I embarked on the road towards Finland, my country of origin, to spend some beautiful summer days with my sister and her family.
Due to past experiences with multiple accidents and delays along the 500 km trip from the west coast of Sweden to Stockholm, I reserved an entire day for the drive. I never want to find myself in a situation again, racing against the clock as the window for making it to the ferry narrows. I’ve experienced the stress of driving becoming hazardous as the departure time approaches, with vacationers clogging the road, making it impossible to catch up for lost time.
Last year, I arrived at the ferry terminal just ten minutes before departure. Fortunately, I was chasing the clock alongside a semi-chauffeur who was also caught in the traffic, and the personnel at the terminal expected some late arrivals,
including me.
When I pulled inside the boat’s big belly and turned off the engine, I burst into tears. Navigating almost eight hours of accidents, some fatal, redirected routes due to roadwork, and a whole lot of vacationers, the relief was enormous, and I was
overwhelmed by my emotions. The need to release the panic of potentially missing the ferry and the prolonged concentration was just too much to contain any longer. What a relief it was to have made it, instead of giving up when the odds were stacked against me.
This time, it was smooth sailing from start to finish. Traffic was scarce and moving along at a good speed.
As I was making such good time, I decided to use the extra hours for something positive. I have a dear friend in Stockholm, and we met for a chat over a cup of coffee in Östermalm, just to be safe, not too far off route. It was truly a beautiful day, and I enjoyed watching people pass by in their summer clothes: dresses and shorts, light costumes, and a wide variety of sunglasses on display. It was a great way to cool down after the long drive.
As I finally embarked on the trip over the Baltic Sea, I could relax, knowing the controls were in someone else’s hands. The highly skilled personnel were in charge of bringing us over to Helsinki safely and on time, with no need to chase minutes.
And it turned out to be a truly beautiful passage. The sunset, with its vibrant colors, slight breeze, and temperatures over 20 degrees Celsius, was stunning. The archipelago, the houses, and the entire atmosphere were relaxed and easygoing. I didn’t partake in any extras, like dancing, performances, troubadours, or other entertainment readily available.
After a spring overloaded with responsibilities, it was nice to relax and call it an early night. After overeating at the buffet, I headed for a short walk throughout the ship before going to my cabin. Just a quick shower and off to restful sleep before we arrived in Mariehamn in Åland, ready for the next day and the new adventures it would bring.