Sue's purchases and travels

The Helsinki Flea Market

What most shoppers think of when Finland is mentioned.



Crazy Flea Market prices this framed photo (not 14K!) was marked at 50 Euros....over $50!

Our ship docked in a Sunny Helsinki Sunday morning.  Peter, David and I took the shuttle into town and then went immediately to the Flea market.  I think the cruise ships have spoiled the sellers at these sales.  The prices, in general, were unbelievably high!  I am having trouble posting photos from the ship but eventually you will see the shot I took of a small oval frame with an antique photo priced at 50 Euro...which is $60!  The prices were ok if found in an antique shop but crazy high for people selling from card tables!  I did find a few people with some more sensible prices so will be bringing home some fun Arabia pieces including the small plates featuring Sami which were so popular in the shop last Christmas.  The sunny shopping had us ready for a relaxing lunch.  We strolled to the Esplanade where we dined alfresco on some great classic Scandinavian salads while people watching the Finns and tourists.  After lunch we visited one of the several Marimekko shops located in Helsinki before heading back to the ship laden with our packages.

Saturday we boarded the Vision of the Seas for a seven day Baltic Cruise.  It was a glorious day in Stockholm and I managed a quick stop at a Saturday flea market before heading onto the ship.  I also, because I had already bought so much, rented a storage unit to place my purchases!  The trip from Stockholm, through the Archipelago, is breathtaking.  It seems to me, someone used to the crowds and impatience of DC life, the ultimate luxury to have a "go to" place on a sparsely populated island accessible only by boat.  Check out a few of the photos and imagine being bundled in a Sweater (yes it is NOT 100 degrees here) drinking a morning coffee and looking out over the sea.  Ahhhh my shoulders are already relaxing!

Labels: ARCHIPELAGO, klaradal, Sweden, Swedish Antiques, vision of trhe seas

Our plane landed in Stockholm at 7am Friday and we arrived at our hotel by 9.  We chose a hotel (this time) located near Hortorget the site of my favorite Sunday flea market and above PUB the oldest department store in Stockholm.  We were not able to check into the hotel until 3 in the afternoon so Peter, David and I took our jeg lagged bodies to the streets of Stockholm for great shopping, snacking and sight seeing.  I hit three favorite second hand shops at which I purchased a few great pieces of art, a traditional snaps bottle, a vintage tomte dish and lots more.  The weather was sunny but cool...to the point that David enjoyed a bowl of hot cocoa in the square of Gamlastan before all three of us trudged back to the hotel, checked in, and collapsed for a 3 hour nap.  We awoke, refreshed, and headed to Grodin (red frog)a favorite restaurant located on Grev Turegatan in Ostemalm.  On our way there we passed two musicians who looked like something out of a photo shoot-tanned skin, chiseled features, fabulous golden hair.  I then realized, as we walked and took our seats for outdoor dining, how incredibly handsome the men of Stockholm are!  Thus my inspiration for the photos from Day one.  The buildings, and flowers are pretty nice too...photos of those will follow in Saturdays blog.

Labels: gamla stan, grodin, klaradal, ostermalm, Stockholm, Swedish Antiques, swedish art, tomtes