Following the journey to Norway introduced in the July issue, I would like to share my experiences visiting Stockholm, Sweden, and Tallinn, Estonia, which are must-see destinations in Northern Europe. I traveled by train from Copenhagen to Stockholm and immediately boarded a cruise ship to the city of Tallinn, Estonia. After boarding in the evening, we arrived in Tallinn the next morning, spent the entire day sightseeing, and then returned to Stockholm the following morning via another evening cruise. On the first day of the cruise, we enjoyed an elegant dinner at a restaurant with a view of the Baltic Sea through the window, and to relieve the fatigue from our long flight and time zone adjustment, we relaxed in the sauna.

I woke up a little after 3:00 AM due to the time difference. Having missed the sunset the previous night, I thought I might as well catch the sunrise, but it was already bright outside. It was also drizzling, so I couldn’t stay on deck for long and wandered around the ship, feeling relieved to see others like me. At this early hour, I found myself in Northern Europe, sailing across the Baltic Sea that I had learned about in middle school world history. Experiencing a world I had never visited before and reflecting on my life as I embraced new experiences fills me with joy and humility, and I believe my future, as I navigate through different worlds, will be bright. This is why I love to travel!

I listened to street musicians and even bought a painting from an artist working on the street. The charming atmosphere of the old town captivated me, and I found myself easily immersed in it. Ah… everything is beautiful. Finally, we arrived in Tallinn. The freshness after the rain was invigorating, stimulating my senses. The blend of the blue sky and sea created a mystical ambiance. Estonia shares land borders with Russia and Latvia to the east and south, while Finland lies to the north and Sweden across the Baltic Sea to the west. Among these, Tallinn retains its medieval architecture and ruins, exuding an old-world charm reminiscent of a miniature Prague.

There was a pharmacy that has been in operation for 600 years, and I tried their traditional bear dish, which was a bit off-putting due to its unique spices, but the meat was incredibly tender and chewy. In the Old Town Square, there was a young woman roasting almonds with cinnamon, and her charm and beauty made me buy more than I needed. I listened to street musicians and bought a painting from an artist working on the street. The charming atmosphere of the old town captivated me, and I found myself easily immersed in it. Ah… everything is beautiful.

After soaking in the richness of the senses, we returned to Stockholm, where it was drizzling. Now, shall we dive into a true Swedish experience? As I entered downtown Stockholm, the capital of Sweden where modernity and antiquity coexist, I found a European Food Festival taking place. Each booth featured food from various European countries, and everything looked delicious to my worldly palate. I sampled visually appealing French and Spanish dishes and planned to pick up some dinner items at the farmer's market before heading to the Old Town.

Crossing a bridge from the New Town, I felt as if I had traveled through time to a different era, with the Old Town unfolding before me like a scene from the past.

As I walked, I suddenly came upon a city gate, and it felt like I had arrived in the Middle Ages, surrounded by charming bridges and buildings. I was busy capturing the beauty of the old town in my eyes and heart. Drawn by the melancholic saxophone melodies drifting from somewhere, I found myself in the square where the Nobel Museum is located. A young man, reminiscent of George Clooney but about 20% less attractive, was playing classic tunes on his saxophone. People gathered to listen, taking a moment to relax or reminisce, making him a delightful presence in our journey.

After spending a romantic night here, enveloped in rain, I embarked on a tour of the City Hall, a key site in Stockholm. This is where the Nobel Prize ceremony is held. From the outside, it appeared to be just a charming red brick building, but upon entering, its grandeur and elegance were undeniable. The banquet hall, completed over 12 years with 70,000 gold mosaics, was overwhelming in its intricacy and splendor, with each piece carrying meaning and symbolism. It was astonishing to think that such advanced technology existed back then (1911-1923), including an elevator system to transport food for hundreds from the kitchen to the banquet hall above, indicating that people lived lives not so different from ours over a century ago.

Suddenly, I recalled my high school history teacher, who emphasized the brilliance and beauty of our ancestors, claiming that our country was the best in the world. While it is true that our ancestors were proud and intelligent, and many possessed remarkable skills historically, the criteria for declaring them the absolute best in the world is ambiguous. If my teacher had not solely insisted on our superiority but also acknowledged the excellence of other countries and encouraged us to "go out into the world, see for ourselves, and think critically," perhaps we would have developed a broader range of interests. For me, travel embodies this notion. Old memories and thoughts meet a new world, bouncing around to create entirely different ideas and perspectives… How could I ever stop?

Y. Travel  
Author of MissyUSA's "The World Through Travel"  
Kakao Story @yunkevin69