From candles in Gävle to paddling in the salty waters of Åland

Just a quick message, as we will have to be on our way soon to the ferry that will take us from Helsinki to Tallinn, it's been a while ago since we wrote something!!!

Today is our last day in Scandinavia/Finland, and we are quite sad to leave here. Having to say goodbye to beautiful Sweden, Åland and Finland doesn't come easy, as it is a area in the world that we really come to love! Everyone has been so kind to us, and we have been so lucky with the weather!

After Norway, we took a long journey over to Sweden, by train and bus... taking us to Gävle in about 9 hours. Gävle is the hometown of Ilse, Marjolein's cousin for the next 5-6 months. Being so close, we just had to visit! And again, without any expectations, we were sursprised to be in the middle of a festival. A streetcircus, music and a city full of light :). A wonderful treat! Another surprise: 'Come play with me' - an initiative where two pianos stand with the backs to each other, their music meant to 'answer' each other. Playing piano in the middle of the street :-) very inspiring, first time without notes and from the heart!

A tip from one of the locals brought us to Bönan, a fishing town a little north of Gävle with a lovely wooden lighthouse. Being Sunday and out of the tourist season it was all very quiet, but a beautiful place to relax by the sea. we took a trip to the forest, picked berries and mushrooms, and then the weekend was already over!!! Time flies when you are having a good time!

On Monday the 3rd we briefly visited Stockholm and enjoyed the city in the sun. Our backpacks weighing heavy and the tourist bikes being way to expensive, we limited our radius to the old city centre. It's a really pretty place, and we got to spend a few nice hours there, piling up the food supplies again and fixing some equipment repairs, but we will talk more about that later in another blog.

After Stockholm, we took the ferry to the Åland islands, an independent group of islands, that officially belong to Finland but official language is Swedish!! A foggy morning in Mariehamn was spent mostly in the library, trying to figure out some emails and travelplans. We had do more food shopping, as in the north there are no shops open anymore outside the tourist season, and the buss only goes twice a day. So testing our patience, after having a quick glance at the city and the old 'Pommern` we finally arrived near Eckerö to pick up the kayaks. 3,5 days of freedom in the kayaks were ahead of us.

It was the first time I actually doubted one of our decisions. We had really strong winds, and the north is quite exposed. Meaning waves. For a moment I really thought that this might not have been so smart, but it turned out to be allright. Just a really heavy start. No capsizing, just really much rain, waves and wind making us cold to the bone. The struggle to find a place to put the tent was long, and shivering we finally found something way to late in the evening. Quickly eating instant dried food and a good night of sleep made everything better.

The next morning turned out with just a little wind and bright sun; it felt like a well deserved treat. We took it easy, didn't paddle too far and spend a few hours on warm stones and in the forest looking for mushrooms.

It's really nice not having to carry all the stuff on your back but in a kayak, and gives you the same freedom as hiking!! All in all it were a few days spent well, and even though they might have pushed some of our nerves to the limit, we'd do it again next time.

Peter Nilsson from Nimix Kayaks was so kind to bring us back to Mariehamn, and actually return a second time as we had forgotten the small backpack in the tip of the kayak *shame*. Sorry and thanks once more :D!!!

In Mariehamn we were able to warm up our feet in the swimming pool with an amazing view! It actually took a while until the blood was back in our fingers and toes, and the steam sauna was a really nice treat. (Sad that the sauna's have to be separated for men and women, the steam sauna is the only one where you can go together.... :?).

Having chosen the cheapest option to get from Mariehamn to Helsinki, we ended up in shared cabins on a Fridaynight party ferry. Unfortunately, men and women separated. Thanks to Harrietta, a lovely lady in her 70s, we were able to stay in the same cabin. We didnt realise that it's a similar cruise for the Swedish and Finnish people like the Kiel-Oslo ferry, so we were kind of strange looking couple between everybody in cocktail dresses and smokings :-) And thanks to Harietta, our cabin was quiet, without any drunken people that you could find on other places on the ship (thank you tax free).

Another few days of happiness, joy, adventure and satisfaction... getting to know some very warm, open minded, loving locals how are not introvert, ignorant, cold or whatsoever labeled by foreigners.... Thanks to all of you!!

The story of Finland we'll have to write another time, until then you can already enjoy the pictures.

East, here we come! :)