Helsinki Finland

Travelled : 15km in Bluey, 80km by ferry to Helsinki
Stay : Helsinki - free parking, walking distance to city centre. N60.1720 E24.9034 Thanks to Charlie the Chuckle Bus and Our Tour.

Woke up to rain drops on Bluey, but it soon cleared to sunny skies. After breakfast we went to fill up on petrol and gas at a station nearby found on www.lpg.eu, as it is about 12c cheaper than Finland. We drove through a part of town that still has lots of the original wooden buildings. 

Then we went to have a look at a park on a beach front before returning to the Port to await our 12 oclock departure on the Eckero Line  ferry to Helsinki. We had bought the tickets yesterday for €143. We could have purchased tickets on line for a few € cheaper but we were unsure if they required printed copies etc so it was just easier to buy them direct.  We compared fares of 3 major companies on  ssl.directferries.com and made our choice of the time that best suited us to leave.
Every thing went very smoothly... we didnt have to wait long to board and found ourselves the first to be driving on. The trucks followed us in and we were quickly surrounded by them (6 lanes wide and 15 deep).

The ferry had plenty of different lounges to sit in. A couple even had live entertainers. We enjoyed the sun shine and the very fresh air on top deck before having a stroll around and looking in the store below that was selling last minute cheap alcohol as well as other items. 

The 2 1/2hrs passed quickly and after docking we were basically first off the boat. This also meant we were the first through the customs and thus we were stopped. We held our breath, hoping they were not going to search us,  especially after answering 'NO' to their question of whether we had anything to declare! I had a brief moment of panic, maybe I had made a mistake when I read on Google that there were no limits on alcohol when it's for personal consumption.  Anyway they were satisfied with our answers of the following questions ie how long were we staying in Finland and was Bluey hired. Phew! 

]

We didn't have far to travel to our parking spot on the water to the west of the city behind a huge cemetery. It appears the area is very popular with the locals for parking and also for them to run, cycle and walk around.

We walked about a 1km to the edge of town to start our tour.
Helsinki was founded in 1550 by the Swedish king. In 1809 Finland became a duchy of the Russian Empire. After the 1917 communist revolution Finland declared independence. It has modern city feel with its wide streets flanked by large 5 storey buildings of which some do have significant historical architectural elements. 

Our first stop was to have a peak in the 'Rock Church' adequately nick named as it is hewn into solid rock and covered by a 24m diameter copper roof. 

Mark met a few friends as we made our way to the Central Railway Station that was declared one of the most beautiful in the world. 

We continued on to Senate Square where we were awed by the white neoclassical cathedral seemingly perched high over the city. Inside was a large dome and ornate organ.
Government Palace, the National Library and the University were the other domineering buildings surrounding the square. 

We  had a look in one of these buildings that housed the City Museum and learnt about what life was like in Helsinki during the 30 's through to the 70's.
From here we approached the port area and went to have a look at the red brick Uspenskin Cathedral built as a Russian Orthodox church in 1868. Unfortunately we could not look inside as it is closed on Mondays.

Just over the canal we went to the Market Square and had a walk through the Old Market Hall built in 1889.

Unique road bollards.

We then strolled along the very pretty Esplanade Park. We nearly felt we were in Paris. 

Taming the lion oops sealion 

Then it was back into the hussle and bussle of the city passing some lovely buildings including the very contemporary and quirky Chapel of Silence.
We made it back to Bluey for some dinner and a well deserved rest.

We noticed lots of young men carrying their partners handbags for them. And we thought chivalry was gone!