Third country and no more planes!

During my last day in Finland I made my way, following the tram tracks, to the Rock church (Temppeliaukio Church )

In the 1930s a competition was held to decide on the design of the church to be built on an acquired piece of land. There were actually 3 competitions held before the 'winner's were announced in 1961. The interior was excavated and built directly out of solid rock - hence the unofficial name! The copper ceiling helps with the acoustics and while I was there the organ was being played. It was a restful place to sit and rest ones aching feet!

I returned to the hotel for my bags and hiked up to the port to catch the ferry to Sweden. It was very straightforward getting on board and finding one's cabin. I booked a cabin for myself with views to the outside. The cabin had a Moomin theme - Moomins are trolls and are  based on  novels etc written by a Finnish author. Kerry told me that she remembered watching the cartoon series after school!!

I then took a look around the ship - I couldn't get over the size!

 

I claimed a spot at the rear of the ship to watch us leave Helsinki.

I had just sat down with my G & T when the hoards arrived! I presume that plenty of people head to Stockholm for the weekend but it seemed like the whole of the Finnish male population was there! I was 'pushed' further and further into the corner but I  held my ground! Not long after we left Helsinki behind I headed back to my cabin -  the peace was awesome!! I can't cope with so many people  - I like my space! I did venture out for my dinner at  the Grand Buffet and was happy to be allotted a table by myself! It was a bit of a bun fight but I  took my time and started with the smoked salmon and caviar!

There was a huge variety of food but had I known about the the various other restaurants on board I might have opted for somewhere else.

It was a smooth sailing, not like the crossing to Tassie! Still suffering from jetlag and seeing sun rise just before 5am I got dressed and wandered the deck - must get my steps up! It was b*#&* freezing and I spotted some sleet but the scenery was so beautiful it was worth every frozen limb. The water was so flat it was hard to tell where land ended and water began. To see the sky reflected on the water was quite something.

The ferry took 18 hours from Helsinki to Stockholm and I  would recommend this trip. Although wonderful it hasn't made me want to go cruising!! This has been my way of trying to save the planet by not travelling by plane!

I caught the bus into the city centre and then started the walk to reach my hotel. It was so cold and there was no possibility of checking in until 3pm so I just had to wander. Two doors down from here is the most amazing cake shop/ cafe! My excuse, to indulge, was the cold and needing to sit down! 

 Doesn't  look much but it was scrumptious!

 

 

Helsinki

 Yesterday I was able to understand why the Fins are always running, cycling and bathing in ice cold water - the epiphany happened when I went down to breakfast! The smorgasbord of food items was overwhelming! Wonder if they have this every day!

Just one small section of cold meats and cheeses! There was honestly so much variety that I didn't know where to start! Needless to say I didn't need to eat again until the middle of the afternoon! Walking over 20,000 steps helped me feel better!

After my 'foodfest' I walked to the harbour to catch a ferry to the island of Suomenlinna. The ferry ride was quite short and passed a few small islands.

 

The temperature was a cold 8C! There were quite a few school children on board -I thing they were on an overnight excursion! After seeing which direction they were heading in, I headed the opposite way!!

 

Suomenlinna is a sea fortress and a UNESCO world heritage site. The fortress was shaped by three historical eras when it helped to defend first Sweden, then Russia and ultimately Finland. I spent my time wandering from spot to spot.

The central dome of the church doubles as a lighthouse - one of very few in the world!

There were a couple of museum's related to World Wars 1 & 2. You wander the exhibits and look at what happened during those times and yet a war is raging so close to this region. Why haven't 'we' learnt anything?

Unfortunately there was only one cafe open - I think the tourist season really only starts on 1st May! A warm drink was needed as a cold wind was blowing and it's always good to prop my arm up when it starts to ache!

On the ferry back I sat outside- well the sun was shining! The city looks different from the wedding water.

By now the temperature had reached a balmy 9C and obviously I  could no more imagine sunbathing like this fellow but there must be something in the air!!

Into Europe!

 Leaving behind a 34C, high humidity, Singapore and a 13.5 hour flight I landed in a cold 7C, misty, Helsinki! Luckily my booked driver was on time to take me to my hotel! The drive from the airport was along quiet Silver Birch lined roads. As we approached the centre I was reminded of a place I had stayed at in Frankfurt with the trams running through the middle of the street.

I was very lucky that at 7am my hotel,a former prison, had a cell ready for me!

My first dilemma, wasn't that my room was a cell - it was probably 3 or 4 former cells together but that the shower was over the bath!! I did a dry run test to see if I could get in and out without breaking another body part!! Thank goodness I'm still fairly agile!

 I asked the reception to head me in the right direction  for the city and was told turn right at the gate and follow the tram lines. I managed to find a cafe a short distance away for breakfast - can't say the food on Finair was very nice. Not even a bread roll for breakfast but the blueberry juice was good. Once back following the tram lines I made it to the waterfront - I later realised the hotel was just a 'stones throw away'!

Just at the main edge of the harbour hardy Finlanders were using the public sauna - straight out of the sauna into the icy water, then a sit in a deckchair, maybe another sauna, another dip and it did look like there was a heated pool too! But remember the outside temp was still 7C! Of course I would have been straight in if it hadn't been for my cast 🤣🤣

 

Back to my tram line wandering I did eventually reach the city centre.

My wanderings clicked up 23,500 steps and eventually jetlag, aching feet and arm led me back to the hotel for a cuppa and a short nap. With it being too early for dinner it was back to walking! In a few days I am catching the overnight ferry to Sweden and needed to check out how much time it would take to get from hotel to the ferry. Easy walking 20 minutes, dragging a suitcase a little longer - now you can see why I am traveling light!

It was back to the hotel for dinner!

 Salmon soup

 Reindeer pate

Licorice panna cotta

I decided on a couple of entrees knowing that I wouldn't eat a huge meal. It was all really delicious! By 8pm my eyes were closing!