Day 28

Even with the extra hour we gained crossing from Central European Time into British Summer Time yesterday, it still felt like we didn’t have enough time for sleep. Before we knew it, the 5 a.m. alarm was sounding, and it was time to continue on to our next destination.

This was the only accommodation we’ve stayed at so far that provided breakfast, so even though we were too early for the hot option, it was still greatly appreciated. I probably should’ve held back on the sugar, but when I saw Coco Pops… well, I couldn’t refuse.

After taking our transfer to the airport, we had to do something we’d been dreading—go our separate ways. I was flying Ryanair (again!) to Helsinki, while Ted was taking a National Express bus to Heathrow to connect with a flight to Hong Kong. After four weeks together, it was a sad moment, but we’ll be back home—and reunited with Snoopy—soon.

At Stansted, the Ryanair bag drop counters were absolute mayhem. Somehow, I even managed to pop back for a second farewell with Ted before going through security. That turned out to be its own adventure: my backpack showed up with a big red X on the security monitor (not physically on the bag, thankfully!). I never found out why, but after an additional inspection, all was fine.

I then started the long, long walk to my gate, past what felt like an endless corridor of shops, restaurants, and duty-free outlets. When I finally reached the gate… they were already boarding! I’m starting to suspect Ryanair rewards early departures. Sure enough, the doors were closed a full 15 minutes ahead of schedule.

Fortunately, I had a few downloaded episodes of Black Mirror on my iPad to entertain me during the roughly 3-hour flight. I’d briefly considered asking the crew for a “crewfie,” but they all looked so dour, unfriendly, and antisocial that I decided against it.

Helsinki greeted me with beautiful weather and clear skies, and it was such a relief to finally be somewhere that wasn’t hot! The walk from the arrival gate to passport control was another long one, but soon I was in the arrivals hall and met by Heddi and her daughter Freja! (For anyone unsure, Hedvig and I have been penpals for 38 years now. We’ve met several times over the years, but I won’t reveal either of our ages by saying how old we were when we started writing!)

After a few misdirections from the GPS, we arrived at Heddi’s place in Espoo (Esbo in Swedish), just outside Helsinki. Luckily for me, she offered lunch—which was greatly appreciated, as I hadn’t eaten since my hotel breakfast and was only offered a small bottle of water and a packet of peanuts on the flight.

It was so good to catch up, even though we had also seen each other in Málaga last year. I’ll admit, I did need a nap during the afternoon after the early start. Naps are becoming a bit of a tradition on this holiday!

Later, when Heddi’s husband Pentti got home from work, we went for a walk and dinner in Haukilahti (or Gåddvik in Swedish), a tranquil coastal area in Espoo. It’s a stunning spot where the rocky shoreline meets the Baltic Sea, dotted with sailboats, quiet walking paths, and families enjoying the long daylight hours. Heddi mentioned they’d had a lot of rain recently, so everyone was clearly making the most of the warm, sunny evening—including the dogs!

As we wandered along the rocky shore and marina, I even spotted the distinctive, UFO-shaped Haukilahti water tower in the distance—a curious landmark peeking above the trees, quietly watching over the bay. Pentti said it’s a well-known feature in the area, and I could see why. It added a touch of sci-fi flair to an otherwise peaceful seaside scene.

Dinner was at Strindberg by the Sea, a charming waterfront restaurant perched right at the edge of the marina. It has a relaxed but stylish Scandinavian vibe—whitewashed wood, soft lights strung overhead, and a gentle hum of conversation from tables overlooking the water. Though reviews had mentioned slow service, we were lucky and had a friendly and attentive waitress.

Even better, the menu was available in English! I chose pickled herring—traditionally Finnish—served with rye crumb, capers, shaved cheese, asparagus, and a zesty dill garnish. It was as fresh and flavourful as it looked. That was followed by a rich risotto and some ice cream to finish.

It really was the perfect way to end the day—beautiful scenery, warm weather, good food, and wonderful company. I won’t be staying up too late tonight after the early start, but I’m very much looking forward to the weekend Heddi has planned.Baca selengkapnya