Day 32: Thu 10 Aug: Stockholm to Helsinki

Start time: 5am
Stop time: 8:30pm
Weather: partly cloudy but fine, 14 to 19deg

Up really early this morning as we have a plane to catch to Helsinki. Awoke at 5am and after stowing our excess luggage and checking out we went for an early breakfast. The lady in the kitchen we asked yesterday said she'd come in early and do it for us. How nice is that! We were just finishing off when our maxi-cab pulled up outside. 

We made it to the airport well before we had to however, better to wait an extra few minutes than panic about missing the flight. Auto-check-in went off okay and the departure was no problem. No immigration checks even though we are flying to another country, Finland. The plane was a two-engine bug-smasher but the flight was smooth and pleasant. Took off a little later than scheduled but we made up time in the air. Five of us just took hand luggage but Wendy checked one pannier with her "stuff". 

Immigration was non-existent at Helsinki, not even a check of our passports. We were in Finland, a new country for all of us. The first task was to adjust our watches and phones one hour forward and then pick up our three-day Helsinki Card which gave us free access to public transport and entry to more attractions than we'd ever care to visit. That task completed we walked to the airport railway station and caught a very new, clean and comfortable train to the city. Another 400m walk and we were at our home for the next three nights – Scandic Hotel Simonkentta. 

In order to orientate ourselves to the new city we walked to the Hop On Hop Off Bus point where we caught what turned out to be a very late red double decker bus. Did the circuit then did some more wandering (no one could resist the great big juicy cherries at the market) on our way back to the hotel. The city is nice, without being too spectacular.

Pre-dinner drinks were taken in Mick & Kate's room (champers for Ken's birthday thanks to M&K) as the Finns are very inflexible when it comes to the casual consumption of your own alcohol in a licensed premise. We couldn't possibly consume drinks we had purchased elsewhere in the seating area downstairs. And fair enough too.  Dinner was Mick & Kate's choice and it was a beauty; local fare of reindeer, elk and salmon cooked the way the locals do. Everyone came away very satisfied.




The ATR 72-500 from Stockholm to Helsinki

Onboard, Helsinki bound


#455 Scandic Simonkentta Hotel Helsinki


Coffee to go

Boarding our bug-smasher to Helsinki

A little cultural experience on the streets of Helsinki

Helsinki Cathedral

The Workers monument

Our local fare restaurant decked-out like a rustic cabin

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