Finland, Estonia, and Sweden

[Brisketexan 105180]

So, currently outbound to go visit the daughter in Sweden.  But we're making a trip out of it -- heading to Helsinki first, then some jaunts out into the countryside.  Then over to Estonia for a few days, including Tallinn and a national park.  Then to Gothenburg and Stockholm.  Will post updates as we travel.  Much sisu to be had by the Finns, I figure I'm more of a Swedish fika guy - we'll see.

[Ghost of LL 15539]

Pics of daughter? [/obligatory]

[Brisketexan 105180]

Pics of daughter? [/obligatory]

Well, the Norwegian exchange daughter and family will be coming down to spend the weekend with us in Gothenburg. You’ve seen her. She’s a knockout, who hunts Russians when the Norwegian Air Force calls her up (she presently can’t leave the continent, as she is in some sort of ready-reserve status should the rooskies decide to get cute).
The Greenwich lounge at JFK is nice. Will be chilling here for a few hours between fights.

[ztejas 43524]

Estonia and Finland?

[Ghost of LL 15539]

7 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

The Greenwich lounge at JFK is nice. Will be chilling here for a few hours between fights.

Get your ass back to the Tasting Room part of that lounge.  It's kind of hidden, so it stays nice and quiet.  And it has great views out over the ramp.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Estonia and Finland?

And we’re heading northeast from Tallinn to a nat’l park to check out the springtime flowers and bogs and birds and such (and stay at a cabin in the forest). At our closest, we’ll be 90 miles from the Russian border. Told my wife that if she hears the rumble of tanks before I do, lemme know and we’ll just jump in the car and do 120 mph pointing west. She responds “what fucking tanks do they have left?” Fair.
In any case, I trust Kaja Kallas to make sure we stay safe. But if I see her on the street, she’s absolutely getting a

Get your ass back to the Tasting Room part of that lounge.  It's kind of hidden, so it stays nice and quiet.  And it has great views out over the ramp.

Yeah, spotted it when we came in. As it gets later, we’ll migrate that way. And I’ll have a scotch. Just sipping a beer right now.
I should be working. Yet I’m not.

[conVINCEd 21469]

There used to be a boat that would zip you over to St. Petersburg from Helsinki for a no visa needed weekend.  I’m guessing they aren’t doing that anymore.  Have fun.

[ztejas 43524]

26 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

And we’re heading northeast from Tallinn to a nat’l park to check out the springtime flowers and bogs and birds and such (and stay at a cabin in the forest). At our closest, we’ll be 90 miles from the Russian border. Told my wife that if she hears the rumble of tanks before I do, lemme know and we’ll just jump in the car and do 120 mph pointing west. She responds “what fucking tanks do they have left?” Fair.

Yeah I mean I wouldn't go to those countries right now if I didn't have to but I don't follow the war that closely or know what the general vibe is like over there. I'm sure your daughter is plugged in. 

[mycox 582]

I did that trip along with Denmark. It's been a few years years so I'm sure a lot has changed. You will really enjoy Tallin.

[Brisketexan 105180]

So, the famous Finnair blueberry juice…it’s actually pretty damned good.



Funky seat setup in their new business class. But I think we’re gonna like it.

[Chewbacca 7780]

So, the famous Finnair blueberry juice…it’s actually pretty damned good.



Funky seat setup in their new business class. But I think we’re gonna like it.

Is that the no recline seats? I've heard those are actually pretty good.

[tx 3 putt 77237]

[pantone159 719]

Sounds like a great trip, I have wanted to do something like that. In a previous, and now hardly imaginable world, I would have added Saint Petersburg to that itinerary. I have heard that the ferry rides across the Baltic involve large amount of drunkenness, but I have never been there to check.

[troph 24893]

Subscribed.

[tx 3 putt 77237]

Post a ton of pics 

[conVINCEd 21469]

5 hours ago, mycox said:

I did that trip along with Denmark. It's been a few years years so I'm sure a lot has changed. You will really enjoy Tallin.

He’s traveling with his wife. 

[Brisketexan 105180]

He’s traveling with his wife. 

So? I can’t appreciate the tallinnt?

On the ground in Helsinki. I know about 4 words of Finnish, so this should be interesting.

And yeah, the seats were those no-recline pods with a lay flat extension. Got some decent sleep.

[hornian 5222]

7 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

So? I can’t appreciate the tallinnt?

On the ground in Helsinki. I know about 4 words of Finnish, so this should be interesting.

And yeah, the seats were those no-recline pods with a lay flat extension. Got some decent sleep.

[DaysOff 7962]

My great great great grandmother was the seamstress for the queen of Sweden and lived in the palace. Kind of makes me Swedish royalty. Kind of.

[SydneyCarton 48134]

Did a day trip to Malmo during a trip to Denmark awhile back. Did the Saunas and Ocean baths at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus just so I could could say I bathed in the north fucking sea, like a boss, in the wintertime. 

https://www.ribersborgskallbadhus.se/

 

 

 

Dont worry it has a bar. 

 

[ztejas 43524]

4 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

On the ground in Helsinki. I know about 4 words of Finnish, so this should be interesting.

Don't worry - I hear English has made its way over there.

In fact, the Swedes will speak better English than you do. 

[Brisketexan 105180]

Don't worry - I hear English has made its way over there.
In fact, the Swedes will speak better English than you do. 

Es posible.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Did a day trip to Malmo during a trip to Denmark awhile back. Did the Saunas and Ocean baths at Ribersborgs Kallbadhus just so I could could say I bathed in the north fucking sea, like a boss, in the wintertime. 
https://www.ribersborgskallbadhus.se/

 

 
 
Dont worry it has a bar. 
 

Tomorrow morning, we’re hitting the Allas sauna and sea pool. Baltic Sea. About 38 degrees. Damn right I’m getting in.

I also swam in a fjord when we went to Norway. Because don’t be a pussy.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Just a little wandering the city for a few hours before we turn in, trying to get on schedule.

Senate square, statue of Czar Alexander and the cathedral.



City hall. Ukrainian flags a LOT of places.



The Finnish orthodox cathedral. Very Russian-y.




We took it easy. Had a beverage in the sunshine overlooking the harbor and Allas pool.





Had a really light dinner. Split some ceviche and shrimp smorebrod. Also split a salad, not shown, although it had really good slices of honeydew in it - the kind that actually has flavor.

[Trey3216 15350]

21 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

So, currently outbound to go visit the daughter in Sweden.  But we're making a trip out of it -- heading to Helsinki first, then some jaunts out into the countryside.  Then over to Estonia for a few days, including Tallinn and a national park.  Then to Gothenburg and Stockholm.  Will post updates as we travel.  Much sisu to be had by the Finns, I figure I'm more of a Swedish fika guy - we'll see.

Did you buy your Nike NATO jacket and hat to wear to Helsinki?  

[Neonmoon 38130]

Heard Latvia has the best talent in the region. I bet Estonia isn’t bad either 

[texasdago 7575]

Finland, Estonia and Sweden huh?

 

[AUS-97HORN 11812]

9 hours ago, Brisketexan said:

So? I can’t appreciate the tallinnt?

On the ground in Helsinki. I know about 4 words of Finnish, so this should be interesting.
 

make sure you are int he right city

 

[PenelopeWitherspoon 19128]

On 4/19/2023 at 4:38 PM, Brisketexan said:

So, currently outbound to go visit the daughter in Sweden.  But we're making a trip out of it -- heading to Helsinki first, then some jaunts out into the countryside.  Then over to Estonia for a few days, including Tallinn and a national park.  Then to Gothenburg and Stockholm.  Will post updates as we travel.  Much sisu to be had by the Finns, I figure I'm more of a Swedish fika guy - we'll see.

I'm interested in your Stockholm notes.  I'll be there in late June for a weekend.

[Braff Zacklin 13635]

Finland? It's a great place to watch TV.

 

[956 Worldwide 34738]

@Brisketexan, my very favorite thing in Finland was visiting Suomenlinna, a sea fort on Islands outside of town. Views are incredible, climb up on some cannons and you can see they were forged in Tula, Russia.  

Baltic ferry to Estonia is not as wild as they once were. They have Burger Kings on them now. But, just to make it interesting, read this before you get on board and have fun! 
 

Quote

One of the worst maritime disasters in European history took place a decade ago. It remains very much in the public eye. On a stormy night on the Baltic Sea, more than 850 people lost their lives when a luxurious ferry sank below the waves. From a mass of material, including official and unofficial reports and survivor testimony, our correspondent has distilled an account of the Estonia's last moments—part of his continuing coverage for the magazine of anarchy on the high seas

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/05/a-sea-story/302940/

[Brisketexan 105180]

[mention=593]Brisketexan[/mention], my very favorite thing in Finland was visiting Suomenlinna, a sea fort on Islands outside of town. Views are incredible, climb up on some cannons and you can see they were forged in Tula, Russia.  

Baltic ferry to Estonia is not as wild as they once were. They have Burger Kings on them now. But, just to make it interesting, read this before you get on board and have fun! 
 

One of the worst maritime disasters in European history took place a decade ago. It remains very much in the public eye. On a stormy night on the Baltic Sea, more than 850 people lost their lives when a luxurious ferry sank below the waves. From a mass of material, including official and unofficial reports and survivor testimony, our correspondent has distilled an account of the Estonia's last moments—part of his continuing coverage for the magazine of anarchy on the high seas

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2004/05/a-sea-story/302940/

Suomenlinna is on our agenda for tomorrow. Wrapping up at the Finnish National museum today.

[dcbc 14496]

Great pics.  Keep 'em coming.  Although I'm sad to see that NEIPAs have spread so far.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Hit the Allas sauna and sea pool this morning. Sauna…80 C. Sea pool….3 C, straight from the Gulf of Finland. When I went from the sauna to the sea pool, it literally made my nads hurt. I lasted about 45 seconds in there, then had to get out.

Meanwhile, Finnish babushka types were getting in and swimming around for 10 mins. Because they are much, much tougher than I am. I concede.

Pics of the pool and a coupla tough Finnish ladies:

[Brisketexan 105180]

Not much in the way of scenery today, just walked around, did the Finnish history museum (most Scandinavian history is pretty bleak till after WWII, btw).

Lunch - whitefish smorebrod and some fried shiners! Well, they call em “vendace,” a small lake fish…but I know a bass bait when I see one. Wife got a Finnish cinnamon bun called korvepasti - our daughter actually makes these, they’re really good.



Some scenes from the market hall:







Check out the price per pound of those crawfish up top.

Went to an old classical Finnish restaurant tonight, Ravintola Sea Horse. Meh. Everything was good enough, but bland (so…Finnish). Wild mushroom soup, followed by sautéed reindeer and mushroom cabbage rolls.





And…I KNEW IT ALL ALONG. It is. It really is.

It’s….

[Brisketexan 105180]

Also, I’m pretty sure I can get a gig as a tenured professor here:




And, did my wife realize that she left her good walking shoes behind when she went on her bag today? She did. Did we wander into upper downtown and find a Skechers store, because they have good walking shoes for people of a certain age? We did. Of course.

[SimonBolivar 10958]

My plan once I get fired is now to open up a Louisiana import shop in Helsinki.

[dcbc 14496]

At some point, I'm hopeful that you'll post a video of yourself sampling some Surströmming.

[Brisketexan 105180]

My plan once I get fired is now to open up a Louisiana import shop in Helsinki.

My reindeer dish sure coulda used a few splashes of Crystal.

At some point, I'm hopeful that you'll post a video of yourself sampling some Surströmming.

Nope. I do dig on herring, though. Had some at breakfast this morning, will surely have some at brunch tomorrow.

[dcbc 14496]

1 minute ago, Brisketexan said:

My reindeer dish sure coulda used a few splashes of Crystal.
Nope. I do dig on herring, though. Had some at breakfast this morning, will surely have some at brunch tomorrow.

Worth a shot.  

 

Good stuff above.  That mushroom soup looks quite good as well.

[Chewbacca 7780]

I'm interested in your Stockholm notes.  I'll be there in late June for a weekend.

Stockholm is amazing. I need to get back there. Eat the picked herring.

We only had 48 hours on a long layover but I love that city. Very friendly and very good food.

We ate at Pelican and really enjoyed that. Vasa museum was solid. We stayed in old town.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Brunch. Selected a good sampling. Traditional Finnish “pastry” (really a slice of potato) with egg butter, all three kinds of herring, and other stuff.

[Brisketexan 105180]

I’m on a motherfuckin’ boat! Well, I was. Ferry to Suomenlinna, island fortress.




Still on the island. But some initial images:





The boy LOVES the story of the Finns’ use of the Brewster Buffalo against the Russians. For us, it was a shitbird. For the Finns, it was a Russian-killing machine.

And captured an image for historical posterity:



Just wrapped up at the Finnish military museum. They were constantly caught between Russia and…the rest of the planet. So, pretty brutal history once imperial Russia became a thing, then Soviet Russia.

Y’all like seeing wrecked, captured rooskie shit? I do.




The flag in the back was captured from the Russian 44th division….which the Finns annihilated in the Winter War.

Seeing all of the descriptions of the war, how the Russians performed, were poorly equipped, poorly commanded, with shitty logistics…with the only advantage being raw numbers of men and equipment….well, ring a bell? Seriously, every word of it could be written today. It’s like reading today’s news. Russia will always be Russia.

And finally…the display dedicated to the man whose wallet had “Bad motherfucker” on it:




Look how fucking small he was.

And finally, the modern Finnish kit. Any Russians reading this, check out the sniper rifle - m/85. 800 meter range. Look now, because you won’t ever see it when the time comes.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Some more scenes from Suomenlinna. We’ve gotten lucky and hit a false Finnish summer, although out in the gulf, on the high ground, the chilly wind sure got your attention. This place was manned by the Swedes, Russians, and then the Finns. People live here still.

[Brisketexan 105180]

A couple more images, including my lunch - a Finnish meat pie that featured the two predominant Northern European flavors: meat and onion. Told the wife it was a Finnish empanada.




Returned to land, went to some fancy Finnish clothing store my wife somehow knew about, and bought her an expensive (but pretty cute) pair of pants. Then, back to the hotel for a few. We wanted something different for dinner, hit a fantastic pizza place only a couple blocks away.

Had my first Finnish long drink of the trip (definitely going into my summer cocktail rotation, next to a good French 75). Wife had a blueberry cocktail with gin, St Germain, blueberry juice, and tonic. It was damned good as well.



And the pizza was really good, perfect on a chilly evening. Cracker-thin crust. Wife got one with goat cheese. Mine was Spanish chorizo and crawfish (the surf and turf). It really was incredibly good.

[elfenix 34331]

20 minutes ago, Brisketexan said:

Some more scenes from Suomenlinna. We’ve gotten lucky and hit a false Finnish summer, although out in the gulf, on the high ground, the chilly wind sure got your attention. This place was manned by the Swedes, Russians, and then the Finns. People live here still.

[Brisketexan 105180]

Rented a car, drove from Helsinki to Fiskars to Turku. Man, the countryside is really pretty. Incredible forest everywhere. Will send pics when the wife shared them (she took some, I was driving).

Fiskars is the old company town, now an artists colony, on a pretty little river. Nice day of walking around and yeah, buying shit for my wife.

Turku is the original capital. Castle got wrecked multiple times, but the original walls mostly remained to provide a basis for restoration.






Also…do I still chuckle at dick art? Yep. Especially when it has a companion vulva piece.

[Shaddie 1651]

I was told there would be sexting about certain encounters with certain good looking high govt officials. 
 

All we have gotten is food pics. 
 

All is well since the food pics are probably more my speed now days. 

Edited April 23, 2023 by Shaddie

[CleverNickname 1321]

I should have checked this board and thread sooner. I studied in Finland and traveled quite a bit. Too bad you can't take the train to St Petersburg - the Hermitage is one of the world's treasures. 

Finland: we used to have reindeer stew every Wednesday. Lol. Olavinlinna is my fab European castle. Smack dav in the river. Finns and Swedes are big vacation cabin people. Sauna and cut a hole in the ice. Old winter war fortifications in Savonlinna. Watching Northern Games ski jump in Lahti. Ice hotel/bar in Rovaniemi + northern lights. 

Ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki is a good way save a night if time is tight. Tallinn in amazing - old walled Hamseatic League town is gorgeous. Helsinki to Tallinn ferry is a trip: working class Finns getting FUCKED on all you can drink beer at buffet, duty free Saku, and trashy euro disco.

I loved Visby as a trip out of Stockholm. Another old Hanseatic League town. I think they have a hydrofoil ferry. 

Estonia: had good times at the Maximatti (literally "black market"), basically a good old Texas/Mexican flea market). 

[ClubWhatever 12154]

Hej Hej