despite foul weather I had to go out to see the giant island fortress complex that the Swedish began to build in 1709 with French financial help to curb the ambitions of Peter the Great who across the way was busily establishing St Petersburg,Although seemingly impregnable-know as the Baltic's Gibraltar-A Swedish officer Cronstadt surrendered to an inferior Russian force and it was bombarded and set on fire by a combined British and French naval task force during the Crimean war.The weather was too inclement for walking about-a great pleasure in the summer-but the excellent multi-lingual film explaining its construction and history was worth the trip.It started life as Sveaborg-the Swedish fortress and is now known as Suomenlinna and very proudly and peacefully Finnish.
Passing the stockholm ferry
Not the best day to be at sea
On the ferry to the islands.
As a child Riitta lived in the embassy quarter and this hill looking out to the fortress and the surrounding gardens were her stomping ground. She vividly remembers the dare devil feats of her brothers attempting ski jumps on cross sountry skis from this summit.
Looking out to the islands from the hill behind cafe Ursula
This British invader was defeated by the weather.
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