I think everyone is still worn out from the overwhelming sights of St Petersburg, so it's nice that the tours to Helsinki are not going to be as packed.
In comparison to our last stop, Helsinki seems relatively unexciting, but that is unfair to the city - it has a lot to offer. The people are friendly and just a little bit off the wall if their art is anything to go by. (See our last visit here)
Peter and I are escorting again, but thankfully we are on the "City of Helsinki" tour, which is basically a bus trip to the best bits for photo stops, with a guide explain the sights right and left as the bus travels along. It particularly suits older and less able passengers, and us today, because we are zapped from all the walking yesterday.
Suffice to say I enjoyed the trip. The Sibelius monument is still being overrun by Japanese tourists. (Again, see our last visit)
And the Rock Church really is quite brilliant.
<< This is the altar
Our final stop was at Senate Square
Amazingly, I managed to get a photo of the central structure without anyone posing against it. That takes timing - I should also point out that a few seconds after this picture was taken, a gull decided to land on his head, and stayed there.
The statue is Alexander II by the way, a Russian Emperor who was also the Grand Duke of Finland. Apparently he encouraged Finnish nationalism and is considered "the Good Tsar" by the Finns. (You didn't know that did you!)
I didn't climb the steps into the cathedral, because I was short of time and feeling lazy and knew that Peter would do it anyway.
Then it was time to get back on the bus and head back to the ship. A "Tat" shop on the dockside caught my interest, and then my money. I'd lost my woolly hat in St Petersburg, so I ended up buying another. It's got a ridiculously large pom pom, and every time I put it on, Peter bursts out laughing, so it serves as a cheerer upper too.
So that was Helsinki. It was nice to have a quiet day and tomorrow we are in Nynashamn. Last time we did this cruise we didn't get into port because of bad weather, so it will be nice to see it this time. No tours though, me n Peter get to have a walk out by ourselves.
In comparison to our last stop, Helsinki seems relatively unexciting, but that is unfair to the city - it has a lot to offer. The people are friendly and just a little bit off the wall if their art is anything to go by. (See our last visit here)
Peter and I are escorting again, but thankfully we are on the "City of Helsinki" tour, which is basically a bus trip to the best bits for photo stops, with a guide explain the sights right and left as the bus travels along. It particularly suits older and less able passengers, and us today, because we are zapped from all the walking yesterday.
Suffice to say I enjoyed the trip. The Sibelius monument is still being overrun by Japanese tourists. (Again, see our last visit)
 |
| This monument is designed to look like organ pipes in recognition of the music produced by Sibelius. It's quite an awseome sculpture and Peter and I really like it. Trouble is, Sibelious never played the organ, and when it was unveiled, the locals complained that it didn't reflect the music of the composer at all |
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| So this face of Sibelius was added after the pipes, to show who the monument was dedicated to |
And the Rock Church really is quite brilliant.
<< This is the altar
 |
| Inside of the Temppeliaukio Rock Church - impressively carved out of solid rock. |
Amazingly, I managed to get a photo of the central structure without anyone posing against it. That takes timing - I should also point out that a few seconds after this picture was taken, a gull decided to land on his head, and stayed there.
The statue is Alexander II by the way, a Russian Emperor who was also the Grand Duke of Finland. Apparently he encouraged Finnish nationalism and is considered "the Good Tsar" by the Finns. (You didn't know that did you!)
I didn't climb the steps into the cathedral, because I was short of time and feeling lazy and knew that Peter would do it anyway.
Then it was time to get back on the bus and head back to the ship. A "Tat" shop on the dockside caught my interest, and then my money. I'd lost my woolly hat in St Petersburg, so I ended up buying another. It's got a ridiculously large pom pom, and every time I put it on, Peter bursts out laughing, so it serves as a cheerer upper too.
So that was Helsinki. It was nice to have a quiet day and tomorrow we are in Nynashamn. Last time we did this cruise we didn't get into port because of bad weather, so it will be nice to see it this time. No tours though, me n Peter get to have a walk out by ourselves.
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