Most Inspirational Moment
Vrango island trip (although I would suggest reading up on other nearby islands as some boat timings stop off at various ones and I could have done one of them in the afternoon on way back - our ticket included all public transport, including the boats. I also enjoyed the walk around Suomenlinna island, Helsinki. Apart from a good walk in fresh air, the scenery was lovely and it was good to admire pretty buildings along the way too.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Peter was excellent and very informative.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Weather can be very changeable all of a sudden, take layers and jacket/raincoat and an umbrella. Transfers between hotels and stations from city to city involved a lot of carrying/lifting on and off your own luggage (in particular on trains... some had very high steps), best to take two smaller cases/baggage rather than one larger heavy one. Sounds like, from some reviews, I was on a different trip, guess it depends on who your tour leader is! Two negative points on the trip - one day in Oslo is not long enough (especially as there is a boat trip in the morning, which is lovely). The flight the day before gets in too late to do anything in Oslo and, due to delay from UK, we even missed the pre-arranged group dinner so Peter had to think quick on his feet for alternative. Definitely need another day, either added to itinerary/tour, or arrive day earlier and get as early a flight as you can in the day. We were all of the same opinion... another day needed in Oslo. I don't know why just the one day there, we had at least two in other major or capital cities, albeit Turku - as delightful a city as it is, one was long enough... although the tour arrives there on a Sunday when virtually everything is shut! and leaves early on the Monday.) The other negative point, for me personally, was the boat trip around the Stockholm archipelago... apart from the weather not being brilliant and handing out blankets and going rather fast (not to mention the commentary!). I did not enjoy the boat trip at all and found it a waste of time and money as the ferry from Stockholm to Turku took exactly the same route, so you saw the same places, higher up (top deck of ferry) with much better views. I personally think this could be an optional extra and the money spent on the boat trip put to better use, such as towards an extra night in Oslo! By comparison, the Oslofjord boat trip was total contrast, on a leisurely electric boat, and I did not feel like a tourist - better boat trip by far. Of course, this is just my opinion. Sculptures - cute "homeless fox" sculpture on waterfront before Drottinggatan in Stockholm, and cute "wise mouse" very tiny sculpture in Helsinki (on a staircase two roads up from the Cathedral) if you like different and unusual sculptures to the usual human/equestrian ones you usually find in cities. Dining out - the fish and chips in Gothenburg (Feskekorka... "fish church") and on western harbour on Vrango were the best I have ever tasted, the fish batter is nothing like British fish and chips and you can taste that the fish is really freshly caught. If you like Italian food, visit Rodolfino's Italian Ristorante (authentic Italian cuisine) close to Riddarholmen in Stockholm, at the top of Gamla Stan - I ate there both days and had the same dish both times, it was that good, service excellent too).