Helsinki

June 1st

A full plane but otherwise uneventful flight, but when we arrived in Helsinki there was no sign of the car and driver we were expecting to meet us. However we got a taxi to the Glo Art Hotel and they were expecting us.

We thought we would go for a walk and find where to catch the tram to our canal boat ride on Friday. So far so good and on the way we found a Nepalese restaurant and a supermarket. The Nepalese restaurant was very good for dinner that evening but on Friday morning when we walked to the tram stop we could not  workout why the #3 tram never arrived although it showed on the arrival board. Eventually someone told us there was a royal visit and the roads were closed. Just as well we started early!  We saw the brass band and presumeably the royal yacht but not the  Norwegian Royals.. 

Now just a few   photos of the canal boat ride which took us around some of the islands where wealthy Finns have their summer cottages.

Thought this might be the Royal Norwegian yacht

All the crew lined up on deck.

Finnish icebreakers who can punch through 8 metres of ice.

Typical summer retreat on one of the islands.

Sea Urchins for sale in the market.

Art Deco building.

It was a very cold and intermittently wet day.

One of my favourite shops Marimekko, but I resisted buying any fabric. It was fairly easy not to shop as it is not given away!