Map of our rented house (Palmgren
house), the Biological station and the Nature
trail in Norther Nåtö, Åland, Finland. (Map of Nature trail
without our house marked.)
Aerial photo, looking North to Mariehamn
from Northern Nåtö, includes our house
and the Biological Station.
Personal phone numbers and data: numbers we use in Åland, no use to you unless
you are us.
To
phone Andy Ruina and Saskya van Nouhuys in Åland:
(Note: At noon in New York its 7 PM in Finland,
at noon in CA its 10 PM in Finland.)
Call Andy as if he was in the USA, pay like a normal toll call to area 607.
607 821-1442
This uses SkypeIn and calls Andy at his computer. If he's not there it forwards
to his cell phone.
Here are other options:
From outside Sweden and Finland (+ means dial 011 if you are in the USA)
+ 358 40 872-6255 (Andy's mobile)
+ 358 40 508-2549 (Saskya's mobile)
+ 358 40 813-6245 (Mieke's mobile)
+ 358 457 570-1220 (Guest mobile)
From Sweden
00 358 40 872-6255 (Andy's mobile)
00 358 40 508-2549 (Saskya's mobile)
00 358 40 813-6245 (Mieke's mobile)
00 358 457 570-1220 (Guest mobile)
From Finland (or from an Åland cell)
040 872-6255 (Andy's mobile phone)
040 508-2549 (Saskya's mobile phone)
040 813-6245 (Mieke's mobile phone)
0457 570-1220 (Guest mobile)
Don't use FedeX or other Couriers: they take 7-10 days and cause customs trouble.
Best mail deals are First Class USPS for small things and USPS Global Priority Mail ($9 for up to 4 lbs in a 9.5"x12" envelope).Saskya van Nouhuys or Andy Ruina (your choice)
Nåtö Biological Station
Järsövagen 375
Mariehamn 22160
Åland, FINLAND (use +358 40 872-6255 for phone number on package)
Traveling to Åland (ferry, plane, car):
Ferry: There are 3.5 Ferry companies serving Åland several times a day from Finland (Helsinki and Turku=Abo) and Sweden (Stockholm, Kapelskar, Grissleham), with more boats and shorter transit from Sweden. All of these Ferry lines have offices at the main Stockholm Bus/train station. They all carry cars. Buses and trains get you to the terminals for the various Ferries at the right times. A two hour train takes you from Helsinki to Turku. A 90 minute bus goes from Stockholm to Kapelskar. A 2 hour bus goes from Stockholm to Grissleham. The three destination points on our island are Mariehamn (best, close to us, just 7 km), Langnass (45 minute drive from us, no public transit), and Eckero (second best, 45 minute public bus or drive).
Viking Line: (red boats)
Silja Line: (white and blue boats)These two lines have many almost identical ships and schedules, Silja is a shade more upscale. The ships go back and forth from Finland to Sweden, stopping in Åland for a few minutes. These ferries are something boats. Gambling cruise ships. The ticket is an absurdly low $12 or so round trip. You can spend money on board for many things. You can get a room with beds. The ride from Stockholm is about 5 hours and from Finland about 8 hours. The four hours of the ride closest to Stockholm is quite scenic. The whole ride from Helsinki or Turku is scenic.
ÅlandsFerry: is one boat, now part of Viking line. It only goes back and forth between Sweden and Åland. You ride a bus for 90 minutes from Stockholm to Kapelskar and then the boat for 2 hours. It goes to Mariehamn. The ride is not as pretty as that for the big boats from Stockholm but the schedule is often more convenient. The bus leaves from Stockholm 110 minutes before the ferry departure from Kapeskar (pronounced Kapelshar).One (relatively) small boat goes back and forth between Grissleham Sweden and Eckero on Åland. Many trips a day. A one hour non-scenic boat ride. The bus from Stockholm to Grissleham is about 2 hours, the bus from Eckero to Mariehamn (near us) about 45 minutes. The best schedule, the fastest, the least nice. A good option if you have a car.
By plane: (Mariehamn airport code is MHQ) small planes go to Stockholm and Helsinki a few times a day.
Air Botnia: http://www.airbotnia.fi/
Finnair: http://www.finnair.com/From Stockholm airport Arlanda, to central bus station (connection point for Ferries):
Bus: About $10 (89 Kroner). 40 minute ride. Leaves about every 10 minutes.
So you will be at the bus station 42-52 minutes after you walk out the front door
of the airport. Pay on the bus or ask at the information booth at the airport,
you might be able to pay there. You catch the bus right outside
the airport at the main level. It goes straight to the central bus station (last stop).
Train: About $20 (about 170 Kroner). 20 minute ride. Leaves every 20 minutes.
So you will be at the bus station 25-45 minutes after you leave the main
airport lobby. Pay at the information booth in the airport lobby. Then follow signs
to the train deep under the airport. When you arrive in Stockholm
(last stop) you are under the bus station. Walk in the direction the train was
going (South) into the train station. Then turn around and take
the escalators straight backwards up into the bus station.
Driving directions from the Mariehamn Ferry terminals to the Biological Station:
*Go East, away from the water, by any street, for about 1 km.
*Turn right (south) when you get to Ålandsvagen also called Järsövägen.
*Go about 7 km, over several boulder semi-bridges with big water on right and left.
*Turn right in the driveway of "The Nåtö Biolical Station". If you
get to small isolated ice cream stand on your left you have gone about 800 meters
too far. If you get to a T in the road you have got to Järsö, 4 km too far.
* See map.