August 1 Helsinborg, Sweden

After a refreshing day at sea (along with a one hour time change in our favor), we pull into Helsinborg on a grey and possible rainy day.  We got rained on in Tallinn a couple of days ago, and we'd just as soon not get wet again.  But we take the ponchos and walk from the ship through spitting rain to board the shuttle bus into town.

Seen from the bus, the most unique vehicle of the trip.  Don't know if it's human or motor powered since we only saw it briefly and never in powered motion.  Or perhaps it's an urban land speed record attempt.

 Town Hall, and it has quit raining!

 Very long pedestrian shopping street here, claimed to be the oldest in the Nordic region

 Konsul Persson Mansion, the first home in Sweden to have a water closet. It was not open to the public.

 Large park with the library

 For Guy -- hard to understand just what you're going to do with a Corvette in a city like Helsinborg

 There was an abundance of hair care salons, and no Starbucks.  At this one you could get a cure for whatever your hair needs.

 At the end of town square, an opportunity to climb lots of stairs

 which we did, for the panoramic view of the city.  That land you see across the water is Denmark, and the sister town of Helsingr.  It's famous for the Hamlet castle.

 Ancient city tower which offered more steps.  We declined this time.

 Every twenty minutes there's a ferry from Sweden to Denmark, and vice-versa. The shuttle bus hostess actually lived in Denmark and ferried over that morning.

 Jacob Hansens hus, the oldest residential building in town

 Monument to the astronomer Tycho Brahe, who lived on a nearby island.

 Modern apartment building by the waterfront.

 The Cultural Arts Center, with two curved roofs "evocative of ocean waves." Architect was Kim Utzon, son of Jorn who designed the Sydney Opera House.

 Harbor entrance

 

Impressive plinth and statue, and I have no idea what it is.  Google is no help.

 Back to town square and the shuttle bus back to the ship for lunch.  And it didn't rain, although it looked like it was ready to.