The Baltic

The Baltic played a significant role in our holiday. The sailing in the SW Archipelago, the way that it seems every street in Helsinki ends up at the sea or the harbour, and the stunning views out to the islands.

This was our last day on the water, when we went on a cruise to Poorvo, a historic town about three hours east of Helsinki. A very nice town, but spoiled by the sheer volumes of visitors - including us. Some beautiful timber houses if you walked uphill from the centre, but my enduring impression is of the sheer crowds in the main streets and the rows of repetitive gift shops.

This shot was on the way back to Helsinki, when the weather was calm, warm, and sunny. There were lots of yachts out, and this image of a yacht on the Baltic captures one of the essential ingredients of the holiday.