Airports are interesting places. Business men and back packers, couples and friends, endings and beginnings. For us - a backpacking couple - this airport signified the beginning. Another adventure to a far away land was about to unfold. We had what little luggage we could fit into one backpack, our guide book, a camera and we were set.

One only looks forward to 33 hours of travel when what lies at the end is something magnificent!

Our journey began in Canberra. The Qantas lounge was crowded with business people - returning from work in the Nation's capital back to families, homes and lives in Sydney. From Sydney we board our flight to Helsinki via Hong Kong. A relatively smooth flight - still one is relieved when the plane touches down at the other end. The wait in Hong Kong was particularly arduous - it was nearing AM in Australia - and we had not slept since the night before.

Flying in over a snow covered Helsinki made the excitement grow ten-fold. We knew it was now just a short while before we'd be on our last leg of the journey - an hour flight to Stockholm. Our holiday was about to really begin! Time to stop blogging - and start exploring.