The Nordics revealed: stories behind the photos
Off the beaten trails in search of solitude
Why I pressed the shutter
I spent the better part of July traveling through several countries that border the Baltic and the North Sea: Sweden, Poland, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Estonia. I shot many photos with the hope of capturing the moments and freezing my memories.
My photos are not the typical shots you may see on postcards. They are unique views offering a glimpse of a quiet moment or a feeling that resonated with me. Each frame holds a piece of a story of a journey through these remarkable places.
The Nordic nations include Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Included in the Nordic nations are the following territories: Greenland (Denmark), Faroe Islands (Denmark) and the Åland Islands (Finland). The Scandinavian countries usually only include Norway, Sweden and Denmark as they share the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Baltic nations included Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Bergen, Norway
The first photo (above) was taken in the early morning hours on July 27, 2025. The view is of Bryggen, the historic (and very popular) waterfront district of Bergen and an UNESCO World Heritage site.
We were blessed to get to this spot early enough to have the place to ourselves. Not a soul. For me, it was the perfect time to take a few photos. In the photo, you may notice that some of the chairs are stacked against the tables - meaning the restaurants were not open yet.
The story behind the photo: a celebratory birthday hike to the top of Mt Fløyen. I wanted to start early to beat the crowds. It was a Sunday and I was sure the crowds would be out by late morning. The hiking trails to Mt Fløyen are easily accessible from downtown Bergen.
The hike to Mt Fløyen is about 4 miles one way but is quite steep in spots. You need to hike over uneven and steep cobblestone streets to access the beginning of the official trail. The reward is a beautiful and panoramic view of the city of Bergen and of the seaport.
Enjoying our first day in Stockholm
The story behind the photo: I shot the photo above while we enjoyed lunch at an outdoor cafe in Gamla Stan, considered the oldest part of Stockholm. We felt lucky to find a table with a view of the courtyard. We celebrated our first day in Sweden with a leisurely lunch while enjoying the sights and sounds of Stockholm.
Stavanger, Norway
The oldest and still functioning cathedral in all of Norway - also known as St. Swithun’s Cathedral. I fell in love with the colors of the stone and the bright red flowers sitting just off the steps. The doors were open and people were coming and going into the church.
Story behind the photo: a small but beautiful church that has stood since 1150 A.D. Inside you will find beautiful art and sculptures documenting the transformation of the church’s history.
Do you have some off-the-beaten-track places you visited in your travels?
Tallinn, Estonia
Story behind the photo: the Russian Embassy in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, is not popular with the citizens of Estonia. A barricade is permanently placed in front of the embassy. Numerous posters are attached to the barricade. The Estonian people are fiercely independent today - after enduring a long history of outside rule.
Vaxholm, Sweden
Vaxholm is an island in the Swedish archipelago in the Baltic Sea - just a short ferry ride from Stockholm. We spent almost an entire day on Vaxholm - enjoying the ferry ride with the locals, exploring the art galleries and hanging out in a little cafe (see below).
Story behind the photo: I found this immensely long and beautiful boardwalk hugging the coast of Vaxholm. Hardly anyone else was there. After a few people left the boardwalk, I shot several photos. Built against the raw stone, the boardwalk follows the rhythm of the shoreline.
I would definitely return to explore more of the Swedish archipelago - most of which is accessible by ferry or roads.
More about my camera
My camera on most of my outdoor adventures is the iPhone 15 Pro which has three lenses: a 48MP Main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide lens and a 12MP 77mm telephoto lens. I use Adobe Lightroom to catalog, organize and edit my photos. Someday (if not sooner), I would like to use a different camera with more capabilities - but still rather portable and compact.
What is your go-to camera when traveling and why?
Gdansk, Poland
Today, Gdansk is a beautiful city. However, most of Gdansk was destroyed by heavy Soviet artillery and shelling during the Siege of Danzig in March, 1945. Gdansk had been seized by the Nazis during World War II because of its shipyards and proximity to the Baltic Sea - but the Germans refused to surrender to the Soviets. The result - over 90% of the city was destroyed. Some historic buildings were saved but a lot of the city had to be completely rebuilt.
Story behind the photo: a view of the Martwa Wisla (river) from one of the many bridges in Gdansk. You can see the restored historic buildings on the left and the newer buildings on the right. A distinct reminder of the destruction caused by the war.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Off the beaten trail: the sculpture not to miss in the Copenhagen harbor
The most famous sculpture in the Copenhagen harbor is of course - the Little Mermaid (not pictured here). Everyone (except me) visits it. In fact, so many people visit the more famous sculpture that you cannot even get close to her. The Little Mermaid is so popular that it has been vandalized over the years - even decapitated.
Instead, I visited the Genetically Modified Little Mermaid (photos above), created by Bjørn Nørgaard. Some critics say that his work here serves as a “darkly humorous, surreal commentary on modern society - especially how technology and human intervention reshape myth, culture, and humanity itself.” - Atlas Obscura
The story behind the photos above: located just a few minutes from the Little Mermaid is the Genetically Modified Little Mermaid. I liked the setting for the sculpture and I did not have to fight the crowds to take a few photos.
The path less traveled often frames the truest picture
Fika: a Scandinavian daily ritual of happiness
A Scandinavian daily ritual: Fika (pronounced “Fee-Kah”)
I fell in love with the whole concept of Fika before I even arrived in Sweden. Simply put, Fika is considered both a daily ritual and a state of mind - pausing, relaxing and savoring life.
In Sweden, Fika is a whole concept, a state of mind. Instead of giving you a boost to speed things up - it is all about slowing things down for a while and taking the time to savor a great cup of coffee, along with some sweet treats. - Tim Rayborn
Story behind the photos above: enjoying Fika at a local cafe in Vaxholm. Mazarin is a traditional Swedish almond tart.
Stalheim, Norway
A journey into the Norwegian fjords brought us to the small village of Stalheim in Norway. We had lunch at the historic Stalheim Hotel. After lunch, I ventured out behind the restaurant and discovered this unbelievable valley - the Nærøydalen Valley. According to my research, this view has inspired artists, writers and travelers for over 200 years and is considered one of western Norway’s most iconic sights.
Story behind the photo: artist Johan Christian Dahl immortalized this very view in his painting View from Stalheim (Fra Stalheim), now regarded as a masterpiece of Norwegian National Romanticism. - Wikipedia
Oslo, Norway
I will leave you with one last photo or in this case - a video of an amazing man-made waterfall in downtown Oslo. Along the Oslo waterfront is a beautiful area with walkways, marinas, apartments, cafes, shops and places to just relax.
As you listen to the waterfall, you will see in the water - a sculpture of a person on stilts - seemingly striding towards the open sea. At first, I was not too sure what to make about the person on stilts. What was he doing there? Why?
From what I understand, the balancing act of the person on stilts is a metaphor of someone who is caught between two lives - land or sea.
Story behind the photo: I enjoyed the sound of the waterfall rushing down towards the sculpture. Looking at the person on the stilts causes me to stop and wonder what lies ahead.
Adventure is not out there waiting - it lies ahead, in every step we dare to take.
I love the "story behind the picture" blurbs! It's so easy to just do a basic caption with the location name, but I love knowing why a specific image caught someone's eye. Looks like an incredible trip!
Beautiful images and descriptions, Jenn. I like that concept of 'Fika.' Those mazarin/almond tarts looks really good and I could imagine how well they would go with a nice cup of coffee. That'd be my 'fika' for the day.
One of my off-the-beaten-track places I have visited on your travels is on Dobong Mountain north of Seoul, South Korea. There is a Buddhist monastery about two-thirds of the way up. If you arrive mid-morning, they provide a basic lunch of rice, noodles, soup, and vegetables for a donation in return. Definitely out of the way but worth the effort for the peace and tranquility and rest while hiking.