A beacon of sanity from Northern Europe

I don't know if you've heard of Red Ice Radio but I discovered it a few months ago on the internet. They advertise themselves as being a 'beacon of sanity from Northern Europe'. I've certainly found some of the guests and topics pretty fascinating and shocking at the same time. Here's a couple of links to some talks you might find interesting.

Rosa Koire - Hour 1 - Behind the Green Mask: U.N. Agenda 21

Peter Lindberg - The Mysterious Baltic Sea Object

Christer Johansson - Hour 1 & 2 - Abduction of Domenic Johansson by Swedish Social Services

Frolicking in Fjärderholmarna

I hadn't heard of Fjärderholmarna, a group of islands in the Stockholm archipelago, until recently. That's no surprise as there are thousands of islands all vying for your attention to visit if you live in Stockholm. But this one, the Stora Fjärderholm, is a little gem. It's only a half an hour ferry ride from the middle of town (-the ferry is no chore either, well except perhaps waiting in line with a lot of passengers eager to top up their tans- where do they get them, there's no sun here.)

The place is gorgeous. It's a heavily pined island. Pine needles and wild flowers make walking a silent discovery. Large rocks and various discarded military paraphenalia from WW2 create a kind of desolate beauty. Added to that is 3 restaurants, an ice cream parlour (which we partook of), an outdoor children's theatre and lots of little hand made craft stores and a couple of museums (the Baltic Aquarium is one). In one of the craft stores you could watch the glassware being made which was interesting. (Good for me to see as I'd been nuturing a fantasy of glassblowing since I got to Sweden. That killed it.)

The day we visited the sun was out so all the rocks were decorated with groups of sunbakers like stranded starfish from a distance. The pictures on my camera phone don't do it justice.

How to get to Fjärderholmarna:

Catch the No 53 bus or

The ferry runs from May to September and you catch it in Slussen or Nybrokajen.  Can't remember how much it cost but it's not much. About 90 kronor I think.

Other posts about Stockholm's islands.

Utö

Fjäderholmarna website

The sounds of an Estonian summer 2012

An exercise class on the Pärnu beach Estonia. It's on the south-west coast of Estonia. Thankfully it was a bit warmer and sunnier than Sweden.

One of the many old homesteads you see passing by from the window of the bus. The brilliant green is the real colour.

The crystal light of the Baltic Sea at Pärnu beach.

The beautiful centre of old town in Tärtu, Estonia's second largest city. Really a large town with an intellectual heart. Sister city to Uppsala in Sweden which it reminds me of because of its quietness and gentility.

The Emajögi River runs through Tartu and like the town is the second largest in Estonia.

Bloomin' beautiful.

Old dilapidated wooden buildings in Tärtu are gradually being renovated or built anew since Estonia regained its independence in 1991.

Ferries line up in the capital Tallinn's harbour.

The miniscule audience at the Pärnu opera evenings. Very disappointing for the opera singer in the window who sang fantastically and the producers. But was it wise putting on avant-garde opera at 10.30pm at a holiday resort?

The tranquil waters of Tallinn harbour looking towards old town.

The weather at Pärnu was perfect for windsurfers who were everywhere zipping up and down the beach.

Sunbaking and soccer. People on the beaches are so well behaved compared to what goes on in Australia. People are so quiet, so well mannered and considerate I still cannot get over it. The car hoons screeching up and down the beach front I definitely don't miss.

The Emajögi again. A river about which many Estonian songs have been written.

Hiie and Tarmo on the swings at Pärnu beach. Harder than it looks.

Other posts about Estonia.

Mare's garden and potato salad recipe.

Summer swimming in Estonia.

My Estonia 2: Land of the late night party.