Day 34: Sat 12 Aug: Helsinki

Start time: 9am
Stop time: 4:45pm
Weather: fine and mainly sunny 16 to 25deg 

Another leisurely breakfast because we've got nothing to do and all day to do it; as if. We walked away from the hotel at 9am, past Parliament House (currently a construction site) and onto the Rock Church. What a stunning sight inside, it sort of grows out of the solid granite hill. We then walked to the Sibelius Monument which is dedicated to a Finnish composer of the same name. A quick peek at the Olympic Venue (1952) which is another construction site.  

Having had enough walking, we caught a tram back to the city where some of us had a caffeine fix overlooking the Cathedral. It was then down to the Quay to board our Canal Cruise (free with the Helsinki Card). That took us on an interesting one-and-a-half-hour circuit of the Harbour and nearby islands, of which there are numerous. 

After the cruise Mick and Kate went back to the hotel for a cuppa while the remaining brave souls continued to the Finnish version of Pissing Boy, the Bad Bad Boy. Wendy bailed out after this (dropping like flies now) and Greg went on to do both the Contemporary and the Modern Art Galleries, also free with the Helsinki Card. Ken and Maree did their own thing. About 4:30pm Greg had also reached saturation point on galleries, museums and crowds and also called it a day. 

Thai (our choice) for dinner, 100m up the road. It was a tiny place and a one-man operation; the food was great though.  During dinner, a fierce storm descended upon Helsinki – thunder, lightning and HEAVY rain.  Thank goodness it stopped just before we finished our dinner and we walked home without getting wet.


Sibelius Monument



Helsinki harbour


All kinds of watercraft out today


Canal Cruise


Bad Bad Boy


Parliament House


Rock Church




Helsinki

Morning tea venue looking up at the Cathedral

The Quay


Canal Cruise





Canal cruise - watch your head

Ice breaking ships, there are at least four



Museum of Contemporary Art


Art & Modern Form Museum


The Reading Room of the Art Museum


Art Museum


Orthodox Church

 


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