I leave my accommodation in Stockholm very early. Check-in for the ferry to the Åland Islands starts at 6.15am. The weather is beautiful and even though it's still early, the sun is already high in the sky.
There aren't many people on the ferry. There are three of us cyclists in total and not many cars.
We leave Sweden with a slight delay at 8.15am.
The route takes us through a maze of small islands in the Stockholm Archipelago. At times, there isn't much space between the islands, so the ship has to travel slowly. It becomes clear to me why we are not scheduled to arrive in Mariehamn until after 2pm.
The journey is incredibly beautiful, sometimes I don't even know where to look. Some Swedes also enjoy the crossing, especially the duty-free shopping for alcohol at the supermarket.
During the journey, I read a bit about the Åland Islands. Åland consists of around 6,500 islands, 80 of which are inhabited. It has a population of about 27,000 people. Åland is a self-governing, demilitarized, and Swedish-speaking region of Finland. Demilitarization means that no troops can be stationed in Åland and no fortifications can be built in the area. Åland is also neutralized, which means that it cannot be involved in military conflicts. Quite interesting in light of Finland's planned NATO membership.
We reach Mariehamn, the main town of Åland, around 2.15pm local time (+1 hour compared to Germany).
As I walk through the town, I notice the emphasis on independence in many places. I read that the Ålanders' sense of independence is so strong that they could decide not to teach Finnish in schools anymore.
Outside the seat of the local government, I notice a sculpture that was recently erected to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of Åland's independence.
