This essay will not give a lot of detail regarding the nine countries explored within the tour entitled, "Jewels of the Baltics & Scandinavia." To learn more about that wonderfully engaging adventure, look for upcoming blogs that will outline each country in detail with pictures. But for the sake of example, I am using this tour to make my point in comparing adventuring vs. pioneering travel. In the Part 1 portion of this 2-part series, entitled "Adventuring vs. Pioneering Travel," I discuss the benefits of Adventuring through escorted tours.
How Pioneering enhances my Adventuring in a simple, but passionate, endeavor can be clearly defined in my most recent 10-Country “trip.” This adventure was a 9- country coach tour originating in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 18th, and ending in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 1st, of this year. I chose to arrive in the country's Capital city, Copenhagen, a couple of days earlier than the Tour’s scheduled departure date in order to see more of Denmark's landscape, as well as live and learn within its history and culture. This exploratory portion is where the Pioneering spirit seeks new frontiering.
How Pioneering enhances my Adventuring in a simple, but passionate, endeavor can be clearly defined in my most recent 10-Country “trip.” This adventure was a 9- country coach tour originating in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 18th, and ending in Stockholm, Sweden, on June 1st, of this year. I chose to arrive in the country's Capital city, Copenhagen, a couple of days earlier than the Tour’s scheduled departure date in order to see more of Denmark's landscape, as well as live and learn within its history and culture. This exploratory portion is where the Pioneering spirit seeks new frontiering.
When the guided portion of the tour began, May 18th, our group departed traveling by coach Southwest from Copenhagen headed for the port of Gedser. There we embarked on a Ferry for a 2-hour Baltic Sea crossing, arriving in Rostock, Germany. From that crossing into and through the eighth country, Finland, we adventured by Motorcoach. In Finland, our destination was its Capital City, Helsinki, with
only a one night stay. In order to reach our ninth country, Sweden, we would again find ourselves traveling southwest
from Helsinki to another Port City city, Turku, Finland.
only a one night stay. In order to reach our ninth country, Sweden, we would again find ourselves traveling southwest
from Helsinki to another Port City city, Turku, Finland.
M/S Viking Grace There we embarked on M/S Viking Grace, one of seven ships belonging to The Viking Line, which is a Finnish shipping company operating a fleet of cruise ferries between Finland, the Åland Islands, Sweden and Estonia. The "Grace" is the Line's newest ship, offering a very Scandanavian-styled motif, with sparkle bright accommodations. The highlight of this overnight cruise was the Seafood Lover's (like me) Buffet, abundantly offering a large variety of the best tasting, freshest fish and shellfish, caught from local Northern Waters, I have ever had. Amidst all this comfort, we "gracefully" crossed the Baltic Sea again, this time through the night, arriving in Stockholm, Sweden, for 7 a.m.
City Hall, Stockholm, Sweden The Adventure portion of our journey would extend us one more day and night to be "coddled" and guided. Upon arriving early morning at the Stockholm Port , the "ever reliable" coach was waiting to take us sightseeing, giving us a glimpse of this waterfront, Viking-style-city, the magnificent frescoe-walled City Hall, and five hours of free time to roam before transporting to our included hotel. Our last night culminated with an included group dinner allowing us to say our goodbyes to people we had shared a 14-day adventure. The goodbyes also symbolized the finality of having a majority of our tour hand-tailored, knowing full well, we wouldn't "miss a trick" if the supplier could help it.
On the morning of June 2nd, the Adventuring portion of my trip was officially over. It was filled to the brim with Capital Cities across Scandanavia, Baltics, Russia, Poland, and Germany. At no point, did I ever consider this adventure not to be all I could have expected; but......officially after breakfast that day , I started a new dimension whereby I would wear a new hat. When I set out to develop my own adventure, this is the day I become a Pioneer in spirit. This day and for the remainder of my trip, these will be the days I find my own way, plan for my own shelter, and provide personally all the basics necessary for my well being, mind expansion, and spiritual enhancement. This is the day, when in full Pioneer spirit, one moves forward into territory it knows very little about.
Pioneering one’s own journey brings on multiple new responsibilities.....it means first reaching the next destination, "setting up camp" (accommodations), distinguishing which historic sites are definite stops, and then making the best choices for oneself. For someone like myself, who wants to visit, see, touch and smell on a limited budget of time, this takes a lot of homework effort. It isn't for everyone, but my inner "Pioneer" loves the "homework." Gone will be all those wonderful perks of guides, leaders, time keepers, transportation, amongst other amenities, so readily provided on a Escorted tour. As much as I applaud and promote guided tours, I always suggest "pioneering" before and after the booked tour.
Pioneering time for me before the "Jewels of the Baltics and Scandanavia" tour meant extra time in Denmark to visit Tivoli Gardens, and cruise the enchanting canals, and stay out to enjoy the “white nights," also known as "midnight sun" till midnight. Copenhagen is the "Home" for the well reknown "Little Mermaid."
Pioneering one’s own journey brings on multiple new responsibilities.....it means first reaching the next destination, "setting up camp" (accommodations), distinguishing which historic sites are definite stops, and then making the best choices for oneself. For someone like myself, who wants to visit, see, touch and smell on a limited budget of time, this takes a lot of homework effort. It isn't for everyone, but my inner "Pioneer" loves the "homework." Gone will be all those wonderful perks of guides, leaders, time keepers, transportation, amongst other amenities, so readily provided on a Escorted tour. As much as I applaud and promote guided tours, I always suggest "pioneering" before and after the booked tour.
Pioneering time for me before the "Jewels of the Baltics and Scandanavia" tour meant extra time in Denmark to visit Tivoli Gardens, and cruise the enchanting canals, and stay out to enjoy the “white nights," also known as "midnight sun" till midnight. Copenhagen is the "Home" for the well reknown "Little Mermaid."
Pioneering time in Sweden meant meandering out and about two more days, doing what "titillated" me, and feeling a integrated part of where I was, eating where and when I wanted, and visiting only those sites I specifically chose. That could have been enough, but my travel companion and I chose to pioneer through even more of Sweden.
In 2013, Pioneers of modern times don't use covered wagons heading West as they did in days of old. In 2013, the means to travel would be in one of Sweden's comfortable, modern, and efficient SJ High Speed Train, which travels at the speed of 200 km/hr through countryside views including lakes framed with forests. Three and 1/2 hours after leaving Stockholm, we arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden's, located on the Western seacoast, having traveled the 700 mile distance.
Be sure to click here for YouTube video filming several of Europe's High Speed Train systems. Sit back and feel the surge of power that criss-crosses European countries, transporting people in a cost effective, timely manner.
In 2013, Pioneers of modern times don't use covered wagons heading West as they did in days of old. In 2013, the means to travel would be in one of Sweden's comfortable, modern, and efficient SJ High Speed Train, which travels at the speed of 200 km/hr through countryside views including lakes framed with forests. Three and 1/2 hours after leaving Stockholm, we arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden's, located on the Western seacoast, having traveled the 700 mile distance.
Be sure to click here for YouTube video filming several of Europe's High Speed Train systems. Sit back and feel the surge of power that criss-crosses European countries, transporting people in a cost effective, timely manner.
Pioneering in Gothenburg meant learning about the founding and development of this enthralling city laced with canals and dotted with stylish architecture.
We had time to ingest its history by meandering and reading the inscriptions on monuments, or visiting some attractions in order to learn specific details of its complete devastation by Russian and German wartime bombings, as well as its courageous rising to become Sweden's second largest city.
Pioneering for myself allowed me to add an additional four days in
Oslo, Norway, a treasure not to be missed in this lifetime, if possible. Oslo is truly a City offering more exploration than anywhere else I have ever traveled. This is one city I would have loved to "set up camp" for a longer time.
The Viking Ship Museum is dedicated solely to learning about recovered Viking ships, where three are actually under one roof in one Building. I
was amazed to learn the traditions and history behind the ships that were so well displayed.
Another museum, The Kon-Tiki Museum, houses the original
Kon-Tiki re-creation ship for the infamous 1947 sailing expedition taken
by Thor Heyerdahl. Film footage of the uncredible survival story made about the expedition won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 1951.
Oslo has used its waterfront exposure to an advantage by spreading museums and attractions up and down both sides of the river, thereby, creating a sense of exploration in order to simply get there.
Oslo, Norway, a treasure not to be missed in this lifetime, if possible. Oslo is truly a City offering more exploration than anywhere else I have ever traveled. This is one city I would have loved to "set up camp" for a longer time.
The Viking Ship Museum is dedicated solely to learning about recovered Viking ships, where three are actually under one roof in one Building. I
was amazed to learn the traditions and history behind the ships that were so well displayed.
Another museum, The Kon-Tiki Museum, houses the original
Kon-Tiki re-creation ship for the infamous 1947 sailing expedition taken
by Thor Heyerdahl. Film footage of the uncredible survival story made about the expedition won an Oscar for Best Documentary in 1951.
Oslo has used its waterfront exposure to an advantage by spreading museums and attractions up and down both sides of the river, thereby, creating a sense of exploration in order to simply get there.
In Conclusion, I can only hope I have been able to "FIRE" up some Pioneering Energy in your Spirit, and possibly you will join me on one of our UPCOMING EVENTS through which I will offer some Pioneering Time to our Adventures together.
Discover and Wear your Pioneer Hat
as we have new explorations to uncover,
and I invite you to try it with me soon!!!
Discover and Wear your Pioneer Hat
as we have new explorations to uncover,
and I invite you to try it with me soon!!!
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