We were up very early to make sure that we would be on-time for boarding our ferry to Mariehamn.
We were up very early to make sure that we would be on-time for boarding our ferry to Mariehamn. It was quite a long walk to the Viking Line Terminal, but we got there in plenty of time.
Then we boarded the Amorella - a monster of a ferry! 10 decks, 500 car capacity, and 2420 passengers. The 6 hour trip to Aland cost EUR14 each (about AUD20)! The ferry is basically a small cruise liner, but she leaves less wake than most runabouts.
The Turku and Aland archipelegos are stunning - although the navigation through them is a little alarming to us West Aussies. We're used to leaving kilometres between us an the nearest reef or island, on the basis that at any moment a rogue wave, freak current, or sudden wind (or all three) will drive us onto it at the drop of a hat. The waters are so protected here that he ferry passes within a few metres of some of the islands!
And, whilst we have the geologically similar Recherche Archipelego, it is constantly pounded by the waves of the Southern Ocean, rendering almost all of the islands uninhabitable, whereas here, they are all covered in trees, many have at least a sauna, if not a holiday house. Add to that the right to sleep laws, and you have people camping and paddling to and fro all over. It is all so peaceful and protected.
I suspect that things change dramatically come Winter, but even so, I do wish we had our Hobie Outbacks, or an i12T, or something. Still, we're going to be doing some kayaking, so we've got at least day trips to look forward to.
Then we boarded the Amorella - a monster of a ferry! 10 decks, 500 car capacity, and 2420 passengers. The 6 hour trip to Aland cost EUR14 each (about AUD20)! The ferry is basically a small cruise liner, but she leaves less wake than most runabouts.
The Turku and Aland archipelegos are stunning - although the navigation through them is a little alarming to us West Aussies. We're used to leaving kilometres between us an the nearest reef or island, on the basis that at any moment a rogue wave, freak current, or sudden wind (or all three) will drive us onto it at the drop of a hat. The waters are so protected here that he ferry passes within a few metres of some of the islands!
And, whilst we have the geologically similar Recherche Archipelego, it is constantly pounded by the waves of the Southern Ocean, rendering almost all of the islands uninhabitable, whereas here, they are all covered in trees, many have at least a sauna, if not a holiday house. Add to that the right to sleep laws, and you have people camping and paddling to and fro all over. It is all so peaceful and protected.
I suspect that things change dramatically come Winter, but even so, I do wish we had our Hobie Outbacks, or an i12T, or something. Still, we're going to be doing some kayaking, so we've got at least day trips to look forward to.
Thanks for sharing some of your experiences via the photo album!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing some of your experiences via the photo album!
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