Top Knockouts From My Baltic Cruise – Ten Stops

I took hundreds of photos during our incredible nine-country Baltic cruise, and while it’s hard to choose a favorite, each destination left a unique and unforgettable impression. Every place had its own distinct charm, and I would like to share some of the most memorable moments—my “top knockouts”—from each stop.

Copenhagen, Denmark –

Sharing the tour with friends Karen and Jon made it an outstanding traveling experience. Spending time with our exchange son Arend and his wife, Annaleen, made the trip especially delightful and deepened the sense of family and cross-Atlantic connection. Getting the Dutch perspective on their neighboring country was interesting and memorable.  People are the most valuable parts of any experience!

Oslo, Norway –

Definitely Frogner Park, it blew me away. I am curious about the stories that accompanied the statues, but with 200 of them, I have my research cut out for me. The sculpture park is Gustav Vigeland’s life work, comprising sculptures in granite, bronze and wrought iron. It was installed mainly in the period 1940-1949, but is nevertheless a result of over 40 years of work.

Cruise day –

So technically, checking out a different world of coastline homes and ports was not a stop; sailing the Baltic and cruising under the bridge that links Sweden to Denmark was still remarkable. Not to mention having drinks delivered to my chaise lounge with a wave of my hand. Back home to reality – I wonder if John wants to make me tea? Probably not.

Rostock, Germany-

This is a toss-up between peeking into the tumultuous past of the Protestant Reformation or the Soviet occupation. The fallout from both is still alive and evident in Eastern Germany. St. Mary’s is a stunning Catholic church from 1232 AD, and is one of the largest brick stone gothic buildings in the whole Baltic region. In 1531, St. Mary’s was taken over by Lutherans. Many works of art, e. g. side altars, were dismantled following Lutheran esthetic practices. I wanted a book on the church’s history and astronomical clock but didn’t have any euros. A man who didn’t speak English bought me the book. Did I mention people are the most wonderful part of any experience?

Gdansk, Poland –

WOW! – I couldn’t stop taking pictures, literally at every corner, street, store, gate, bridge. Everything was amazing. Approximately 90% of the city’s historic center, including its infrastructure and medieval buildings, were destroyed during the final months of WWII, primarily as a result of the Soviet Red Army’s assault on the city in 1945. Following the war, much of Gdansk’s Old Town was meticulously rebuilt, restoring many of the structures to their historical designs, making it one of Poland’s most beautifully restored cities today.

Klaipeda, Lithuania-

Lithuanians are working hard to rebuild their economy. Amber, a 40-60 million-year-old fossilized tree resin found along the coast, is called “Baltic gold.” I remember the pride in our guide’s voice when we visited the square where Hitler had made a speech touting his “liberation” of Lithuania – although the people were forced to listen, the statue in the square was said to have turned her back on him. The longing for freedom from the Nazis and then the USSR was palatable in her references to her life only 30 years ago. But her nervousness when asked about Ukraine said a lot. They don’t want to return to occupation.

Riga Latvia-

Riga has it all: gorgeous parks with musicians playing, soaring church spires, international restaurants, blocks of flower shops, and a national pride that developed in the late 1980s bolstered by the Soviet campaigns for glasnost (“openness”) and perestroika (economic and political restructuring). A Latvian opposition party emerged, winning the 1990 elections and declaring independence from the Soviet Union. Soviet efforts to regain control culminated in violent incidents in Riga until Moscow recognized their full independence on September 6. 1991.

Tallinn, Estonia –

It was only 30 years ago when the Baltic countries gained independence from the Soviet Union. A scary process. On 11 September 1988, while still under Soviet rule, the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds witnessed the largest mass gathering in the Estonian capital’s history. Can you arrest people for singing? People from across the country came together in a show of unprecedented national solidarity. After this Singing Revolution, Estonia’s journey to independence took three more years. Churches are now open for worship, people sing their national anthem, and protest signs against the Russian war in Ukraine are posted for over a block in front of the closed Russian embassy. It is said that the Ukrainians are giving Estonians courage.

Helsinki, Finland –

The Rock Church was a creation of pure imagination. The architecture, music, and decoration bear out Finnish innovation and creativity. As mentioned before, Finland is my ancestral homeland, and the country didn’t disappoint, Sisu, Saunas, Snow, and Sibelius. I felt right at home with the trees, lakes, and fish.

Stockholm, Sweden-

Stockholm was a surprise, and although I’d like to visit all the cruise locations again – I would need many days to cover what Stockholm has to offer. But the first prize goes to a natural park area just outside the city with hiking, fishing, picnicking, small cabins, and a public sauna with a spine-chilling lake to jump in to cool off. I met two friendly Swedish women and a Belgian actress. And for the millionth time, I’m grateful English is an international. We dripped sweat, chatted, and exchanged contact info. Did I mention that meeting people is the best experience of traveling?