Helsinki Bound

Yesterday was just a transit day, one of those boring days that comes up now again when travelling. Our route from Dublin to Helsinki was via Stockholm with SAS. BOTH flights were delayed so it was quite late before we finally arrived in Helsinki ( in the pouring rain! There’s a pattern here!)  Simon and Jatta had arrived at the apartment only about 30 minutes before we did and it was lovely to see them again. A coffee and some chit chat and then we all headed to bed ready for a big day of sightseeing.

This morning we could really appreciate the location of the apartment, only a short walk from the main Helsinki railway station but with a lovely view across parklands towards the parliament building and the big concert hall, Finlandia Hall. Luckily a stong wind had blown the rain away and we enjoyed the sunshine this morning.

We grabbed breakfast at a nearby cafe and then set off with our tour guides leading the way. In the daylight we could appreciate the design of the railway station, the archtiect Eliel Saarinen, had also come secoind ( after Walter Burley Griffin ) in the design competition for the design of Camberra.

We walked along busy streets to the Esplanadi Park, a lovely green space that runs down the city towards the harbour.

At the harbour we hopped onto one of the regular ferries that takes the 15minute trip across to Suomenlinna, an 18th-century sea fortress and nature area with centuries-old artillery and defensive walls, spread across several islands ( linked by bridges) The first thing we saw was the church on the island which has some very military fencing made of old canons and chain as well as a massive bell..

We visited the military Museum and then wrnt for a longwalk around the island. It was blowing a gale! We were nearly blown right back to Helsinki!

We also took a look at the Submarine Vesikko, the only remaining museum of the 5 that once belonged to the Finnish navy.  It was very cozy!

After a coffee in the cafe we jumped on the baot back across the breezy route to the city again and enjoyed  a wander through the market square and the Market hall ( which was very similar to the one we saw a few weeks ago in Turku).

We were all flagging a bit by this stage so we made a meandering trip back to the apartment, via the big shopping mall , Kampi and a newly finished exterior space/artwork called Amos Rex.

Back at the apartment we were all desperately in need of a bit of a rest so we kicked back for a while with a drink and enjoyed the view from our balcony here. Some local university students were getting up to some lively student antics/activities in the parkland below which kept us amused for a while.

Gettin pretty hungry by now we walked a short way to the Woolshed, one of the Aussie themed restaurants that are popular in Finland. We tucked into burgers and seafood platters and Neil earned us a discount on the order when the barman took a few dollars off the bill because he was also a Roosters supporter!

The apartment has been great, we have one more night here and a long day tomorrow before the kids head back to Turku and we head to the airport for our flight to Singapore. Simon has  alot planned for our day so I dont think it will be boring!