We arrived back to Helsinki just as the early morning predawn rush hour was kicking in, not sure where the dream began and if it had ended.. 12
6 12 NOVEMBER 2008
TRAVEL
ROBIN DE WAN
HELSINKI TIMES
Hotel expensive Forenom affordable
Furnished apartments in the Capital and Pirkanmaa regions for min. The shop keepers along the main lane were eager to get the flow of tourists interested in their goods, but even this localised commotion did not distract much from the tranquil
harmony of this Mediterranean pearl.
Mystical Malta Next stop was the island nation of Malta and its capital, Valletta. Please contact us for more information on available apartments and special offers!
tel. Malta is historically significant for many reasons. Located near Carthage, Sidi Bou Saïd was one of the highlights of the entire
trip. This beautiful town of whitewashed buildings with celestial-blue trim rises on a hill overlooking the sea. Today Carthage is an affluent residential district and a UNESCO World Heritage Site with many sites of archeological and cultural significance scattered around its vast territory. For more information visit: www.tallinksilja.fi www.vikingline.fi
Mediterranean cruises:
Cruise ships ply the Mediterranean waters year-round offering an alternative route to many exotic destinations.
rich city and a major power of the Mediterranean for centuries. By this point the trip had been so intense that we really did not feel much like taking in more churches and
For more information visit: www.finnmatkat.fi www.kristinacruises.com
monuments. 7 nights. From Malta we sailed back toward Italy and stopped in the Sicilian capital of Palermo. It was destroyed in the Third Punic War in 146 BC and refounded by Rome. 020 198 3428 www.forenom.fi
Ferry cruises in Finland:
23-hour-cruise prices range from 12/per person up to 1000/per person. From there we made the train connection back to Rome and headed to the airport to find out that our Finnair flight would be delayed by at least three hours. Today the city is a funky and bustling centre with colorful wooden balconies on the storied houses throughout the Old Town. It was a surprise to learn that on
these islands the oldest freestanding structures ever discovered where built around 3500 BC. The village has a reputation as a cultural centre with many famous artists, including Paul Klee, having spent time there. The extensive rock fortifications around Valletta testify to its strategic location throughout the centuries and the many battles that have taken place there. After a hectic walk through the noisy and run-down streets, we headed back to the ship to sit in the Jacuzzi and reflect on all the amazing places visited.
Full circle Our final port of call was Civitavecchia, where the adventure all began a mere seven
days previously