxQZsiPt7qWDHrKgVXs7q7mAze0FcFBkWkyY3LNUvuBK97pEt0UKjp4JA6dnBoIP1JhXcegCs39JL7voNzODrB9N-EEtQDuZwc/s320/IMG_5694.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourite tops came from Santurtzi; along with a pair of round sunglasses from Santander, my favourite finds from any ports we visited. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxQmbL8CeM15EEsPnfIvfA82QSgYvqvWC25gYhUMXU_qMKwCf7XRsrNH6zlleY228Ar-mnXqz4D6LAm-Gy0cT1ljGcb6AZUAl_e0tTczF8-9m-WhSDkXcbuby_TDQQZl1Ujr2er6E5yk/s1600/IMG_5696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxQmbL8CeM15EEsPnfIvfA82QSgYvqvWC25gYhUMXU_qMKwCf7XRsrNH6zlleY228Ar-mnXqz4D6LAm-Gy0cT1ljGcb6AZUAl_e0tTczF8-9m-WhSDkXcbuby_TDQQZl1Ujr2er6E5yk/s320/IMG_5696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another big favourite - <a href="http://www.lacasitos.com/en/historia">Lacasitos</a>, the local M&M that comes in a much wider variety of sizes, flavours and colours and tastes far better. I bought ridiculous amounts whenever I could, and will most definitely do so again whenever I get to Spain.</td></tr>
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One of the many tasks I learned to do on the earliest days was filling in the logbook. Simultaneously, I started keeping my own log of the hundreds of ships I photographed during the OBT. Perhaps I should mention that I was often nicknamed the "paparazzi" by the crew.<br />
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Over time, I started feeling more comfortable and adapted to life on the Finnsun, which enabled me to see more of what's going on and analyse, and I started seeking opportunities to witness some procedures I had not yet seen; generally, at one point the experience became about everything other than the casual painting and watchkeeping. That, as well as more beautiful destinations and ships will be in <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.se/2017/01/a-very-finnsunny-summer-part-2.html">part 2</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER4tPWd4toqkdflEFiD0qlRzvaLs4iQyQc39ebpPKKmNMVwLPkfoO7uA5WbiBEfPIdk5vQHGSkmv07BZAdx7TEnV_5QBFZm5WK5_i5cOv5Icp33SpZ9t5YmRbPRN5Q63ZEMTtsMY6GZU/s1600/IMG_5052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER4tPWd4toqkdflEFiD0qlRzvaLs4iQyQc39ebpPKKmNMVwLPkfoO7uA5WbiBEfPIdk5vQHGSkmv07BZAdx7TEnV_5QBFZm5WK5_i5cOv5Icp33SpZ9t5YmRbPRN5Q63ZEMTtsMY6GZU/s320/IMG_5052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Wind, Vuosaari, 01.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe3g0oLEimi1_bBEwc5k6whp_ETxUARlHhD0mzFuCuXg4kiCg5cYPMpW8y6EJbsSBHenvpZHTqejBCRuM3OeVp8Mq_av37lQeBN6I8iRlRZ4cVVR6i-h4WUGgPEy42-xdvUm1x1HY9LQ/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZe3g0oLEimi1_bBEwc5k6whp_ETxUARlHhD0mzFuCuXg4kiCg5cYPMpW8y6EJbsSBHenvpZHTqejBCRuM3OeVp8Mq_av37lQeBN6I8iRlRZ4cVVR6i-h4WUGgPEy42-xdvUm1x1HY9LQ/s320/IMG_5113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian Star and Costa Favolosa, Rostock, 03.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2TIyqBQN-RucaO-m1pMbn-G-zeRvgLhiEUhXTqkeSB6Q2BHdqk9G_hylJ9JGBrpSDv2HVZBIO-QU-yTE471-VUT7toro87586zEl-vP4JqR6KW254PtZTCdEHMG6lmJUZCT-37ELtmk/s1600/IMG_5179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2TIyqBQN-RucaO-m1pMbn-G-zeRvgLhiEUhXTqkeSB6Q2BHdqk9G_hylJ9JGBrpSDv2HVZBIO-QU-yTE471-VUT7toro87586zEl-vP4JqR6KW254PtZTCdEHMG6lmJUZCT-37ELtmk/s320/IMG_5179.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marittima, Travemünde, 03.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GeKM5B3-jypcpP4N21CMNaLruUnCQhyj45OaYGJbLLybNImz0ABk0fwKPUF_kG3s9nfH8dq2J9j172BkDiYZ9Okw4XOa4Z7Rr4H_ljLrrpev9YTF9ppXlLIMBeK2zNVgDhta1yGwnlk/s1600/IMG_5299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GeKM5B3-jypcpP4N21CMNaLruUnCQhyj45OaYGJbLLybNImz0ABk0fwKPUF_kG3s9nfH8dq2J9j172BkDiYZ9Okw4XOa4Z7Rr4H_ljLrrpev9YTF9ppXlLIMBeK2zNVgDhta1yGwnlk/s320/IMG_5299.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A floating ramp named Franz in Rostock, 04.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSAjTLwHosUZC8f-Vj3sZO45zHDc4qUNLF0psMFCYK0adM3qEUrXgbIQHdjLXcFpclr28ObxabXg3dLhvSLQ5_osQ5VDNk9lz1rwBHpFsCq7ztctn0nHquiwc_Fx25eqXfADP1JgtCWY/s1600/IMG_5356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwSAjTLwHosUZC8f-Vj3sZO45zHDc4qUNLF0psMFCYK0adM3qEUrXgbIQHdjLXcFpclr28ObxabXg3dLhvSLQ5_osQ5VDNk9lz1rwBHpFsCq7ztctn0nHquiwc_Fx25eqXfADP1JgtCWY/s320/IMG_5356.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparrowhawk & Suederoog, Baltic Sea, 05.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0abS6Xit0hXX0wKy1Wx0L3EUYJUnJfydWWQns-eK_aue5c4rmrFXi4-kRXfEOqhrjFiLmRxuJURtO5qMq7fPgvsaShMFr2w80QAaDv7IPgFomiE6eWoFnAEMpkmybR_AFCBR8wTd-0M/s1600/IMG_5362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0abS6Xit0hXX0wKy1Wx0L3EUYJUnJfydWWQns-eK_aue5c4rmrFXi4-kRXfEOqhrjFiLmRxuJURtO5qMq7fPgvsaShMFr2w80QAaDv7IPgFomiE6eWoFnAEMpkmybR_AFCBR8wTd-0M/s320/IMG_5362.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aidamar, Baltic Sea, 05.06</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupDxw7A4XBGhyphenhyphenUFPPYuopbcUIA44YW6-l86j_WVE20TUlraUEXvP2Z9FhUHild_mjZn0zM1vxF5uEKzVvUtsa4QV5iB5i7C5R5BecYry9I3j1jIag5-HqyrudHVpzlIp2T0MTmqvL2PI/s1600/IMG_5401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupDxw7A4XBGhyphenhyphenUFPPYuopbcUIA44YW6-l86j_WVE20TUlraUEXvP2Z9FhUHild_mjZn0zM1vxF5uEKzVvUtsa4QV5iB5i7C5R5BecYry9I3j1jIag5-HqyrudHVpzlIp2T0MTmqvL2PI/s320/IMG_5401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finnstar, Vuosaari, 06.06</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YA_ycJxx6xEFSMLUqZM7mgMZU92Y0ITBkXwrzV4H96knh9jTaz9tQP3SSXyYBTcRETybEF22wFIpXEYkb6V3Occ4GlH6gewBn3zIgxLlLvE7op-5G9px921yzDxwnrO6OQEag3pr6zQ/s1600/IMG_5494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7YA_ycJxx6xEFSMLUqZM7mgMZU92Y0ITBkXwrzV4H96knh9jTaz9tQP3SSXyYBTcRETybEF22wFIpXEYkb6V3Occ4GlH6gewBn3zIgxLlLvE7op-5G9px921yzDxwnrO6OQEag3pr6zQ/s320/IMG_5494.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kerel, Baltic Sea, 11.06</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrhpkz3MT0BzaXEaYVctBDA3_LvvtsXcOOPJXiZfUmfkvfvN4DsoOJzkzphkz1u8wVZ5f19oLYnIdNwsj6la3xFA2pPEMkKB5vLhvPFi7IKAyDR0lesmhQc_OBV6vnTSsHLz-FrYmkKw/s1600/IMG_5535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrhpkz3MT0BzaXEaYVctBDA3_LvvtsXcOOPJXiZfUmfkvfvN4DsoOJzkzphkz1u8wVZ5f19oLYnIdNwsj6la3xFA2pPEMkKB5vLhvPFi7IKAyDR0lesmhQc_OBV6vnTSsHLz-FrYmkKw/s320/IMG_5535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tango Sea, North Sea, 11.06</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpr785X-8ZKH_qM83nruyD6sFEOdOlJtcL2ncr2kLW7ebc6vBDjA0d-PtDSKdqXGXeAypeR5caSIY84jDUB2oVc3kcvNyUE0VwldJZi_ot3PY9JOZjAO_fXqCVOJARR9r2_cNCSyIVGc/s1600/IMG_5588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpr785X-8ZKH_qM83nruyD6sFEOdOlJtcL2ncr2kLW7ebc6vBDjA0d-PtDSKdqXGXeAypeR5caSIY84jDUB2oVc3kcvNyUE0VwldJZi_ot3PY9JOZjAO_fXqCVOJARR9r2_cNCSyIVGc/s320/IMG_5588.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suomigracht, Zeebrugge, 12.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OLdtWKc-Kz8PtekQy8tjPmuqsXtYc07-FixaIbZ2JWdpuw541W0P2fyJh3QqpQWsjiB8BlRaUkH-1yB18JeJ0pgOnPHJiPfmOoUBUJdywpWhsphVOsyy6LOG8xPDuhfzrRqpz76-LJo/s1600/IMG_5789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OLdtWKc-Kz8PtekQy8tjPmuqsXtYc07-FixaIbZ2JWdpuw541W0P2fyJh3QqpQWsjiB8BlRaUkH-1yB18JeJ0pgOnPHJiPfmOoUBUJdywpWhsphVOsyy6LOG8xPDuhfzrRqpz76-LJo/s320/IMG_5789.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isis, outside Antwerp, 19.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwJsGat4vNw4M-4xJLGUqI7zBEXwPmMxbK4pMZPArt5eY6QMO89-9JVqf5n97RdzTq08DfXx1LWPiXHycMI7Jul1KkNVGWFV7CBbxoRdYlpmcLdGajLIgtSZqiy-kTBu1N67W_v46yyU/s1600/IMG_5818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbwJsGat4vNw4M-4xJLGUqI7zBEXwPmMxbK4pMZPArt5eY6QMO89-9JVqf5n97RdzTq08DfXx1LWPiXHycMI7Jul1KkNVGWFV7CBbxoRdYlpmcLdGajLIgtSZqiy-kTBu1N67W_v46yyU/s320/IMG_5818.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Queen and Star, just a small part of all the traffic in sight while sailing on the Gulf of Finland traffic separation scheme. 22.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIjKW-MED-PRPgDdsLmHopCurB-sxUyj6ob0fBQn_FQFohOsM8hMql36No0R0XCs_Ms3r-B3wlBfaHSD75BIDeaJBa8fJVObY5oLY_uOWGH4R223idZOvu4d8gV6AdCK_kRssgePHmhk/s1600/IMG_5855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWIjKW-MED-PRPgDdsLmHopCurB-sxUyj6ob0fBQn_FQFohOsM8hMql36No0R0XCs_Ms3r-B3wlBfaHSD75BIDeaJBa8fJVObY5oLY_uOWGH4R223idZOvu4d8gV6AdCK_kRssgePHmhk/s320/IMG_5855.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austera & Princess Anastasia on the way to St. Petersburg, 22.06</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBMFdxBrbBjBCqrnP1zC6R-NMupiDVPjkX-EQ3gbnu10JoP0vSx15icQSnj1LyHJ2oNDQpp2bpAmFN_xZ8dT9mumZgkOVqIyZBC6LCPC-O0-Y9zbKhBWWK-cN87DUIxFRygEVv-b1oHI/s1600/IMG_5899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBMFdxBrbBjBCqrnP1zC6R-NMupiDVPjkX-EQ3gbnu10JoP0vSx15icQSnj1LyHJ2oNDQpp2bpAmFN_xZ8dT9mumZgkOVqIyZBC6LCPC-O0-Y9zbKhBWWK-cN87DUIxFRygEVv-b1oHI/s320/IMG_5899.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ionic Kibou, 22.06</td></tr>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-54827837209432848812016-10-16T18:16:00.001+03:002016-10-16T19:26:35.983+03:00Life in Aboa Mare<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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For
now, I thought I'd write a bit about what's been routine since last
September, when I started my maritime studies in Aboa Mare. Some may recall how I wrote about my aim to continue in Estonian Maritime Academy multiple times a few years ago, but eventually the prospect of getting
my education in English with a broad and international approach made me change my mind about that, as well as my lifelong dream to move
abroad, even if not so far.<br />
<br />
I'm now in my 2nd year and I can say that the decision has had its pros and cons, but I certainly haven't had to regret it. The system fits me very well, as we usually do only one or two subjects per week, and those subjects change every week. The main downside is that one can't really afford getting sick or being away at sea during some mandatory attendance courses, but in my eyes, the variety such a system allows for is great and definitely makes up for everything.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUFDLgy76pO_nXe6gOiyzaancDQxVQZ7i9KqH9euf9unumByCT-GhnKXJzodfcKUynFfkmZnLXk1c6m4rsOMVnsgSzBW4XepdwIt4QIMFhmkkRyeojeTlbonwbBhRBWqZCyQletfZi-Y/s1600/IMG_20150914_111046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUFDLgy76pO_nXe6gOiyzaancDQxVQZ7i9KqH9euf9unumByCT-GhnKXJzodfcKUynFfkmZnLXk1c6m4rsOMVnsgSzBW4XepdwIt4QIMFhmkkRyeojeTlbonwbBhRBWqZCyQletfZi-Y/s320/IMG_20150914_111046.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An "old style simulator"; A fully functioning frigate model "Ascension", built in 1842 and used for training back in the day.</td></tr>
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And it has most certainly been quite a ride. While there has been a lot of the boring maths and physics that one simply can't escape, there have been plenty of very fun and interesting courses throughout the entire time, making sure to keep our spirits high (in case the wonderful events organized by our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ElevforeningenEna/">student union ENÅ</a> aren't already enough). Many of those courses have been just the usual lectures about topics I've found interesting and fun to learn; a fine example of that would be the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Regulations_for_Preventing_Collisions_at_Sea">Colregs</a> course, partially because I already learned quite a lot of it at the pleasure boat license course I took three years ago. In many courses, a lot of focus was put on teaching us safe ways and risk assessment, to the extent where I felt like we were being fed safety for lunch and for dinner, too. However, safety isn't really something to save time, money or effort from, so the more the better. And I can now proudly name about a million different ways to die or otherwise screw up big time on a ship!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDKICdQ5mM5Bx1vhBAOhitD4sirqpIU37hjFbIE-BO9AK8YctbTmS02bmsvWoUr_CtTHBDqiHogg1XElrRT-xUHHDEavzNMpahzU8zzs-OxBXzl7jjD8M5zeiG3-v6fKOCrr7gqEQIc8/s1600/IMG_20150916_123229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmDKICdQ5mM5Bx1vhBAOhitD4sirqpIU37hjFbIE-BO9AK8YctbTmS02bmsvWoUr_CtTHBDqiHogg1XElrRT-xUHHDEavzNMpahzU8zzs-OxBXzl7jjD8M5zeiG3-v6fKOCrr7gqEQIc8/s320/IMG_20150916_123229.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terrestrial Navigation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CCqKjcj0eomDjn6ruYhwSboPDkjT1X3FJ9-IDK0tRej96qG6Br_d62mniReHO-fhSBxzIbn1mYQ8dpk0HDQco7VzVpg-vGuqcIGrTN54tL2cm5-HrYvlaxMgZJkvNc0VExKa6MTWXuc/s1600/IMG_20151029_135256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CCqKjcj0eomDjn6ruYhwSboPDkjT1X3FJ9-IDK0tRej96qG6Br_d62mniReHO-fhSBxzIbn1mYQ8dpk0HDQco7VzVpg-vGuqcIGrTN54tL2cm5-HrYvlaxMgZJkvNc0VExKa6MTWXuc/s320/IMG_20151029_135256.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the online <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Ship_and_Port_Facility_Security_Code">ISPS</a> I learned that I myself and most of my friends are very suspicious people.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qPDoRWn05V66UL4FdU28b9lwpm1OLkYuPN3nPd-Qe3URryonTQ7VsKEJT_c1rBpXGi4TXsT2e9OJyUL18-E8fgl2bkbl36-l_YtkBIRPQWj2w8F7_YdbKOo6CHQdxqdsMXEeocyeRn8/s1600/IMG_20160302_225423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-qPDoRWn05V66UL4FdU28b9lwpm1OLkYuPN3nPd-Qe3URryonTQ7VsKEJT_c1rBpXGi4TXsT2e9OJyUL18-E8fgl2bkbl36-l_YtkBIRPQWj2w8F7_YdbKOo6CHQdxqdsMXEeocyeRn8/s320/IMG_20160302_225423.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colregs notes regarding ships under sail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuib8VRyu_aLBAhsHSc1oQm5JEyLrEXf_Q_RoJCA3rn5SO0CrSavq8RmbrGq_q4S8ojaU79MmCw39q5cSjhMTzpB7s-gi2d7rOFSztinle_vX4tIMVfX711rN36WhUrFbsthQXomToG7E/s1600/IMG_20160303_054158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuib8VRyu_aLBAhsHSc1oQm5JEyLrEXf_Q_RoJCA3rn5SO0CrSavq8RmbrGq_q4S8ojaU79MmCw39q5cSjhMTzpB7s-gi2d7rOFSztinle_vX4tIMVfX711rN36WhUrFbsthQXomToG7E/s320/IMG_20160303_054158.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fog signal notes</td></tr>
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A few other courses I truly enjoyed were Elementary First Aid last year, followed up by Medical First Aid this year, and Tanker Familiarization, that will soon be followed up with Advanced Tanker Safety (which I'm quite looking forward to). Over a long period of time, we had some weeks with Swedish lessons, that I was very excited about, taking it as a good excuse to finally start learning the language on my own as well, especially since the total scope and duration of the course was minimal. During the final week we visited various interesting places in Turku, among others the Swedish Theatre, a YLE studio and Forum Marinum; and at that point I slightly pitied the native Finns who chose to have their high school Swedish studies accredited to skip the course. On the other hand, it kept our group nice and small.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIQyrUv4ODqRZ_6vB_kn86E6xbDf52Fo_L1hXu7UlZ9cm50vUu9FOZ_8Y5OBR6IewGtqg_nGgWsp5Ve_3bRH-Rr0CFr2W_Fzzx2wD0qiOVSV1snS5AS49VNSAB1C2YHtcgGXCuJhz6mc/s1600/IMG_20160127_102714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIQyrUv4ODqRZ_6vB_kn86E6xbDf52Fo_L1hXu7UlZ9cm50vUu9FOZ_8Y5OBR6IewGtqg_nGgWsp5Ve_3bRH-Rr0CFr2W_Fzzx2wD0qiOVSV1snS5AS49VNSAB1C2YHtcgGXCuJhz6mc/s320/IMG_20160127_102714.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fun behind the scenes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK8vvSWRHDUWrqHC7Xj99rahLIwvLeNR5_7NJA7A6G-vwlRmdHzQEhUy08ZDwLUk9U-1Fgcfk0J_XV8gb848iIkukM2AwzWA-wmCdFjQOcAQ2qhlwy_zD39qu1QW3pCY8yW5RRp7CwK4/s1600/IMG_20160127_104800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJK8vvSWRHDUWrqHC7Xj99rahLIwvLeNR5_7NJA7A6G-vwlRmdHzQEhUy08ZDwLUk9U-1Fgcfk0J_XV8gb848iIkukM2AwzWA-wmCdFjQOcAQ2qhlwy_zD39qu1QW3pCY8yW5RRp7CwK4/s320/IMG_20160127_104800.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice to meet you!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9GooHYPi3_QFlDO2V7Q3EkFL6DVjY80gkHC7BHYulH-dpEQEaP5x0V-ZH5ihBpfj8H0utnKD7uFplGnjU9qsVL62fzfjEd-JpXyBTcJIeyryUn6rSyS43uoe-Iw3l2Hz4mchBPN953M/s1600/IMG_20160127_104310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9GooHYPi3_QFlDO2V7Q3EkFL6DVjY80gkHC7BHYulH-dpEQEaP5x0V-ZH5ihBpfj8H0utnKD7uFplGnjU9qsVL62fzfjEd-JpXyBTcJIeyryUn6rSyS43uoe-Iw3l2Hz4mchBPN953M/s320/IMG_20160127_104310.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyEk1NuPZ6bnZ8SZCcp9J4dIZTrk83uiFzu-X4L_yi0pvCqB9_Xav2rj3y84dvHCPYVAd5mdVz9sy4ytDVsQrXjsm4Fu6aknOWyl0__41byHaLpNb8w_YVdGiFjA5bSm4UocVC-44lNI/s1600/IMG_20160127_133024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyEk1NuPZ6bnZ8SZCcp9J4dIZTrk83uiFzu-X4L_yi0pvCqB9_Xav2rj3y84dvHCPYVAd5mdVz9sy4ytDVsQrXjsm4Fu6aknOWyl0__41byHaLpNb8w_YVdGiFjA5bSm4UocVC-44lNI/s320/IMG_20160127_133024.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Video killed the radio star. Except that we're all still alive and well! Maybe that's because we were just having fun, not actually broadcasting?</td></tr>
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Later on, in spring, I was very happy to see that a basic Radar use course mostly took place in the simulators.<br />
Speaking of simulators, my school has quite an impressive collection, and each and every one of them is a copy of the bridge of some real ship. And I can tell you, I was very excited when I found out on my first day of school that one of the simulators matches my favourite Viking Grace.<br />
It was also during the radar course where quite many of us made our first more and less serious navigating mistakes, such as running over the same buoy numerous times or managing to stay off the rocks in a situation where such a feat was as unlikely as winning the jackpot. But the best thing about a simulator is that such incidents usually end with a good laugh in the classroom after the exercise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzN3X3I-qf-eE08UemQgcE5eqxvhop5uXuNsWXBY8wbBBAPcts64mrSSzTDQkXaAz_731vBE9vgQm6-00n2JquVCsDn3cGQ2aaKMq8mN48kQUrvTzCY-IkBt_k2o8KQjReZXw7QHxIaQ/s1600/_MGL8623-1+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzN3X3I-qf-eE08UemQgcE5eqxvhop5uXuNsWXBY8wbBBAPcts64mrSSzTDQkXaAz_731vBE9vgQm6-00n2JquVCsDn3cGQ2aaKMq8mN48kQUrvTzCY-IkBt_k2o8KQjReZXw7QHxIaQ/s320/_MGL8623-1+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the simulator, filming a commercial clip for the school.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidAF_K2lF6NOupoRTc8lLZJjwuTS_P-0lUrZaVAXL8DQAM_0pCp6aT6lspwHqHyrD99fV3QG4CacWjwUlhASFwqInowUjxfhVvishSTg5Ar2_FE2EVxqyQTG7xzXgcp8kNweIt3NeAqM/s1600/IMG_20160330_102432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidAF_K2lF6NOupoRTc8lLZJjwuTS_P-0lUrZaVAXL8DQAM_0pCp6aT6lspwHqHyrD99fV3QG4CacWjwUlhASFwqInowUjxfhVvishSTg5Ar2_FE2EVxqyQTG7xzXgcp8kNweIt3NeAqM/s320/IMG_20160330_102432.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Simulator control room - the half of it that fit in the picture, that is.</td></tr>
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And then there were those wonderful courses that were fully practical and thus enormously fun. First of all, the metalwork course we had in November, which involved showing up in a workshop in Ruissalo for three days (a cherry on the cake was the location next to a great shipspotting place, and our days there started just as the outbound Amorella sailed past) and using the various tools and methods to make small anchors from scratch. It was there that I first noticed my liking for heavy metal (this time literally, not the music genre), which I'll mention more in my next posts. I almost ended up feeling that if I should ever get fed up with ships, I'd become either a welder or a blacksmith. That feeling was added to when I got praise for my welding, which was mostly because I applied some tips I got from some Youtube welding tutorials I had watched before the course.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKswMFMhvxT5y4IokgDKxxdkNtLdavp4f_B_B1DzUVffjdRX9XXdiwDDvHZbltRYpUTU29QBJ4NDIKvXLWeOKD7mMoBS5PyjF3jEV120eg8KUVcgUcViAANF6Orfb2sGkmsV-w7lnIH4/s1600/IMG_20151123_111636.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKswMFMhvxT5y4IokgDKxxdkNtLdavp4f_B_B1DzUVffjdRX9XXdiwDDvHZbltRYpUTU29QBJ4NDIKvXLWeOKD7mMoBS5PyjF3jEV120eg8KUVcgUcViAANF6Orfb2sGkmsV-w7lnIH4/s320/IMG_20151123_111636.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Components cut out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbXFnyuoxfM_qkEIwNbRPCc-x819j2Zmlr3UUHtmc5kuywDZyp0S6bDdllCF2k9xtratyXLLIWIuoHdobmp1hPsIeI_4bIkHlhnRLNoqCxz7voEpDcAoBphQZ7bv8IKxvs-4OlcUBMLk/s1600/IMG_20151123_142008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbXFnyuoxfM_qkEIwNbRPCc-x819j2Zmlr3UUHtmc5kuywDZyp0S6bDdllCF2k9xtratyXLLIWIuoHdobmp1hPsIeI_4bIkHlhnRLNoqCxz7voEpDcAoBphQZ7bv8IKxvs-4OlcUBMLk/s320/IMG_20151123_142008.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First day's work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uLZJ8X_OcWRl6l-X_i-7N2M-h-zRe7XnXn7A_JII26b4tWJDR3f_xlcsrD8jAFqw1HKIYVvF7DlhPdC7VUrcdPNJWMQbSeb5VYEyPhlh8YcXdacE4yuhdrkq2A3W0iDG-sg5wwqmhCU/s1600/IMG_20151124_140230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2uLZJ8X_OcWRl6l-X_i-7N2M-h-zRe7XnXn7A_JII26b4tWJDR3f_xlcsrD8jAFqw1HKIYVvF7DlhPdC7VUrcdPNJWMQbSeb5VYEyPhlh8YcXdacE4yuhdrkq2A3W0iDG-sg5wwqmhCU/s320/IMG_20151124_140230.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2nd day's work</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIBuWfqYJzic7eFmjLgtxsCjvQ1WD_oYtUV4O1AoJggsTQOBa-AEPDQO_lQxoKXz-9r1tLzD3ARObEzEQXyIaHZSkeicnBl6PdWGvhFlhMRUK31t0ROvdzPMkdBYaBhxF-QE5oXVDvao/s1600/IMG_20151125_112659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUIBuWfqYJzic7eFmjLgtxsCjvQ1WD_oYtUV4O1AoJggsTQOBa-AEPDQO_lQxoKXz-9r1tLzD3ARObEzEQXyIaHZSkeicnBl6PdWGvhFlhMRUK31t0ROvdzPMkdBYaBhxF-QE5oXVDvao/s320/IMG_20151125_112659.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Polished and ready! Now, to build a boat to go with it...</td></tr>
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In spring, we got plenty of action in the Basic Safety, Lifeboats & Liferafts and Basic Firefighting courses, which were taught to us by <a href="http://www.meriturva.fi/en/">Meriturva</a> in their premises in Lohja and Upinniemi.<br />
The first two involved a lot of swimming, survival and evacuation exercises, climbing up a pilot ladder and jumping back down from 4 and a half meters, trying to survive in a freezing pool, using various survival equipment, turning over an upside down liferaft, getting winched up from the "sea" into a "helicopter", and even a ride in a freefall lifeboat, where I really hoped we would do a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9AmvrTeoXU">flip</a>, but it was a rather nice and smooth fall, resembling a very short rollercoaster ride. And the firefighting course speaks for itself, I guess; we were taught to put out various fires with various equipment; the weather was quite hot and our firefighter suits dark and heavy, which meant that the general feeling during the two days resembled hell, quite literally. Towards the end of the course we had to navigate in a dark, smoky and burning "ship", as well as put out an engine room fire and pull out a victim dummy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJafdwfPuyfCBhTw6oGeksyxIa3iG3SF8C-gaWV4-IUAskDu5q9509-LHuReqyZcXuaRXNc0PXxk2VQnu_YynpEdp_z-wfR4tf4-EZ3M5iUW0dMZiH0N3ez_dMmuMDxAJWB7c3XaH3JY/s1600/IMG_20160411_084133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJafdwfPuyfCBhTw6oGeksyxIa3iG3SF8C-gaWV4-IUAskDu5q9509-LHuReqyZcXuaRXNc0PXxk2VQnu_YynpEdp_z-wfR4tf4-EZ3M5iUW0dMZiH0N3ez_dMmuMDxAJWB7c3XaH3JY/s320/IMG_20160411_084133.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meriturva premises in Lohja</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HBROH2MdpUDeyHMhSLfcINE0y7XVWvzJ0TWv4irHI9PELHSdCXpemfLAXtYKReqeGsHd3O7ul-u7oSK_YNauzzER5G5y3tnl63jWH6tgLlFFPyeWmd4mFUsucrZ29GR_R-nDX6kT1Y8/s1600/IMG_20160411_103852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1HBROH2MdpUDeyHMhSLfcINE0y7XVWvzJ0TWv4irHI9PELHSdCXpemfLAXtYKReqeGsHd3O7ul-u7oSK_YNauzzER5G5y3tnl63jWH6tgLlFFPyeWmd4mFUsucrZ29GR_R-nDX6kT1Y8/s320/IMG_20160411_103852.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christ is rising</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLFzglMyu9t3FFkdllSmH0Ow85FjfuIFLDhjDw77mfIFr15BF6f8WkT4IJapCNrNAXgpGaCIR5mxk7VA5lymz6dd4UmtAw5ysixbf617slQl3G9FR2NFn7sybfd82WzUAxuXmtsfA88M/s1600/IMG_20160412_120152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLFzglMyu9t3FFkdllSmH0Ow85FjfuIFLDhjDw77mfIFr15BF6f8WkT4IJapCNrNAXgpGaCIR5mxk7VA5lymz6dd4UmtAw5ysixbf617slQl3G9FR2NFn7sybfd82WzUAxuXmtsfA88M/s320/IMG_20160412_120152.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimwear, spring 2016</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMHD8K3EzWytLDMRwyHfTR9ofLxFpSu7RBRHg6SFzId7p6DZTiI1eUcf7MM_hl-u_4fHTub7Fnpsb0dgHfGApTp-Do8Q7qs72ZjrbFY9U4xbwX-K-h8-cB8rTsoaADMXjlkag1CtgxFc/s1600/IMG-20160418-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJMHD8K3EzWytLDMRwyHfTR9ofLxFpSu7RBRHg6SFzId7p6DZTiI1eUcf7MM_hl-u_4fHTub7Fnpsb0dgHfGApTp-Do8Q7qs72ZjrbFY9U4xbwX-K-h8-cB8rTsoaADMXjlkag1CtgxFc/s320/IMG-20160418-WA0004.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Splash!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HdtVLW3ROurqyLImGOxe-0nveS9D8PoffqfaxFpPNFtVvDNj0rOKG3xOFkNdXN8KAzZtRYKKpqayeeo6pWeF9DGeOxfhuXGMnsjOEHKpJhnSY-2pZpMt_7A5nA8ymflk19ZgoqxZ5_E/s1600/13293087_1079969575408513_1391832855_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HdtVLW3ROurqyLImGOxe-0nveS9D8PoffqfaxFpPNFtVvDNj0rOKG3xOFkNdXN8KAzZtRYKKpqayeeo6pWeF9DGeOxfhuXGMnsjOEHKpJhnSY-2pZpMt_7A5nA8ymflk19ZgoqxZ5_E/s320/13293087_1079969575408513_1391832855_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimwear, spring 2016 vol 2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpi1XzzOi3wFtHFtMof0_iFe8SGic6WfvMRdqMvyHhwm7qRwriNxlmfiP3TZ5XRnjEBWsoV9xWMMBo4gmfjf9CQFKvqldcpY6Qd0wNo-l5LISLNB8Ogm_mbM1mMZzKckRYr90PA5x8ZZA/s1600/13295308_1080069382065199_1374298787_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpi1XzzOi3wFtHFtMof0_iFe8SGic6WfvMRdqMvyHhwm7qRwriNxlmfiP3TZ5XRnjEBWsoV9xWMMBo4gmfjf9CQFKvqldcpY6Qd0wNo-l5LISLNB8Ogm_mbM1mMZzKckRYr90PA5x8ZZA/s320/13295308_1080069382065199_1374298787_n.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Using the equipment provided by Meriturva (as well as in a few other occasions when I've had to use provided gear), I've been positively surprised by the availability of smaller sizes. But not always...</td></tr>
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In Autumn and in Spring I spent a total of 5 days doing maintenance, as well as a trip to Kasnäs on the school ship Amazone, which counted for the 360 days of total on-board training I have to do during my studies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX_tBhb42M9jWSH4A72wqPpeEhbiG8v3RWPxV08VFAiYcSZ__jade4xNfgRqv97smJNYauSfOVnnty_5UYZWrhjiJF27ufUjyZsLA-1Hn5x-IhEIV65liwDd0B5tK0Zkmxgs9ytrS-10/s1600/IMG_20151019_174800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX_tBhb42M9jWSH4A72wqPpeEhbiG8v3RWPxV08VFAiYcSZ__jade4xNfgRqv97smJNYauSfOVnnty_5UYZWrhjiJF27ufUjyZsLA-1Hn5x-IhEIV65liwDd0B5tK0Zkmxgs9ytrS-10/s320/IMG_20151019_174800.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazone (right) in Kasnäs, in October 2015</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDrXXOgAzNxKD07Ot8atj6oojqL8IZac56ij1kj1GYGqqqVpiILdE90okaovZNR6MbNYfvJ_B2QnvSN9aQ_PqNbgFnNgH5nd0ziDQS0N9SndcqWuRr2fssiZsZYkUPCfnBr5ic3LZPVo/s1600/IMG_20160415_094605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDrXXOgAzNxKD07Ot8atj6oojqL8IZac56ij1kj1GYGqqqVpiILdE90okaovZNR6MbNYfvJ_B2QnvSN9aQ_PqNbgFnNgH5nd0ziDQS0N9SndcqWuRr2fssiZsZYkUPCfnBr5ic3LZPVo/s320/IMG_20160415_094605.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attaching the jib sails in April 2016</td></tr>
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Quite early on we were told that we're expected to do 60 days during the first summer. And so it happened that during the final Meriturva Lifeboat & Liferaft course I was notified that I've been placed on a ship. I had to leave home for approximately 60 days with a 4 days' notice; those days I will write about in my next posts. </div>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-56220989088281043772016-09-30T21:47:00.000+03:002016-10-03T21:54:37.835+03:00Experience: No(r)way!? Part 3 - Stena Saga and other fun places<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This is the 3rd part of a trip report. <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/09/experience-norway-part-1-color-fantasy.html">Part 1</a> <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/09/experience-norway-part-2-how-i-lost-my.html">Part 2</a></div>
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Following the amazing experience, it was right to take a few days off and chill and enjoy life in Fredrikstad (as well as grow a new jawbone to replace the one I lost in Flåm), though those few days did include a quick trip to nearby Sarpsborg with a visit to Inspiria Science Center and Badeland waterpark.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pcZsWV-Qjy7CqbI1e2UF_2cF2FD1DQwlmwVfP4AMlVQbjgQJF4kasuQMlNh776TI4npnMfYELmc1b8wUhbb8F4VLltjEJO0-ZrKeWk1fWx50QFecuC-ijCReumHG5vRXg75tlSpqJLE/s1600/IMG_6361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5pcZsWV-Qjy7CqbI1e2UF_2cF2FD1DQwlmwVfP4AMlVQbjgQJF4kasuQMlNh776TI4npnMfYELmc1b8wUhbb8F4VLltjEJO0-ZrKeWk1fWx50QFecuC-ijCReumHG5vRXg75tlSpqJLE/s320/IMG_6361.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In my spare time I like to hang out in space</td></tr>
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As we sailed towards Oslo on the Color Magic a few days earlier, I told Sverre that of the ferries sailing from Oslo, Stena Saga is definitely next on my list. And once again, I had no idea that we were already booked for the sailing on the 29th of April. <br />
<a name='more'></a>Since departure wasn't until 19:30, we could wake up fairly late, slowly get ready, take a train to Oslo and do some sightseeing there, even though the weather wasn't the best.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa-J4qv84XQ1txxx7cJ34mPRKn7Z5rxQqoek1MopmLrzkzjtspdqIeNBveoB50zBOrbRMrfrOmF_3hfS2Ubz98tz3vujkqyriZXQ9D_zwQ2nuDwz8EmDTXrcKsoZAjW6f4WJKELUVOyk/s1600/IMG_4813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCa-J4qv84XQ1txxx7cJ34mPRKn7Z5rxQqoek1MopmLrzkzjtspdqIeNBveoB50zBOrbRMrfrOmF_3hfS2Ubz98tz3vujkqyriZXQ9D_zwQ2nuDwz8EmDTXrcKsoZAjW6f4WJKELUVOyk/s320/IMG_4813.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl Seaways seen from the roof of the Oslo Opera House</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map of the Oslo Harbour Promenade. On that day, we walked between points 12 and 6.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M9BZKNkwr7IXuaBDQhN654HUSE83wQhl7adISRq7Jo_4ws_BElyg2Taoj4ZBI8qUoZnsk6dPSCekuaIvjWcavVPym6zxrEuTN1W5ddfPI7-TYy8-tYWWnqpkhDZHBUCIcy8ThqI74SE/s1600/IMG_4826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5M9BZKNkwr7IXuaBDQhN654HUSE83wQhl7adISRq7Jo_4ws_BElyg2Taoj4ZBI8qUoZnsk6dPSCekuaIvjWcavVPym6zxrEuTN1W5ddfPI7-TYy8-tYWWnqpkhDZHBUCIcy8ThqI74SE/s320/IMG_4826.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl Seaways departing, vacating the quay for Stena Saga.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYgmwCggCLeq-HDOKJ4RiLDjs38qhhqQgcnXFiJVzRFo7ityuXQHlTp2dF5zGv3f2Awp-kacY8glKRmUQYB6vn1L19H-Ca3NtI-y1BOTBusdXbP0XjgvnL6QtLBcx42EQGGDqA_ZQUN0/s1600/IMG_4833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYgmwCggCLeq-HDOKJ4RiLDjs38qhhqQgcnXFiJVzRFo7ityuXQHlTp2dF5zGv3f2Awp-kacY8glKRmUQYB6vn1L19H-Ca3NtI-y1BOTBusdXbP0XjgvnL6QtLBcx42EQGGDqA_ZQUN0/s320/IMG_4833.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">in Akershus fortress</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglysfxQgE-2juGotYEDN3l1u-fHAC6mrVy4Frn0c_6bX4YQopCH1CZi36nasIJDbJXjjphS1Ln3F2LHVjYNfl7DIDJJUoQOy9WFdPN8ifVoyYTKO1nbFGIeBfjvSuF6Fd6QNa5HgL0pcQ/s1600/IMG_4837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglysfxQgE-2juGotYEDN3l1u-fHAC6mrVy4Frn0c_6bX4YQopCH1CZi36nasIJDbJXjjphS1Ln3F2LHVjYNfl7DIDJJUoQOy9WFdPN8ifVoyYTKO1nbFGIeBfjvSuF6Fd6QNa5HgL0pcQ/s320/IMG_4837.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oslo City Hall seen from Akershus fortress</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6GrChSX3axltsR4_blt1Znu8BBTg0fCAIxUMvwCcGOoNYjtfXksh1QuPAESo0L_-Y1T3L1MvSWg0aVho7ZevKUqYymPWYbmEuObLj3zlJkdHqRzFmx-angN8GmcM5z4MUTUMMKch5ZA/s1600/IMG_4856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU6GrChSX3axltsR4_blt1Znu8BBTg0fCAIxUMvwCcGOoNYjtfXksh1QuPAESo0L_-Y1T3L1MvSWg0aVho7ZevKUqYymPWYbmEuObLj3zlJkdHqRzFmx-angN8GmcM5z4MUTUMMKch5ZA/s320/IMG_4856.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Saga coming in</td></tr>
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As the Stena Saga sailed in, we walked towards the terminal and soon enough it was time to board.<br />
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<i>It should be noted that the following Stena Saga photos are Sverre's; my phone screen <a href="http://oi65.tinypic.com/140gchw.jpg">broke beyond repair and gradually went black</a> over the Flåm day, and my camera habits are not really comparable to those of the stereotypical Asian tourist. </i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfkbp7iStTkhyphenhyphenzIyCx2mRLpQeA4TMV-6MnNxCNNTSj_kt81qCTVWNv7XvGLdnbV8KYEapaoFErGeHHKSD4qiFdOgOgl3ufEDGPNVD2zC7EZr3KmyrFFkYIZdZUzY6U6GTdJTHq7eXdNY/s1600/IMG_6457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfkbp7iStTkhyphenhyphenzIyCx2mRLpQeA4TMV-6MnNxCNNTSj_kt81qCTVWNv7XvGLdnbV8KYEapaoFErGeHHKSD4qiFdOgOgl3ufEDGPNVD2zC7EZr3KmyrFFkYIZdZUzY6U6GTdJTHq7eXdNY/s320/IMG_6457.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Comfort Plus cabin 6202</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first evening we mostly looked around, had a few drinks here and there and anxiously waited for the departure, which ended up being 45 minutes late for an unknown reason. A bit later we had a nice dinner at Metropolitan à la Carte and after the dinner we continued to C-View showbar to enjoy some drinks, dance and have fun, until we finally decided to call it a night at around 1 o'clock.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7EA48uFMqbzTTcvM6GqgphNCkDdPaH0-YG-CkmdwP_VNcb5xc4POp8GBzYGd_RQJ2XYorg7jg5HyPnnmfC78GhSua_GdEbHgWHkwUcSW8wZ9PIMW8xog2pa0XnRYEaXvcxJGcCv2MOk/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+47+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7EA48uFMqbzTTcvM6GqgphNCkDdPaH0-YG-CkmdwP_VNcb5xc4POp8GBzYGd_RQJ2XYorg7jg5HyPnnmfC78GhSua_GdEbHgWHkwUcSW8wZ9PIMW8xog2pa0XnRYEaXvcxJGcCv2MOk/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+47+09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riva Bar, where we sat and wondered why the ship is late</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDkY7sJJMLHyXAcifEj_QkikPPZ9Qod3t8qYV_D2aSWEaxqowtupCUfc-TFaCe03BGqDXvW1HiG0VpcS0e16KOveZ1hAfufUy2t2gWukd6V_oiq-geoMgVMCn_H_fbJdNA5TDEOd6Ccc/s1600/Photo+29-04-2016%252C+22+17+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijDkY7sJJMLHyXAcifEj_QkikPPZ9Qod3t8qYV_D2aSWEaxqowtupCUfc-TFaCe03BGqDXvW1HiG0VpcS0e16KOveZ1hAfufUy2t2gWukd6V_oiq-geoMgVMCn_H_fbJdNA5TDEOd6Ccc/s320/Photo+29-04-2016%252C+22+17+20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Metropolitan à la Carte</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEnnf28FvaaSL_2Eczi0M6afJSkNUTKVSAdBLBcEgTPM7HvFfzOfEgzk__klUzLNj7zl_4A4PiXrWVVbB8lTAvzwvMgmcm8-SmMKfgbaNwPIfu9TWOZChfKl76m1TlVAhHvn25x3jwOw/s1600/Photo+29-04-2016%252C+20+38+47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFEnnf28FvaaSL_2Eczi0M6afJSkNUTKVSAdBLBcEgTPM7HvFfzOfEgzk__klUzLNj7zl_4A4PiXrWVVbB8lTAvzwvMgmcm8-SmMKfgbaNwPIfu9TWOZChfKl76m1TlVAhHvn25x3jwOw/s320/Photo+29-04-2016%252C+20+38+47.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">C-View showbar</td></tr>
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The following morning we had our alarm early, because we wanted to quickly go ashore in Frederikshavn, mostly because it would've been my first time to actually set foot in Denmark. However, since the weather was rainy, we were both very sleepy and the time ashore would've been short anyway, we decided to skip it and just slept on until it was time for our buffet lunch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz5Hjni8J3COmvrJPZi1J56WnvceZ39a0GAwetush07FKTmhXL4exaxlyEEbn-81fyiT_iXQRS3opBVy3212ko0QaQ-mXm26FibYyaBZSvsOZ7wQjloLWc2aoDpjWKCyTn52eKg-Ddgc/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+45+32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqz5Hjni8J3COmvrJPZi1J56WnvceZ39a0GAwetush07FKTmhXL4exaxlyEEbn-81fyiT_iXQRS3opBVy3212ko0QaQ-mXm26FibYyaBZSvsOZ7wQjloLWc2aoDpjWKCyTn52eKg-Ddgc/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+45+32.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the right is the ship's large and distinctive front window</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-voFieJy6q4LBCVrq-7-UBL8d1-KiF3gkRWo3LAwYZzlQ4Mx4VcB7qEv89J5YAcOLL_g0tncolY_gBExMI657ZoEgacyLmYgWWhWzz1PABbOqKamL0BB8zyCTD2Aa6mNSyMA97IXtK8/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+46+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-voFieJy6q4LBCVrq-7-UBL8d1-KiF3gkRWo3LAwYZzlQ4Mx4VcB7qEv89J5YAcOLL_g0tncolY_gBExMI657ZoEgacyLmYgWWhWzz1PABbOqKamL0BB8zyCTD2Aa6mNSyMA97IXtK8/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+46+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the lunch it was time to claim our spa reservation. The spa on the Stena Saga stood out quite a lot, being very large and enjoyable, with a lot of various pools and showers and wonderful interior, making it my favourite part on the ship as well as one of my favourite ship spas. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl0UmOf9s3GBDl2jKbwQbsB8eUip4RNo9e0QWETDJZ2pGwHJzoF1GM04iLcUzVpUASDjIrelLH3JpisFuk_gtMmm06_xMcNFVt2NVlmmoUE17qIGPuXcg54hKC7Q0oE2fHif5tBq0veI/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+50+50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl0UmOf9s3GBDl2jKbwQbsB8eUip4RNo9e0QWETDJZ2pGwHJzoF1GM04iLcUzVpUASDjIrelLH3JpisFuk_gtMmm06_xMcNFVt2NVlmmoUE17qIGPuXcg54hKC7Q0oE2fHif5tBq0veI/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+50+50.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heavens, a still pool!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_YsC_UgWCAiQjhyNc7EqPuiE4GuWDHwoVTIw_Yes1JsjPR3iXDhY4_tVdmpVJzqvtQYtZtiMJTOTLWBY9dkjiq2GUrxMOrZW8u4rIs-gkHX5oHNrOEXqgr4I8Mni22cO0SgyBwMA1Lo/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+51+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8_YsC_UgWCAiQjhyNc7EqPuiE4GuWDHwoVTIw_Yes1JsjPR3iXDhY4_tVdmpVJzqvtQYtZtiMJTOTLWBY9dkjiq2GUrxMOrZW8u4rIs-gkHX5oHNrOEXqgr4I8Mni22cO0SgyBwMA1Lo/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+51+03.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Season-shower; upon pressing one of the 4 buttons (one for each season), you get a brief shower, with the temperature, lights, water jets and even scents making a nice whole to match the chosen season. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCTeiaYkeTbOnKXUGYg2nFc7qCSnpZ-cRl0S3XLZ9X1uV4F6qCCGWFMdI1EdiQeXPMHNCBpE4_g_xau3wfqX9cCs1ebUf31zXEQLIwZaEWpVp6fu1hTBvdja1wJPWscEbwbDLKLAqDAg/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+51+30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfCTeiaYkeTbOnKXUGYg2nFc7qCSnpZ-cRl0S3XLZ9X1uV4F6qCCGWFMdI1EdiQeXPMHNCBpE4_g_xau3wfqX9cCs1ebUf31zXEQLIwZaEWpVp6fu1hTBvdja1wJPWscEbwbDLKLAqDAg/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+51+30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjObMZmB9KXLeFkX84UZ3hbHS0kOE8GnLWhNhyhdegfQOAY2JwiLjWfxxiHFczEYDUt8Iq7Zx6sXZrji_LwSvsBft49HvxQtZK2Yc1Yc9FzSVqaRteLri8xgLhDjaBQ-kVR4D8I4xLzls/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+53+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjObMZmB9KXLeFkX84UZ3hbHS0kOE8GnLWhNhyhdegfQOAY2JwiLjWfxxiHFczEYDUt8Iq7Zx6sXZrji_LwSvsBft49HvxQtZK2Yc1Yc9FzSVqaRteLri8xgLhDjaBQ-kVR4D8I4xLzls/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+53+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely lounge with a view ahead of the ship</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J7CJLKUM-Mb9mKYEDGIXlESgHjoPDLGd9e4g7emW-ZiQ_lTttHolXvnmbxkhA8Ob-vSx1E5P5A-NtVj4wSvwHdqILVtz19ZSyTLPmRXc6z4Yjw8YriEtm0loWepgTNkyIlpe0qoiFWQ/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+51+53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6J7CJLKUM-Mb9mKYEDGIXlESgHjoPDLGd9e4g7emW-ZiQ_lTttHolXvnmbxkhA8Ob-vSx1E5P5A-NtVj4wSvwHdqILVtz19ZSyTLPmRXc6z4Yjw8YriEtm0loWepgTNkyIlpe0qoiFWQ/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+51+53.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A wonderful spa experience is always even nicer when the weather outside is not the best - provided that the place has windows, of course. The ship passing ahead is Bohus of Color Line.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD0zGkXrZSxgPbriwLL39P1bdxyd70__hajz0gIl765NhfuIkicbtj_8zr9Sc2yrYM_iKDNl3zN6PFp3rtlyWXg5SL9fmj04ieuVLmUxu3btKTy7xV4E-QA681IgDMu0vV31MFp4w95w/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+53+44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrD0zGkXrZSxgPbriwLL39P1bdxyd70__hajz0gIl765NhfuIkicbtj_8zr9Sc2yrYM_iKDNl3zN6PFp3rtlyWXg5SL9fmj04ieuVLmUxu3btKTy7xV4E-QA681IgDMu0vV31MFp4w95w/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+53+44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the left is the cold water tub, which is always very enjoyable after a hot sauna. Only my feet didn't seem to approve, as they started protesting as soon as the water temperature reached them. Pity, and not the first time my feet alone prevent me from fully enjoying an ice cold swim.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_Hp401Mcltq3ZlYYuTldkh8rABZyREgMunXSmA_FohtO7DFXoB561apQoGi9XSXUFxecEOSd3N7nXaaUaBzz9w3cS-C3dxgVTy8Jji5i9zq_zzh_8RAwjiKc3hlCB44ETyklkwZ9mD0/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+54+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_Hp401Mcltq3ZlYYuTldkh8rABZyREgMunXSmA_FohtO7DFXoB561apQoGi9XSXUFxecEOSd3N7nXaaUaBzz9w3cS-C3dxgVTy8Jji5i9zq_zzh_8RAwjiKc3hlCB44ETyklkwZ9mD0/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+14+54+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Outdoor jacuzzi, which was also a very nice discovery and is not common at all on cruiseferries up on this latitude.</td></tr>
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After enjoying the spa for several hours, we looked around the ship a bit more, played around in the arcade and finally, when it was almost time to disembark, my attention was caught by a last minute perfume sale. Or well, not initially, but when I happened to pass by, I of course had to smell the three perfumes they had to offer. And as it always is, when the right kind of perfume smell hits my nose, there's only two ways forward - either I buy it or I walk away with great sadness and end up buying it later, if it's beyond the budget. This time it was the former, and the small bottle was probably one of my biggest perfume bargains. And the funny thing is, I later realized why the perfume caught my nose. A few years earlier in Stockholm I had a similar situation with a fancy scented candle and had to broken-heartedly leave it. I remembered the brand and scent though, and ordered it online soon afterwards. That scented candle which I still have (too good to burn!) has an almost identical smell to the perfume I scored on the Stena Saga.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI1lmmYX_7ghemZ6Ii6nkcqaLbatpizWd7vJKt1BfV6ralrHEJvYPVPIQ0wrxWybVG91Q5luQnprCdTc2jbC7wfN68g6qjZ3eMJZdxP3WQ7KAcgzi3QyrwiqWB58cBl0BGNAFcV5cdrQ/s1600/20161003_003903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI1lmmYX_7ghemZ6Ii6nkcqaLbatpizWd7vJKt1BfV6ralrHEJvYPVPIQ0wrxWybVG91Q5luQnprCdTc2jbC7wfN68g6qjZ3eMJZdxP3WQ7KAcgzi3QyrwiqWB58cBl0BGNAFcV5cdrQ/s320/20161003_003903.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olfactory twins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
All in all, I must say that the Stena Saga ranks among my better ferry experiences. Although she was built in 1980, she has been modernized very nicely and is very well maintained.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpolXB1-g6YC1XolM5RajqkwTUiAQmhJ4J6VFccjWcLa2_LzNS4u3x9npKVOD3Ub9nSxpzNrJ2nWIht4NkSQXBJrqfDNUxH7MSs5I5ixX6i8ldXm-Ws2j1pu6oEr8Cfi1Uj4WHck0R3bs/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+15+48+52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpolXB1-g6YC1XolM5RajqkwTUiAQmhJ4J6VFccjWcLa2_LzNS4u3x9npKVOD3Ub9nSxpzNrJ2nWIht4NkSQXBJrqfDNUxH7MSs5I5ixX6i8ldXm-Ws2j1pu6oEr8Cfi1Uj4WHck0R3bs/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+15+48+52.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory funnel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PFx_SmUzD2VC3DiJi7ActGQNBg_k0ngs2cVziET1GeJCvQ2ppGNRBsDg3uh76vskXsVPB3zX6_iWcCNk3rF6YhGj_C2Xb_c_e6zSOhP9eMrMj6wAtqtnLveifLrgtzwd2lzXbLu25iU/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+19+06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6PFx_SmUzD2VC3DiJi7ActGQNBg_k0ngs2cVziET1GeJCvQ2ppGNRBsDg3uh76vskXsVPB3zX6_iWcCNk3rF6YhGj_C2Xb_c_e6zSOhP9eMrMj6wAtqtnLveifLrgtzwd2lzXbLu25iU/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+19+06.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory deck plan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfL66YERSc8en0Ia33sFsiFpl6pMu7EczOwotCigV39b8UmljCdLG_oqR3FZDgTxuxD8oCPqxusI-nqxcGQelgKwA3JDCQ3sjkgxSzIwrCpRgmOCp0Dm0W_SFJfiGtbre9DhkEH-QITc/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+08+26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfL66YERSc8en0Ia33sFsiFpl6pMu7EczOwotCigV39b8UmljCdLG_oqR3FZDgTxuxD8oCPqxusI-nqxcGQelgKwA3JDCQ3sjkgxSzIwrCpRgmOCp0Dm0W_SFJfiGtbre9DhkEH-QITc/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+08+26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory staircase - the Red staircase</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2CQGSm1QX9LdsJMiFNar29rnkc_dp3a6Hx3WSSqC2b9If1u3XA88YAu5QFOCm383S22ggbhZkr7vHaL8Kh2Om2xcpsnyJW33YNqcU1G5_FZk3zXJalW2TAkpC7wyuqei1RVQheNInjU/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+50+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2CQGSm1QX9LdsJMiFNar29rnkc_dp3a6Hx3WSSqC2b9If1u3XA88YAu5QFOCm383S22ggbhZkr7vHaL8Kh2Om2xcpsnyJW33YNqcU1G5_FZk3zXJalW2TAkpC7wyuqei1RVQheNInjU/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+12+50+40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and the Green staircase. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8wayj7r1mxTLzWcjj4NfjucM9XW4KEwMFkDWrKIVya_POhcNXxeaWzTy71B_pPjof2grZsIRs4I1Q_afiYW4Q6NB0ioNx_eWnjmkQZ71Mphoe77Wa-iENbZ9sLxvxYmcWF8K-T74afA/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+18+46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8wayj7r1mxTLzWcjj4NfjucM9XW4KEwMFkDWrKIVya_POhcNXxeaWzTy71B_pPjof2grZsIRs4I1Q_afiYW4Q6NB0ioNx_eWnjmkQZ71Mphoe77Wa-iENbZ9sLxvxYmcWF8K-T74afA/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+18+46.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arcade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlXYN2yMCsAVIsUfqsqZ94jPAwYISLAghXO_YSR2nkaFlOCa91N6AJmvAyhr0-3zpUdhvAyKwqwPCgoEdYDq0s6sejHaBrHaod_K06wDPBxX6Zm09d4j5ndpKiaCx8U-3Kk3msiiKkm0/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+21+48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQlXYN2yMCsAVIsUfqsqZ94jPAwYISLAghXO_YSR2nkaFlOCa91N6AJmvAyhr0-3zpUdhvAyKwqwPCgoEdYDq0s6sejHaBrHaod_K06wDPBxX6Zm09d4j5ndpKiaCx8U-3Kk3msiiKkm0/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+21+48.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tax free store</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ3icRrR9U3TmcwFdJ4Y1r_DwL5Op9BOWRDyO_6T35BiMxLBtvbUZxX_j9KGK1iSrS-4unW005lOK9rg3rHISyiSQQmPPVjsuZSAyHMuTdbHg9pFdo1nZSMJem60V6Z5CeEiuoYZdc_M/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+27+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJ3icRrR9U3TmcwFdJ4Y1r_DwL5Op9BOWRDyO_6T35BiMxLBtvbUZxX_j9KGK1iSrS-4unW005lOK9rg3rHISyiSQQmPPVjsuZSAyHMuTdbHg9pFdo1nZSMJem60V6Z5CeEiuoYZdc_M/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+27+11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're planning to go on board to find a nice pair of slippers, I have bad news for you. As you may see on the label, there is absolutely NO slippers, no, not at all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRGAKQfqmJrgbtNv4DVXQ-4Hx83De4Fg4gMn1ddjBr2_WTA3lO-_2AUhOLmZQGANY1nAEZUnLRdgRo9pWqU_PNBJVF0NZflpMITOdPsXaYflWYj3R4SbHBxAJk_ba7-BJXa9fJrBcxeI/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+17+22+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGRGAKQfqmJrgbtNv4DVXQ-4Hx83De4Fg4gMn1ddjBr2_WTA3lO-_2AUhOLmZQGANY1nAEZUnLRdgRo9pWqU_PNBJVF0NZflpMITOdPsXaYflWYj3R4SbHBxAJk_ba7-BJXa9fJrBcxeI/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+17+22+18.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin corridor displaying one of my favourite colour combinations</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6KH3MRtDww1HHdV0oV7FDJNACCUTFSnoVI4Bzrypr4mC9E9jSSVc3eoF-jewCfkd-OibEOC8SQx1hnZcXi9VJbztcFABj585Op05W9Guc31HvYoC5FlyqDwM-VtO8nvplPtQ1GO2IiI/s1600/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+17+39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6KH3MRtDww1HHdV0oV7FDJNACCUTFSnoVI4Bzrypr4mC9E9jSSVc3eoF-jewCfkd-OibEOC8SQx1hnZcXi9VJbztcFABj585Op05W9Guc31HvYoC5FlyqDwM-VtO8nvplPtQ1GO2IiI/s320/Photo+30-04-2016%252C+16+17+39.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And to end the Stena Saga part of this post, the first view you see when you step on board in Oslo, minus the crowds. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After disembarking we headed to a hotel in Oslo to get a good rest before the following day, which we planned to spend in Tusenfryd amusement park. To me, amusement parks are always best off-season, either in spring or early autumn, especially on days when the weather is not all so unmistakably perfect, because there's not too many people and in some occasions I've enjoyed full amusement park days with wonderful weather and not a single queue anywhere. This time there were some lines here and there, and the day was just enough for us to do one full round around the park.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRu1DT9hdf9VgbFDfUkQoMwNJItN0x_ZD9FbaakwgIe15BdydLRsGa6t3udZevBh2WGMzT3HNDfCcUmc05TCS7sfd-VAK8MUn1XNK-G9JMOy6uFXazZhIwnXqXcnEdyLFy9tFIdNjSWw/s1600/IMG_4993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRu1DT9hdf9VgbFDfUkQoMwNJItN0x_ZD9FbaakwgIe15BdydLRsGa6t3udZevBh2WGMzT3HNDfCcUmc05TCS7sfd-VAK8MUn1XNK-G9JMOy6uFXazZhIwnXqXcnEdyLFy9tFIdNjSWw/s320/IMG_4993.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWj_je3qWTqPTKjYqpUeoK7JCYAwp2sYdskIq2C4xpZFPZD6lQixvx3G2zqRAK-90Vho3AkzBRppJma6v3wjZhgP_U3sfi5mLjQZ3kIS1-zqZt5_CUwix9VXbb_OvSpp30YPwLvLFqPr4/s1600/IMG_4968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWj_je3qWTqPTKjYqpUeoK7JCYAwp2sYdskIq2C4xpZFPZD6lQixvx3G2zqRAK-90Vho3AkzBRppJma6v3wjZhgP_U3sfi5mLjQZ3kIS1-zqZt5_CUwix9VXbb_OvSpp30YPwLvLFqPr4/s320/IMG_4968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loopen, the first rollercoaster built in this park back in 1988</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwRJsASTIluR_MG2WB0WVLLCto00PFyGH5eJr-mIdYxzJqNmVDVt2Zy72BS084O4txTyg2B0cOa2ZrAYasLP3urbyv0Uw7B61430U5x_ZNzrIvFkV3pYoyP7J7Dh2FY1fXvWbynS8GFA/s1600/IMG_4976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIwRJsASTIluR_MG2WB0WVLLCto00PFyGH5eJr-mIdYxzJqNmVDVt2Zy72BS084O4txTyg2B0cOa2ZrAYasLP3urbyv0Uw7B61430U5x_ZNzrIvFkV3pYoyP7J7Dh2FY1fXvWbynS8GFA/s320/IMG_4976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tømmerstupet, the local log ride</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4ovVfNwIj_9YEeN_NY8Ejpu193-_npykHj1Lup3wQH1_aYFw8YM-bRn7Z5kucXEOKm5UmXELvfpQQKoAucpU8pbsxb9yYAsoS-u2IuGElwcMNkdGIdaKkYUUD5Jthb77_nH6raEbNNk/s1600/IMG_4990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4ovVfNwIj_9YEeN_NY8Ejpu193-_npykHj1Lup3wQH1_aYFw8YM-bRn7Z5kucXEOKm5UmXELvfpQQKoAucpU8pbsxb9yYAsoS-u2IuGElwcMNkdGIdaKkYUUD5Jthb77_nH6raEbNNk/s320/IMG_4990.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Supersplash - the name says it all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILVlpG3wR1gZZd_uQx2cA4-4N9ZwtXZQndLc431BGEEiRVbmMVbg_B7S2VjoAG8lKgj1TPyTjNzTzfwrddPXNjne3Fja6MKScSShLKpIaqYuTnoXoLsTaPbPBGnAGRpDSMJo6KGU3nOk/s1600/IMG_4978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiILVlpG3wR1gZZd_uQx2cA4-4N9ZwtXZQndLc431BGEEiRVbmMVbg_B7S2VjoAG8lKgj1TPyTjNzTzfwrddPXNjne3Fja6MKScSShLKpIaqYuTnoXoLsTaPbPBGnAGRpDSMJo6KGU3nOk/s320/IMG_4978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thundercoaster, built exactly 50 years later than the equally wooden Vuoristorata in <a href="http://www.linnanmaki.fi/en">Linnanmäki</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsMmMlAyVFZgeMuy_gmxghaU2oGk3o1JhpCfEWSNRwkyPkr2klLPpGC6k3KmxxiqDnYNvwvHNLsG0Nx4ZRKYrahszV_8EeFKzb8KCAXlotIUgf3YdZQyRgK5SzZ8ygb694uPXg3qLPYY/s1600/IMG_4958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghsMmMlAyVFZgeMuy_gmxghaU2oGk3o1JhpCfEWSNRwkyPkr2klLPpGC6k3KmxxiqDnYNvwvHNLsG0Nx4ZRKYrahszV_8EeFKzb8KCAXlotIUgf3YdZQyRgK5SzZ8ygb694uPXg3qLPYY/s320/IMG_4958.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speedmonster as seen upon entering the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzuLHsb8zf1A5Pqnv01VIBmapydX0zqGXuPQjvBG2XuYutVurkndT4RtRjkv3qss9TvjIJwOwLgomkciM9junlQEbTSWPQz7JCz28LOYX2wVUXfQWhaNAd30tuwB_uwYbcjAUfXYl-Tg/s1600/1f3zbmnwa0xxmfr87d8h9xnn0hjlgigo7i6yqf20mnmbwyxxux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGzuLHsb8zf1A5Pqnv01VIBmapydX0zqGXuPQjvBG2XuYutVurkndT4RtRjkv3qss9TvjIJwOwLgomkciM9junlQEbTSWPQz7JCz28LOYX2wVUXfQWhaNAd30tuwB_uwYbcjAUfXYl-Tg/s320/1f3zbmnwa0xxmfr87d8h9xnn0hjlgigo7i6yqf20mnmbwyxxux.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right in the beginning of the ride, the Speedmonster accelerates from 0 to 90 km/h in 2 seconds and at some point during those 2 seconds, takes the on-ride photos. The Speedmonster is my personal favourite in Tusenfryd; unlike what our faces show, it wasn't even remotely scary, just a lot of fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnqZYxazMvRx-xjhBnu2w1UeKz0-2tjD_tvriYi1tr9aKMoJ0Z14ko9h1UH5l_rTrdp3JH5KILapAYPip-M4dCu9nks8faqnYwf4GWJDH7qtNYav7-64vtWZVV9CHiiZW99uBuDl3p7c/s1600/Photo+01-05-2016%252C+13+18+31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqnqZYxazMvRx-xjhBnu2w1UeKz0-2tjD_tvriYi1tr9aKMoJ0Z14ko9h1UH5l_rTrdp3JH5KILapAYPip-M4dCu9nks8faqnYwf4GWJDH7qtNYav7-64vtWZVV9CHiiZW99uBuDl3p7c/s320/Photo+01-05-2016%252C+13+18+31.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The scary ride award from me goes to SpinSpider. First of all, the ride seemed to have issues during the first half of the day, prompting us to leave the queue after about 30 minutes of not a single ride. We did finally get to ride it later; it didn't make any full revolutions, but it sure came very close, which was enough to make me hold on to the restraints for dear life. And when the restraints then moved a few cm outwards (which they normally do), I really reached the conclusion that I'm too young to die. Would I ride it again? Yeah, sure, why not!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63huhHFV29FhGnR4mOrtArtrQqeyqOySiDoIIJmuxANrQgMzDfJ97jyzlbRTNi4WPVGlLT3BQ_wc2p7OmZAiFMJ08keLS932kQb6DGdoHina2eJ01hfV2wsOozmzrs2Mvs8vWFn_w84M/s1600/IMG_4972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63huhHFV29FhGnR4mOrtArtrQqeyqOySiDoIIJmuxANrQgMzDfJ97jyzlbRTNi4WPVGlLT3BQ_wc2p7OmZAiFMJ08keLS932kQb6DGdoHina2eJ01hfV2wsOozmzrs2Mvs8vWFn_w84M/s320/IMG_4972.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The happy kid who found a carousel with his name on it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsexY-yhIDIvuXXE4Cosu89B5pSl6cLmJ5Mxh5LHNwFIWZuPW20wP0iswESUnVy2PYwMzOqJdluIMV8y9NhceIVE7EA9nbjA8hUYGK1Jq5DtNvGNR4CG7zONwuIOZZQ6x3u879KJaZas/s1600/IMG_4981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsexY-yhIDIvuXXE4Cosu89B5pSl6cLmJ5Mxh5LHNwFIWZuPW20wP0iswESUnVy2PYwMzOqJdluIMV8y9NhceIVE7EA9nbjA8hUYGK1Jq5DtNvGNR4CG7zONwuIOZZQ6x3u879KJaZas/s320/IMG_4981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's a merry picture of me riding Sverre.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Following the day in Tusenfryd, it was time to return to Fredrikstad and I packed up to fly back home the following day, ending my first ever trip to Norway and some of the most memorable and fun times I've had so far this year. And last but not least, a huge thanks to Sverre for being the best guide I could ever ask for!</div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-43444788486554798452016-09-21T14:17:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:02:29.749+03:00Experience: No(r)way!? Part 2 - How I lost my jawbone<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<i>This is the 2nd part of a trip report. First part can be found <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/09/experience-norway-part-1-color-fantasy.html">here</a>. </i></div>
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I left the last part off at walking through Oslo with Sverre after the Color Fantasy cruise, having no clue where he was taking me. All sorts of scenarios were going through my head and I had settled on the guess that we were going to a hotel, though we could've just as well be simply taking a train back to Fredrikstad, or onward to somewhere else. For entertainment, I shared my wildest thought of "We could also be heading to the airport to fly somewhere?" with Sverre, who remained quiet... <br />
<a name='more'></a>...and took me to the airport express ticket vending machine. My suspense slowly gave way to "SERIOUSLY?!" as we got on the train that took us to the airport. Yet, he still remained quiet about the destination as we went through security and I, being unprepared for a flight, had a bottle of deodorant confiscated. While I was throwing a minor hissy fit over that (as it was a brand new bottle of <span style="font-size: x-small;">admittedly cheap and common, but nonetheless</span> really nice smelling deodorant! How dare he take me on a surprise flight!!!), we moved to a gate that showed a SAS flight to Bergen. I was in for some really beautiful sights, hence the title of the post.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Real mountains!</td></tr>
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The flight was somewhat turbulent and so was the bus ride from the airport to the center, but soon we checked in to beautiful Det Hanseatiske Hotel, and then went to explore.<br />
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First of all, we took the funicular Fløibanen up to the viewpoint on Fløyen, where we spent a while taking pictures and admiring the breathtaking view. It was also then that I noticed that Sverre's workplace at the time, Hurtigruten's M/S Trollfjord, was present.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The red car arriving to the lowest station</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our way up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7lnJ6b7RkKjPCQp6K3wzbFqbsIyiq6nUoHkxZNrqjmzVSrhHXECvg_RjT-7SXTy-CzYjcM2lvFVQCKNxbpeshmH-3i8nJwi_jgOBw2IIzuYghR5gP8wd0pt6ybSlgkg6rIBUI2sA770/s1600/IMG_20160425_152459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7lnJ6b7RkKjPCQp6K3wzbFqbsIyiq6nUoHkxZNrqjmzVSrhHXECvg_RjT-7SXTy-CzYjcM2lvFVQCKNxbpeshmH-3i8nJwi_jgOBw2IIzuYghR5gP8wd0pt6ybSlgkg6rIBUI2sA770/s320/IMG_20160425_152459.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory tourist photo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j-0yQBm4fpeJNBtlM8o4DpIp1wqBDPA7kQ28r47KAtWb1zeTMqr-OvP1mcMskqwd1g01E_xZ7eVWJQDmd4ljOhV1tyYtw0xx8s53W8PrqYa3vJC3ZQEeZodCMWDVJOnAT7NfmDjC3jA/s1600/IMG_4609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j-0yQBm4fpeJNBtlM8o4DpIp1wqBDPA7kQ28r47KAtWb1zeTMqr-OvP1mcMskqwd1g01E_xZ7eVWJQDmd4ljOhV1tyYtw0xx8s53W8PrqYa3vJC3ZQEeZodCMWDVJOnAT7NfmDjC3jA/s320/IMG_4609.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from near the top station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S027RVTtfrIRFteCOGrNF6cMfSiGIB9XsgaLh74GyK5MLsKb7BknoR2EqtpalOjzQlPw-jDoRh5CSQCKqTCHmHvuLuw7J1LXHTrVibM83Ob88IdmPB-Al6Vja9VNV3vRIQwXARoSNqI/s1600/IMG_4612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0S027RVTtfrIRFteCOGrNF6cMfSiGIB9XsgaLh74GyK5MLsKb7BknoR2EqtpalOjzQlPw-jDoRh5CSQCKqTCHmHvuLuw7J1LXHTrVibM83Ob88IdmPB-Al6Vja9VNV3vRIQwXARoSNqI/s320/IMG_4612.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trollfjord</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK-f0pqX8iyNowFmzumIOkxvA1T9ngxOq_LNmRpQv-DvnrsA6xNpBoxoXxl3XysGecVelKSha2jnXctZ_sFsQU-vETLshL-7U7I1uReX75Q4DoPns4GZ3iJ6AxD14MeINtNeOUr8dbDo/s1600/IMG_4614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnK-f0pqX8iyNowFmzumIOkxvA1T9ngxOq_LNmRpQv-DvnrsA6xNpBoxoXxl3XysGecVelKSha2jnXctZ_sFsQU-vETLshL-7U7I1uReX75Q4DoPns4GZ3iJ6AxD14MeINtNeOUr8dbDo/s320/IMG_4614.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Britannia</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsGBOO_YokZ9zwCjQwOZiu2DCsl8wO2R6qQIkXR672CrJihkqARrvrEeKPN-662ZxNetvSn1aE8MVkc7YaVUZ4KUrYDpe-OhmEsDsP-ZNNd7DSGfFh5Lz2_EuMLsrkrGdBGXBZbgN5HQ/s1600/IMG_4617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCsGBOO_YokZ9zwCjQwOZiu2DCsl8wO2R6qQIkXR672CrJihkqARrvrEeKPN-662ZxNetvSn1aE8MVkc7YaVUZ4KUrYDpe-OhmEsDsP-ZNNd7DSGfFh5Lz2_EuMLsrkrGdBGXBZbgN5HQ/s320/IMG_4617.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another Bergen view</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blue car on its way down</td></tr>
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I'm sure it would've been great to walk down, but since our time in Bergen was extremely limited, we really had to use every second as wisely as possible. I should also mention that we were extremely lucky with the weather, as you may see the one evening we spent in Bergen it was very lovely, clear and sunny. Afterall, there are high mountains right inland from Bergen, which forces the moist air coming in from the North Atlantic to drop that moisture down, making Bergen the rainiest city in Europe with an average of 231 rainy days every year. So, I would call that a bit more than your average good weather luck. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistQBpsEGTUaNxfvYlFUoA_-m11Gv4TIpE5aEepPYf2YKdm9g-wMHaChER4oNaui1VoUAd6-aeMfPVESJ4sR6zwVAFwbspqSW-e0qdZIhLBvC85RnRwVGzYG_VMOjcAF7T5wzKC9I2lnE/s1600/IMG_4653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEistQBpsEGTUaNxfvYlFUoA_-m11Gv4TIpE5aEepPYf2YKdm9g-wMHaChER4oNaui1VoUAd6-aeMfPVESJ4sR6zwVAFwbspqSW-e0qdZIhLBvC85RnRwVGzYG_VMOjcAF7T5wzKC9I2lnE/s320/IMG_4653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bryggen</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fløibanen railway and top station</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXlypd6GwVWX5Su7K806Q7txxQZa36ZlbHI6GSKbNsb9YqNQA7gTS8eKoP51CLveFXR0q82eXAVAuBRXIknwisH-0PflvNBXW-KoiNdPM-TiB5IqrFYvW0E31cJyGE0ehkYJQcgEaoIw/s1600/IMG_4656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoXlypd6GwVWX5Su7K806Q7txxQZa36ZlbHI6GSKbNsb9YqNQA7gTS8eKoP51CLveFXR0q82eXAVAuBRXIknwisH-0PflvNBXW-KoiNdPM-TiB5IqrFYvW0E31cJyGE0ehkYJQcgEaoIw/s320/IMG_4656.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bergen is the home of many offshore ships, among others.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcisCX4O6FcZTn7EV_SoORteSCzma5lGDUJjA_AqQ5x0l2ghiZQFRnV98v93eHnyk9h5YiisCAvVPPSZCXqIdBg__9rMg0vQN6yNKC4GPZJbjZQhVO1pmjupTXP7O_Q2bPv2CWGSsilI/s1600/IMG_4671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqcisCX4O6FcZTn7EV_SoORteSCzma5lGDUJjA_AqQ5x0l2ghiZQFRnV98v93eHnyk9h5YiisCAvVPPSZCXqIdBg__9rMg0vQN6yNKC4GPZJbjZQhVO1pmjupTXP7O_Q2bPv2CWGSsilI/s320/IMG_4671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Trollfjord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After the trip up to Fløyen and a nice walk around the city, we boarded the Trollfjord for a look around and to join the Captain's dinner. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOYSiNT0xMe65Er31L4uok3LU1h4z0NxzHA4K7-6G7IcxN5sKKF_tbvvU5YDm9Ov4jvwf5tSmnryZmF1uJCWXfq7nwqugjnuqKB-P5TwhC0EAC6A9aXNhaKAQveLydXZKzBWbC56C8e8/s1600/IMG_20160425_184725.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEOYSiNT0xMe65Er31L4uok3LU1h4z0NxzHA4K7-6G7IcxN5sKKF_tbvvU5YDm9Ov4jvwf5tSmnryZmF1uJCWXfq7nwqugjnuqKB-P5TwhC0EAC6A9aXNhaKAQveLydXZKzBWbC56C8e8/s320/IMG_20160425_184725.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deck plans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1zu6KFR_Dti5UBNJIfil6Dp5jk5rCelMYMPxnXUPVMA3BVZ22DPP_ffFGpWJOOumnOXr6L5QYWbG8OpOXao_9gtO9WJxWc9wQ6fjVg9C37RMPtDO29ahJSDxbT2Jikas-G2ra_fKHCs/s1600/IMG_4678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw1zu6KFR_Dti5UBNJIfil6Dp5jk5rCelMYMPxnXUPVMA3BVZ22DPP_ffFGpWJOOumnOXr6L5QYWbG8OpOXao_9gtO9WJxWc9wQ6fjVg9C37RMPtDO29ahJSDxbT2Jikas-G2ra_fKHCs/s320/IMG_4678.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trollfjord on the Trollfjord. And quite often this duo sails past and even inside the real Trollfjord.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlstmntYPKViRYNpwQHqI_N5XGNidSDrcbwDSbJSeXu5Q3ABWi-6EEYk1IgWc3AweH_xdfonbvfT7s5OcGPYiM_9dORFusXxW-7VfM2yUgQKF47tWHXI942hvvkEGvvkKMIT3Z7I5U8x8/s1600/IMG_4686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlstmntYPKViRYNpwQHqI_N5XGNidSDrcbwDSbJSeXu5Q3ABWi-6EEYk1IgWc3AweH_xdfonbvfT7s5OcGPYiM_9dORFusXxW-7VfM2yUgQKF47tWHXI942hvvkEGvvkKMIT3Z7I5U8x8/s320/IMG_4686.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azimuth_thruster">Azimuth thruster</a> controls, among many other buttons and controls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbCOWjIs5Y4-rQHYn1TgChsP_bgRgnO4_HXPp8HPYUVZcPAMwNCFvQFoC9Y_XX4X0kw5ITQFdfPw27-X2kS5tAj_-9VcsSf2_gcV-0QbqzwbqVD-lwGuC1hbU6UpxerIyBm6gfnXKp28/s1600/IMG_5892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKbCOWjIs5Y4-rQHYn1TgChsP_bgRgnO4_HXPp8HPYUVZcPAMwNCFvQFoC9Y_XX4X0kw5ITQFdfPw27-X2kS5tAj_-9VcsSf2_gcV-0QbqzwbqVD-lwGuC1hbU6UpxerIyBm6gfnXKp28/s320/IMG_5892.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes it's nice to sit on the bridge and pretend to be a big shot like Sverre.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7naGtD2AgDBOJiLNlY7UzuROFK1cC2h6XAbmFcS5CHfv2miqmLPFkIRYUJ7kN3HzV3v_8iAseYhE7kODeOr08lFKZvmpGwhw5v4OgZBxkmDd6bf28tVvMFazDLEAeIzOoPaybDr0uJ7o/s1600/IMG_20160425_191920.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7naGtD2AgDBOJiLNlY7UzuROFK1cC2h6XAbmFcS5CHfv2miqmLPFkIRYUJ7kN3HzV3v_8iAseYhE7kODeOr08lFKZvmpGwhw5v4OgZBxkmDd6bf28tVvMFazDLEAeIzOoPaybDr0uJ7o/s320/IMG_20160425_191920.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQeSaKmeEsmCSga7Vltc65oHlFy7U3gfRU67XWatu5tFDXhzM50pwP8ntEPXLYdCbAa0a6n0gN3m6U3L3fwO0OszRnLboy3ei1p6sTntWusXxoI1VY06eyMKkv7vVriAlYyO8Zjyi8z8/s1600/IMG_20160425_201554.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYQeSaKmeEsmCSga7Vltc65oHlFy7U3gfRU67XWatu5tFDXhzM50pwP8ntEPXLYdCbAa0a6n0gN3m6U3L3fwO0OszRnLboy3ei1p6sTntWusXxoI1VY06eyMKkv7vVriAlYyO8Zjyi8z8/s320/IMG_20160425_201554.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Composed in December 2003 on board the Trollfjord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimESJ2AllGOdQgXQ1PKOswvY063heenalTmSHQp1B01bJk76hOSkEF9NVtTNFZuviNzK3kEGaHOHEpOxRFv7CaJKSBdIzH6FaZp8hZg6AUAHdohN_d1Yz-lAHyo0nfKSo6CuoTklVrFC0/s1600/IMG_20160425_201516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimESJ2AllGOdQgXQ1PKOswvY063heenalTmSHQp1B01bJk76hOSkEF9NVtTNFZuviNzK3kEGaHOHEpOxRFv7CaJKSBdIzH6FaZp8hZg6AUAHdohN_d1Yz-lAHyo0nfKSo6CuoTklVrFC0/s320/IMG_20160425_201516.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlrDvajoHug-14TCyumiMkcYTUh2QgK0sh87iUQTFM2EcwWljeD2-zalXQW-UXaC_HYBVk3_0J-9rljW5ZbblZpF0Kt1m-1ypX6YpH8GIyVBeCAdrIc8nME4XrY0xglJrbWYyYcfjlfs/s1600/IMG_20160425_201429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWlrDvajoHug-14TCyumiMkcYTUh2QgK0sh87iUQTFM2EcwWljeD2-zalXQW-UXaC_HYBVk3_0J-9rljW5ZbblZpF0Kt1m-1ypX6YpH8GIyVBeCAdrIc8nME4XrY0xglJrbWYyYcfjlfs/s320/IMG_20160425_201429.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tArY-vlyDvpWd2YPd8rIYz-ojduWTWRX3VJp69HDpwv0CEBVWGAKi0f7-S6wtVTjVkCqTuwQmpj99ntMR2j1qhhKsOBi_gr2Q3YY-Jecf7bPsSgo6kFZBnX9Azb99taidWhaWLfuYjU/s1600/IMG_20160425_201046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tArY-vlyDvpWd2YPd8rIYz-ojduWTWRX3VJp69HDpwv0CEBVWGAKi0f7-S6wtVTjVkCqTuwQmpj99ntMR2j1qhhKsOBi_gr2Q3YY-Jecf7bPsSgo6kFZBnX9Azb99taidWhaWLfuYjU/s320/IMG_20160425_201046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1Y7QplJeJ9AuZzj6KjL0Fj06eeI7m6dezeKOEnZOfmJJit1718Fq96tYZT5g7jtWjU5TT0lgdcWTcM6GRdwkuaTggc38cAR7TCJwOIn3lC2aCDHCtBcq6jtysi6YipqZNoBtnaddx5I/s1600/IMG_20160425_204127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1Y7QplJeJ9AuZzj6KjL0Fj06eeI7m6dezeKOEnZOfmJJit1718Fq96tYZT5g7jtWjU5TT0lgdcWTcM6GRdwkuaTggc38cAR7TCJwOIn3lC2aCDHCtBcq6jtysi6YipqZNoBtnaddx5I/s320/IMG_20160425_204127.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabin corridor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKZwreHGCM1Me05Z31EpHj0PSuMV1BURyU3h1wwrpp7Rn1XYQlRCYVPt_k7YdhV6z1iI_R1kmj3aqIDEdCZYAN7HDwelY6zOSR_G2Lp-EnsaW8lOJt5YjbxCEypf-h3jiwIztTHzOIBA/s1600/IMG_20160425_201714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRKZwreHGCM1Me05Z31EpHj0PSuMV1BURyU3h1wwrpp7Rn1XYQlRCYVPt_k7YdhV6z1iI_R1kmj3aqIDEdCZYAN7HDwelY6zOSR_G2Lp-EnsaW8lOJt5YjbxCEypf-h3jiwIztTHzOIBA/s320/IMG_20160425_201714.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwsP3tJtRuK6-uFuHsHQbUulHa7aC0YFXVXT3HocvqI0Tesq2BdojJHE9ZSCZ9d3wWlQVIDpw3C7mBeQNfu1YORjg8KcrUFtGIk3CH0C7kjRF6K5EbWo80bNFKltzWA6YCNgLLR65SMc/s1600/IMG_20160425_201859.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYwsP3tJtRuK6-uFuHsHQbUulHa7aC0YFXVXT3HocvqI0Tesq2BdojJHE9ZSCZ9d3wWlQVIDpw3C7mBeQNfu1YORjg8KcrUFtGIk3CH0C7kjRF6K5EbWo80bNFKltzWA6YCNgLLR65SMc/s320/IMG_20160425_201859.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fancy a dip?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTTTO6_iu6Qyn3pfrGIu-tL1UVpTwCwqCzoqLZ2sgPB0ggIKEt9rOkD2z5ogmzqFAbxSc4gM3Ag4-RICtl6RddjbedLEkF6z21oqlrxK_aKsHuMNXNWrgdZjYA_CnDfIHf2jkL_4MPXg/s1600/IMG_20160425_201948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTTTO6_iu6Qyn3pfrGIu-tL1UVpTwCwqCzoqLZ2sgPB0ggIKEt9rOkD2z5ogmzqFAbxSc4gM3Ag4-RICtl6RddjbedLEkF6z21oqlrxK_aKsHuMNXNWrgdZjYA_CnDfIHf2jkL_4MPXg/s320/IMG_20160425_201948.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqmAHnmIp2_IH_nZAWR9PCHJDO2TC9kxnMXDsLYaLcBXZCth_VU-VdHjGQ8n0NZRb_oV2iCS_Z5I7FqVnpnwucGpe_CcQuL8NvPG673IWV7eWKkWinBPfSPZIJZdPGDkO1xxRVOHSaM4/s1600/IMG_20160425_202909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOqmAHnmIp2_IH_nZAWR9PCHJDO2TC9kxnMXDsLYaLcBXZCth_VU-VdHjGQ8n0NZRb_oV2iCS_Z5I7FqVnpnwucGpe_CcQuL8NvPG673IWV7eWKkWinBPfSPZIJZdPGDkO1xxRVOHSaM4/s320/IMG_20160425_202909.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cardeck door. Hurtigruten ships only have those on the port side, which means that they always come in port side alongside, in every port along their route. Perhaps I should mention that I have a somewhat impressive collection of aft from port side bridge wing view photos from Hurtigruten ports, almost all of them, as Sverre has sent me some over time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmRH28w-2LpRfiK1xLXgaizPNeh3PgkDiCv617CQcEkc2VF2EOyvNKVlHi9ItdKyYz1YW0HteZWus7RY4gQFGoErGvLp4NbQK8u-m1pNp1mPjdcLNcr5d0iWkiuG6aHJzu7FhYp_5oCE/s1600/IMG_20160425_203649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmRH28w-2LpRfiK1xLXgaizPNeh3PgkDiCv617CQcEkc2VF2EOyvNKVlHi9ItdKyYz1YW0HteZWus7RY4gQFGoErGvLp4NbQK8u-m1pNp1mPjdcLNcr5d0iWkiuG6aHJzu7FhYp_5oCE/s320/IMG_20160425_203649.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engine room aesthetics; auxiliary engine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN0WFbwxeqUkbF0gk5sTgEPKMLJY8cUTAXSI2YXxkjpB2p4FRQnOONqSRu3gc6l3fkKnd9Oua8_CrhseDnT69qxai6Qb78XoG0IziO0l0Gp3-Pg8LH4Nz_7giV13FHa85liZB9ieUdUs/s1600/IMG_20160425_203820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXN0WFbwxeqUkbF0gk5sTgEPKMLJY8cUTAXSI2YXxkjpB2p4FRQnOONqSRu3gc6l3fkKnd9Oua8_CrhseDnT69qxai6Qb78XoG0IziO0l0Gp3-Pg8LH4Nz_7giV13FHa85liZB9ieUdUs/s320/IMG_20160425_203820.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Engine room control panel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6EXQRk-7tYqWA2UhV9fxqhtZ3ybjldKdpWIoVnSJYQ0DUiSqTkb-lstOYPnPDGsZVD6ioN2hQoXhgyynbPJ0IIC1UptFp3Aj2CMceYSpR9A3jw3rYFImfpHRMCLH_TVuCQbcFW9-z6g/s1600/IMG_20160425_212548.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6EXQRk-7tYqWA2UhV9fxqhtZ3ybjldKdpWIoVnSJYQ0DUiSqTkb-lstOYPnPDGsZVD6ioN2hQoXhgyynbPJ0IIC1UptFp3Aj2CMceYSpR9A3jw3rYFImfpHRMCLH_TVuCQbcFW9-z6g/s320/IMG_20160425_212548.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJsZNxa-RhGDTNmdNnQCaE2kFILv5xpvyudFsa60bcMISlRhrsae5G6Pj1hdXsDQR7KSUVVXAKIggXZgvifjVhOTeY4dgwuot_daWcgW7GXtVHV6pg4ePtV2bqVTqDoO_M1SqNgqAbgQ/s1600/IMG_20160425_212530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJsZNxa-RhGDTNmdNnQCaE2kFILv5xpvyudFsa60bcMISlRhrsae5G6Pj1hdXsDQR7KSUVVXAKIggXZgvifjVhOTeY4dgwuot_daWcgW7GXtVHV6pg4ePtV2bqVTqDoO_M1SqNgqAbgQ/s320/IMG_20160425_212530.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After the visit to Trollfjord it was good time to get some rest at the hotel, because the following morning we had to get up at silly o'clock to catch the first train of our day, which took us to Myrdal, with a 20-minute stop in Voss on the way. Already then, despite being quite sleepy, I was mostly looking out because whenever we weren't in a tunnel, the view was quite something to see. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuucREVxUELpNa-UujS3aCGJhKu6_fb9sOq7l5CYG8d4Vbsm3ffUCd1eyUXYTXTrRFUqoaikU4Nkk7CpP7Kbu-u7Cn-MTxgWrJSuWXqb0DJYws8swGGoggOqU8F2bFG-SOP_PhmZti1jA/s1600/IMG_20160426_073251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuucREVxUELpNa-UujS3aCGJhKu6_fb9sOq7l5CYG8d4Vbsm3ffUCd1eyUXYTXTrRFUqoaikU4Nkk7CpP7Kbu-u7Cn-MTxgWrJSuWXqb0DJYws8swGGoggOqU8F2bFG-SOP_PhmZti1jA/s320/IMG_20160426_073251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx6KJoVfYS9MDxxk4_bHxszNmOh3IE8NSL8QlFJP8fsByAEbzJeZQObRFYvACeXCdvrC5bJBFlB0Og6DLpdaAoe847Sr7mCdG5BmXNHKmMcB9y4UZhtxW8kKb4XD0SOIP-0-ovviqyME/s1600/IMG_20160426_081346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyx6KJoVfYS9MDxxk4_bHxszNmOh3IE8NSL8QlFJP8fsByAEbzJeZQObRFYvACeXCdvrC5bJBFlB0Og6DLpdaAoe847Sr7mCdG5BmXNHKmMcB9y4UZhtxW8kKb4XD0SOIP-0-ovviqyME/s320/IMG_20160426_081346.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voss train station</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-Lwsyrdsc9IaogamffXNZnDT7A3mB_RqhS2ifrudgZGAM9iQTCaaqGvaa-7oWwMLkantVYScorGiYmbEXpwHIshecwGNVkDOxM-E41gfF3CYPk9FvuXqbRe2TSUx4RebhY6WChufRqo/s1600/IMG_20160426_081857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-Lwsyrdsc9IaogamffXNZnDT7A3mB_RqhS2ifrudgZGAM9iQTCaaqGvaa-7oWwMLkantVYScorGiYmbEXpwHIshecwGNVkDOxM-E41gfF3CYPk9FvuXqbRe2TSUx4RebhY6WChufRqo/s320/IMG_20160426_081857.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1LWWc5oko4ER6_U7Ect8I3LjloRLWqETkV5I_aBTKoB_vt9ZBMxU7NOCbqCQAagMXQWF2lmds9g4USZfOtEwiA8o8NpI1ONkeIFI0u1-WxF9ehvZrHop9rCQRtMP3riSo-vPEBI2tuE/s1600/IMG_4692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx1LWWc5oko4ER6_U7Ect8I3LjloRLWqETkV5I_aBTKoB_vt9ZBMxU7NOCbqCQAagMXQWF2lmds9g4USZfOtEwiA8o8NpI1ONkeIFI0u1-WxF9ehvZrHop9rCQRtMP3riSo-vPEBI2tuE/s320/IMG_4692.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voss, 57 meters above sea level; 385,5 km from Oslo; 106,7 km from Bergen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRjg6bTEb_YT-m20ajXZuiD7CteRvpi7xo6UMHl8_B-VdV7DYbAvMdOVlBA-ANx1yhootp6Xu0P-upsDXym1FZ-r4WopQHkHK2FFo9ARe93-naMKnJEsfbfyncfY5hkarIs4609keMtA/s1600/IMG_4712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRjg6bTEb_YT-m20ajXZuiD7CteRvpi7xo6UMHl8_B-VdV7DYbAvMdOVlBA-ANx1yhootp6Xu0P-upsDXym1FZ-r4WopQHkHK2FFo9ARe93-naMKnJEsfbfyncfY5hkarIs4609keMtA/s320/IMG_4712.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the stop in Voss, we started ascending...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL_9k1V56Y-PgS0J63LyFXAPCR8gAOmqcrHYuLHhv0juawE4AOVZUd1ENjD7lflA0stV32d37XgJ-2-ynYlZMs_64f24ZMifqrlcFaWzfzJGvzQgSydMzjVVSbwZu43fkbr9N6W75-b4/s1600/IMG_4695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL_9k1V56Y-PgS0J63LyFXAPCR8gAOmqcrHYuLHhv0juawE4AOVZUd1ENjD7lflA0stV32d37XgJ-2-ynYlZMs_64f24ZMifqrlcFaWzfzJGvzQgSydMzjVVSbwZu43fkbr9N6W75-b4/s320/IMG_4695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the views from the train window got snowier...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o5H4dLp-h5JMcu3-WQAQ0F0GZse48YqfYMTPLp74zmYPJccYDCVvnBUzgGcTTfRP8lpnvgbvyYqDgszP0uYUBoyEoktyB02T9z3PL_OGxZWFsAhvTtb51S47jwtJtVWYMIUjHcigzzA/s1600/IMG_4725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1o5H4dLp-h5JMcu3-WQAQ0F0GZse48YqfYMTPLp74zmYPJccYDCVvnBUzgGcTTfRP8lpnvgbvyYqDgszP0uYUBoyEoktyB02T9z3PL_OGxZWFsAhvTtb51S47jwtJtVWYMIUjHcigzzA/s320/IMG_4725.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and snowier...</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVdV44-VZdR6dJK-fwsJ5UKmLAWdK7DwDURln7hmiqJjGjBzvtvWvggo-LMgtG8z8AyYZbzxcv_V2S8ULjanYDjUuXxbFHf1l3eGaYfI6WGBW8_jIRuJ2xik3g6DyKeigt5atwKrGTEc/s1600/IMG_4701.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVdV44-VZdR6dJK-fwsJ5UKmLAWdK7DwDURln7hmiqJjGjBzvtvWvggo-LMgtG8z8AyYZbzxcv_V2S8ULjanYDjUuXxbFHf1l3eGaYfI6WGBW8_jIRuJ2xik3g6DyKeigt5atwKrGTEc/s320/IMG_4701.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9xUm9D5D_D8xHpuY8g6J0fmouQzlF1HW7-ePowBSeYmWsDQE9YN4zOMVkaELIGsR8IrFSpXk5COoVYvu8A-rkrdhIG4saLthKfz1lVvPHl7GzN2p3CmFaT3cnn4_TP-VMar0puYnJwQ/s1600/IMG_20160426_090847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw9xUm9D5D_D8xHpuY8g6J0fmouQzlF1HW7-ePowBSeYmWsDQE9YN4zOMVkaELIGsR8IrFSpXk5COoVYvu8A-rkrdhIG4saLthKfz1lVvPHl7GzN2p3CmFaT3cnn4_TP-VMar0puYnJwQ/s320/IMG_20160426_090847.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76xC5NUbYViKuZEPkdEASQseyfyQfeB4_qVE-tZHw3uLGDaMav5reGJYYUNnz0nHGVwd_G4zKMEUch6cuNt51ksqgPPja3QpN9XNmdGfvU5UEDb3S9Sqk6gIiv_cEt0YCAQF__zKLFSs/s1600/IMG_4734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76xC5NUbYViKuZEPkdEASQseyfyQfeB4_qVE-tZHw3uLGDaMav5reGJYYUNnz0nHGVwd_G4zKMEUch6cuNt51ksqgPPja3QpN9XNmdGfvU5UEDb3S9Sqk6gIiv_cEt0YCAQF__zKLFSs/s320/IMG_4734.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... until we finally reached Myrdal, 867 meters above sea level.</td></tr>
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In Myrdal we got off that train as it wasn't going to take us any further anyway. And our next train to Flåm just happened to depart from there, too.<br />
The railway from Myrdal to Flåm, having long ago ceased to serve any other purpose than tourism, is nowadays advertised as the world's most beautiful train journey. And I can tell you that it's not really too much of an exaggeration. Also, we were very fortunate to be there before the high season of herds of tourists and quite luxuriously had an entire carriage for ourselves, with the freedom to run from one side to the other depending on where the epic view was.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0olq-QHQwWusgM94RNW-2UUyG0ZR-6YWnGPuL0gxprZUMfw1K_ZnABDOrvUwgdntv-o6htcZ7q40CBXD5RTsfO279gED8sjON9n2M-WXWzRTukWLl1QH1uz7gg1wibufX7YlP6EbhgQ/s1600/IMG_6064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0olq-QHQwWusgM94RNW-2UUyG0ZR-6YWnGPuL0gxprZUMfw1K_ZnABDOrvUwgdntv-o6htcZ7q40CBXD5RTsfO279gED8sjON9n2M-WXWzRTukWLl1QH1uz7gg1wibufX7YlP6EbhgQ/s320/IMG_6064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The carriages, converted for the purpose, had quite a lovely interior. </td></tr>
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The journey to Flåm along the Flåm valley is about 20km long and takes roughly an hour, descending down to only a few meters above sea level, with the steepest slope of 5,5 percent. Along the line there are 20 tunnels, one bridge and 8 stops, one of which is a stop of 5 minutes at a platform built near Kjosfossen waterfall, with the mere purpose of allowing tourists to have a look at it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX7JjyWsO1sr2Uv2gjkvuhNu0i8Jazdx-16_DGW5C8NmhBIdNj-9LQYDojiUf7W1-q8-X9xOvd98S4V_xH0kYfLj1mLiVLLR20LKy-XDfk8V9aXkHQBexYkKWiaqPrEcGjBt2xXwmKDE/s1600/kart-flaamsdalen-stort-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX7JjyWsO1sr2Uv2gjkvuhNu0i8Jazdx-16_DGW5C8NmhBIdNj-9LQYDojiUf7W1-q8-X9xOvd98S4V_xH0kYfLj1mLiVLLR20LKy-XDfk8V9aXkHQBexYkKWiaqPrEcGjBt2xXwmKDE/s320/kart-flaamsdalen-stort-copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this image does a much better job in making it all clear than any description that I might whip up myself.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCTNlvqJnccwU70_ipl-UFUKsnCjwZlrqUEAMIFZUFPxgN5RRj6vK5NcUeslGVf2yE1CEeiU-w1K1IeU9RoBs9no5LxfirNMZ5YZF14ds-HcWVL_92Ke84pDW4057WGmmKKntLhYQWcI/s1600/IMG_20160426_094316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGCTNlvqJnccwU70_ipl-UFUKsnCjwZlrqUEAMIFZUFPxgN5RRj6vK5NcUeslGVf2yE1CEeiU-w1K1IeU9RoBs9no5LxfirNMZ5YZF14ds-HcWVL_92Ke84pDW4057WGmmKKntLhYQWcI/s320/IMG_20160426_094316.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the very beginning, the views were quite similar.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdTl3n6Tq2Q66Kths3CLXn2WCVdvCUxf0rwXSibqksGTS1ESpijWLTHyr9WCyn8eBiA3WdosHTMW0NdDubEzpViExFkCrhO_9ILBind8R8ql8KsSeJgOBOQPQMUFpf7Alo9s-CJ1GQeY/s1600/IMG_20160426_094901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdTl3n6Tq2Q66Kths3CLXn2WCVdvCUxf0rwXSibqksGTS1ESpijWLTHyr9WCyn8eBiA3WdosHTMW0NdDubEzpViExFkCrhO_9ILBind8R8ql8KsSeJgOBOQPQMUFpf7Alo9s-CJ1GQeY/s320/IMG_20160426_094901.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Until we got to the valley. For quite understandable reasons, some of the beautiful views had to be observed through support beams. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOkrA-Lc3ZzW_RUFLZ8-JjUsYDhAITxac6py6bT-hGoA-Yl3CHw_N9fxE5nPRA3plyPnasMSqj885bLdf89KBU9VNecUn7lpQixzLiiHkbQXRRnCuLzmKE8ACJlkhwqNP98WuUzRxseQ/s1600/IMG_4748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOkrA-Lc3ZzW_RUFLZ8-JjUsYDhAITxac6py6bT-hGoA-Yl3CHw_N9fxE5nPRA3plyPnasMSqj885bLdf89KBU9VNecUn7lpQixzLiiHkbQXRRnCuLzmKE8ACJlkhwqNP98WuUzRxseQ/s320/IMG_4748.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even though the train was slow and slowed down even more in spots with nice views, taking pictures could still be somewhat challenging from between support structures - I believe this lucky shot would've turned out perfect if my camera had managed to focus.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVIRw3sNmz3TzogTlO7XQcomFcDV3jt0XsnwWiTnCqjGuHnqTmGx3sNr7dwOnjGqVBYKfBStvzhXhhUddW7AHLHRIBqx9ODjFUvpGjdZW8bZmyJtMfdSmw3qZkKjUccJkVtsUpqbd05c/s1600/IMG_4773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijVIRw3sNmz3TzogTlO7XQcomFcDV3jt0XsnwWiTnCqjGuHnqTmGx3sNr7dwOnjGqVBYKfBStvzhXhhUddW7AHLHRIBqx9ODjFUvpGjdZW8bZmyJtMfdSmw3qZkKjUccJkVtsUpqbd05c/s320/IMG_4773.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railways and roads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRBN0M9uTdIiyw0oJWAcfAJR1pbpSuXQYPfGrqU9e8NNhaqEFkUK61a91iFrYXW6FEW9l95EyFCuNcsmElz1KfeOtVoyxLQRamHGXfJ8CpPRw6hgku9xboKpr8M-oHJ94fYU8NTArAX4/s1600/IMG_4760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRBN0M9uTdIiyw0oJWAcfAJR1pbpSuXQYPfGrqU9e8NNhaqEFkUK61a91iFrYXW6FEW9l95EyFCuNcsmElz1KfeOtVoyxLQRamHGXfJ8CpPRw6hgku9xboKpr8M-oHJ94fYU8NTArAX4/s320/IMG_4760.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kjosfossen station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lkMlWk9WmgjGQeXVKnVc77UatI-E7HkaUH9ado8ANXxJuQsy98hwxswbSuQ4VVOl5IpFEM5fFUM_DhNL6jD4z4aXf7NTFjZ9QjHrYoS3RiUGKvvuj4Pqbqx686lxcrqhKwB2MolFopE/s1600/IMG_4758.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lkMlWk9WmgjGQeXVKnVc77UatI-E7HkaUH9ado8ANXxJuQsy98hwxswbSuQ4VVOl5IpFEM5fFUM_DhNL6jD4z4aXf7NTFjZ9QjHrYoS3RiUGKvvuj4Pqbqx686lxcrqhKwB2MolFopE/s320/IMG_4758.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kjosfossen waterfall, still frozen at that time. When not frozen, the highest freefall is 93 meters and the total fall around 225 meters.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpEV3iP22xZ2wWBLgGXSYgtyuaAWfFf3lwtsVOGGHcC_soFqqt0sWykfQQ3VJgkE7U5BxSMsWLwiGa_r3UNlwSHIA6f6O0VwRIGNKWq6Fo0aCr3VE65DFXpPoLFlmpunkBrx-KZRf-wY/s1600/IMG_6124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpEV3iP22xZ2wWBLgGXSYgtyuaAWfFf3lwtsVOGGHcC_soFqqt0sWykfQQ3VJgkE7U5BxSMsWLwiGa_r3UNlwSHIA6f6O0VwRIGNKWq6Fo0aCr3VE65DFXpPoLFlmpunkBrx-KZRf-wY/s320/IMG_6124.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tourist selfie of the day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzJGyxSOdkHLCXo6f4mIs8l2C5uiv8IiP00Fc1PGWAQFbrvDxQS3iPxdAnHvSgqgx7yD_6IFvlkoiPSPgfGZ-1O5zcSjV7rtuGlib24LjQsEAEBGzQFC3X1XVmoeeLi4v9c6KOM2bDYk/s1600/IMG_20160426_102022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzJGyxSOdkHLCXo6f4mIs8l2C5uiv8IiP00Fc1PGWAQFbrvDxQS3iPxdAnHvSgqgx7yD_6IFvlkoiPSPgfGZ-1O5zcSjV7rtuGlib24LjQsEAEBGzQFC3X1XVmoeeLi4v9c6KOM2bDYk/s320/IMG_20160426_102022.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUJU66vE20Xw9I4Pn8rC1ilPugQ6A4ySEnX8G-kskNNhVPwr9Mu5xDRqRSDP6cGxbPwZ5RVKxJ3aolPt-LJUUcwNwa7zDADyPA8nAUYE6RSATEdNPlsP74Dznd85bbq3jPcEaHdI_Z1I/s1600/IMG_4781.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizUJU66vE20Xw9I4Pn8rC1ilPugQ6A4ySEnX8G-kskNNhVPwr9Mu5xDRqRSDP6cGxbPwZ5RVKxJ3aolPt-LJUUcwNwa7zDADyPA8nAUYE6RSATEdNPlsP74Dznd85bbq3jPcEaHdI_Z1I/s320/IMG_4781.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the other train at the passing lane</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNUujd5AUuP1o1WWslQw0WCTZukJv_uZb1t7oXFnSky6BzJjyAJJxnTEavuneC1ywtJF-l-HdzugB8LSyyLx7bg5Fy8m-_ylX3irmxHgmXVuQXE-4md8Xu_TtU1jXRh5_0YuBfff3Fq4/s1600/IMG_20160426_102413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNUujd5AUuP1o1WWslQw0WCTZukJv_uZb1t7oXFnSky6BzJjyAJJxnTEavuneC1ywtJF-l-HdzugB8LSyyLx7bg5Fy8m-_ylX3irmxHgmXVuQXE-4md8Xu_TtU1jXRh5_0YuBfff3Fq4/s320/IMG_20160426_102413.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUeQBzSs8-IbnSVaTCHX1wirWeGMgi2RDNb5HJIVOYu3pzpauh1EHA3wOf947-lMgbX2JH1467gUsHSLkPXWFGxnkNiiLwPp8WJbqodRMyA51HsvDM9OUPRoH4JxtL4MzaktfBvlWvMY/s1600/IMG_20160426_102141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYUeQBzSs8-IbnSVaTCHX1wirWeGMgi2RDNb5HJIVOYu3pzpauh1EHA3wOf947-lMgbX2JH1467gUsHSLkPXWFGxnkNiiLwPp8WJbqodRMyA51HsvDM9OUPRoH4JxtL4MzaktfBvlWvMY/s320/IMG_20160426_102141.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVtIeHEQFEnjQlu-UQcaVHXUou2QmUJs7Mj_4_a3FIP9jG2L9KKd29XR03yCGtlRMH9qbqq_3oKOoIWPpE8QI4NcJ1r7C2RtIZRPRSebilVUKegDMNW5PPFgMwamj7Xie9k6uEKczddg/s1600/IMG_4799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipVtIeHEQFEnjQlu-UQcaVHXUou2QmUJs7Mj_4_a3FIP9jG2L9KKd29XR03yCGtlRMH9qbqq_3oKOoIWPpE8QI4NcJ1r7C2RtIZRPRSebilVUKegDMNW5PPFgMwamj7Xie9k6uEKczddg/s320/IMG_4799.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No mountain is beautiful enough to distract Sverre when he's busy being himself.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzztKCS5-0af56LiQ0S9K-xssqcM2lvdQqJAcvhQGGAF6jBiMwwi0UdPNPLp8eRHJermiOgcbx7HcBbIc_Nsr1zUUte4eXZW8aKFvYq-IA4U6XHNRu7ePRJCqFsG8-htX9_8u5fAzftEg/s1600/IMG_20160426_102436.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzztKCS5-0af56LiQ0S9K-xssqcM2lvdQqJAcvhQGGAF6jBiMwwi0UdPNPLp8eRHJermiOgcbx7HcBbIc_Nsr1zUUte4eXZW8aKFvYq-IA4U6XHNRu7ePRJCqFsG8-htX9_8u5fAzftEg/s320/IMG_20160426_102436.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This proud shot of the Flåm village has been a worthy background image on my phone ever since.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4jP749JaPgi9545AHQ-1jN8fWkB3gWdEBSD4sq2JaImuuDhhzzTgHOACifIg8GpdWMhN6VJrpRI_OfQiihiVq9IQ_lZLxnNkJH8K3zW0I9IqIVZPLtp0XDNX0IG0N-_K8QG2xbI_n0c/s1600/IMG_20160426_102535.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4jP749JaPgi9545AHQ-1jN8fWkB3gWdEBSD4sq2JaImuuDhhzzTgHOACifIg8GpdWMhN6VJrpRI_OfQiihiVq9IQ_lZLxnNkJH8K3zW0I9IqIVZPLtp0XDNX0IG0N-_K8QG2xbI_n0c/s320/IMG_20160426_102535.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Among many other buildings, the Flåm Church, built in 1670, should be quite easy to find. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROeeRH_6Lf4k1xYLu3c488xAAiYaQ7tx7lYN1072C-Ke3dFsdZxWxmHdHUC-OPZbJGKqbGNK9pEhhN3afblSBP_6b7eaG35ZbpCq_6p13m3LToPHZDpWkbfVfEk1cCNdV9GOLSq91Kr4/s1600/IMG_20160426_103504.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiROeeRH_6Lf4k1xYLu3c488xAAiYaQ7tx7lYN1072C-Ke3dFsdZxWxmHdHUC-OPZbJGKqbGNK9pEhhN3afblSBP_6b7eaG35ZbpCq_6p13m3LToPHZDpWkbfVfEk1cCNdV9GOLSq91Kr4/s320/IMG_20160426_103504.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flåm station. A stone throw away from the station there is a museum dedicated to the Flåm railway.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRnRs-tJvCsvl-oI8jSaRnTKYTO4hwIxtkeF10ZM30HaJTFFSE0lRxnYV1O30u5PNDLoGVzcDMNaQLeiU4ZyIUkex2tgXEVtSHhkkn5E4tG0TNE_czTYnDwscJQwYnrnBrndDTuOj5VU/s1600/IMG_20160426_111120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRnRs-tJvCsvl-oI8jSaRnTKYTO4hwIxtkeF10ZM30HaJTFFSE0lRxnYV1O30u5PNDLoGVzcDMNaQLeiU4ZyIUkex2tgXEVtSHhkkn5E4tG0TNE_czTYnDwscJQwYnrnBrndDTuOj5VU/s320/IMG_20160426_111120.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flåm is a village of around 400 people, but it receives more than a thousand times as many visitors every year, which explains the need for a hotel and a cruise terminal, and several souvenir stores.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hs_b-GBQuJ4HA5FI2Z2j4uhjy4gvM0UeP3bDucXhzydvVxYb67Vw7pnN8MvB5tlg0lQBLfwGKEO46DJr2nUfdgaKqkUzjHiaABG4x_AgoWP6lPqPokMFcBnx2J_jAlT-GsB9X6UuJ04/s1600/20160921_015735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Hs_b-GBQuJ4HA5FI2Z2j4uhjy4gvM0UeP3bDucXhzydvVxYb67Vw7pnN8MvB5tlg0lQBLfwGKEO46DJr2nUfdgaKqkUzjHiaABG4x_AgoWP6lPqPokMFcBnx2J_jAlT-GsB9X6UuJ04/s320/20160921_015735.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in one of those stores I found this beautiful granite spice grinder that was almost calling me by name until I gave in and bought it. And I'm so glad I did!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d7zJ5hmJ8ZOcTqKGASvC3T2-K5MaiCFAHEvANvI7MR9_LE1btGHQCIqLabHD6l21OQK61HlxIO2Hsrmvendry2OPXicQ_SLUIggELblnaqP06KFujisP-zuo9SxFDkFytmjpLY435u4/s1600/IMG_20160426_111054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d7zJ5hmJ8ZOcTqKGASvC3T2-K5MaiCFAHEvANvI7MR9_LE1btGHQCIqLabHD6l21OQK61HlxIO2Hsrmvendry2OPXicQ_SLUIggELblnaqP06KFujisP-zuo9SxFDkFytmjpLY435u4/s320/IMG_20160426_111054.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flåm is located at the inner end of the Aurlandsfjord, which is a branch of the Sognefjord, the world's longest open and ice free fjord.</td></tr>
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After a few hours in Flåm, which included admiring the breathtaking scenery, shopping and the most scenic lunch I've ever had, it was time to take the same train back up to Myrdal and get on a train that was moving onward to Oslo. For the first couple of hours of the five hour journey the lovely views continued as we ascended more, but later on, after we had come down to near sea level again, we finally got to nap away the hours we lost to the early wakeup. After arrival to Oslo we had a dinner in Hard Rock Cafe and then took the train back home to Fredrikstad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuw9OrbQvdjQ4vn2ZZuk-WVk80r60emySMMorliuVtXCZW7ozwftlM6rakUWWgIWNEN3FFFlEJThf8GeXj728m2BdVa6aYxgl0W5e78GN3OqH6XLhJCX2WO8lw8qAGe62c5fmvypE1Y8/s1600/IMG_20160426_144310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuw9OrbQvdjQ4vn2ZZuk-WVk80r60emySMMorliuVtXCZW7ozwftlM6rakUWWgIWNEN3FFFlEJThf8GeXj728m2BdVa6aYxgl0W5e78GN3OqH6XLhJCX2WO8lw8qAGe62c5fmvypE1Y8/s320/IMG_20160426_144310.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As we ascended, the layer of snow on the ground got thicker and thicker</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2AN16KKBimpCOCtEdRuXw8ZKohLyMZSdvzX7ztsENFXWOcnv_SVUwYWKGo-M04Yf-i5xZK9cJs_X3WV96Ua_El0bbgyX-sUoF22R7bR9FUOtEa7RgCDSHimAGMRU2cFErhL9V4rARac/s1600/IMG_20160426_143528.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA2AN16KKBimpCOCtEdRuXw8ZKohLyMZSdvzX7ztsENFXWOcnv_SVUwYWKGo-M04Yf-i5xZK9cJs_X3WV96Ua_El0bbgyX-sUoF22R7bR9FUOtEa7RgCDSHimAGMRU2cFErhL9V4rARac/s320/IMG_20160426_143528.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not too long afterwards, we reached Finse, the highest station on the Bergen line at 1222 meters above sea level. The highest point on the line, 1237 meters, is inside the Finse tunnel. Admittedly my ears got a bit blocked at that altitude.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS6ay_w-i5Y8Vz51w-Uxziku5vTHRKg9wxpvJP6s2AoILDmQ3ZtEkX457tf_PoZdeuMRL73diGTmoVHpsMAhW7-IUenssUGRDBrG9ZcgS6nwHnr6bbFQeAO4A7oGuQIYh_MujVDXuuR8/s1600/IMG_20160426_143652.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXS6ay_w-i5Y8Vz51w-Uxziku5vTHRKg9wxpvJP6s2AoILDmQ3ZtEkX457tf_PoZdeuMRL73diGTmoVHpsMAhW7-IUenssUGRDBrG9ZcgS6nwHnr6bbFQeAO4A7oGuQIYh_MujVDXuuR8/s320/IMG_20160426_143652.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along the route we saw quite many skiers. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnB8CPpefztevrKK9kSFdAEcUy00m4rA5jzPv_RaDrx07GzYDrizZZqLokLc6qVLg0S9GmzlAXT1lLNctcl50C9tSuXctVDzOHV622zmstozIf8T2aizhFQ6k4B9daRUcOcnV7DoGS5w/s1600/IMG_20160426_143812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnB8CPpefztevrKK9kSFdAEcUy00m4rA5jzPv_RaDrx07GzYDrizZZqLokLc6qVLg0S9GmzlAXT1lLNctcl50C9tSuXctVDzOHV622zmstozIf8T2aizhFQ6k4B9daRUcOcnV7DoGS5w/s320/IMG_20160426_143812.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Over time, there have been quite many occasions where heavy snowfall, avalanches or landslides have blocked the railway. To combat the issue, quite a lot of snowsheds and tunnels have been built. In total, on the 496-kilometer line (counting the long loop the passenger trains make via Drammen), there are 182 tunnels with a total length of around 73 kilometers, and 39 stations.</td></tr>
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Admittedly most of the pictures of that day were taken through a train window and thus lacked a bit in quality. But considering that, just imagine how indescribably amazing it was really being there. Well, I can tell you, you can't. You'd have to go there and see it. In fact, I've already sworn to repeat that journey some day, partially with the purpose of going to look for that jawbone I lost in Flåm.<br />
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-86971052939444564092016-09-19T17:00:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:04:18.622+03:00Experience: No(r)way!? Part 1 - Color Fantasy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Now I've finally come to the point where I can write down one of my absolute highlights of this year so far - my first trip to Norway to visit Sverre, from the 21st of April until the 2nd of May. It was a rather unusual one for me as prior to the trip I didn't know anything except my arrival and departure dates and times, and what to pack. Sverre was the one doing the plans for my stay and he was very keen on keeping it all a secret, so I had no idea what to expect and didn't really fully believe anything was happening at all until I sat on the plane.<br />
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The arrival day and the day afterwards were nice and peaceful; we spent some time walking around beautiful Fredrikstad and attended a birthday party.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG65d6a-tfWWFERjCjplZT8urClbsCHOvtYYW652fyB7v_cthuXbm5HCokZ37BMdsLxBNnBbcW5ksmxq9xS3RT57sLyvzMYNPF8SmGxrKa9AjwlXsSO-tjDEV9OAhl2o7Rfjd-f6A_Qg0/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG65d6a-tfWWFERjCjplZT8urClbsCHOvtYYW652fyB7v_cthuXbm5HCokZ37BMdsLxBNnBbcW5ksmxq9xS3RT57sLyvzMYNPF8SmGxrKa9AjwlXsSO-tjDEV9OAhl2o7Rfjd-f6A_Qg0/s320/IMG_4009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fredrikstad river ferries</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzl8agYaQMzBfaQT_9lnA4SdrJGabZQhWDutQO_I-RvIyQU31aUbCMb6dzKBMOy7IUZvMGmMJJp6UYybvBxhDPCZZejlXEVv4JY98-9wjy4DXY6yCPtbmvTdCXEwV_ZBrFmMuVth0p5g/s1600/IMG_4019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzl8agYaQMzBfaQT_9lnA4SdrJGabZQhWDutQO_I-RvIyQU31aUbCMb6dzKBMOy7IUZvMGmMJJp6UYybvBxhDPCZZejlXEVv4JY98-9wjy4DXY6yCPtbmvTdCXEwV_ZBrFmMuVth0p5g/s320/IMG_4019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large bulker being loaded in the port</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6m4aO960XRvzYmOeTg80L2bkLupT0u_Nx3ucE-rB9A8xKVpzhhi9fmvUsdYl4jSIMqsE5n68h-pAb7GGi8Ryry7UF86iwfXCq1zwhoHtYHkXSqn1_nYXGs5h8J9SUBSlJEttG7OHT6Y/s1600/IMG_4024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6m4aO960XRvzYmOeTg80L2bkLupT0u_Nx3ucE-rB9A8xKVpzhhi9fmvUsdYl4jSIMqsE5n68h-pAb7GGi8Ryry7UF86iwfXCq1zwhoHtYHkXSqn1_nYXGs5h8J9SUBSlJEttG7OHT6Y/s320/IMG_4024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View up the river Glomma from Isegran island</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LdsK2oLz7aGCT7kN5ls6qEFIh0sjo5Cnb8HbPhshrSqxQi__cXAlY70VZdbsb8glysa4baTXs8BFsXB_K4CtENC65n1vnC8wgudmU1mX2qWkDxqWmCRAEfreT67N67uHI5kWsQQFy18/s1600/IMG_4030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LdsK2oLz7aGCT7kN5ls6qEFIh0sjo5Cnb8HbPhshrSqxQi__cXAlY70VZdbsb8glysa4baTXs8BFsXB_K4CtENC65n1vnC8wgudmU1mX2qWkDxqWmCRAEfreT67N67uHI5kWsQQFy18/s320/IMG_4030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you may see from the green buoy, the current is quite heavy in river Glomma.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32dO-O7ohYEUzke7ypiv3Dyt1eQ0MWiDpSD-1e431sPF1ipI0j4UvrfBbg6Lt0KAg52IJ4OAOWKcJwINkVz5PqG4J2d_t5hobP6amnwvm1qTcxqmE7DzF3E5fjw6XmxX2oIxLtxOhuAE/s1600/IMG_4043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32dO-O7ohYEUzke7ypiv3Dyt1eQ0MWiDpSD-1e431sPF1ipI0j4UvrfBbg6Lt0KAg52IJ4OAOWKcJwINkVz5PqG4J2d_t5hobP6amnwvm1qTcxqmE7DzF3E5fjw6XmxX2oIxLtxOhuAE/s320/IMG_4043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful moats around Old Fredrikstad</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU0KoNYvyk6_R5eazppHcBbku2dhhgph-7ybW9SvZv91Kku5K6QJQqzq6zcwprILyCyL9m6eaNUfSDhbdb-fV9YqkAin9sehhLFttNIvyIwnOYb98z9S1h4nr_ah5gtA_fNxtgtO2578/s1600/aerial+fredrikstad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgU0KoNYvyk6_R5eazppHcBbku2dhhgph-7ybW9SvZv91Kku5K6QJQqzq6zcwprILyCyL9m6eaNUfSDhbdb-fV9YqkAin9sehhLFttNIvyIwnOYb98z9S1h4nr_ah5gtA_fNxtgtO2578/s320/aerial+fredrikstad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Unfortunately my best efforts did not lead to a name to credit this beautiful aerial to. But it is not mine.</span><br />
As you may see from this aerial, the moats make a nice half star shape around the Old Town. The small green patch on the other side of the river is Isegran, and the modern city center lies to the right of the s-shaped tributary (Vesterelven).</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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After the birthday party Sverre told me to pack up and said that we were going on a Color Fantasy cruise to Kiel the next day. It was quite a pleasant surprise, because just a week before, while Sverre was on Color Magic, I had jokingly asked him to take me on the Color Fantasy, oblivious to the fact that he had already booked us by then. <br />
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And so it was, the following day we took a train to Oslo and walked around and did some sightseeing, until it was time to head to the Color Line terminal for the 14:00 departure.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Parliament building (Stortinget)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oslo City Hall</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akershus fortress</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Tjuvholmen, with Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art on the left</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View towards the center from Aker Brygge</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the best residences in Oslo are located here</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quite a few lovely views and nice architecture, still in Aker Brygge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wlVXPpcN78uIlYuhZMinaCSwV6euZ4-EcVEvv_7LXQ1eJ3xH2IbRKqaUh65zKc4ATlldmjC_4anWLj8QCu7s85iFMSrtPX1PdZP3-hk5dJoFFq4j2WRY-QETKDmF1jm0LBgeIBZEatE/s1600/IMG_4131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8wlVXPpcN78uIlYuhZMinaCSwV6euZ4-EcVEvv_7LXQ1eJ3xH2IbRKqaUh65zKc4ATlldmjC_4anWLj8QCu7s85iFMSrtPX1PdZP3-hk5dJoFFq4j2WRY-QETKDmF1jm0LBgeIBZEatE/s320/IMG_4131.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian Royal Yacht</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1IPKQTzcQdch6YMcgxISHkTPrl9xUDp8-gyfHlDu3J8EGKPcW-6mprWr0fKjP8ERS9GV9hw5ep8TMBeMgXBSQY-O3zN94wX0p65a5XhcMzuIx3HLoS17MAl8i8ooIejk5Ee8Ne7PTMk/s1600/IMG_4138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1IPKQTzcQdch6YMcgxISHkTPrl9xUDp8-gyfHlDu3J8EGKPcW-6mprWr0fKjP8ERS9GV9hw5ep8TMBeMgXBSQY-O3zN94wX0p65a5XhcMzuIx3HLoS17MAl8i8ooIejk5Ee8Ne7PTMk/s320/IMG_4138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Fantasy seen as we approached the terminal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Color Fantasy, built in 2004, is the world's largest cruiseferry (cruise ship with a cardeck), a title she shares with her 2007-built sister, the Color Magic. And of the ferries I've sailed, she does indeed have the most cruise ship-like look and feel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkMAtDCIUm4FGvvhMcmJ4MAXbXkkugTPWKMenhykOxTLM_5KxRK30r7oO9Q-epS4dKh7mIiL22DeZSCRscX_zRa8Doo8f6Fk3sfa_d_Kg1UFWFwwlFob6smsL5Puzc-_-Yc1ppBX9cX0/s1600/IMG_4147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkMAtDCIUm4FGvvhMcmJ4MAXbXkkugTPWKMenhykOxTLM_5KxRK30r7oO9Q-epS4dKh7mIiL22DeZSCRscX_zRa8Doo8f6Fk3sfa_d_Kg1UFWFwwlFob6smsL5Puzc-_-Yc1ppBX9cX0/s320/IMG_4147.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boarding</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz63GPtOuqSSHHAlPIsK1YwQxB2QOmYNVq6p2gNyWwuu-5ElzdeytoD96rNY59Aa6Kj25fodGa_RwJ1AF_j8lvJIFbJjrGIQQEeeuntrQFp_HMn3PHmHJSp86tiia8h5QS7RFdA2GwKs/s1600/13094382_10156855533480298_2297728681043794350_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEz63GPtOuqSSHHAlPIsK1YwQxB2QOmYNVq6p2gNyWwuu-5ElzdeytoD96rNY59Aa6Kj25fodGa_RwJ1AF_j8lvJIFbJjrGIQQEeeuntrQFp_HMn3PHmHJSp86tiia8h5QS7RFdA2GwKs/s320/13094382_10156855533480298_2297728681043794350_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our 4-star Promenade cabin 9-409</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqul0wCsQq60GegxOSE78qPr-7e5MMv4XA5iuVg7sPxOdCvmhaYwzfFcSOnu_q2LljpyliFGZyBwSsNriawxZlNjEG5IatxHoZ7OylYrIn62xXEH8bEZNYLMLfK-JCxEkDp09zjXrluQ/s1600/IMG_4159.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqul0wCsQq60GegxOSE78qPr-7e5MMv4XA5iuVg7sPxOdCvmhaYwzfFcSOnu_q2LljpyliFGZyBwSsNriawxZlNjEG5IatxHoZ7OylYrIn62xXEH8bEZNYLMLfK-JCxEkDp09zjXrluQ/s320/IMG_4159.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Oceanic à la Carte</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3FOvTtio15omqA6nkPYTGX63GzM0GnlHUGGwzVsdfuLXe56n4ni-U-OhG-wW2bhqLzCAW-vKWbTOyYtzTe-31bmQsKEuqCdKR7W93AM9_cosUo5BLd1ibXler2nJzeyYyFQTOiMP2Do/s1600/IMG_4162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ3FOvTtio15omqA6nkPYTGX63GzM0GnlHUGGwzVsdfuLXe56n4ni-U-OhG-wW2bhqLzCAW-vKWbTOyYtzTe-31bmQsKEuqCdKR7W93AM9_cosUo5BLd1ibXler2nJzeyYyFQTOiMP2Do/s320/IMG_4162.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promenade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjZEdvoEi6Pbzv3z1RGhYAm7QGIaWG4F6aH5DOd2PnrXqFODZ_Qdr4CRyEYmyX6CWCBWuWjvMgIV-z_LI8cftgxMPqkWbcVHsPRybNaoFMWnN76yeTFKI8CyxNLysRqKjxp5HNtEivIU/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJjZEdvoEi6Pbzv3z1RGhYAm7QGIaWG4F6aH5DOd2PnrXqFODZ_Qdr4CRyEYmyX6CWCBWuWjvMgIV-z_LI8cftgxMPqkWbcVHsPRybNaoFMWnN76yeTFKI8CyxNLysRqKjxp5HNtEivIU/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of Oslo as we sailed out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaBmkeVC2b_f8wtiou0S0IGjYMX0YARHzJx6oAV19TnyXTWcM4ynEkJm3TcJQSUo4kKzKA97Yll74AGLUcG_Ffq8l2CXwfLoAufWRC3pMd5KvQOFGrfwi8qgC-kyX81EShBU6as_YOIc/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaBmkeVC2b_f8wtiou0S0IGjYMX0YARHzJx6oAV19TnyXTWcM4ynEkJm3TcJQSUo4kKzKA97Yll74AGLUcG_Ffq8l2CXwfLoAufWRC3pMd5KvQOFGrfwi8qgC-kyX81EShBU6as_YOIc/s320/IMG_4206.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first afternoon on board was spent mostly watching the Oslofjord as we passed, either from outside or the Observation Lounge. After meeting (and of course photographing) the Stena Saga, we headed down to the Show Lounge for.. well, the show.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPLWQgQkeO4wmrrHD2mY9m2dIvTRz-x9kYFDGO0mSo8wN4wV-nJAklO7bRw2AJDBNc8Hki8sqGzcNZ30OA0_BI_06jStZSUqwQY42P3xyiJybnFEn3uugy90jiqmcKcYY2jZiAyp-UCs/s1600/IMG_4235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWPLWQgQkeO4wmrrHD2mY9m2dIvTRz-x9kYFDGO0mSo8wN4wV-nJAklO7bRw2AJDBNc8Hki8sqGzcNZ30OA0_BI_06jStZSUqwQY42P3xyiJybnFEn3uugy90jiqmcKcYY2jZiAyp-UCs/s320/IMG_4235.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Saga coming</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0Yet2WDZfq1eMzAAO-diblHsCMQ6GYC7GHF-AsWa3HNb40Bjw29-5NtxUAmn1sbtFwk61RtbfrvMYLIpF84pEc6DggO3NDJFANVz9txGiU97OJ0oK3IGJLy5x1G-slc0xrwmnVeZS4M/s1600/IMG_4243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0Yet2WDZfq1eMzAAO-diblHsCMQ6GYC7GHF-AsWa3HNb40Bjw29-5NtxUAmn1sbtFwk61RtbfrvMYLIpF84pEc6DggO3NDJFANVz9txGiU97OJ0oK3IGJLy5x1G-slc0xrwmnVeZS4M/s320/IMG_4243.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Saga here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGhUTlZvDhDxWDSZgws8aznqzrSRVNgmfYE2BLUztJ-VxUtKzM15uye4lKdXblPxFD6OG1tavuJiWGdkggXX1WlJRqf1g10cLMIACJjHD0GuPLB0WJiwfdFAjxJwLK7tRqhu7Dd27kvA/s1600/IMG_4254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnGhUTlZvDhDxWDSZgws8aznqzrSRVNgmfYE2BLUztJ-VxUtKzM15uye4lKdXblPxFD6OG1tavuJiWGdkggXX1WlJRqf1g10cLMIACJjHD0GuPLB0WJiwfdFAjxJwLK7tRqhu7Dd27kvA/s320/IMG_4254.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Saga going</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCicsyLVLND3psc25AYauli7wB5etiQ8clapsrN0lz9PE0HVKgiQ3wQgtkXMCynUZhtj6UoaquGMTASTWtzusucEn1TntZChST8ZipCWdZ3VIZl-muRnafytqWbV63bZfADw7p54fICjY/s1600/IMG_4282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCicsyLVLND3psc25AYauli7wB5etiQ8clapsrN0lz9PE0HVKgiQ3wQgtkXMCynUZhtj6UoaquGMTASTWtzusucEn1TntZChST8ZipCWdZ3VIZl-muRnafytqWbV63bZfADw7p54fICjY/s320/IMG_4282.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Promenade Cafe, where we stopped for a quick ice cream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtgUCDoQ92txMYEVpljNsOsvhguRkljFmRkuzpDCqAlJMH2kitzHoOuqpq3l71qps0ImPSFOoMcBkP1MNUJikB1ivLMDpiyoPiTs6VnMneUnOVrycfdKxIbQvdssZ4r4fReXR5pS8hXs/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjtgUCDoQ92txMYEVpljNsOsvhguRkljFmRkuzpDCqAlJMH2kitzHoOuqpq3l71qps0ImPSFOoMcBkP1MNUJikB1ivLMDpiyoPiTs6VnMneUnOVrycfdKxIbQvdssZ4r4fReXR5pS8hXs/s320/IMG_4294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYuBcPMHsgHp-HjU0BCEwssuqKo-te5EAWH-G6ZccimRpSYCZRU3SOkrwTdJ_6sVblPdiWBhyphenhyphenYH0s4iKaquXvlUv-4hKInE1UwKchBOF5sBY8Fw2MmxVPS9fN_-_0GaHdTbtyoJA4IAQ/s1600/IMG_4306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifYuBcPMHsgHp-HjU0BCEwssuqKo-te5EAWH-G6ZccimRpSYCZRU3SOkrwTdJ_6sVblPdiWBhyphenhyphenYH0s4iKaquXvlUv-4hKInE1UwKchBOF5sBY8Fw2MmxVPS9fN_-_0GaHdTbtyoJA4IAQ/s320/IMG_4306.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rkexjVMlgbb5NqZatMpd6MpPBZwwrqcpmWZSinQ-xssnkSZ2Pp1icmaX6TYwAdyvCZcaLooqsGxELg1zVdthgj9SjBQiikDGfPWLakfOsoJrwP-u6-4D-vwlDjTCZWuwhaIGI0nrGIw/s1600/IMG_4309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rkexjVMlgbb5NqZatMpd6MpPBZwwrqcpmWZSinQ-xssnkSZ2Pp1icmaX6TYwAdyvCZcaLooqsGxELg1zVdthgj9SjBQiikDGfPWLakfOsoJrwP-u6-4D-vwlDjTCZWuwhaIGI0nrGIw/s320/IMG_4309.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBF8N6fE7CBymxgJnL1bn-B4_cBMRVRQs6HI42aZZxIMAQ000dsBMqKLocPVdLRcKv5AkbSoIT4a0rmvwzix3az-ibACNYyJjao9vQ5wIv9qOmqY2LT5l_KrwVqnRdq4UZCIOkgevrDo/s1600/IMG_5594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaBF8N6fE7CBymxgJnL1bn-B4_cBMRVRQs6HI42aZZxIMAQ000dsBMqKLocPVdLRcKv5AkbSoIT4a0rmvwzix3az-ibACNYyJjao9vQ5wIv9qOmqY2LT5l_KrwVqnRdq4UZCIOkgevrDo/s320/IMG_5594.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And after the show, we had a nice filling dinner in Oceanic à la Carte.</td></tr>
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The next morning we arrived in Kiel, just to see that most places were closed, because it was a Sunday. We didn't have all that much time either, due to the departure being at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, again. But nonetheless, it was just enough time for a nice walk.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoYu76Mb1FYnnuSiLI_oUd1qVjDHXQzSJsHQvlpPF8KRWcKSp-z-yNyJcBEutPk6Pf3z3ClY-v4fdoWsBfpqDYJAJMCPXVwrRScLAD5w4PG9bFI0UfnuJoXHndsHO5OsthfyXHSC5bgk/s1600/IMG_4333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaoYu76Mb1FYnnuSiLI_oUd1qVjDHXQzSJsHQvlpPF8KRWcKSp-z-yNyJcBEutPk6Pf3z3ClY-v4fdoWsBfpqDYJAJMCPXVwrRScLAD5w4PG9bFI0UfnuJoXHndsHO5OsthfyXHSC5bgk/s320/IMG_4333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Germanica in Kiel, with our Color Fantasy outside the picture on the right.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaDYZQ7Sng69PgoyPnS1pXSjbSSQXq6Bml4NY_b75I_LSSrXS1p1FwocokXASV3rAfeZglv5QZi6LSDVObNMFvyHzLfjVC7aMEx5Z291BlIiQllPDa7mRYtakbI5JDUNqIrTLm_jF44o/s1600/IMG_4374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvaDYZQ7Sng69PgoyPnS1pXSjbSSQXq6Bml4NY_b75I_LSSrXS1p1FwocokXASV3rAfeZglv5QZi6LSDVObNMFvyHzLfjVC7aMEx5Z291BlIiQllPDa7mRYtakbI5JDUNqIrTLm_jF44o/s320/IMG_4374.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmnYJrleHO0neAgRUYKxhBe2AtarUwDXcMcHXiSckL0fv9BU7_lxbedJz2Nlc3Q9lq5qp3agDdI3ZK-b56e4KgpTMjLG9BFlymF0FgcrYFmu3xFYDE6R-tio2u0Osa8uGSackvNfam34/s1600/IMG_4381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmnYJrleHO0neAgRUYKxhBe2AtarUwDXcMcHXiSckL0fv9BU7_lxbedJz2Nlc3Q9lq5qp3agDdI3ZK-b56e4KgpTMjLG9BFlymF0FgcrYFmu3xFYDE6R-tio2u0Osa8uGSackvNfam34/s320/IMG_4381.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Color Fantasy in Kiel</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxQFNYxVpBnYXoPPyrahopjMWYln7-It1Jv7SGltCN6yXcizzjQ547EkJJ12MdjBwroAIiLV9U7iM6F9p9IVeZsyIiYnOWxKtxzN78XAZo_bCeqa-h-OZx8DngXfTExY0o0huM3ubViw/s1600/IMG_4393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxQFNYxVpBnYXoPPyrahopjMWYln7-It1Jv7SGltCN6yXcizzjQ547EkJJ12MdjBwroAIiLV9U7iM6F9p9IVeZsyIiYnOWxKtxzN78XAZo_bCeqa-h-OZx8DngXfTExY0o0huM3ubViw/s320/IMG_4393.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sleeping swan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyU8oPx5EuYEt3uxMuyEtLnW8IYbYCythYC29iQyAYyipxNCpvUovlGxkb-NNN-xCksl1jRT-6N0xQHg_tJnbmAwxwOELAL69dwRm2_MrJCjBlGb12Opx_xvZTo7FDh-JuG87ElxAeyLY/s1600/IMG_4439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyU8oPx5EuYEt3uxMuyEtLnW8IYbYCythYC29iQyAYyipxNCpvUovlGxkb-NNN-xCksl1jRT-6N0xQHg_tJnbmAwxwOELAL69dwRm2_MrJCjBlGb12Opx_xvZTo7FDh-JuG87ElxAeyLY/s320/IMG_4439.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Triple trouble</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrINuSuLFno8D7epYMXfug07l2Ncsn3Te_Bs5wFjhluw1Ag6taFY78UKIyNeSCVI0eDWtbvHWKMKfDaxMWXOJc9hVfXy5V-3hK3etgxzRs5Bt3UhfPCq47p9UqtwiUNK4ixxmhPO09A4/s1600/IMG_4466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOrINuSuLFno8D7epYMXfug07l2Ncsn3Te_Bs5wFjhluw1Ag6taFY78UKIyNeSCVI0eDWtbvHWKMKfDaxMWXOJc9hVfXy5V-3hK3etgxzRs5Bt3UhfPCq47p9UqtwiUNK4ixxmhPO09A4/s320/IMG_4466.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stena Germanica and Color Fantasy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnw3E4QuinigGhfUXHZqtSznDIXwNUFhEhp6pFOmzCh4d_8U6Kn6FTD0BLL2kBjcIDRRv-naadVMnyzXZwdNyMOcRjIi7NukdjfuYTP9F2qkobGXAj9LfAuOrTaLlfEpYLAcEJK7nHIE/s1600/IMG_4476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnw3E4QuinigGhfUXHZqtSznDIXwNUFhEhp6pFOmzCh4d_8U6Kn6FTD0BLL2kBjcIDRRv-naadVMnyzXZwdNyMOcRjIi7NukdjfuYTP9F2qkobGXAj9LfAuOrTaLlfEpYLAcEJK7nHIE/s320/IMG_4476.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A passing pigeon... and train</td></tr>
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We made it back on the ship just in time for the departure. After watching the departure we had a lunch at the Sports & Burger bar and after that we had just enough time to go for a fun swim and splash in Aqualand. The latter definitely had the look and feel of a cruise ship waterpark, with a real waterslide and river in addition to the usual jacuzzis and kiddie pools. Unfortunately, I didn't take a single picture inside.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwPhZJMiVeIfLnuGw6cq8OaMetIsA1LcBn6MBJB1QR2Qv8bHgBBjbRiz4j0L7VskdRL2UUl5uTl3pUhholzgKPtgKHK-b_35XrgmGnX0y9PRaQANEMgCtdFG_BeGgt_FGNzHjbKBuuJQ/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwPhZJMiVeIfLnuGw6cq8OaMetIsA1LcBn6MBJB1QR2Qv8bHgBBjbRiz4j0L7VskdRL2UUl5uTl3pUhholzgKPtgKHK-b_35XrgmGnX0y9PRaQANEMgCtdFG_BeGgt_FGNzHjbKBuuJQ/s320/IMG_4506.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Departure</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8wtE29bB7bkwLwnAiCJF2d0ty2wl7C4LJ4PMb2AwoLsqn3Or-6YDUNOD8d6uZymawVUnWBeo5ElTfRJVvgfakPgxHOr7hHWQBkhWIZC1CZZ44GBPSlaATuQTWiQwjCgFFfEBqpT0E_E/s1600/IMG_4531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8wtE29bB7bkwLwnAiCJF2d0ty2wl7C4LJ4PMb2AwoLsqn3Or-6YDUNOD8d6uZymawVUnWBeo5ElTfRJVvgfakPgxHOr7hHWQBkhWIZC1CZZ44GBPSlaATuQTWiQwjCgFFfEBqpT0E_E/s320/IMG_4531.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promenade from above</td></tr>
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After the swim it was just the right time to go outside and watch as we passed under the Great Belt bridge.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were not the only ones who came outside to take photos.</td></tr>
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The rest of the evening on board was spent in the Observation Lounge, having a nice dinner in the Buffet and then Sverre sent me gambling in hopes that I have better luck than he does. Alas, I didn't.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite part of that particular Buffet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.. and the 2nd favourite!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEViQKkwxv2XA1y7zEs2OMn-LYE1-ewOgh0daAORWKIQt2C8xL8R_Q8-weCqIguWX6yaydJr_hiL4sO2hycTQvy0j8j-Su9z6tmg8N4bofrA1uBy2gcgXJhHyv0ITEkdz2aCFCtw4OZf4/s1600/IMG_20160424_203646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEViQKkwxv2XA1y7zEs2OMn-LYE1-ewOgh0daAORWKIQt2C8xL8R_Q8-weCqIguWX6yaydJr_hiL4sO2hycTQvy0j8j-Su9z6tmg8N4bofrA1uBy2gcgXJhHyv0ITEkdz2aCFCtw4OZf4/s320/IMG_20160424_203646.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In addition to finally getting to eat some lobsters, I got to tease Sverre, who is not a big fan of lobsters, by shelling these two particularly slowly and demonstratively and really making sure to express how delicious I find them - which they actually were, so I didn't need to pretend. It was also then that the guy on the right got the nickname Mr. Clicky.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disembarkation</td></tr>
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After disembarking the next morning, I was back to having no clue what was coming up next. We were just walking somewhere, and Sverre was being secretive. My own guess would've led us either back to Fredrikstad or to a hotel in Oslo, and the latter seemed most likely. Additionally, as I sometimes do, I was entertaining myself by trying to think up some really unlikely scenarios, for example, what if we were actually going to the airport and flying somewhere? I had no other option than to be patient and see, and neither do you, because I'll write about what happened then in the next post.<br />
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-18951387620082213492016-09-14T16:58:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:05:00.874+03:00How to kill time before a trip, the my way.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I'm quite certain I already have shared this "Five stages of travel" graph once, at some point, somewhere; afterall, if I had to choose any picture to describe my life, this would most certainly be it, because while there is a lot more to my life, this is what occupies the largest space in my brain. Though one rather important part missing from the picture would be waiting. Of course, having daily duties to attend to, such as school, helps a lot with making time fly faster. But nonetheless, more than once I've found myself anxiously waiting for a trip with a few too many completely free and unplanned days to get over with first. And how would a travel addict solve such a situation? Of course, by booking a quick mini-trip.<br />
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Admittedly it's not a solution one can always rely on, but I've had two such occasions recently, where an offer from a shipping company has popped into my mailbox just at the right moment. The first occasion was when I was waiting for the trip that I told about in the previous post. Despite it being far past Christmas, I realized that my unused Tallink Club One Christmas discount offer was still valid. The year before I used it to take my mother on the Silja Symphony, and this year it turned out to be the perfect occasion to try out her older sister, the Silja Serenade, again with my mother.<br />
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As we approached the Olympia Terminal to embark, I was surprised to see that both Mariella and Gabriella were in Helsinki, something that doesn't happen very often as Mariella would have normally been in Stockholm. But she was doing Abi-cruises (for Finnish high school seniors), and just as I ran on the outside deck to take pictures, she departed for Tallinn, giving me the sweetest views. It should also be noted that the Silja Line ship usually departs earlier than the Viking Line one, making such a sweet view even more unusual.<br />
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All in all, the cruise was a very fun way to spend three days. The two nights on board
turned out to be mostly chatting, shopping and partying. In fact, when
the ship was in Stockholm, we only made it out when most people were
already returning on board and only made our way to the nearest grocery
store.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUfTsVkpNYcybq3MD91BwQoPU5MOmryZI7M5O5FfOurSdfjPdyXLr4r6Ew5FKuqvY4TN7UANKcdzM7r4J8BZmPj_CNfIfCVVbAZUXirXXC1XRN5sWIp303R_hvlwU9-_vKCdkmd8rrWE/s1600/IMG_3340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUfTsVkpNYcybq3MD91BwQoPU5MOmryZI7M5O5FfOurSdfjPdyXLr4r6Ew5FKuqvY4TN7UANKcdzM7r4J8BZmPj_CNfIfCVVbAZUXirXXC1XRN5sWIp303R_hvlwU9-_vKCdkmd8rrWE/s320/IMG_3340.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Promenade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_PbVohKC0R1CfGpqss0DpefFkWG6aZngqvGa1ahliib6OGNt6K88gqfpQqQ67OpC5he0pyC4q2Dqeq55X52pCvejivr-YCnC8GBJ4KP4JdnndFtVJgU3AVIff6S6T9TSvdicaz_qKt4/s1600/IMG_3349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK_PbVohKC0R1CfGpqss0DpefFkWG6aZngqvGa1ahliib6OGNt6K88gqfpQqQ67OpC5he0pyC4q2Dqeq55X52pCvejivr-YCnC8GBJ4KP4JdnndFtVJgU3AVIff6S6T9TSvdicaz_qKt4/s320/IMG_3349.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outfit Of The Day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBATkvCS807sQ6lhVSUipzocLwZKGsxRfpercU07UAEmxWFa-bB6v86B12Jhx_fLHMeeNPQv7UQmTBQ8iliIiakGALA4vsx2Jgqu3rfkIOD6MsbivDN66KuFeaVW8jwseJ6mgg8c0b_8/s1600/IMG_3410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBATkvCS807sQ6lhVSUipzocLwZKGsxRfpercU07UAEmxWFa-bB6v86B12Jhx_fLHMeeNPQv7UQmTBQ8iliIiakGALA4vsx2Jgqu3rfkIOD6MsbivDN66KuFeaVW8jwseJ6mgg8c0b_8/s320/IMG_3410.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As the entire Värtahamnen area in Stockholm is being rebuilt while remaining in use, it can get quite inconvenient. Then, the walk from the ship (docked in a new spot) to the old terminal was about 1km long and this little vehicle spared some lucky people the walk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ72eMtQz9PZRP9MnrU-Aw9vhTGlNbd8LNPvpDie1A0MqHZVmAYDxmlALQ8KRj7LMDOB8u-5CWH3aITdytsC0QKfsR-PjMK7kKr2yck5VMO4jvaQ4BOrl0ckTlLwftYmPQV9l2xqhq8M/s1600/IMG_3433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZ72eMtQz9PZRP9MnrU-Aw9vhTGlNbd8LNPvpDie1A0MqHZVmAYDxmlALQ8KRj7LMDOB8u-5CWH3aITdytsC0QKfsR-PjMK7kKr2yck5VMO4jvaQ4BOrl0ckTlLwftYmPQV9l2xqhq8M/s320/IMG_3433.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory funnel. Admittedly, the Silja sisters must be among the worst ships for funnel photos... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYjuQ9HVfJ7iB617QxsRjHF-s4YulREKGrvW4XuMRwXgqg68PhKBd2-wkviIOMjNV9KL1GMk6KBCVce_DS1hQWWQwDKEUNwmX0crR2A3i2UKaRL3N9qGvo18BX0K4Xdb3yr-UY7QLq8E/s1600/IMG_3474.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYjuQ9HVfJ7iB617QxsRjHF-s4YulREKGrvW4XuMRwXgqg68PhKBd2-wkviIOMjNV9KL1GMk6KBCVce_DS1hQWWQwDKEUNwmX0crR2A3i2UKaRL3N9qGvo18BX0K4Xdb3yr-UY7QLq8E/s320/IMG_3474.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... except from outside the ship, but that doesn't count!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Another sweet opportunity for a quick cruise presented itself just days before the trip I'll write about in my next post. With a few puny remains of Club One bonus points and pocket pennies, I got a mini-cruise from Turku to Mariehamn and back. And it just happened that Galaxy, the regular morning ship from Turku was in drydock at the time and being replaced by Baltic Queen. So, in one day I travelled on Baltic Queen from Turku to Mariehamn, and Baltic Princess from Mariehamn back to Turku. For more fun, I invited my classmate Joakim (Jokke) to come with me, and on board we ran into another classmate and his girlfriend, so it most certainly never got boring.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuaLBOPueUGF25H1FRdgdVnnF2oU1JG64mOIrCzT-_AzTZJ9hXJYkkaNPvpkHz8JxXedPEARBguHwY_SscAH_zmiFv8AwXyx3VS0pRtEoh2WMuLYMOGvOWLFlIN5XUqSEMDZ2RfV81n8/s1600/IMG_3948.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnuaLBOPueUGF25H1FRdgdVnnF2oU1JG64mOIrCzT-_AzTZJ9hXJYkkaNPvpkHz8JxXedPEARBguHwY_SscAH_zmiFv8AwXyx3VS0pRtEoh2WMuLYMOGvOWLFlIN5XUqSEMDZ2RfV81n8/s320/IMG_3948.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amorella in Turku</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu05aSjDOcXafjG6zXcdp84S1CngFG56nngeqiI7VyL2FC9fBfiayQM-E0waxv0WZmvxA7VErIXdlQEMGTaSiROUGc5UhgKGV3sCOLhgvxocuBMxvaho-p63eaiKNqqsIAznRYgzBZVY/s1600/IMG_3959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUu05aSjDOcXafjG6zXcdp84S1CngFG56nngeqiI7VyL2FC9fBfiayQM-E0waxv0WZmvxA7VErIXdlQEMGTaSiROUGc5UhgKGV3sCOLhgvxocuBMxvaho-p63eaiKNqqsIAznRYgzBZVY/s320/IMG_3959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Princess coming from Stockholm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5IApgTFGnX57M0S3Pc1FS-R8VCiEK7yG78kCIFoeezsBiTxoTYzo-5IzVDsXL2s1ek2mYaUxAU-tjN0DfcG0H0zQZmdDbIRxNgpHJSZQNOCFZyl8vBUlqlLqtnq9fF4Zygu8fRZOKzQ/s1600/IMG_3968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5IApgTFGnX57M0S3Pc1FS-R8VCiEK7yG78kCIFoeezsBiTxoTYzo-5IzVDsXL2s1ek2mYaUxAU-tjN0DfcG0H0zQZmdDbIRxNgpHJSZQNOCFZyl8vBUlqlLqtnq9fF4Zygu8fRZOKzQ/s320/IMG_3968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Queen, about to continue to Stockholm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGS4yHaoFeLJ-IC8IKGbDQq4uco5FfvZSxSuxHNeTzC_pv_Z60N9gXsi-O82fuWY1xALyaPgFdvHBsxTaiC3tzZEj9WZy1I9r52xXSCYMbsytgUxi7kCD0lBM9MTDwIB-Z5ri1GHM2NY/s1600/IMG_3978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFGS4yHaoFeLJ-IC8IKGbDQq4uco5FfvZSxSuxHNeTzC_pv_Z60N9gXsi-O82fuWY1xALyaPgFdvHBsxTaiC3tzZEj9WZy1I9r52xXSCYMbsytgUxi7kCD0lBM9MTDwIB-Z5ri1GHM2NY/s320/IMG_3978.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vikings sail in to Mariehamn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuNaoy3Q6hWdAOJU6waoW1fv7REBJitHe_nwvxfZO4nQOyK-PVRSKT4wWrXgNu7g3FphCyboLYb8oSlQTw8gJdgYW7r8m1Si7saVjzhy9GhMhuN_gSQ-fwi-0JFYQnjtF1qPjm8waurg/s1600/IMG_3988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuNaoy3Q6hWdAOJU6waoW1fv7REBJitHe_nwvxfZO4nQOyK-PVRSKT4wWrXgNu7g3FphCyboLYb8oSlQTw8gJdgYW7r8m1Si7saVjzhy9GhMhuN_gSQ-fwi-0JFYQnjtF1qPjm8waurg/s320/IMG_3988.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amorella</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1KZrlUWeUzEeqoMMSbsY24-41m1WU7zfHt2V_v8ndBs0p3z7AM2hKEXt-HSN0FkA3eQu-gHFUPdt2c6qT5MeLWXTH9nkhCnDUZGQWUvfuIBWZJr_FWoj1TL3PAV9gFAEQCnlF_Dajjc/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1KZrlUWeUzEeqoMMSbsY24-41m1WU7zfHt2V_v8ndBs0p3z7AM2hKEXt-HSN0FkA3eQu-gHFUPdt2c6qT5MeLWXTH9nkhCnDUZGQWUvfuIBWZJr_FWoj1TL3PAV9gFAEQCnlF_Dajjc/s320/IMG_3992.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Grace, as beautiful as ever</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZkks0gBq9BJ2KsphCVXvoq5gfwn63QUT38JpXLeGpvBkXnGKKho75HKDGl40bJHZFUIVEey5sUj-PorG3vJZY799pP16VEoF1o90jk32UxGQzYDqF50pwFPTK4c-4ExrErOhFQlUhwA4/s320/IMG_3949.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLMF-GjWPJON1edOFFuIgqHdmCs7krZW4hMKJIr1Yn-pxMaumdGWnDnSW0WBHddqoPueHMX6mmvZwJIDZrSQ_oJov8hU532oInv1l2IsPK2o3aLydZBTUQ3DLbc4cz56W1F4q-780ycM/s1600/IMG_4000.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLMF-GjWPJON1edOFFuIgqHdmCs7krZW4hMKJIr1Yn-pxMaumdGWnDnSW0WBHddqoPueHMX6mmvZwJIDZrSQ_oJov8hU532oInv1l2IsPK2o3aLydZBTUQ3DLbc4cz56W1F4q-780ycM/s320/IMG_4000.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel 2. Somehow it has always bothered me that the rear of her funnel is pink, not white.</td></tr>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-7806755277018911792016-09-13T16:24:00.002+03:002016-10-02T02:06:02.447+03:00Experience: A wave of Baltic Sea ferry madness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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In Mid-March, I took another Baltic trip with Sverre, with the two main purposes being to catch the first voyages of the returned Silja Europa, and to celebrate his birthday. We met up in Tallinn; I took a bus from Turku and then Tallink's Superstar to Tallinn. During the two hour crossing I didn't have time for much more than to watch the departure, have a breakfast, and finally, upon arrival to Tallinn, have a nice close first look at the Silja Europa for the first time since 2014, when she left for Australia to serve as floating accommodation for a bit more than a year. In the terminal I was greeted by Sverre and we checked in the nearby hotel Euroopa. The same evening we had a nice dinner in Olde Hansa, my old workplace.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory Funnel</td></tr>
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The following day, the 13th of March, was the day I crossed the Gulf of Finland three times in one day - in the early morning we checked out of our hotel and headed to the terminal for the first ship departure of the day, the Star to Helsinki. There we got to enjoy a meal in the world's first floating Burger King restaurant, as well as the first Burger King in Estonia - as the Star is Estonian-flagged. We also had access to Comfort Class, which was nearly empty and offered a very nice view forward, although we couldn't enjoy it much then because the weather was rather foggy. When we arrived in Helsinki, we just had enough time to check in and leave our luggage in GLO Hotel Art and rush to the Viking Line terminal in Katajanokka to catch the Viking XPRS right back to Tallinn. Both feeling somewhat tired, we chose to buy an A-class cabin while checking in for the trip, and that decision definitely paid off, because we spent most of the crossing in the cabin. And that was actually the first time ever for me to have a cabin on the Viking XPRS, despite the fact that I've crossed the Gulf on her dozens of times. The worst morning fog had long gone by that time, but the XPRS was still being a good ferry and blowing her horn every few minutes.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comfort Class on the Star</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backing out of Tallinn in the early morning fog</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Burger King on board the Star</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrRxppEKNbAMASx1LqCokwInzjxr3ZffEC4n8_GddvLK39R4msCgROHCUoZ6nPDbjvVDD8e7j7mfiFJFkSquqJO3GRxarFUlfl7irStTw3hBomCu5PWsIsk8qh7-aUN7f28SP1dLY78o/s320/IMG_3535.JPG" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cabin on board the Viking XPRS</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Safety instructions on the Viking XPRS</td></tr>
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Upon arrival in Tallinn we split up, as I wanted to visit my parents (and kitty!) and Sverre met up with Nelly and Christoffer who happened to be in Tallinn that day, too. Unfortunately I returned to the harbour just mere minutes too late to meet them myself. In any case, soon enough it was time for us to get on board the Silja Europa.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I finally got to meet my sweet kitty Tilla!</td></tr>
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Back in 2014, when the <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2014/08/fare-thee-well-silja-europa.html">Silja Europa</a> left for Australia, I honestly don't think anyone believed that she would ever be seen around here again, let alone serve a route. She's far from the youngest ship out there and apparently her machinery is in bad condition from running on the restless Turku-Stockholm route for so many years. And yet, in January her return was announced and we planned to get on board as soon as possible. <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">By now she has served a season as a daycruise ferry, first from Helsinki West harbour, and then Olympia terminal; on the 29th of August she stopped and currently she's laid up in Muuga harbour near Tallinn for a refit. In December she will replace the Baltic Queen, doing 22h cruises from Helsinki to Tallinn. The Baltic Queen will then replace the Romantika on the Tallinn-Stockholm route, and the Romantika will go to Riga-Stockholm. So, just like it was back in 2014.</span><br />
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On her first crossing we met quite a few of our friends and fellow ship enthusiasts, and for that reason we hadn't booked a cabin. I ended up cursing that decision to hell, being very tired from the day; we ended up spending most of the time sitting in Windjammer Bar. The most fun (or not, depends on what you like) part of the evening was perhaps the disembarkation. First of all, it was about half an hour of waiting at the usual exit, until all passengers were asked to proceed to the cardeck for disembarkation.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Disembarkation through the cardeck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least it wasn't snowing</td></tr>
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The following morning it was right back to the Silja Europa at silly o'clock in the morning, this time for a daycruise. The four hour crossing was great to get some more sleep and later on we went to the sauna and pools, and spent the entire time enjoying and playing around in the big pool.<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">That big, still and relatively deep pool, with view to the helicopter deck, is the one and only reason why I consider Silja Europa to have one of the best spas on the Baltic Sea. I do find it nice if for once I can choose to not have water splashing all over my face while I struggle not to float away. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQWi2SSZFvaQOM_aGChpLJlcA2Ph9pKCKjZFwlP9Vnib_i3wc-8tFF65W1BEJ-UgQtRtJd6mScs7iKAENlSyh2_8DJdHj11Ww4uDUCXkziQzoaExGo3lzrCWieiz9VcxSXwEwoiC6SM4/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQWi2SSZFvaQOM_aGChpLJlcA2Ph9pKCKjZFwlP9Vnib_i3wc-8tFF65W1BEJ-UgQtRtJd6mScs7iKAENlSyh2_8DJdHj11Ww4uDUCXkziQzoaExGo3lzrCWieiz9VcxSXwEwoiC6SM4/s320/IMG_3599.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embarkation through the cardeck</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Deluxe cabin nr. 11112</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsxl8feWZQTBekL9jz-Iqa5FC-BiwhdU1Q1LuWIImkG1c-le_SmcG0Ygt72nmnQSfWiNcqNAM8zl1NrtpwTBGzA3rvNgPKUtwB_INP_r90rcHWSpfXXyP54ouDEpNB1peDxTodq2SKoU/s1600/IMG_3621.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTsxl8feWZQTBekL9jz-Iqa5FC-BiwhdU1Q1LuWIImkG1c-le_SmcG0Ygt72nmnQSfWiNcqNAM8zl1NrtpwTBGzA3rvNgPKUtwB_INP_r90rcHWSpfXXyP54ouDEpNB1peDxTodq2SKoU/s320/IMG_3621.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My waterproof camera case sure came in handy</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Queen departing as we arrived</td></tr>
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Upon arrival I had to go ashore again to take the chance and run some errands, as it was a Monday. It was then that I got a bit of a "shock", having got so used to the public transport in Turku that runs like a Swiss watch (almost), and then using the public transport in Tallinn which is much, much more chaotic.<br />
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In the meanwhile Sverre had gone ashore too, and we met up in the center and soon headed back to the ship, to discover that she was moving to a different spot. Nonetheless, we were let into the gangway all the way to the entry, and waited there with a small group of people, watching her approach. During the return journey we both got nice haircuts and then had a dinner in Maxime à la Carte. We were actually supposed to dine in Buffet Europa, but since it was only booked by just a small handful of people (as I realized when we were all called through the public address system), the seating was cancelled.<br />
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Upon arrival it was the same story as the day before, disembarkation via cardeck and straight back to the hotel.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghknXVSq3RrWp2pop6mL9O0FcBWxw0cBE6wK6a2ftUq2CzLgJgiE6V-8xb7xjTNafIPLXwjvUaqcvyRHbjbkRmwlrTUJ71VTWm-8F9WQvDbgaxUVr2Y6IWmaA0u2-8YhywjaYjGFW6k2c/s320/IMG_3741.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deckies on duty</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjVwJ6ypCaZOmUGU13RVJLUicvKq8ZpG2WMXiDoPZprVRynmVZgjswndAbd6ZZ03BTTa1MuRAtmJ8D5TiVtyhQe-nT9fZ8nzVRSWQyEFbDl5x_nwRrutFJYXsAZOJNo4RH2ClLx_JW90/s1600/IMG_3583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjVwJ6ypCaZOmUGU13RVJLUicvKq8ZpG2WMXiDoPZprVRynmVZgjswndAbd6ZZ03BTTa1MuRAtmJ8D5TiVtyhQe-nT9fZ8nzVRSWQyEFbDl5x_nwRrutFJYXsAZOJNo4RH2ClLx_JW90/s320/IMG_3583.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our room in GLO Hotel Art</td></tr>
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The following day was Sverre's birthday and the first thing we did was to go celebrate in Hard Rock Cafe, which is his (and now also mine) favourite chain restaurant. After that we took a train to Turku where we briefly met up with Matti, before embarking on a cruise on the beautiful Viking Grace.<br />
The same evening we dined in Oscar à la Carte, and the next day we chose to just enjoy the suite and do a little bit of shopping. After disembarking we checked in to good old ship hostel Bore. The next morning I sent Sverre off to the Amorella as he started his journey home, and returned to the hostel for a nap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_30jv_NqYGK9mxLYkgoRdI7bH2HV9qJavEPen1-4F-kU0YbNjNQC6o4Vhk5UC0aOSLPfpLAY0sFHulCBxCpvSuWXWjrb7siFpWXRTewiyXl1G0icF089mOR-jk9_5dKR9PAUif1_oEdA/s1600/IMG_3761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_30jv_NqYGK9mxLYkgoRdI7bH2HV9qJavEPen1-4F-kU0YbNjNQC6o4Vhk5UC0aOSLPfpLAY0sFHulCBxCpvSuWXWjrb7siFpWXRTewiyXl1G0icF089mOR-jk9_5dKR9PAUif1_oEdA/s320/IMG_3761.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean Suite, nr 7826</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0EyQ9ROkODNonz7XKxy_s-5emX5a96jDWE3S1BJUsJjJ9-vEYGZvXEw566U4HzDzUg9oUx7BcmXkvR5k4me4twwr_yBiAizFeQ-lpQNBe7DwjKz_fwNPA53vhV8Gq7VB9sauOWPa-OX0/s320/IMG_3764.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ocean Suite, nr 7826</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoy the view</td></tr>
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<img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip2ayH7bmWkruo-23HLWol3YPYWitYNDjPQf83DsLvIjy9b3KYskQcTIeu5uo-1ABlkDQZpH0a9KY1RS_rcfCCEhDF6SqaIQKzjDZfzGRYndpPSyfvqpSF8MbvKCBUFWsKgLxZsFhfWng/s320/2016-03-16+20.17.01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cabin on the Bore </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-34367257670533772672016-09-13T00:48:00.001+03:002016-09-13T02:21:54.943+03:00Challenges<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
You're now reading the result of about a month of failed attempts to bring this blog out of a 6 month hiatus. There has been several reasons why I haven't felt like writing; first of all, I've found it hard for a long time now to keep this blog all about ships as it was initially intended to be. You may have noticed that when I published a row of posts about my World Gymnaestrada 2015 experience. So to solve that, I will call it a personal blog from now on. Afterall, ships are still such a big part of my life that they're surely not going anywhere; I'm just removing some limitations that I've set for myself and hoping that this blog will look and feel a bit more like me.<br />
Secondly, as unlikely as it may sound, so much happened during those 6 months of silence that it simply became too much to write about; and on the other hand, at the same time, while exciting stuff was not happening, I've had a few obstacles to overcome and never found the time or energy to write anything at all.<br />
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However, as the happenings in the meanwhile have been far too exciting to just let slip and not share, I will start by getting this blog up to date. <br />
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The last thing I wrote down was a trip with my friend <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sarshipphotography/">Sverre</a> that I had in January. I have travelled with him numerous times since, both in the Baltics and in Norway. In spring, I had some of the most exciting courses at school, in summer I did 58 days of on-board training on Finnsun, a ro-ro cargo ship, and now I've started my 2nd year of school. And those are the topics I will soon post more about.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7J3n9nmy5lTZY4w9btTLRDWJbq4V9fSn9DsN31hHt_C2oiy63zdAbCRXp3uA7FntTucl6VGSHwRLSYA-V0FHCXjgeIw879C1tA5fj0VVS3BoZNW00WXuVEoD606G5MRF8z8Gp9bm8Eo/s1600/Cover3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix7J3n9nmy5lTZY4w9btTLRDWJbq4V9fSn9DsN31hHt_C2oiy63zdAbCRXp3uA7FntTucl6VGSHwRLSYA-V0FHCXjgeIw879C1tA5fj0VVS3BoZNW00WXuVEoD606G5MRF8z8Gp9bm8Eo/s400/Cover3.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During my on-board training on the Finnsun I grew to enjoy sights of
endless industrial landscapes; sailing into Antwerp through the
Netherlands was great in that way, and so was entering St. Petersburg,
as seen in this photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-2465136635300854102016-03-06T21:54:00.001+02:002016-10-02T02:17:39.601+03:00Experience: Cruising with style, part 3 (Gabriella)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/02/experience-cruising-with-style-part-1.html">Part 1 here</a> <a href="https://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/02/experience-cruising-with-style-part-2.html">Part 2 here</a></b></div>
<br />
Upon arrival to Turku we split up with Sverre for a brief time and I headed home to unpack some extra stuff I had got from Tallinn and Stockholm, that had become a burden to carry along. Later on we met up again in the center, had a relatively modest lunch in Burger King and headed to Best Western hotel to check in and discover that our room was located right across the entrance to the Viking Line terminal, which was particularly nice later on when the Viking Grace came in.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75zVSgpfgrFNqpPpsD9zGd33hhIWMKUygcoi9ajEAyCjg3B3DLIJEJsgpr9S7ksD-hF-7G3v44zVvz-DMFhmeMk_PiQjRFPPFiu9h-9pMmraEy8qa74CvVH3iYi0oDM2DdYTCuJfv69w/s1600/2016-02-02+20.16.58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75zVSgpfgrFNqpPpsD9zGd33hhIWMKUygcoi9ajEAyCjg3B3DLIJEJsgpr9S7ksD-hF-7G3v44zVvz-DMFhmeMk_PiQjRFPPFiu9h-9pMmraEy8qa74CvVH3iYi0oDM2DdYTCuJfv69w/s320/2016-02-02+20.16.58.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next morning we woke up to quickly grab our stuff to rush across the road to the Viking Line terminal, do the check-in, board, find our cabin and settle down there. The ship we boarded was Gabriella, who usually sails Helsinki-Stockholm paired with the Mariella, but at that time she had come to replace the Amorella during her docking. Just as with the Mariella, I had only done a crossing from Helsinki to Tallinn on her before and I sure couldn't miss a sweet opportunity to see her better, especially on an exceptional route. Our excellent cabin luck (as we never made any special requests) continued, although we had not booked the highest available cabin class, I still dare to say it couldn't have been better - our balcony cabin on deck 11 (11113) was not only on port side, but also the only one with the balcony providing a good forward view as well. As a result we never needed to go to the public open decks to take pictures, although those on the Gabriella are quite good for that purpose.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfORPZh3Q-c9a1w-dItX7Dz1zCJxFMcHmQmkzcgKsqgnlW1roToL2Et1jbt5yMZ4SUDoTq6dIW2vVso_G_10Ut-E7UXOUzzBCnx1zwGIxtzoxJaxmuU0uFbjTussn8u9uoCp13S9owhU/s1600/IMG_9785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbfORPZh3Q-c9a1w-dItX7Dz1zCJxFMcHmQmkzcgKsqgnlW1roToL2Et1jbt5yMZ4SUDoTq6dIW2vVso_G_10Ut-E7UXOUzzBCnx1zwGIxtzoxJaxmuU0uFbjTussn8u9uoCp13S9owhU/s320/IMG_9785.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View into the cabin<br />
Photo by Sverre Andreas Rud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After taking some time to finally properly start the day, we headed to Viking Buffet for a lunch and soon afterwards it was time to head back to our cabin to watch as we made a stop in Mariehamn.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgQ9hCfFvGihjgl1VASSLA5ryD1ZikXIvBNwWKFAx-Vcg3BK4dQG0SMezQ52B_6K6mu2voZrgrwCwrotQYBgshuKPAdSpy3iuSIdOIDj8vMX7OKz_XB5cOxgkv08wr4uOrOFhWjibf_s/s1600/IMG_3180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgQ9hCfFvGihjgl1VASSLA5ryD1ZikXIvBNwWKFAx-Vcg3BK4dQG0SMezQ52B_6K6mu2voZrgrwCwrotQYBgshuKPAdSpy3iuSIdOIDj8vMX7OKz_XB5cOxgkv08wr4uOrOFhWjibf_s/s320/IMG_3180.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Grace somewhere in that weather</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS07n8nombeCUmKhDXWm0MK2ExCboIxMm26rmiiKooF_GopKtXFRX3m-bBCNffbqvp1W7p-78PNrXEdADpFzmg_MnvX6lTdRhbMWSQxmMkXUklM7Kd4twHE0RB6PpoCDSfOnb0sMYc6g/s1600/IMG_3193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiS07n8nombeCUmKhDXWm0MK2ExCboIxMm26rmiiKooF_GopKtXFRX3m-bBCNffbqvp1W7p-78PNrXEdADpFzmg_MnvX6lTdRhbMWSQxmMkXUklM7Kd4twHE0RB6PpoCDSfOnb0sMYc6g/s320/IMG_3193.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silja Line's Turku-Stockholm boats outbound from Mariehamn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3tu9rs4GRgniFqcYcLiqQTdr5SIqGbhDygaugmq5z-S4VC2-HJJ4sDYdoejDLYRE2Xazh95lb9afxUsOmZnFJoPbwBfDeIiIPHqzb2b97TCIHfnsG5SNf8TVaSZqXUyo-pgDAXxFo5U/s1600/IMG_7040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3tu9rs4GRgniFqcYcLiqQTdr5SIqGbhDygaugmq5z-S4VC2-HJJ4sDYdoejDLYRE2Xazh95lb9afxUsOmZnFJoPbwBfDeIiIPHqzb2b97TCIHfnsG5SNf8TVaSZqXUyo-pgDAXxFo5U/s320/IMG_7040.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Grace following us towards Mariehamn<br />
Photo by Sverre Andreas Rud</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9ka57GhoaE1c4q_zflZGDKjMJ3E6xIexi7FhF1APo50lvYluxqvZZ-i0oQ4gs4iL4zfZslyNPTBYCrTd8rxbq2Akg92Un9cyptoVw-6EXnRACcQN2JMd7mD8pR5m6u339wXm1rMEBLI/s1600/IMG_3198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9ka57GhoaE1c4q_zflZGDKjMJ3E6xIexi7FhF1APo50lvYluxqvZZ-i0oQ4gs4iL4zfZslyNPTBYCrTd8rxbq2Akg92Un9cyptoVw-6EXnRACcQN2JMd7mD8pR5m6u339wXm1rMEBLI/s320/IMG_3198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Galaxy, heading for Stockholm</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_5aaAMVkDh7AcSE-zB9V5_wl0usKGBaaCpIq3qcBkLghE1yVFza4TNUXzFhBb2dufhWkK1vYc5kYB0OiKu5fljiPBPJHBN-cvZQpdN30RVKvEdcVCRJdVyQNVnEEWwvyQHoQs_YjthE/s1600/IMG_3196.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN_5aaAMVkDh7AcSE-zB9V5_wl0usKGBaaCpIq3qcBkLghE1yVFza4TNUXzFhBb2dufhWkK1vYc5kYB0OiKu5fljiPBPJHBN-cvZQpdN30RVKvEdcVCRJdVyQNVnEEWwvyQHoQs_YjthE/s320/IMG_3196.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Princess, heading for Turku</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qP6tX3ztvaU_0O2DGB94Pi7vqpWob9HCh68wz69MVfNJ0wqipjuL8gJceYRoe6zGgkUjz3zxNRif4MHCZ3jj7eYGKelxRMMMlaHgWitPnb-NADSAcxNtnIWSG60GZtRxL7FDaJfXbR4/s1600/IMG_3210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8qP6tX3ztvaU_0O2DGB94Pi7vqpWob9HCh68wz69MVfNJ0wqipjuL8gJceYRoe6zGgkUjz3zxNRif4MHCZ3jj7eYGKelxRMMMlaHgWitPnb-NADSAcxNtnIWSG60GZtRxL7FDaJfXbR4/s320/IMG_3210.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All three behind us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qEPDvy5V3UxKx8ZYgsFRX_hvJtAx33r-XPAE0Ehm8sLJCcjEMKMzvJOvCTtZ1F4Lmu315SKNn9VPBNS46k1O8ps3N15pAt5q45nwWaZG6Qim2tlNfCmNg_a-UP1dc8c92WU1AW1jEmc/s1600/IMG_3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qEPDvy5V3UxKx8ZYgsFRX_hvJtAx33r-XPAE0Ehm8sLJCcjEMKMzvJOvCTtZ1F4Lmu315SKNn9VPBNS46k1O8ps3N15pAt5q45nwWaZG6Qim2tlNfCmNg_a-UP1dc8c92WU1AW1jEmc/s320/IMG_3220.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Grace turning around</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAbzpe5hxT4diP138Cje3Soo-FIXiFQJBFAWYapoYK0h62oNtxj8FG8mYNXEF8-42sB1b0VsdDOSqrhMU1XYQ1GI_ESAHVE1Q7jP1k8DqqIO0zrFgIP936IZzbKAoAi18MnJfFyhy5VI/s1600/IMG_3226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAbzpe5hxT4diP138Cje3Soo-FIXiFQJBFAWYapoYK0h62oNtxj8FG8mYNXEF8-42sB1b0VsdDOSqrhMU1XYQ1GI_ESAHVE1Q7jP1k8DqqIO0zrFgIP936IZzbKAoAi18MnJfFyhy5VI/s320/IMG_3226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While the other two slowly sail out of sight</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMLpey3E_rjntdShSFUZG-tecnP9JSuFDaw9R3wQSiquOj0jADjHfSSjBu11JCiEyDGkV6rY8pkkZT0gXZ8wrQK-yyLu3n5-gfjAr4iEIdugS-FE_2ZCS1hvKe4OxkOlF9MllLSJvcLQ/s1600/IMG_3227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMLpey3E_rjntdShSFUZG-tecnP9JSuFDaw9R3wQSiquOj0jADjHfSSjBu11JCiEyDGkV6rY8pkkZT0gXZ8wrQK-yyLu3n5-gfjAr4iEIdugS-FE_2ZCS1hvKe4OxkOlF9MllLSJvcLQ/s320/IMG_3227.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As she maneuvered, we got a 360° view of her and her immaculate, picture-perfect paintjob; she had her first dry-docking just a bit over a week earlier.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdvZvOGFXnj0-8MZgl7mlcP9Ickm28DT3Cj3hy36Z7HxaWp9ilG2FMK97n96g2VgEZa7gxi6wAUgkFiEOGtDNQVtu_XRSJl9HmAYIGklrg8WocsdSjMe43l1xJkbEaE0ULFLapKN2cyc/s1600/IMG_3233.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdvZvOGFXnj0-8MZgl7mlcP9Ickm28DT3Cj3hy36Z7HxaWp9ilG2FMK97n96g2VgEZa7gxi6wAUgkFiEOGtDNQVtu_XRSJl9HmAYIGklrg8WocsdSjMe43l1xJkbEaE0ULFLapKN2cyc/s320/IMG_3233.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Both of us tied up in Mariehamn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKo8MNXjETWXiCvNzih9n6n9_SkQd1uYyoViID1LA8KkK0MkdOIfr6LihYBapzU3wM4QjssiFxCzN81sl_a1V6BGfHqmUc39n2e4fOcsaWPU9f24lBxHPBPmBHZIA9Cj5yjqBfa2If_0/s1600/IMG_3244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKo8MNXjETWXiCvNzih9n6n9_SkQd1uYyoViID1LA8KkK0MkdOIfr6LihYBapzU3wM4QjssiFxCzN81sl_a1V6BGfHqmUc39n2e4fOcsaWPU9f24lBxHPBPmBHZIA9Cj5yjqBfa2If_0/s320/IMG_3244.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flawless</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Later on we did some last shopping, until we arrived in Stockholm and Sverre had to disembark to return to his home. I stayed on board to return to Turku and chose to spend the rest of the evening in the cabin in the company of my laptop and a bag of chips.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX425AtvnJSGt4eB9lBKR-VwKL38WaztACDGoDmKQJqP-qJGKPpJCgJB2fSaVYRNIqOiqSBcDj7ATKHZqkgKvm7df8j0Rgi_CM9kMJoNaPIVSa0xNwo_eRUSBGPSC3-lvtoOJaSIYvdg/s1600/2016-02-04+07.40.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX425AtvnJSGt4eB9lBKR-VwKL38WaztACDGoDmKQJqP-qJGKPpJCgJB2fSaVYRNIqOiqSBcDj7ATKHZqkgKvm7df8j0Rgi_CM9kMJoNaPIVSa0xNwo_eRUSBGPSC3-lvtoOJaSIYvdg/s320/2016-02-04+07.40.01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-21510690953688128792016-02-24T03:07:00.001+02:002016-10-02T02:06:49.215+03:00Experience: Cruising with style, part 2 (Mariella)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2016/02/experience-cruising-with-style-part-1.html">Part 1 here</a></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariella coming to get us</td></tr>
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We reached the Katajanokka terminal just in time to check-in and board the Mariella. For me, it was the first "proper" sailing on her, as I had only crossed on her once from Tallinn to Helsinki in August 2014. She has since been refreshed a bit and now I got to do a full cruise on her. It was here that the amazing cabin luck that followed us for the rest of the trip started - we had booked a suite, and of the six suites on board, we were given the only one that has a total of 8 windows on the port side, giving a wonderful view and allowing us to keep an eye out for other ships at almost all times.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to the left from the entry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bedroom, to the right from the entry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The living room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cards and coupons...</td></tr>
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Quite soon after boarding we headed to the jacuzzi and sauna department on deck 2 to boil in the pools a bit before having our dinner in Food Garden. After taking our good time to chat and enjoy the dinner, we moved on to Club Mar for some drinks and talks. Following the many fun hours spent there, we were just about to return to our cabin for the night, but as we passed by the Music Bar, the catchy music playing there pulled us off our set course and the next moment we found ourselves slaying the dance floor. However, some songs later we had to admit that the dancing had drained the last of our energy and so we had to call it a night.<br />
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The next day we woke up fairly early to watch the ship sail through the archipelago and meeting the ships bound for Turku. At one point the huge tray packed with our complimentary breakfast was rolled in, delaying our plans ashore somewhat and lasting us well until the end of the cruise.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Grace seen from living room windows</td></tr>
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When we finally got off the ship, we first headed to some excellent viewpoints nearby to take photos. Then the rest of the day was spent scouting for a particular store that I remembered for selling excellent tea (<a href="https://www.google.fi/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&es_th=1&ie=UTF-8#q=clemontin+stockholm">Clemontin</a>; found it after walking right past about three times) and meeting up with Nelly and very briefly Markus, until it was just about time to return to the ship.<br />
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Dead tired, I desperately needed a nap while Sverre went out for a drink and met up with a bartender he knew. Soon it was time for our 9-course tasting menu dinner at Plate Social Dining restaurant. The food was great, but our chatter during and between the courses delayed us so much that the restaurant was long closed when we finished and we were almost chased out. After that we had a few drinks at Cava Bar and later went to the open decks to enjoy the windy and slightly rough weather.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slightly flooded</td></tr>
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The next morning we arrived back to Helsinki a little late, packed up our belongings and disembarked to take a bus straight to Turku.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking XPRS and Silja Symphony</td></tr>
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Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-15329272934598727662016-02-18T03:00:00.004+02:002016-10-02T02:07:02.858+03:00Experience: Cruising with style, part 1 (Finlandia, Superstar)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Not long ago, starting on the 30th of January, I took a trip involving several cruiseferries of the sweet home Baltic Sea; or should I say my best friend Sverre took the trip and kindly invited me to join. For me it started with taking a bus to Helsinki to meet up with him; we spent the first day walking and sightseeing in and near central Helsinki. In the evening we met up with some more people (Timo Selkälä, <a href="http://kships.blogspot.fi/">Kalle Id</a>, Mikko Pätäri) from our solid group of friends to have a dinner in Domo, a small, and quiet Japanese restaurant. The same cannot be said about our group as we were clearly the jolliest and loudest ones that night, however that's really not easy to avoid with such great people around.<br />
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We stayed at Radisson Blu Seaside hotel, chosen for its sweet location very close to the West Harbour, as early the next morning we took the Finlandia to my old hometown Tallinn. On the Finlandia we had buffet breakfast, as I remembered the food there as exquisite, however this time the experience was not as great, probably because I was not very hungry. We also took advantage of the fact that the first morning crossing of the Finlandia is excellent for taking photos of the incoming Stockholm ferries. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View upon entering our hotel room</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a bit further in</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02zYdNoNzCcMWE2WHjJvAytrtCWnmWVqQb2H2h7kdbyiLFl8Mx9cUvaR6fHa5UtVDuieTRobW3SvZ9CpIg1tUW3ubFruC1sOpkGIrlRILWGmHFCh2LO2cH48ZghUbmW5bjLVeowRHO5U/s1600/2016-01-31+10.11.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj02zYdNoNzCcMWE2WHjJvAytrtCWnmWVqQb2H2h7kdbyiLFl8Mx9cUvaR6fHa5UtVDuieTRobW3SvZ9CpIg1tUW3ubFruC1sOpkGIrlRILWGmHFCh2LO2cH48ZghUbmW5bjLVeowRHO5U/s320/2016-01-31+10.11.31.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely little dessert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2viTVaUAeANkJlVruRTyQZjl3fBOhJCAX37kcp56gq7sclutpGR4tlK-T2BjX-w7RnKGL1RTlIEBgUKBHuhs6tSMmOQq4rn6pS323cuWY0rI5CCchYSVyCYWXerbl1Rmy09k2isZ2Hk/s1600/IMG_3008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2viTVaUAeANkJlVruRTyQZjl3fBOhJCAX37kcp56gq7sclutpGR4tlK-T2BjX-w7RnKGL1RTlIEBgUKBHuhs6tSMmOQq4rn6pS323cuWY0rI5CCchYSVyCYWXerbl1Rmy09k2isZ2Hk/s320/IMG_3008.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my prouder interior photos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiEKFKrsjN4A_1rySW_hhi99iL307XGjQpsmHIslsZTNb6cnWxEzLteKtRfpbvUWGerA5JUCIVJ8bBTl5osGqCs4qFsg9AaTYQtyvxnylK2itzd-2atztVFSDwBJ4EUhgi85286umkD8/s1600/IMG_2977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpiEKFKrsjN4A_1rySW_hhi99iL307XGjQpsmHIslsZTNb6cnWxEzLteKtRfpbvUWGerA5JUCIVJ8bBTl5osGqCs4qFsg9AaTYQtyvxnylK2itzd-2atztVFSDwBJ4EUhgi85286umkD8/s320/IMG_2977.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sister ship Superstar coming in to Helsinki</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FIytft98IUOYqMmgysn04PqKrwZv9W5_fvQV7LqHQqJRQqs0Srx6wLgA7sALwcX25AtQ74EGDQO63hnGvap9d8CMKyo0SKc04G4Yyw65v1FW42T-TvR6C78pY4CdfsSZ5p6pXCwiW2U/s1600/IMG_2987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1FIytft98IUOYqMmgysn04PqKrwZv9W5_fvQV7LqHQqJRQqs0Srx6wLgA7sALwcX25AtQ74EGDQO63hnGvap9d8CMKyo0SKc04G4Yyw65v1FW42T-TvR6C78pY4CdfsSZ5p6pXCwiW2U/s320/IMG_2987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mariella doing the same</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodvSHXjZ8i9XtBW5NjzK_Z5KKZgaZWIMSoxxR-IGJHACNPawMpeIleRPV1aFukR834RQXjSGBqf1ov1TtwQRD1fhsf9JELbgMgKQhWABPT3ImAA6Wt8byG3OtF5dZV8bWwaWG4RSOkAA/s1600/IMG_3003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodvSHXjZ8i9XtBW5NjzK_Z5KKZgaZWIMSoxxR-IGJHACNPawMpeIleRPV1aFukR834RQXjSGBqf1ov1TtwQRD1fhsf9JELbgMgKQhWABPT3ImAA6Wt8byG3OtF5dZV8bWwaWG4RSOkAA/s320/IMG_3003.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and Silja Symphony</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2gtliBCPr7Wfua3dY7edmX5n5xTg6rQVA7tZ3225hna2GpV-w3FDyJRyb_m-qeUm-M_EPdr8SNzD7IjVopqgT5yYZXW11McD3CLzQHLRoaZoCZ-BGVZSPUkIF4L6aCEDO1P7FuLakP4/s1600/2016-01-31+08.59.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB2gtliBCPr7Wfua3dY7edmX5n5xTg6rQVA7tZ3225hna2GpV-w3FDyJRyb_m-qeUm-M_EPdr8SNzD7IjVopqgT5yYZXW11McD3CLzQHLRoaZoCZ-BGVZSPUkIF4L6aCEDO1P7FuLakP4/s320/2016-01-31+08.59.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "bow-bar" on the Finlandia, two decks high, called Bar Nosturi.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In Tallinn we only had less than two hours of time, which we spent quickly meeting up with my mother and I also used the opportunity to stock up on some Estonian snacks. What seemed like a blink of an eye later we were already rushing to board the Superstar. It was surprisingly exciting for me to quickly visit my old hometown for the first time in six months, and even during that short stay I noticed a lot of various changes, for example the harbour terminals have been given a fresher look, some buildings have been finished and new construction sites have appeared.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcoQQorl8F8Y6SpMiiGWusp5rOeUvVEcRdG3Z9TmNLPizXE-AMiA_Pr0bSsJhnU277Kd71IQ4oNlo7zh5N0TSjX0D0IabQyl0_5QFqlxMj6Tvth9Ro0fXwyzDR9icsEXh4kkFuZyBCIU/s1600/2016-01-31+11.54.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcoQQorl8F8Y6SpMiiGWusp5rOeUvVEcRdG3Z9TmNLPizXE-AMiA_Pr0bSsJhnU277Kd71IQ4oNlo7zh5N0TSjX0D0IabQyl0_5QFqlxMj6Tvth9Ro0fXwyzDR9icsEXh4kkFuZyBCIU/s320/2016-01-31+11.54.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finlandia backing out to return to Helsinki</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1VpVVZU31VZ0eZm0G1lYTEtQ1v7TcX-ObLbTe3nghakXzH9lDF_q_MkWUqYFXebHbiXjS_PCG3FCa904wnZh84MGjx43ib2FU1zadoMM-yWwtYAPYqONqfwiJlDQc1qwic1AF3oagBk/s1600/IMG_3026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1VpVVZU31VZ0eZm0G1lYTEtQ1v7TcX-ObLbTe3nghakXzH9lDF_q_MkWUqYFXebHbiXjS_PCG3FCa904wnZh84MGjx43ib2FU1zadoMM-yWwtYAPYqONqfwiJlDQc1qwic1AF3oagBk/s320/IMG_3026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea Wind in Tallinn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
When the trip was booked, the ship we were supposed to take was going to be the Star. However, at one point she was switched with the Superstar as their drydock times were switched without notice, and had I not checked the booking online earlier, we would have probably been in for one hell of a surprise. However, it was a positive change, because although the Star is one of our shared favourites, the Superstar is now higher on the list since she has already been sold to Corsica Ferries (and rechartered to Tallink) and is now on her final year of service here in the Baltics; she is due to leave as soon as Tallink's newbuild, named Megastar, is ready to replace her. In addition to that, crossing on the Superstar meant sailing on two sister ships in one day. For the crossing, we had booked a window cabin just for the heck of it, and spent most of the quick crossing in there. After our arrival in Helsinki, we headed straight to the Viking Line terminal in Katajanokka. </div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwscJ6S8-j62qgwJCdORN6_rID2FUOxoAFhSMUZ11sW_XjLrlFjRLBPTvNoUFLbSaEpl8jvZKpQZxk3Lrii-hohRgxEEOUXB4Z8gCnCTVwt46-mxgsB4e-Y52Wz36dq1zA5dJlNGrMeDU/s1600/IMG_3036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwscJ6S8-j62qgwJCdORN6_rID2FUOxoAFhSMUZ11sW_XjLrlFjRLBPTvNoUFLbSaEpl8jvZKpQZxk3Lrii-hohRgxEEOUXB4Z8gCnCTVwt46-mxgsB4e-Y52Wz36dq1zA5dJlNGrMeDU/s320/IMG_3036.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "bow-bar" on the Superstar, three decks high, called Dolce Vita. If you look closer, you can also see Finlandia departing for Tallinn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3U47WH2jb9L1d-UgGmWjUyc-cLpP73OiHO75vMpXt4qaed8sZOda8DljpRYmgZuQYe-R2fYHHyb_N5gvl5mYkrK93ik2cPKd5HxIuzW5r_1N7UqilNMndzAdaa-oz15YJGZtAAtsvG4/s1600/2016-01-31+13.15.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3U47WH2jb9L1d-UgGmWjUyc-cLpP73OiHO75vMpXt4qaed8sZOda8DljpRYmgZuQYe-R2fYHHyb_N5gvl5mYkrK93ik2cPKd5HxIuzW5r_1N7UqilNMndzAdaa-oz15YJGZtAAtsvG4/s320/2016-01-31+13.15.51.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our cabin on the Superstar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqqVxDewoaWJC2BV-9k41PEnzjD_xfoviSPt9lYhgOnswA-nce7NlbfXX-FsvVAkFBEGo4xUr4QKheG8TcCeuWXcHhTPljxWReAXkYYvs6bTx_oBrgePojBPQTLxGThZJ1ivzEP1lwLw/s1600/IMG_3020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFqqVxDewoaWJC2BV-9k41PEnzjD_xfoviSPt9lYhgOnswA-nce7NlbfXX-FsvVAkFBEGo4xUr4QKheG8TcCeuWXcHhTPljxWReAXkYYvs6bTx_oBrgePojBPQTLxGThZJ1ivzEP1lwLw/s320/IMG_3020.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lifeboats and bunkering Victoria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTvL46v585cjkuSVergJldO9Ija9Oyr1saYbjotdhdnrC2p15MRCPC1NxVFWXRrEqNvwtkRlOy-0H76xKtjUIepSDFD9I9f0ggpGWy8htvjkmNEOVmWHvbQ_oDf7pdeIyRfOsxtCnyNs/s1600/IMG_3028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTvL46v585cjkuSVergJldO9Ija9Oyr1saYbjotdhdnrC2p15MRCPC1NxVFWXRrEqNvwtkRlOy-0H76xKtjUIepSDFD9I9f0ggpGWy8htvjkmNEOVmWHvbQ_oDf7pdeIyRfOsxtCnyNs/s320/IMG_3028.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory funnel photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISJWrkOlpp9k5cUZER3xFDKrh9PQZXUir2DcI0REimhGkGfdhM4L3XAT6Xud8yFUy__MsZXvWQem8u_VNZ3FuA88pXT3R2cEE6Y_oJGuUpy_jfj7UnxKm4jGaJqKmm6N4XhykfF2Q1rI/s1600/IMG_3045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgISJWrkOlpp9k5cUZER3xFDKrh9PQZXUir2DcI0REimhGkGfdhM4L3XAT6Xud8yFUy__MsZXvWQem8u_VNZ3FuA88pXT3R2cEE6Y_oJGuUpy_jfj7UnxKm4jGaJqKmm6N4XhykfF2Q1rI/s320/IMG_3045.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Queen in Helsinki, with workers cleaning her windows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX9yXxDN3Umqm_Jn23IEtDfIdKYhXS3L67kKA6c-xQcGm-22oMkVJM4fEUkrr7kiHp4huFNI5_9EIrAIe8e2z_9UBZaCOXh-GuDwGg3S_-MvvzN3NGY_SvRGJLxEhcD3dfPflvMIWMSE/s1600/IMG_3049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQX9yXxDN3Umqm_Jn23IEtDfIdKYhXS3L67kKA6c-xQcGm-22oMkVJM4fEUkrr7kiHp4huFNI5_9EIrAIe8e2z_9UBZaCOXh-GuDwGg3S_-MvvzN3NGY_SvRGJLxEhcD3dfPflvMIWMSE/s320/IMG_3049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sunlight reflecting from the livery of the Baltic Queen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
Simona Mitmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08979306795179257463noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-69033853356427364772016-01-04T21:21:00.000+02:002016-10-02T02:08:22.884+03:00My 2015<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One more year has passed, and as I have done for many years now, it is time to sum it up month by month. As this blog has been quiet for the most of the 2nd half of the year, I will try to make up for it somewhat.<br />
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<b>January</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sOsaWVb0ms-6jkCTa8AGYmsk0DViookFl21sc9XE5vfHDN-XV81jh8CNd3BjhpG-UsEmCEL4MgeRv1tYsUETvV49JN6S00NcYtq1CN7taINIRq4M3_kVbRa9ez4DpZ4WXNuKaB2vsWs/s1600/IMG_9597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7sOsaWVb0ms-6jkCTa8AGYmsk0DViookFl21sc9XE5vfHDN-XV81jh8CNd3BjhpG-UsEmCEL4MgeRv1tYsUETvV49JN6S00NcYtq1CN7taINIRq4M3_kVbRa9ez4DpZ4WXNuKaB2vsWs/s320/IMG_9597.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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After welcoming the New Year on my favourite ship, the Viking Grace (where I unfortunately have not returned since), and returning from Stockholm the day after, it was soon time to return to Tallinn and return to the daily life of a high school senior. It marked the start of a restless and stressful period packed with school-related work as well as the job I was still doing, the only getaways in January being a weekend trip to Finland and a visit from my friends from New Zealand. I applied to a university in Finland and also got to witness the docking of Viking Line's Rosella in Tallinn as she received her uniform stripes, which turned out a complete fiasco until they were fixed later on in spring. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>February</b></div>
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<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_beSlXaPTej-h0GQDfbiN-AROi_oENxWrlVNTz5XS7k5zfi6w-2U_NS3uqIoclOfFBwZAgXWbVrSpapfjgHz5X9dLD-k7POcF066B7lh9Edf4rz7qbksxsbmGELwciIKyt5G7kBKIt0U/s1600/IMG_9753+%2528768x1024%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_beSlXaPTej-h0GQDfbiN-AROi_oENxWrlVNTz5XS7k5zfi6w-2U_NS3uqIoclOfFBwZAgXWbVrSpapfjgHz5X9dLD-k7POcF066B7lh9Edf4rz7qbksxsbmGELwciIKyt5G7kBKIt0U/s320/IMG_9753+%2528768x1024%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></div>
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The busy and stressful days continued, I was taking a weekly course of Finnish for most of the month in addition to school and work. Matti was in Tallinn for most of the month, easing the stress somewhat, and in the end of the month as I had some days off for the Estonian Independence Day, I returned to Finland with him and recharged the batteries a bit. As I was doing that, I got to check out the changes made on the Finlandia during her docking earlier. I also had my final English language lesson of high school and possibly my whole life, as I received my CAE C2 certificate, deeming such lessons unnecessary. </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>March</b></div>
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<img alt="" aria-busy="false" aria-describedby="fbPhotosSnowliftCaption" class="spotlight" height="240" src="https://scontent-arn2-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/v/t1.0-9/11051778_10206518585909850_439477151088949735_n.jpg?oh=29b6b159d5f66ce4e4803b9f64f0cf7e&oe=57039B5F" width="320" /><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
Early March marked my first vote at the general elections in Estonia, as well as a visit from Nelly, Mikko and Bim. In addition to the continuation of the hectic daily life, I was working on booking a little adventure for myself, which was fun at times, particularly when the confused faces of the employees at the Tallink booking office in Tallinn when I asked them to book me the taxi service from Mariehamn to Långnäs. "Has anyone ever had to book this before?", they were asking each other. Fortunately I did get what I wanted and soon found myself doing four cities and three ships in 24 hours, a story I've already told in <a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2015/03/experience-romantika-rosella-galaxy-star.html">this post</a>. After the vacation, it was just back to normal and I started counting the schooldays I had left. In the end of the month, I met up with Jin as she was in Tallinn, and my favourite band Nightwish released their latest, and in my opinion best album.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>April</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoD_osca-x5OtrTbqMjzrQxRSq_Zq_2ZYPQppSB_ykD_Vbos8uKOb_j1jDSyOXN7kdS5USvTkVFYvAHuzc2Jaw9znALl4Oa3wWpD48q0YnQyyTprzFaQDx_kMXmqGKeZBGm_cUQy8Q0s/s1600/IMG_20150410_154922.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijoD_osca-x5OtrTbqMjzrQxRSq_Zq_2ZYPQppSB_ykD_Vbos8uKOb_j1jDSyOXN7kdS5USvTkVFYvAHuzc2Jaw9znALl4Oa3wWpD48q0YnQyyTprzFaQDx_kMXmqGKeZBGm_cUQy8Q0s/s320/IMG_20150410_154922.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
April marked the end of regular daily school lessons, giving me a lot more time to work on the necessary final projects, my job and many other things. The final, nation-wide stage of the olympiad of Finnish language for Estonian high school students came to an end and I came 2nd, which earned me a place in the epic summer camp I had in July. The following day I took an entry exam to a university. Plans were also made for May-June; therefore I could sum April up as the month with many key events that set a lot of plans for the rest of the year.<br />
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<b>May</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkssXDpjtVNULTo0GPxfoMpjOWILm-lFzvIo0XoPkaLW4umc3JmF-qp8CyZ4NYPXEJtJ9I2m2x5OG2o0MHs_i9qsgvupLQmeuRJUssV1j1J9fugSK-3XVmy_3RQq7sylUs2ixemQkAYdg/s1600/IMG_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkssXDpjtVNULTo0GPxfoMpjOWILm-lFzvIo0XoPkaLW4umc3JmF-qp8CyZ4NYPXEJtJ9I2m2x5OG2o0MHs_i9qsgvupLQmeuRJUssV1j1J9fugSK-3XVmy_3RQq7sylUs2ixemQkAYdg/s320/IMG_0420.JPG" width="240" /></a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The month started with me participating in a mass cycling event in Tallinn and Rosella's terrible stripes getting fixed. I also finished most of my final school projects, which finally put an end to the stress. To celebrate, I went for a <a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2015/06/experience-merilin-on-stormy-seas.html">vacation</a> in Finland and after returning, finished the last of them. In the very end of the month I sailed from Tallinn to Stockholm on a small sailboat, a journey that took about 40 hours and is written down <a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2015/06/experience-sailing-to-stockholm-on.html">here</a>. From there, I returned to Finland.<br />
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<br />
<b>June</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius3n4jgvpU8OuelHEUudm41PsNiq3Adk2KxELSwATS4V-tKWHzZ6zbgwSUSkoOR-9AE2oXPGaK1iTdBKRFeGJFYRVCjQTXOjZ0_jHDAWIBIbdavRBysU_yMrVrOIM8ozOAhlVr4o-wt4/s1600/IMG_0570.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius3n4jgvpU8OuelHEUudm41PsNiq3Adk2KxELSwATS4V-tKWHzZ6zbgwSUSkoOR-9AE2oXPGaK1iTdBKRFeGJFYRVCjQTXOjZ0_jHDAWIBIbdavRBysU_yMrVrOIM8ozOAhlVr4o-wt4/s320/IMG_0570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
The first half of the month was spent in Finland; I visited the Linnanmäki amusement park, which unfortunately turned out to be my only amusement park visit of the season. The same evening I was overjoyed to find out I was accepted to the university. Some days later I boarded the Baltic Princess for the Nightwish <a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2015/07/experience-nightwish-cruise-on-baltic.html">concert-cruise</a> I had been anxiously looking forward to for many months, during which, in addition to all the other obvious things, I received a great lease offer for Turku starting in August, which I accepted. On the 20th I had my graduation ceremony, which meant that I had to return to Tallinn. Relieved to finally have 12 years of school over with, I spent the rest of the month working, resting and volunteering as crew on small sailboats.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>July</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbCcuH2YyJo0IG_3fP5bb210xEhy5BbT4TxPYge6sxpRNShKttiDmps_h1SkHwysP848hvEwSogrI900Ufr5pRP2EdylTIQUV3TKGZwuLfJYJiBeN4CoDqnXnyTMbKSWrIgZwXVtjszk/s1600/WG-Kesalukioseura+%252878%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifbCcuH2YyJo0IG_3fP5bb210xEhy5BbT4TxPYge6sxpRNShKttiDmps_h1SkHwysP848hvEwSogrI900Ufr5pRP2EdylTIQUV3TKGZwuLfJYJiBeN4CoDqnXnyTMbKSWrIgZwXVtjszk/s320/WG-Kesalukioseura+%252878%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
In the month of July, the absolute highlight of my year, the Gymnaestrada volunteering camp took place in Helsinki. I wrote very detailed daily <a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2015/07/gymnaestrada-camp-day-1.html">reports</a> of it on this blog as well, but to sum up, it involved working a somewhat crappy job (to not be misunderstood, it was a lot of fun!) in the first half of the day and enjoying a wide range of various fun activities in the evenings, meeting new people of various origins and backgrounds, and just mountains of fun in general. I would have definitely been happy to spend more than 10 days in such a lovely environment, but fortunately I have many new friends and a lot of epic memories from those days to make up for that. After the camp was over, I returned to Tallinn to slowly pack up my life there, quit my job of a year and a half and enjoy the last of everything I was about to leave behind.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>August</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTBLEmani_waHPVP0RyNvYrehDaAy19eSBpRv0XqRh-8C-4ZKoKuF71WzuM6sPMI2AUC_w2Vg_OwnAci5yeJ41e7MeUWogNPY5kxJC99fuAlLR1Hrz1ZuTBKOa6BSTMku8sF5JAPygng/s1600/IMG_2112.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQTBLEmani_waHPVP0RyNvYrehDaAy19eSBpRv0XqRh-8C-4ZKoKuF71WzuM6sPMI2AUC_w2Vg_OwnAci5yeJ41e7MeUWogNPY5kxJC99fuAlLR1Hrz1ZuTBKOa6BSTMku8sF5JAPygng/s320/IMG_2112.JPG" width="320" /></a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
The first week of August I spent continuing to pack up my life and take the last of the joys of living in Tallinn, including a daycruise to Helsinki on the 2nd. On the 7th I loaded my belongings on a truck and moved to Turku. The rest of the month I spent settling down, getting some necessary things done and enjoying the summer that finally arrived. On the 30th, I took a daycruise to Stockholm (without disembarking) on the Amorella, which proved to be an excellent opportunity to take ship photos.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>September</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhnsXhQ_9rLv2m_AA-s03E1NzKnwGRWhkTUM9HkqpssLIit01gDJ_o7gyafVJy_4q50CZC-bOet3srdMh9AcEQq4X4lFUrqse0gN2vzSBMcEMCt6jRTLj7xBPVL9ZeecKul4-h0SBCg0/s1600/IMG_2302.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlhnsXhQ_9rLv2m_AA-s03E1NzKnwGRWhkTUM9HkqpssLIit01gDJ_o7gyafVJy_4q50CZC-bOet3srdMh9AcEQq4X4lFUrqse0gN2vzSBMcEMCt6jRTLj7xBPVL9ZeecKul4-h0SBCg0/s320/IMG_2302.JPG" width="320" /></a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
As September started, so did my maritime studies here in Turku. And so it was that the whole month was mostly getting settled in school, which is definitely nowhere near as stressful as high school was, and I've really enjoyed it. I was also visited by one girl from the Gymnaestrada camp, but besides that, nothing particularly remarkable happened.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>October</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3bUC4PXw5U9rU5CETEklaVkq_fGuynJMy7nVHEsX1PidFNGp7cNdmCE_k-_UzzGXOe257-6GWYS58AYTgCSY3ziZx9ldL0m4AvrmX_oQR2n41q47JnlSryQ8xXdJnWljTI8d33LWpys/s1600/IMG_2580.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO3bUC4PXw5U9rU5CETEklaVkq_fGuynJMy7nVHEsX1PidFNGp7cNdmCE_k-_UzzGXOe257-6GWYS58AYTgCSY3ziZx9ldL0m4AvrmX_oQR2n41q47JnlSryQ8xXdJnWljTI8d33LWpys/s320/IMG_2580.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
In October I mostly continued my studies and making friends at school, and in the middle of the month I had my first on-board training, albeit just one night, on a sail ship called Amazone. We departed from Turku in the morning and sailed to Kasnäs in the southern end of the arhcipelago, arriving in the evening. We spent the night alongside there and enjoyed the sauna near the harbour, and departed early next morning, arriving back in Turku in the afternoon. At one point, on our outbound journey, a shower opposite to my cabin started spewing out sewage water, flooding the corridor and getting some in my cabin as well. Fortunately it was stopped and cleared up in some time, but in the meanwhile I was doing my best to keep the cabin as undamaged as possible and took a few photos to scare my friends. It was also our job to take care of the steering and navigating, and I got to do a bit of both during the two days, and coincidentally I happened to be steering when we passed through one of the narrowest straits in the archipelago, which was quite thrilling. Generally, after returning home I only found myself wishing it had lasted longer.<br />
In the very final days of the month I spent a very fun 24 hours with my best ship-people Nelly, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sarshipphotography/?fref=ts">Sverre</a>, Dave, Timo, and Mikko (and very briefly, <a href="http://kships.blogspot.fi/">Kalle</a>), as they were doing cruises and stayed in Turku for a night. Definitely a highlight of the final months of the year, we spent the time visiting the maritime museums and partying.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>November</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnEEo1ejBBUVwpVR4na6mQWFZaFfAwgRNivnZXD_naFSvutRGSKlt2pvq4DsSGtuYhCyl1AFq0Fro549KpRBMYXSeU7EONdq4P5N-4Eg4JdmzCXYp-458YVF2VOHf870oc36iCY4cF8M/s1600/IMG_2843.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnEEo1ejBBUVwpVR4na6mQWFZaFfAwgRNivnZXD_naFSvutRGSKlt2pvq4DsSGtuYhCyl1AFq0Fro549KpRBMYXSeU7EONdq4P5N-4Eg4JdmzCXYp-458YVF2VOHf870oc36iCY4cF8M/s320/IMG_2843.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
The beginning of November was mostly spent studying, recovering from the aforementioned 24 hours and minding smaller, day-to-day business. In the later days I had a very thrilling three day metalwork course as a part of my studies, where we used various methods to create anchors. So now that I own a fancy handmade anchor, all I need to do is to buy a boat for it. After that course was over, I went on a shopping trip to Gdansk with Matti and a friend of his.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>December</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvRsRfOZjsKc0bQ-vyI4YEBx3ki52PHA2eJJTJnrK01OW4kxn6zOET_yz2CtqaQkSKflf24VHCUGxFmiTuyVlwIMkzK7K4jk4giqC-BSACJPSX8syC2_r_qB56o9tLBDmJwDhKXtp-JQ/s1600/12348732_964333183638820_1561058996_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguvRsRfOZjsKc0bQ-vyI4YEBx3ki52PHA2eJJTJnrK01OW4kxn6zOET_yz2CtqaQkSKflf24VHCUGxFmiTuyVlwIMkzK7K4jk4giqC-BSACJPSX8syC2_r_qB56o9tLBDmJwDhKXtp-JQ/s320/12348732_964333183638820_1561058996_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
An unusually Christmasy month for me, as the very enjoyable school party was already on the fourth, and the rest of the month was mostly spent doing various holiday-related business, such as baking gingerbreads, sending and receiving gifts, and so on. I also finally got out of Turku for a couple of nights during the actual Christmas days, which I spent in Tervakoski and Jämsä. Other than that, the month was somewhat peaceful, as well as the New Year, which I welcomed here in Turku.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
All in all, 2015 went much as expected, with a few very nice additions along the way. There was a little more stress than during the previous years, firstly about getting high school over with, and then, after I moved and started university, the empty feeling of having achieved my most immediate goals followed. However, there has always been so much going on that I have never had the time or need to dwell on any negative thoughts. When it comes to my expectations for the upcoming year, it's very difficult to know for sure. It would be nice to continue my studies, which should include the first longer period on board this year, and it's also about time for another epic round trip as it will be two years since the last one. But only time will tell how it all turns out; at the very least I've already got some plans for the nearer future to look forward to.</div>
</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-18701054575820465622015-09-16T00:20:00.001+03:002016-10-02T02:09:12.694+03:00Kiss My Turku<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has now been well over a month since the beautiful sunny day when I packed my boxes, loaded them on a truck, took the Baltic Queen to Helsinki and continued to Turku.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Oo5Bk5HBAGEaR1-nmEb3mD0_-N2zkKirwoekRyAYPgrU0ukM02ntqlLOkylYJWjGEPyctIJ9jYucgb8x0wW4IOzeMWtZBjqdSjOReudjGeWhlyJri-kEUaYE4FBXBA5WbxRtfp9WfZ8/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Oo5Bk5HBAGEaR1-nmEb3mD0_-N2zkKirwoekRyAYPgrU0ukM02ntqlLOkylYJWjGEPyctIJ9jYucgb8x0wW4IOzeMWtZBjqdSjOReudjGeWhlyJri-kEUaYE4FBXBA5WbxRtfp9WfZ8/s320/IMG_1601.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Romantika as seen before boarding</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsRCvnRcQlAabvF91Ntof7PizIIUT59fhAzbLTxKMpqv8ETgCGYQIGuW4WoPo_25POGMYyo2Zri5Q_Rl_wfOvgRE6a-ssr88W_OeKphHBo02L-xswuHfolYLxtnbKlpfoLa8jEnyJiH8/s1600/IMG_1602.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXsRCvnRcQlAabvF91Ntof7PizIIUT59fhAzbLTxKMpqv8ETgCGYQIGuW4WoPo_25POGMYyo2Zri5Q_Rl_wfOvgRE6a-ssr88W_OeKphHBo02L-xswuHfolYLxtnbKlpfoLa8jEnyJiH8/s320/IMG_1602.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boarding...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBRSGri4gKaaPXgr1XER2EB_JMf4INZYVFVcbTZxYH_DL_M9SUxJP7Cie4P9I9pq4mAI1zcD6cvv0PxwHK0lzMqBjop0qjn0Znx3rA9K12EOCTlJv_i_ywqjQsvygkQ6ibG63ZuF0VUc/s1600/IMG_1613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXBRSGri4gKaaPXgr1XER2EB_JMf4INZYVFVcbTZxYH_DL_M9SUxJP7Cie4P9I9pq4mAI1zcD6cvv0PxwHK0lzMqBjop0qjn0Znx3rA9K12EOCTlJv_i_ywqjQsvygkQ6ibG63ZuF0VUc/s320/IMG_1613.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I last saw Tallinn, it looked like this</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgmjh8uThx2OBsLgzCAcAV8noT7Ud5nzibE9CkzykC8c9resigZYPYyLomMzPlFdwEoxJmRs4kNdvV4OKOSKRcgOc6FdHjg9sZqadJXGG_Fjd1WEUBZccb2OFK1IO9IAJHrTGBVzg9Zg/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgmjh8uThx2OBsLgzCAcAV8noT7Ud5nzibE9CkzykC8c9resigZYPYyLomMzPlFdwEoxJmRs4kNdvV4OKOSKRcgOc6FdHjg9sZqadJXGG_Fjd1WEUBZccb2OFK1IO9IAJHrTGBVzg9Zg/s320/IMG_1618.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriella meeting us near Tallinn</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi786iauTWA3-tAa7gNSOez6SuCNyiAHE7gOPErRpuGWwIIqD27dFKBeVg1Ua9xY2xwG_W2XJqqxn-vkF6eCd3YvIv_1rDLO03zYpY0PnJXe__el6b6DyiS_BI_TsRmkr2r9NVeJNMDVpA/s1600/IMG_1627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi786iauTWA3-tAa7gNSOez6SuCNyiAHE7gOPErRpuGWwIIqD27dFKBeVg1Ua9xY2xwG_W2XJqqxn-vkF6eCd3YvIv_1rDLO03zYpY0PnJXe__el6b6DyiS_BI_TsRmkr2r9NVeJNMDVpA/s320/IMG_1627.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... followed by Viking XPRS not much later</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc04peO8XOSZz6ClOquie3fDUcvCaGxN9Pa7F_RlLhP1zKVRLlh_8RKNC8tRU3pgWD-MbuV-BtsQkCjvFP7npfHLsNdF2RjoKPGOLohZNQmpgLMMBbcU9FRoo3NG8dI3ggfDJb9_7n9c/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqc04peO8XOSZz6ClOquie3fDUcvCaGxN9Pa7F_RlLhP1zKVRLlh_8RKNC8tRU3pgWD-MbuV-BtsQkCjvFP7npfHLsNdF2RjoKPGOLohZNQmpgLMMBbcU9FRoo3NG8dI3ggfDJb9_7n9c/s320/IMG_1629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mandatory funnel photo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikojX3SiHk1UvYnNn1JW5Q0eZfv45gc8ldgTt2UpZLgo8BRMW4e7b7XJKXzzy5MSsFKgdzyhyB3CuyNo1b3IL8Dt7lE3xNXpwiR2Q-OpiGsf8vuBTY7JCpBq8DeAEZP3riMNenrli6Vjg/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikojX3SiHk1UvYnNn1JW5Q0eZfv45gc8ldgTt2UpZLgo8BRMW4e7b7XJKXzzy5MSsFKgdzyhyB3CuyNo1b3IL8Dt7lE3xNXpwiR2Q-OpiGsf8vuBTY7JCpBq8DeAEZP3riMNenrli6Vjg/s320/IMG_1650.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meanwhile at the Starlight palace there was a one man show involving lots of big bubbles...</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jEUbq7xIcW-RlXp5XYnzGAg1fAe_9blvlvE3uSfJ6ae_-i0fUqAcLIM1G0GCTUvGG4JKsO4Scx20hEEyelUcBgorPVLjngp7bD9EPZl_Fwioc692a_1-CvsTnXhURKp9FQd6mRxXl5c/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jEUbq7xIcW-RlXp5XYnzGAg1fAe_9blvlvE3uSfJ6ae_-i0fUqAcLIM1G0GCTUvGG4JKsO4Scx20hEEyelUcBgorPVLjngp7bD9EPZl_Fwioc692a_1-CvsTnXhURKp9FQd6mRxXl5c/s320/IMG_1637.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... as well as poor, defenseless kids trapped in them</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS_iPjqjQaTXWCGCDPGEyDOgIW98Kf56Ew4ejiECYMMliTYcO09kGgMBDFU2x1-jNL673t21lcXUNuyDzSMdQm1cMVnOhUAX5OnVSiFW9AwqXVnvbr6j_9FiBf1EAa6xVRoYW__xskpU/s1600/IMG_1655.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmS_iPjqjQaTXWCGCDPGEyDOgIW98Kf56Ew4ejiECYMMliTYcO09kGgMBDFU2x1-jNL673t21lcXUNuyDzSMdQm1cMVnOhUAX5OnVSiFW9AwqXVnvbr6j_9FiBf1EAa6xVRoYW__xskpU/s320/IMG_1655.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When the show was over, the curtains were lifted from the windows, giving a nice, proper view of the lovely interior</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Sv9YnS_NtuvUJwZzkJFwCCheOAVIuJ1Vk1_jADAiTSMObwfJ4HKKhRCpLrYC2oLo8qpYmqrWEqc_OAL7dqqa1Tayu0gsOpmdDWl7L2g_V3oMc3XIOJVXNUzuvHsB7CNaoCK7KR7l1c/s1600/IMG_1676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32Sv9YnS_NtuvUJwZzkJFwCCheOAVIuJ1Vk1_jADAiTSMObwfJ4HKKhRCpLrYC2oLo8qpYmqrWEqc_OAL7dqqa1Tayu0gsOpmdDWl7L2g_V3oMc3XIOJVXNUzuvHsB7CNaoCK7KR7l1c/s320/IMG_1676.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">met Finlandia near Helsinki</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxVPap4J6m3TWyUd6_axBz9M7LLAXjfOynjtzKzqxI5Li3soDGQAY37JICCnNI0lIc3RjDz08ZIVE86jXNg4IYKIoV6Tbd-DMyTzFvMKrWniKELGEFSPxPiVRjAvLp808AQVt5ehZwQo/s1600/IMG_1689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxVPap4J6m3TWyUd6_axBz9M7LLAXjfOynjtzKzqxI5Li3soDGQAY37JICCnNI0lIc3RjDz08ZIVE86jXNg4IYKIoV6Tbd-DMyTzFvMKrWniKELGEFSPxPiVRjAvLp808AQVt5ehZwQo/s320/IMG_1689.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norwegian Star in Länsisatama</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfknhLsXzFCH1lGJokuR2mO_BQlcshkGF8pqZouoPUvVfTnq-f9dsnDkWYzHW4TDMo5SQtEMEoImbcBQ5NWvbkS_Vg6sEKiv7wqGPN3Bf5WBjLAub3D0b4qImTdVZxxaIBx_SVRwRK-us/s1600/IMG_1695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfknhLsXzFCH1lGJokuR2mO_BQlcshkGF8pqZouoPUvVfTnq-f9dsnDkWYzHW4TDMo5SQtEMEoImbcBQ5NWvbkS_Vg6sEKiv7wqGPN3Bf5WBjLAub3D0b4qImTdVZxxaIBx_SVRwRK-us/s320/IMG_1695.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arcadia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNw-iLFj6VI2pfb0Ekwdahm7YVQ3_7ECdw1AYvjPj_XtBnQlMAWTcMSneSvEJHXroJBonIqeTDSMz-rwP4YU868VXPPG5cTgQy_I1oKvogNvo07G6SMt2b9ybW0XRPeMO_ioGCGq1XY4/s1600/IMG_1698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNw-iLFj6VI2pfb0Ekwdahm7YVQ3_7ECdw1AYvjPj_XtBnQlMAWTcMSneSvEJHXroJBonIqeTDSMz-rwP4YU868VXPPG5cTgQy_I1oKvogNvo07G6SMt2b9ybW0XRPeMO_ioGCGq1XY4/s320/IMG_1698.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Princess Maria</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Ever since that beautiful, sunny early August day I have rightfully called Turku my hometown. If I had somehow known that a year ago when I first explored this place (and wrote <a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.fi/2014/08/experience-viking-grace-turku.html">this post</a>), I would have probably had a fit of excitement so intense it would've landed me in a mental asylum. Fortunately, that did not happen, instead I was wondering about study opportunities here. As a result, in June I was accepted to study Maritime Management in Novia University of Applied Sciences, which made a perfect excuse to move here.<br />
<div>
I've had plenty of time to settle down by now; my studies started about three weeks after I moved and those three weeks were great for making my new home livable, finding the nearest stores, bus routes, most convenient cycle routes and so on. Of course that involved seeing more of the city as well. Turku may seem quite small at first, however the suburbs are very much spread out and there's a lot of nature and greenery everywhere, even in the center. For example, my suburb is surrounded by forests and fields, while it's not far at all from the center. I'm not going to add any mandatory tourist photos (except for this one right here), because I already did that a year ago, in the post I linked earlier.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgattDFsyseLgAqgyT7_uEFztJFp6AiVyyqecCnNovHUMHF_0GhGuILE7tRgJfQf_9vXPTj7oNkNqIozhmi_Fd081Du42eBTQ9x7ewpEot8hEZgZIrKyWV314i71PqCqkGXQUHzR-34Sqc/s1600/IMG_1881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgattDFsyseLgAqgyT7_uEFztJFp6AiVyyqecCnNovHUMHF_0GhGuILE7tRgJfQf_9vXPTj7oNkNqIozhmi_Fd081Du42eBTQ9x7ewpEot8hEZgZIrKyWV314i71PqCqkGXQUHzR-34Sqc/s320/IMG_1881.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A riverside promenade near the center</td></tr>
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<div>
When it comes to ships, Turku doesn't really get anywhere near as much as Tallinn - some cargo ships, lots of smaller boats and two Stockholm ferries in the morning and in the evening. Cruise ship calls are rare; the archipelago is not easy to navigate and the city is nowhere near as tourism-oriented as Tallinn or any of the more common cruise destinations.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylavu9oMr37doVbDtIPvskZEcqRejrqOtgPf_d93oV1eQtCctyVYfksA4MSto3FLX19b-aX3wii89pucm755hL-sXhU2iJRurZHqBynpXcqB4j8QYnjJe6-TrCBgRE024TldjbkB-3Ak/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylavu9oMr37doVbDtIPvskZEcqRejrqOtgPf_d93oV1eQtCctyVYfksA4MSto3FLX19b-aX3wii89pucm755hL-sXhU2iJRurZHqBynpXcqB4j8QYnjJe6-TrCBgRE024TldjbkB-3Ak/s320/IMG_1914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baltic Princess sailing in as seen from Ruissalo, the best ship watching place in the city. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTu8m0tr5yhJC3rQLiBfkpv6mmDJApVnPsxElb4fCw0nWNkYQxJe6HWyFeT3AcZtLTLOcaOWHAtVmqYqXL-GhrXNJBKgUdzXfz-9p8EMNEq5wmxnmyefLN34xmuW8lF4bellNkX7Sb64/s1600/IMG_1916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTu8m0tr5yhJC3rQLiBfkpv6mmDJApVnPsxElb4fCw0nWNkYQxJe6HWyFeT3AcZtLTLOcaOWHAtVmqYqXL-GhrXNJBKgUdzXfz-9p8EMNEq5wmxnmyefLN34xmuW8lF4bellNkX7Sb64/s320/IMG_1916.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The channel is quite narrow.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2TsRQl5N7DjSl2EW2iQQMCaSycUQJhCFfVveYIyo3wWrgs9bPI1wY4nDMRfmuRy2dUAUd8_pSyKEjU9o3r6j3TPKXmUtkxtyubutyNR24dMYL6URR_laFp4vdnpIyQpWd0Of0tx8HVE/s1600/IMG_1928.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2TsRQl5N7DjSl2EW2iQQMCaSycUQJhCFfVveYIyo3wWrgs9bPI1wY4nDMRfmuRy2dUAUd8_pSyKEjU9o3r6j3TPKXmUtkxtyubutyNR24dMYL6URR_laFp4vdnpIyQpWd0Of0tx8HVE/s320/IMG_1928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN6YC8W0hvcIktYQaL8MafCGZQ7m5gsgzlC0UuA5JuGfhSn-OOVBYUjCXkhwYSFA5YsE54G52aSvMwbULbxtRzYuu6dTTNRdbjq3AKw226IXWB4guyVIdEN3j0wbHB-gUDrHW2Pniaxs/s1600/IMG_1951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKN6YC8W0hvcIktYQaL8MafCGZQ7m5gsgzlC0UuA5JuGfhSn-OOVBYUjCXkhwYSFA5YsE54G52aSvMwbULbxtRzYuu6dTTNRdbjq3AKw226IXWB4guyVIdEN3j0wbHB-gUDrHW2Pniaxs/s320/IMG_1951.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking Grace following some time later</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3_Pc80C6wyQikTUeWgIBO_Ne1d_gV9wfmTXugsn-CZgJhZE8fmE9rKW6D2446CeNgDhCHg6hEXgKuI7n6BagRXYre8FxWO93tfReD9ibpBh7uObF273XJ8rcWha3ynleq0hHH6osHdM/s1600/IMG_1953.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO3_Pc80C6wyQikTUeWgIBO_Ne1d_gV9wfmTXugsn-CZgJhZE8fmE9rKW6D2446CeNgDhCHg6hEXgKuI7n6BagRXYre8FxWO93tfReD9ibpBh7uObF273XJ8rcWha3ynleq0hHH6osHdM/s320/IMG_1953.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi849DJ8k1v_WXFeeSfonXezhLI13RlYIsgI5HirxW-os2v4lga6Edn07qHgFvFke40Y3Hru8AT6rpsI2271FSsw0S2zBr0v8VQ4kNMns11_E0hxRuUVjauoMRiMtF_bM6AxuHEabY_Wu0/s1600/IMG_1970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi849DJ8k1v_WXFeeSfonXezhLI13RlYIsgI5HirxW-os2v4lga6Edn07qHgFvFke40Y3Hru8AT6rpsI2271FSsw0S2zBr0v8VQ4kNMns11_E0hxRuUVjauoMRiMtF_bM6AxuHEabY_Wu0/s320/IMG_1970.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The LNG tanks of the Viking Grace, kept outside for safety reasons.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGOxUXAOLLVCDOArQNmPTrTwVxzXSEAebqbqGhyphenhyphenENH2U2-p0392wIxvBh5QltFvTSqH0pkQX0395NvpbnXJ50mQ4uDfCtdGagInqr5uI6GzWNalb8BCpFqzwoqx4wLnHV3yh9eNhKLPI/s1600/IMG_1987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNGOxUXAOLLVCDOArQNmPTrTwVxzXSEAebqbqGhyphenhyphenENH2U2-p0392wIxvBh5QltFvTSqH0pkQX0395NvpbnXJ50mQ4uDfCtdGagInqr5uI6GzWNalb8BCpFqzwoqx4wLnHV3yh9eNhKLPI/s320/IMG_1987.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View to the harbour from Ruissalo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQci186fltrKmf1hkUaGnSKkOFcSgMoDb2gCXiZIURBvrL4DrmSVIyUHQ7QMtXKKVpDGdXO4l-9Yp457JOllUYlK8UhbwOtFkKmpvgV8l2s-u7kpYzT93aO9AreQ9wf2N22eFO6CMWqnU/s1600/IMG_2297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQci186fltrKmf1hkUaGnSKkOFcSgMoDb2gCXiZIURBvrL4DrmSVIyUHQ7QMtXKKVpDGdXO4l-9Yp457JOllUYlK8UhbwOtFkKmpvgV8l2s-u7kpYzT93aO9AreQ9wf2N22eFO6CMWqnU/s320/IMG_2297.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A couple of days ago, AIDAcara visited...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvg57Nb6UFAnWVXnkifBwKe3CfYKz6jhobKOoy6DNARF0z3q9rjzegnJsrnqSVtwRrX32z6tG2u9QJ4WFF9Dtyr2U56XydieSWgxv8a_XHfWD96PYWfd2nZERTwH9TyxfDOhnx5tH9GY/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLvg57Nb6UFAnWVXnkifBwKe3CfYKz6jhobKOoy6DNARF0z3q9rjzegnJsrnqSVtwRrX32z6tG2u9QJ4WFF9Dtyr2U56XydieSWgxv8a_XHfWD96PYWfd2nZERTwH9TyxfDOhnx5tH9GY/s320/IMG_2312.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and at the same time, Viking Grace happened to be laid up for maintenance.</td></tr>
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As for now, I'm mainly focusing on my studies, therefore cruise reports and ship photos may not pop up as often for some time. I'm really enjoying my school and so far it seems there will be quite a lot of excitement and new experiences in the next few years. I may write a more detailed post about my studies at one point (no promises just yet though), and of course I will report when things get particularly exciting. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-51637938703785632252015-07-31T16:26:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:14:38.845+03:00Gymnaestrada camp Day 11 - Final goodbyes and homecoming<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://simonasfleet.blogspot.com/2015/07/gymnaestrada-camp-day-1.html"><b>Click here to read from the very beginning (Day 1)</b></a></div>
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The very final day started with a half asleep goodbye hug to Carolina and Lucia who were leaving to catch their flight, and then after some more sleep and plenty of time to rise and shine we had the final lunch at Chapman at midday. Despite having been seriously overfed during the camp, I ate a lot because the food was unusually delicious.<br />
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After our lunch we headed to Helsinki to join the party organized for volunteers at the Get Togeter Area. We were offered free drinks and I, being the only adult among those who were still there (besides the teachers of course), chose to have a glass of wine. There was lots of chatting and hugging, the band at the party was really good (today's song being one of the many they played), there was also delicious food offered (alas I was unable to have much by then) and I didn't really feel like leaving. Nevertheless I had agreed to meet up with Matti and as it turned out, I was the first from the rest who had to leave. So I started my long round of final hugs, at one point the wine kicked in, making me shed a few tears, but after a bit I gathered my strenght and left.<br />
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After I met up with Matti, we decided to go to his place (where I was offered even more delicious food!) and after getting there it soon became evident that catching the ship back to Tallinn that same night would've been too much, so we booked the last Viking XPRS for the next day and I stayed the night. The drive all the way to the Katajanokka terminal via Mannerheimintie the next evening meant that I saw every place I had been to during the camp (except Messukeskus) once more, and seeing the ferry sail through Kustaanmiekka strait, giving a nice view of Suomenlinna made me a little emotional.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I got to the harbour, my ride was already waiting</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suomenlinna and the namesake ferry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the journey, I chose to not be too sad, instead I went looking around the ship's stores and ended up going home with a new pair of shoes that I had been drooling over ever since my first trips on the Viking XPRS years ago. </td></tr>
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<i>To my fellow campers and everyone involved - it's hard to find good words to express myself, but I'll try; the 10 days I got to spend with you guys were the most fun I've ever had in my life (and my life has been a lot of fun so that's something!); I'm so happy I could be a part of this and that I met you all. I love every single one of you to bits and I've grown to miss you a lot. I hope that you're all doing well and that we'll meet again. Thank you so much for doing this!</i></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-80917027572751397532015-07-30T18:54:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:14:27.915+03:00Gymnaestrada camp Day 10 - Wrapping up the Gymnaestrada<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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When we took our last 9:40 morning ferry to Helsinki, I was still quite unsure of where I would be working. I was supposed to go to Messukeskus but I was much more willing to go to Get Together Area instead, and fortunately, just minutes before the said groups split, I was able to exchange with Atoumata and thus I got what I wanted. This time the shift was especially easy - a few patrols, cleaning up a cliff, a tea break, a few more patrols with Oskar, a lunch, and as we were having lunch Elina and Helena came up to us and said that we've been doing some g'job, and released us as a reward. Once again it was me, Oskar and a few hours of free time in Helsinki, which we chose to spend looking around in stores, as usually. After the free time we all gathered at Get Together Area to go watch the Gymnaestrada closing ceremony.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finnish Coast Guard vessel Turva was in Helsinki that morning - The first patrol vessel that runs on LNG in the world, and the 2nd LNG-powered ship serving in Finland, first being my favourite Viking Grace.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While looking around in stores, we found both wooden boards and postcards with this Estonian Tallinn-Helsinki route ad from way back. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bit of a sad moment</td></tr>
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The closing ceremony couldn't really be compared with the opening ceremony or the Midnight Sun, but the greatest part of the ceremony and one of the highlights of the whole camp was when most of our group along with many other volunteers left the spectators' seats and went downstairs to do the official Gymnaestrada dance on the stadium.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first we had to wait a little,</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and then it was time! It was just one short dance that happened quicker than a blink, but we were all very excited about it. </td></tr>
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After our final dance was over, so was the ceremony. As we headed out we tried not to lose each other, however the crowd was huge, people were exchanging uniforms and many members of our group used the opportunity to get rid of the green volunteer uniforms in exchange for some country's or group's uniform jackets and such. So in the end we were scattered quite badly, almost everyone had lost everyone. After a while of looking around with Oskar and Christine we found some of the others and we waited for a while before making phone calls to the ones who were still lost. Then we tried to make our way back to Suomenlinna without falling apart once more; the city was so crowded that we had to walk a few tram stops before we could get a tram that had enough space for us. Afterwards we had to make a dash to catch our ferry. Finally, having arrived at Suomenlinna we had a long and somewhat fancy dinner where we were given official certificates of participating in the camp from Kesälukioseura and also for volunteering at the Gymnaestrada. The party continued to the hostel common room where we looked at some photos to reflect and then received copies of our uniform group photos with some more personal words of thanks as well as small prizes; I was acknowledged as the Wikipedia of the camp and given a strip of licorice and pear candy.<br />
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Then we were all given large hearts with our names on it to send around as we wrote something on everyone else's hearts and after that was done, it was time to send our French group to the ferry with lots of hugs, kind wishes, invitations and promises to visit, and some tears. Their plane was leaving early the next day, therefore they couldn't stay for the last night. After they were gone the rest of our group spent some more time together, however the common room suddenly seemed much emptier and the few more irrelevant hostel guests who were present in the room suddenly actually seemed to make a difference. Since most of us had no need to wake up early the next day, no one was really willing to go to sleep before early morning hours.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love you guys to bits!</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-78978592129814177022015-07-29T13:21:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:14:02.066+03:00Gymnaestrada camp Day 9 - Going on an adventure or two<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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As it turned out, the permission to wake up and go to work an hour later than before was permanent, so we had to be out in time for the 9:40 ferry again. Our hostel was near the harbour and the walk wasn't long, however during our stay they seemed to be in the middle of some works with most likely rain water gutters, so there was something resembling a small moat surrounding the building. So on day 9, just about time, I tripped into it as we were on our way out, hit my right knee and got a lovely bruise to add to the carpet burn from the gymnastics day I already had on the same foot. Nevertheless, it didn't bother me much and we carried on to the boat and our workplaces.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silja Symphony with a nicely-shaped cloud behind her funnel making her look bad. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corinthian</td></tr>
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As a result of the switches I was put to Get Together Area this time. Before I could start work I had to go to the first aid point to have some cold spray put on my knee, which was still aching. The relatively small working area included several recycling stations, a stage and spectator's area, a bunch of porta-potties and temporary stalls and tents selling food and merchandise. Unlike in Töölö, there was a lot of people walking at all times, however there was also a lot of volunteers and the workload was very low. Get Together Area was where Sonja and Oskar had been working the whole time, therefore I didn't really get bored either. Most of the time was spent patrolling with Oskar, and at one point, seeing the nonexistent workload, we chose to go and visit the Olympic tower.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">The show at Get Together Area during our lunch was great once again; however the first reason why I grabbed a camera was the music, once again Nightwish!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southeast</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get Together Area</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Töölö working area (plus two fields out of picture in lower left corner)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Got an unintended sneak peek of the closing ceremony</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favourite part of the whole city!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have walked those areas so many times without ever even seeing a hint of swimming pools nearby. Guess I'll have to come back!</td></tr>
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After work we came to Suomenlinna where we gathered to hear the rules of an upcoming Suomenlinna orienteering game. We had to make pairs with people we had not really talked to that much during the camp. I was just about to start wondering who to pair with but before I got anywhere, Oskar had already signed us up as a pair, disregarding the rule. At first we were all given a certain amount of game money and then, during a set amount of time we had to run through different check points all over Suomenlinna where we either got some more money or had to pay. In some points there was also a voluntary extra task, which was taking a selfie with caps, glasses, beards or other similar objects found at the checkpoint. Briefly, it was all about luck, honesty and speed. My pleas for cold cream for my knee had to go unmet until after the game, which means that I was limping and dragging like an anchor most of the time, sometimes I had to lean, but I did try to run as much as I could and we made it to the finish point just in time.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At first, we got rich, filthy rich. And then, in the next checkpoint after the one where we took this picture, we were robbed of all our money. And then in the one after that we had to pay our rent with money we didn't have. We returned on time, but completely broke. </td></tr>
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After the orienteering we had our usual dinner and some time later an evening meeting where we were told about the schedules of the last two days. Oskar and I were quite impatient about the end of the planned day, because we had been plotting the whole day, and after the meetings were over we ran to the 9 o'clock ferry to get back to Helsinki. I can't remember anyone ever saying we weren't allowed to go to Helsinki at night, however it was definitely not encouraged, especially now that our hostel door had randomly stopped accepting the door code. We spent several long hours in Helsinki walking, looking around and chatting, ending up in many places we had never been to before. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After arriving at Kauppatori, we headed straight to the south following the coast, which offered some lovely views</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWO7VcusG_vXp_NCgmx30c007ypfnR7sfTGrNBtk01Dvo7WqtTKHqSDZRwZb9Ny6dquVdxcWO2unRXR-C2gMRGOwUxRQ7TARAb1DGiAn1kzr1nV12dwIbnLGg-97ffEVnHUt0L_rkMxw/s1600/IMG_1488.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWO7VcusG_vXp_NCgmx30c007ypfnR7sfTGrNBtk01Dvo7WqtTKHqSDZRwZb9Ny6dquVdxcWO2unRXR-C2gMRGOwUxRQ7TARAb1DGiAn1kzr1nV12dwIbnLGg-97ffEVnHUt0L_rkMxw/s320/IMG_1488.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After a while we sat down, and just then Viking XPRS departed for Tallinn for the night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Viking XPRS and the Suomenlinna ferry</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some smaller boats passed by every now and then</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I really wouldn't mind living here at all</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russian icebreaker Murmansk under construction</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cranes near the Hietalahti shipyard reminded me of Turku, my soon to be hometown.</td></tr>
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When we finally returned to Suomenlinna with the 00:20 ferry and were about to disembark, we suddenly bumped into our French group, who had, as we found out, gone to Helsinki a few ferries after us. It was possibly the biggest laugh we had during the whole camp - walking back to the hostel in a large group, laughing really hard and trying to shush each other to be quiet. Since the front door was locked and still didn't respond to the code, we all climbed in through the window of the boys' room, because they always kept one open. It was dark and flashlights were used, which made me feel quite a lot like a burglar. Then me and the other girls just casually walked out of the guys' room as if nothing had happened and went to sleep. </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147701816365925769.post-73378692207338694132015-07-28T17:48:00.000+03:002016-10-02T02:13:42.812+03:00Gymnaestrada camp Day 8 - Nothing special, keep scrolling<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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A week had passed since our arrival when we were all very happy to wake up a whole hour later and catch the ferry at 9:40. Therefore we arrived at our areas, mine still in Töölö, a whole hour later and our shift was shorter. <br />
<a name='more'></a>During my first patrol it took me about an hour to clean up a dressing room that was in a terrible condition, then it was already time to have lunch, another patrol, tea break and over it was.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking the later ferry gave a lovely view on the Silja Serenade as she came in</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balmoral</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gabriella again</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The show during my lunch at Get Together Area was really great that day</td></tr>
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After work there was no more business for us left in Helsinki for the day, so we headed straight back to Suomenlinna, where we were to be introduced to a simple game known as Finnish baseball. At first we practiced pitching for a while, then throwing for another while, and then catching for one more while, until we were finally somewhat ready to make a feeble attempt at actually playing the game, proving that the game wasn't all that simple. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Street art in Helsinki</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And just some normal people in the city minding their own business</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Voyager came in later that day</td></tr>
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When the time was right we went to have dinner straight from the field. After dinner Diego taught us some more about saving the environment, this time about keeping the water consumption low. Following that we had our usual evening meeting, which was quite emotional, bloody, sweaty and teary this time because we were offered a chance to switch workplaces. After a while of discussion everyone got what they wanted and the final international evening could start. At first, Lucia and Carolina from Italy made a quiz about Italy and gave some delicious cookies to everyone who got right answers. Then it was Oskar's turn and he spoke about the history of Poland related to the countries our group members were from. Then he offered delicious Polish sausage and sweets to all of us. With that our scheduled day was over, and since it was still somewhat early I went on a walk with Oskar. I was hoping to catch the Viking XPRS outbound, but for that we left too late. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhHrScVxbR9FQOftAhnwfALw8_NLkhuK2-otgilNJlYGYbUc0C5qLXB44WmUcpJe9IxbaObrKPe4G_TyBzdPGsqs-dY846lW0TAC5ijG9flrY6gt_NLUR1qt-SN9f1sCWmRWAwwivkVc/s1600/IMG_1425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhHrScVxbR9FQOftAhnwfALw8_NLkhuK2-otgilNJlYGYbUc0C5qLXB44WmUcpJe9IxbaObrKPe4G_TyBzdPGsqs-dY846lW0TAC5ijG9flrY6gt_NLUR1qt-SN9f1sCWmRWAwwivkVc/s320/IMG_1425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However we did meet that same sweet little kitty again!</td></tr>
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