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I did not have enough photos to make a page for each of Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark, so I put the few pictures I had into this Scandinavia page and scanned some postcards to give you a minimal glimpse of what these places are like. The links in the headers below will provide detailed information on each country. |
FinlandAtlapedia CIA Country Reports Lonely Planet Traveldocs Wikipedia
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I was relieved to cross the border into Finland without being searched for I had several antique icons for my Paris friends and myself in my baggage. Ah... brash youth! I would not take such risks today!
Helsinki was particularly interesting for me because of its central heating system. Large centralised power plants generate electricity and send steam through an extensive network of insulated pipelines to heat whole urban districts with a higher overall efficiency than the individual heating systems we are familiar with (that system was also widespread in the Soviet Union but I did not know it at the time.)
That black and white picture of the central market area of Helsinki is the only one I have so here are a few more that I have scanned fron postcards.
The market place on the waterfront is Helsinki's heart...
... but Mannerheim road is the business center of the city.
Here is the central train station where relieved smugglers arrive from Soviet Russia if they are not arrested on the way.
SwedenAtlapedia CIA Country Reports Lonely Planet Traveldocs Wikipedia
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From Helsinki I took the Baltic ferry Astoria through the beautiful 25 000 island Aland archipelago to Stockholm. The late automn colours were remarkable. I took few photos in Stockholm. This one of sculptures by Milne in a park is the only one I found.
Here are some postcard view of Stockholm for you.
Riddarholmen and the Old Town shown here are the heart of Stockholm. This is where the history of Stockholm starts. The buildings on Riddarholmen were built during Sweden's zenith as a great power.
The modern avenue of Skeppsbron not far from the city center.
Below, the old on the left and the new on the right.
NorwayAtlapedia CIA Country Reports Lonely Planet Traveldocs Wikipedia
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One of the first places I visited after flying into Oslo is Viegland Park where several of the artist's monumental sculptures are displayed.
I also went to see the viking ship Gokstad that dates back to 900 AD
On the right Karl Johan street with the Royal Palace at the far end.
DenmarkAtlapedia CIA Country Reports Lonely Planet Traveldocs Wikipedia
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In Copenhagen I visited the Frederiksborg Castle with Paule, a childhood friend living here.
Below, Paule on the left and me on the right.
We also visited the Fredensborg Castle, the summer home of the Danish royal family.
Vesterbrogade is Copenhagen's main thoroughfare.
Nyhaven (New Harbour) is one of the less reputed areas that are best avoided at night.
A visit to Copenhagen is not complete without a visit to the Little Mermaid.
I visited the 1420 Kronsborg Castle where Hamlet pondered as he looked at Sweden across the strait and made a day trip to Malmoe from Copenhagen before returning to Paris.
