Last Day in Helsinki

When we opened the blinds in the morning, we were still gliding along a smooth blue sea, but with an empty horizon – where have all the islands gone?  There were soon some low rocky outcrops but we were more interested in checking out the breakfast buffet.  As always, this was very plentiful, with lots of choices from cereals to salads and heaps of bread choices.  

An old Fort at the harbour entrance

As we were drawing into the terminal, we zinked down to our bikes and eventually got a crew member to open the store room and loaded up.  We led the motor bikes out into the sunshine – in Helsinki!  Yes at last, the sun does shine in Helsinki.

We rode into the centre and found the old food hall, so screeched to a halt for a look in there.  Once we got past the fishy bits, it was full of very tasty looking food – but we were on our way home and you can’t bring food into Australia.  We bought some fruit tho’ to eat for lunch. 

Farewell MS Serenade

Vanha Kauppahalli - Old market hall

Yummy stuff in the food hall

The market was next – stalls along the harbour selling the usual market foods, but also local crafts of very tasteful souvenirs.  Dang it – I have already bought all the souvenirs I need, but maybe I could just find something else…..  

Contrasts in Helsinki

The Uspenski Cathedral (Russian Orthodox) loomed above the markets, its gold onion-domes glistening and contrasting beautifully with the deep blue sky.  We found a street around the back, instead of bumping bikes up a series of stairs, which took us to the back door.  We joined the crowds of other tourists to go into this rather extravagant cathedral.  Inside the hushed interior, gold was the flavour – gold icons, gold paint outlining geometric patterns all over the walls and ceiling, extensive gold painted alter pieces as well as the massive brass chandeliers adding to the golden flavour.  But it was also very commercial – priests were standing behind a counter selling trinkets and charms as well as candles.  But a fascinating place to visit.  

Uspenski cathedral

All gold and glitter

Massive chandeliers

Gold Icons

Getting Gary back on course

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm

slurp!

The Coffee Shop

Karina set Gary Garmin running again, so that we could track back to the bike shop. But on our way down the hill and along the waterfront, we caught a whiff of real coffee, so we screeched to a halt and went in.  It all looked proper, smelt good and while we were waiting, I sat down and read the Visitors Book and apparently other people thought so too.  And when the order arrived it was all true!!!  The best coffee since we left Australia!!  Mmm mmmm…..

But back onto the cobblestones again.  We rode along a bike path, but that disappeared so we continued along the footpath.  A cranky old woman (again) told us something in firm Finnish – I think she was telling us to get off the footpath, but there’s no way we were going to get down on the cobblestones with cars and trams, so on we went.  

Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral

I love a seagull on top of a serious statue!

Gary took us right up to the bike shop – www.mountainbikeshop.fi – and we went in to see if there were boxes for us.  After a uneasy moment or two, the guy eventually found two that would be just right, so we made a time to come back to collect them in a couple of hours.  In the meantime, we went for a bit of pedal around, bought some tape to seal the boxes and found an amusement park, but didn’t go in.  

 

School Holidays!

Serious stuff now....

Can bag handlers read?

Facebooking again!

We decided to pack up in the park just up from the bike shop, so Karina went down to collect the boxes while I started unpacking panniers.  It took us a good 2 hours to get them all broken down and into the boxes, paying close attention to wiping all dirt off our bikes and shoes. The bike shop boys called a taxi for us and soon we were zooming out to the airport with plenty of time to spare. 

We were ‘assisted’ with our check-in and advised that our bike boxes are classed as ‘sports equipment’ and thus would cost us $100 each.   Well, what can you do, but pay up… 

We then had a few hours to wait, so we plugged in and did some blogging.

Farewell Scandinavia – it’s been a wonderful trip, lots of beautiful scenery, plenty of fun times on our bikes and great catching up with family.

Thanks for following along with us on our tour through Finland and Sweden.  We have had a fabulous time and have enjoyed ourselves immensely.