A few years ago I took an overnight boat to Turku, Finland, from Stockholm, Sweden. Sometimes, taking a boat is just a mean of transportation, something that we have to do to reach a specific place. In the Golf of Finland, is something more. At the time, I was amazed with the boat, since it was a large ferry, more like a cruise ship, or a floating commercial moll, with glass elevators and fancy stores. Even with all this extreme luxury, I was traveling with a Nordic Rail Pass, so the price was not much. The boat leaves Stockholm in the end of the afternoon and arrives to Finland – Turku, in the morning. The ferry ride was absolutely spectacular with a perfect sunset across the Gulf of Finland. The sea is very calm and quit, and on the way, we see always land or little islands. Charming red and yellow wood paneled houses rest on small rock islands, with only the sea’s pounding waves to remind us of their impermanence Each little island viewed from the deck of the ferry liner offers a glimpse into how the Finnish live, and it isn’t until Turku comes into view that the pulse of Finland’s atmosphere can be felt. At about 9 pm I was laid down on a deck long chair watching the story-book island vistas go by completed by a background of a perpetual sunset. Small villages were tucked away on the archipelago, all with sailing boats parked in their docks and once it got dark their lights made it all the more magical. Apart from the cold breeze, I stand outside with my camera to catch the magical moment of this photography. I managed to scrape together a few precious hours sleep on the ferry before making into Turku in Finland by 8 am. Once there, I caught the bus into the fresh looking local town square that had a massive market bustling. I felt the atmosphere of a revolution, that, in the end, was just the evidences of a long party night celebrating the Labor’s Days (1st of May): empty bottles on the ground, people slipping on the gardens and, still, open bars for the last beer. About the unknown Turku! I must say that the riverside city is the oldest in Finland and was once the country’s capital city. It boasts a beautiful medieval castle, the impressive Luostarinmaki Handicrafts Museum, a fine cathedral and stylish boat restaurants. Don’t miss the four museum ships anchored on the banks of the Aurajoki River in the city center. The beautiful Sigyn in particular is well worth a visit. The Sibelius Museum is the most comprehensive musical museum in Finland exhibiting memorabilia of the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and showcasing more than 300 musical instruments from around the world. One of the most superb archipelagos in Europe opens up from the coast of Turku and stretches way out into the Baltic Sea. Take a boat from Turku and enjoy a day trip around the islands or, for a more unusual experience, enjoy a meal at one of the floating restaurants on the Aurajoki River or around the kauppatori (market square) back on dry land or even take in a performance of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra – one of the oldest in Europe – at the Concert Hall. That’s your choice, but, please, don’t miss it.
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