HELSINKI

It was an easy drive to Helsinki as we were close and though a little late we arrived at the city camp while still light. The camp is by far the best for a city camp and very clean with great facilities. Luckily we still had our delicious green chicken curry left so no cooking for me tonite-yes if you haven’t guessed it is me blogging as V is cleaning and restocking the fridge. We did a shop today as we do not know what to expect in Estonia.

Anyway we had an early nite as we wanted to be up early as we never know how to gauge the showers in the morning and we wanted to get on the train into the city reasonably early. As it turned out we were the only ones there – beautiful new and hot showers with no time limit or pushing buttons for the mens but not as good for the ladies. I think they have not done theirs yet. Everything has new swipe cards to get into so good security.

The Metro is only a short walk to get the train and we get 24 hour pass for 8 euro so we can also use the ferry to the tourist island of Soumenlinna to save $$. It is a real quick trip into the centre and we hit outside the Metro like dear in the headlights as we have no idea which direction to go but you really can’t get lost exploring. We manage to find what we think is the food markets near the harbour and have a look for what looks good for lunch as I decided the nite before that we would eat out as the guides showed some great food places. As it was a sunny day and tomorrow looked rainy we jumped on the ferry (normally 7 euro) across to the island. It was only a 15 minute ride but great views back to the city. We have to share the island with quite a few tourists but would think nothing like high tourist season but it is quite a big island about 1km from end to end(approx. 500m wide) and lots of walking tracks. 800 people live on the island and was a major  sea fortress built by the Swedes when Finland was part of Sweden in the mid 1700,s and was a naval base during the Russo-Swedish war. It then was a Russian fort for 110 years until Finland became part of Russia. When Finland became independent it was bombed during the Crimean war and was a naval base during WW2. Here endeth the history lesson.

We stopped for the obligatory coffee & cake then wandered around looking at the huge old cannons, underground bunkers and paid 6 euro each to look through a 1930,s built submarine which also got us entry to the military museum as well which was small but very interesting and great to get a quick glance at their war history. The sub was small for the time and crewed 20 people. It was so cramped and I could only cringe at what it would have been like. I Couldn’t imagine what it would be like in the engine room with all the noise and where they had to continually oil all moving parts.

We stopped and had an apple each as we didn’t have our customary baguette and watched two people trying to get going flying with their Parasails but I don’t think the wind was enough though one got up ok but his partner couldn’t quite get airborne.

After visiting the museum we boarded the ferry for the short trip back. We looked around the market but nothing really took our fancy and it was 3.30 so lunch was truly over in the city to start looking, so settled for very disappointing roll at stupid cost and lamented the fact I hadn’t made one which left it for dead.

We wandered the city for a while, bought 10 english books for 2 euro and sat at a café with a beer & cider and got on the internet for an hour. Vicki researched camps and driving in Estonia and I researched sport and All Blacks – as you do. The book guy was a bit weird and the books were cheap as all the English speaking tourists were gone he wanted to get rid of them cheap. But funnily enough he was selling 5 for 2.5 or 10 for 2! Figure that one out we only wanted 5 so I had to get 5 more to get them for 2 Euro. I managed but I just couldn’t make myself get Nicole Ritchies first novel. We walked a different way and ended up where the ferries are so booked our ferry To Tallinn Estonia, a bit cheaper than online. There are some amazing huge liners in port.

Back to the van with sore feet but happy as the island was a great outing and I am always hoping to learn about the country we are travelling ins history and great not to have to spend hours doing justice to the museums. Yay leftover green chicken curry again with crisp flatbread for tea with a cold Heineken.

Up again at 7am for a shower and back into the city but this time we are off the train like pros that have lived here forever. This time it is raining so with brolly for protection we head over to the Gallery of Contempory Art but it doesn’t open till 10 so we walk to a Maccas for coffee and internet then I had a long overdue haircut from a drop in I had spotted the day before. We then found the food Market which we should have found the day before but this time I had made MY rolls so couldn’t really justify two lunches. Much better than the outside markets but bit exy and of course because of the teeming rain full of tourists so had a food perv and left them to it. Even spotted a can of bear meat for 37 euro and reindeer meatballs.

We ate our tasty but a little soggy rolls under cover of the beautiful church from the rain then window shopped(sort of) a couple of shopping centres before heading back to the Art Gallery but didn’t feel to justifying 12 E as we were a bit tired and just wanted to get back to the van. We bought some supplies at the supermarket and got on the train.

We spent 2 hours in the camp tv room as that is where we can get Wifi and then home for tea. Vicki is lucky and having green chicken curry for the 3^rd time I will have a few snacks.

Off on the ferry to Estonia tomorrow.