Weekend in Launie with Dan
12 sierpnia 2017, Australia ⋅ ⛅ 10 °C
Flew from Flinders Island to Launceston yesterday with Steve. We went and had a lovely couple's massage at Insparations then I put Steve back on the plane as he is heading to New Caledonia again for a Czytaj więcej
41 and a 1/2 hour day
14 sierpnia 2017, Singapur ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
41 and a half hours of travelling in front of me. Either in planes or airports. Most of the layovers are about 6 hours long so plenty of time to find my way around unfamiliar airports. I am not Czytaj więcej
Finally to Helsinki
15 sierpnia 2017, Dania ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
I managed to sleep most of the 12 hour plane flight so feeling reasonably human again. I did end up stiff and sore from cramped seat for that long. I was keen to get the compression stickings off too, Czytaj więcej
My home in the Cumulus clouds
16 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
I'm loving my accommodation at Hotel Cumulus Kaisaniemi. Comfy bed, nice big breakie European style. No kettle in the room though 😠 but no matter, I bought myself a wee travel kettle.
I have had a Czytaj więcej
More photos from today
16 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
These photos are all about how I think about Helsinki. Clean with lots of parks, they love their statues and their bikes. Everyone seems to be out getting fit and enjoying themselves.
I think I'm Czytaj więcej
Lesson on architecture
16 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Look at the incredible designs and brickwork on these buildings.
Views from the Skywheel
16 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The views are a bit blue because the windows were tinted. Not a bad aerial view though.
European breakfasts are the best!
17 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Take a look at this spread! One thing I love about Europe is they know and do good bread - brown and seedy! But they don't seem to know about toast, probably don't need to with lovely fresh bread like Czytaj więcej
Meet Harald Milton
17 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
This is Harald Milton. Harald from Helsinki, a good strong viking name and Milton was a family favourite. I asked for suggestions on social media and got some good suggestions but when he took me out Czytaj więcej
Canal cruise around the Islands
17 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
I went on a 1 1/2 hour canal cruise on a sightseeing boat today. Free with my Helsinki card. Some boats let you hop off on some of the Islands but this one didn't. It had a commentary though which was Czytaj więcej
Fortress of Suomenlinna
17 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
The Soumenlinna sea fortress, was founded in 1748 and has played a role in the defence of 3 countries - Sweden, Russia and Finland. It was constructed in mid-1700's when Sweden wanted to fortify it's Czytaj więcej
Suomenlinna today
17 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
These days the fortress serves as a setting for many cultural activities. Many artists and crafts people have studios there, experts in restoration of traditional sailing ships are now based Czytaj więcej
Dining like a Viking
17 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
I found a viking themed restaurant!! Harald the Viking restaurant in City Centre shopping plaza.
Waiters were dressed in costume, the decor was very viking and the food and beer presented in Czytaj więcej
Just for Mel
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
These things remind me of Mel.
There was a shop in Old Porvoo full of old retro stuff. There was a dress there I nearly bought but didn't, a lady went into the change room before me and I didn't want Czytaj więcej
Porvoo
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Porvoo is about 50 km east of Helsinki, a very pleasant bus ride.
"Idyllic town with it's well preserved wooden houses and picturesque cobble-stoned streets. The city's town plan is from the Middle Czytaj więcej
Wildflowers or weeds?
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
In Porvoo I spent a lovely rest time amongst the grass and flowers. Found a bumblebee, heard cicadas but couldn't find them, Harald Milton climbed a tree.
Walking along the tracks I felt I could've Czytaj więcej
"I have to go and spend a penny" or Euro
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
I find these signs and instructions hilarious but apparently some people in certain countries don't know how to use a loo properly. Some do actually squat on top of the seat.
In lots of public loos Czytaj więcej
Porvoo Cathedral
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
Simply stunning. The organ pipes playing were a beautiful touch. Every half hour the bell tolled all over town.
It has a rough history being burnt down several times, laid to waste by Danish pirates, Czytaj więcej
Porvoo museum house
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
Holm House, late 18th centuary merchant's house, second story, in the Old Porvoo section.
Finnish fetishes
18 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C
Finns love their dogs, they walk them everywhere on the leads and even allowed on some carriages of the train.
There is a phenomenon here of the Moomin character in a book. These little critters are Czytaj więcej
Food, fabulous food
19 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
While I've been here I've tried as much as the traditional and local food as I can. I've loved the markets, the €10 buffets, the brown seedy bread. I don't think I've seen any white bread, just the Czytaj więcej
Tampere
19 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Today I took a train ride to Tampere, home city of friend Jana's family. I was going to go to Hameenlinna on the way home to see a Medieval Festival but it got wet and cold when I arrived so decided Czytaj więcej
A lesson in language
19 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Due to the close ties of Finland and Sweden in the past they basically use both languages. I found the Swedish words to be helpful as Scandinavian words can be similar enough to English to work some Czytaj więcej
Hameenlinna medieval festival
20 sierpnia 2017, Finlandia ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
This morning I took the train back to Hameenlinna to see the Medieval Festival. It took longer for me to pack than I'd thought so didn't get going till 9.00 am so could only get the 10 oclock train. Czytaj więcej
Goodbye Finland , hello Lithuania
20 sierpnia 2017, Litwa ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C
I got into Lithuania about 6pm, grabbed a taxi to our Hotel Tilto, Vilnius. I met my room mate Nicole, we got on really well!!
Then we had our meet and greet with the group and guide at 7.30 pm. Nice Czytaj więcej

























































































































































































































