The 2025 Tempe Sister Cities Delegation adventure began in Finland’s beautiful capital, Helsinki. It was the first visit to the city for everyone, and many quickly fell in love with it. Despite the rain, Helsinki’s charm shone through—its friendly people, clean streets, and walkable layout made a lasting impression.
Helsinki offers so much to explore—museums, architecture, food, shopping, and most importantly, saunas. Saunas are a cherished Finnish pastime, almost meditative in nature, and have been recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
A favorite stop for many was the Helsinki Central Library Oodi, a modern reimagining of the library. More than books, it provides equipment, studios, workshops, and inviting spaces for the community.
From Helsinki, the group boarded the Viking Cinderella cruise to Stockholm. The overnight ferry felt like a floating resort, complete with saunas, duty-free shopping, restaurants, a nightclub, and a piano bar. Staterooms looked out over the Baltic Sea and the stunning archipelago.
The delegation arrived in Stockholm mid-morning, refreshed from a smorgasbord breakfast and the views of the islands. With sunshine greeting them, they embarked on a walking tour of one of Europe’s most walkable cities, filled with museums, Viking history, and charming neighborhoods. Local food highlights included reindeer burgers, fishballs, meatballs, pickled herring, princess cake, and cinnamon buns.
Among the favorite experiences in Stockholm were the ABBA Museum, sampling cinnamon buns, and discovering the tradition of “fika.” More than just a coffee break, fika is a cherished Swedish ritual—taking time to pause, refresh, and enjoy a moment with coffee, a bun, or another snack.
Next, the delegation traveled by train to Trollhättan, Tempe’s Sister City in Sweden, to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of their partnership. Upon arrival, Country Director Birgitta Berntson-Arje welcomed the group and led them to their hotel on the Trollhätte Kanal. The narrow canal, with ships passing just outside hotel windows, connects the Göta River with Lake Vänern through six locks that accommodate vessels of up to 4,000 tons.
That evening, the group attended the Tempe Reunion and Summer Party at N3, reconnecting with longtime friends, past delegates, educators, and families. At the celebration, TSC presented Mayor Peter Eriksson with a Cosanti Bell. The evening was filled with laughter, a shared meal, and meaningful reunions.
The following morning, TSC Board members met with Mayor Eriksson, International Officer Isak Johansson, and others to discuss strengthening the Sister City relationship and the five-year plan to renovate Trollhättan’s locks. Later, the delegation enjoyed a scenic boat tour and a canal-side dinner featuring a basket of prawns and princess cake.
Additional visits included the Innovatum Science Center, SAAB Museum, Trollhättan Art Gallery, N3 Culture Center, and Film i Väst—known as “Trollywood” and home to many of Sweden’s feature films. A private city train tour provided views of Trollhättan’s industrial heritage, bridges, power plants, and waterfalls, including King Oscar’s Bridge above Kungsgrottan, the “Royal Guestbook,” where Swedish monarchs have inscribed their names for centuries.
A highlight of the Trollhättan stay was the Midsummer Celebration at the Royal Hunting Museum. In a lush green setting, guests made flower crowns, sang, and danced around the maypole (“midsommarstång”). Dinner was held inside a traditional elk-skin tent, with an authentic buffet of reindeer, pickled herring, new potatoes with dill, and fresh strawberries with cream.
From there, some delegates flew to Regensburg, Germany—Tempe’s second Sister City, established in 1976—where they were joined by more TSC members.
In Regensburg, highlights included a Bürgerfest warm-up concert with Arizona’s Southern Ways band, lunch at the historic Weltenburger Klosterbrauerei (the world’s oldest monastery brewery), and the official Bürgerfest Opening Ceremony with Mayor Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer. The group also attended an Imperial Hall ceremony with representatives from all Sister Cities, Sunday Mass at Cathedral St. Peter with the renowned Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir, and a farewell lunch with the mayor.
This whirlwind trip was filled with unforgettable scenery, food, culture, history, and—above all—friendship. Special thanks to Liz & Dean Gambino, Pete Ewen, and Dede Carrera for their hard work in planning such a spectacular journey.
