For the whole generations the Baltic Sea was a world of trade, work and pleasures, hopes and tragedies, warfare and conflicts. People used to come there from the North Sea, the Norwegian Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, or by way of rivers – the Tornionjoki, Kemijoki, Neva, Daugava, Vistula or Oder.

On offer, mystique waters, fiords, cliffs, sandy beaches, picturesque harbors, Medieval cities, the Scandinavian metropolis, and wild nature – all kinds of fantastic scenery pleasurably mixed with a rich history of the Viking Age and the era of the Hanseatic League.

There was not a soul to be seen when we arrived at the Skanör beach at the very south-western tip of Sweden, 30 km from Malmö. We gave ourselves a few lazy hours to take in the glories of this sunny morning, and enjoyed some pre-tourist solitude in this chunk of paradise on the ‘Swedish Rivera’. A simple, but very clean beach with silky white sand, crystal water, and multi-colored cabins that are so typical to the Swedish shore. Sometimes tiny ones, sometimes large enough to hold bunk beds, sometimes with electricity, they all provide a shelter from sun and wind, and add style to the coastline.

With all the personal memories and stories, the Baltic Sea is a curious region worth exploring – a charming place for travelers and summer vacationers, but sometimes life-threatening for professional sailors.