to the Åland Islands and back

[Thomas G]

Life had some sad twists and turns this year. Some sad, some odd, some good.
Anyway, we were on vacation while the group met for the Photo Race in the Hague in the Netherlands.
I'll give it a try and tell the story similar to the    
Iceland round trip 2016 (the island of Iceland circled counterclockwise).
Ultimate planned destination and turning point at the same time were the Åland Islands, or Åland.
They are an autonomous and demilitarised region of Finland but Swedish speaking.
The archipelago can be found in the Baltic Sea, roughly between Stockholm, Sweden and Turku, Finland.
It consists of about 6700 islands, of which only a few are permanently inhabited.

We are starting late on day 1, finalizing the preparations.

Day 1, 1: syncing the cams

[Thomas G]

Second day. After some hours on the German Autobahn we get on the ferry to Gothenburg, Sweden.


2- 1 : car decks have their own mysticism
2- 2 : blue is the color of the night #1
2- 3 : back 2 back
2- 4 : lines & curves
2- 5 : triple pairs watching

[Thomas G]

Day 2 continued

2- 6 : farewell Kiel
2- 7 : sun deck bar
2- 8 : Number 1
2- 9 : photographers in action
2-10: blue is the night #2

[Jack Dahlgren]

Very nice, and this is just the first part of the journey. Please keep posting!

[MFloyd]

I’m awaiting for the next ones 👍🏻👍🏻

[Fons Baerken]

well done series, thanks for sharing

[John Geerts]

Very interesting Thomas. Looking forward to the rest of the series.   Car-decks are ugly with smoke and noise, ; running for the fastest way up

I made the trip to the Stockholm region many times, and usually took the Puttgarden-Rødby  and the Helsingør-Helsingborg ferries which was the shortest distance (From Tilburg, Netherlands).

[golunvolo]

Very nice series, again.
   Love "blue is the night" and found "nº1" to stand out. Gracious, tasteful, great find and presentation.

[Thomas Stellwag]

  Car-decks are ugly with smoke and noise, ; running for the fastest way up

I love these car decks and it is one of my fav shots in the series, such are taste and preferences

anyhow I enjoy looking at these pictures, bringing back memories - hope to see more

[Thomas G]

Very nice, and this is just the first part of the journey. Please keep posting!

Yes, that's the intention. Thanks, Jack.

[Thomas G]

I’m awaiting for the next ones 👍🏻👍🏻

... maybe I should keep the tension and wait a little longer?

[Thomas G]

Very interesting Thomas. Looking forward to the rest of the series.   Car-decks are ugly with smoke and noise, ; running for the fastest way up
I made the trip to the Stockholm region many times, and usually took the Puttgarden-Rødby  and the Helsingør-Helsingborg ferries which was the shortest distance (From Tilburg, Netherlands).

Thanks, John.
We have a faible for ferries. And while I agree that car decks are not neccessarily the nicest places on earth they are among the more interesting ones.
The Kiel-Göteborg connection allows some distance winning over night while sleeping on board.
Saves about 6-700 km of driving, over all well worth a gain of one day.

[Thomas G]

Very nice series, again.
   Love "blue is the night" and found "nº1" to stand out. Gracious, tasteful, great find and presentation.

Thank you, Paco. That blue light & water thing was the find and playground of that evening.
I hope I can keep the level.

[Thomas G]

I love these car decks and it is one of my fav shots in the series, such are taste and preferences

Agreed,- they are similar and different, always an interesting place.
Thanks for the compliment!

anyhow I enjoy looking at these pictures, bringing back memories - hope to see more

To show more in a context is one of the intentions. Very encouraging that some images resonate with you!

[Thomas G]

Thank you all for watching and commenting!

Day 3. Only slowly getting into vacation mood (we worked until the very last minute on Friday evening).
Getting to Göteborg we found that we needed to sign on for the city eco toll system, which we did online on the smartphone.

3- 1:  passing Älvsborg Bridge on a misty morning
(another has been posted in 'Bridges')
Passing bridges always has something on these high above the waterline vessels. Feels like one can touch the bridge. Not much left of 45m clearance.
3- 2: before they had the bridge (now abandoned ferry terminal)
3- 3: docks - former industrial pride and glory
3- 4: stronghold
3- 5: subtle pattern