One of the joys of traveling onboard the National Geographic Orion in a region like the Baltic is the amazing opportunities to sample the local cuisine and beverages. After two fun-filled nights in Stockholm, we had an early morning sail out through the thousands of islands of the Stockholm Archipelago. And, of course, to start our day we needed food and drink. Why not? Mimosas, coffee, and cardamom buns were the beginning of a long day of eating and drinking, with some exploration thrown in between.
Most of the morning we enjoyed stellar weather. So, why not head outside and enjoy some more food and drink? This time, it was on to the back deck for a German treat called Frühschoppen that consisted of beer and sausage. Sunny skies, light wind, and tasty treats = perfect. After a short transit of open water, we entered the hundreds of islands of the Åland group of Finland. After another delicious lunch onboard, in the sunshine on the back deck as well, it was time to divide and enjoy our individual tastes of Mariehamn. Some went for a bike ride, others a sail, and a third group to a museum and church. Those of us on the museum group worked up quite an appetite that luckily we were able to quench with scrumptious pancakes and coffee.
We all reconvened on board the four-masted sailing ship the Pommern. Originally built in 1903, it has been here in the harbor since just after World War II. For us, it meant a special cocktail hour with sea shanties and… local beer tasting!! Of course, no day would be complete onboard without another incredible dinner by Chef Lothar and the incredible galley team. It was a day filled with scenic cruising, exploration of our first stop in Finland, and gluttony!!
