2014 - OCEAN PRINCESS - HELSINKI

AFTER HEADING NORTH FROM RUSSIA, WE ARE NOW DOCKED IN HELSINKI..

I AM ON DECK FIVE TO CHECK THE WEATHER AND IT IS FOUL. COLD & WET.

I LOOK DOWN ON THE QUAYSIDE AND PEOPLE ARE ALREADY HEADING TO THE TOUR BUSES.

ALSO, STANDING AROUND, ARE THE TWO YOUNG LADIES & MUM & DAD. TWO OF WHOM ARE LOOKING WOEFULLY UNDERDRESSED FOR THE WEATHER.

THE TWO HEAD OFF FOR WARMER CLOTHES & I HEAD OF FOR MY CAMERA. THESE PEOPLE ARE GOING CYCLING.

I REMEMBERED THAT THE GIRLS WERE A LITTLE APPREHENSIVE AS THE BIKES MIGHT BE CLUNKY & HAVE NO BRAKES.

WELL NO BRAKES ON THE HANDLE BARS - YOU BACK PEDDLE TO STOP.

HERE THEY ARE NOW, HEADING TO THE BIKES. DAD BEHIND ACTING AS SHEPHERD...

AND IN THE ORANGE - IS AMANDA THAT I MET IN ST. PETERSBURG ...

THEY GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER & I HEAD AFT & UP TO DECK SEVEN FOR COFFEE. PASSING THE CHURCH ON THE WAY ...

THEY MEET THEIR GUIDE & MAKE SOME PRACTICE MOVES ....

EVERYONE LOOKS HAPPY ....

AND - OFF THEY GO ...

AND MAKE THEIR FIRST STOP WITHIN A MINUTE ... DRIVE SAFE NOW .....

IT'S STILL MISERABLE OUT SO I HEAD INDOORS & WHILE AWAY SOME TIME TAKING PICTURES OF PASSING BIRDS & STREET CARS... WAITING FOR THE RAIN TO STOP A BIT ....

WHICH IT DOES FAIRLY SOON. ...

THERE IS A MARKET ON THE HARBOUR.

ON THE WAY BACK I BUY SOME CHERRIES AND THEN ASK THE GUY IF THEY ARE LOCAL. NO - SPAIN!

I SKIRT THE MARKET AND WIND MY WAY UP HILL INTO & OUT OF A PARK . A NICE LITTLE POND & STATUTARY ...

NO IDEA WHAT HE IS POINTING TO.

I GO DOWN HILL & INTO ANOTHER PARK ....

AND UP HILL AGAIN TO A PLEASANT LOOK OUT...

TIME FOR A REST .... WITH A BIRD FOR COMPANY. AN OYSTER CATCHER MAYBE?

UNUSUAL STATUE ...

I HAVE NOW ARRIVED AT SOME WATER & TAKE A COFFE & A BREAK. HERES A DOG FETCHING A STICK.

I SEE A MAP ON A POST & HEAD OVER TO SEE WHERE I AM AND THERE IS ALSO A SIGN SAYING THAT TO HALE THE FERRY, PUT UP THE SEMAPHORE.

JUST AS I READ THIS, A LITTLE BOAT STOPS BESIDE ME AND A GIRL HOPS ON. I ASK THE DRIVER IF IT IS THE FERRY & HOW MUCH IS IT.

HE GIVES ME A PRICE BUT CANNOT BE BOTHERED TO CHARGE ME & I TAKE THE FIVE MINUTE RIDE.

I HAD DONE SOME HELSINKI RESEARCH BEFORE LEAVING HOME & REMEMBER AN ISLAND WITH A FANCY RESTAURANT AND SAUNA FACILITIES & I JUST HAPPEN ACROSS IT.

TOO BAD IT IS SO EXCLUSIVE THAT I CANNOT GET A BITE OR A LOOK IN THE SAUNA .. THE DRIVER WAS VERY PLEASANT THOUGH AND WE CHATTED QUITE A BIT BEFORE HE DROVE ME BACK ASHORE. STILL FOR FREE.

HERES THE SAUNAS .... THE DRIVER SAYS IT'S QUITE MAGICAL HERE IN THE WINTER, TO COME OUT OF THE SAUNA & INTO THE HOT TUB ...

BACK ON SHORE - I HEAD AROUND THE COAST TOWARDS THE SHIP.

YET ANOTHER NICE STATUE ...

I HAD STOPPED TO HAVE A BEER ALONG THE WAY & THAT WAS A PLEASANT BREAK AWAY FROM THE RAIN.

THIS IS AS FAR NORTH AS WE GO, NEXT STOP - RIGA

HOPE IT STOPS RAINING