Ouch is all i can say for today! After my oh so cultured day exploring the museums and art of Helsinki yesterday, i topped it off with a trip to the Ballet at the Finnish national opera house. It was only just gone 9 when that all wrapped up so i thought i’d “pop in” to the Jazz bar across the street to see what was going on. I love a bit of Jazz and wanted to see what the Finnish scene was like… Well, before i knew it the lights were up and it was 3.30!! What??? That’s what going on a beverage tour of Finland will do to you! I tried the local specialities like the long drink which was invented for the 1952 Olympics to impress international visitors. (worked on me!) and the not so nice Jaloviina (also known as the Sheriff as it has a sheriffs star on it) think overproof rum for those that have been silly enough to indulge on a rat’s night out… bleurgh!! Followed by a specially formulated cocktail called the confused Willy (the barman was called Willy) There were some really interesting characters in there, including a 50+ (she’s a lady and didn’t reveal exactly!) year old woman telling us all about her dating life and upcoming hot date with a champion chess player. She had met in a really romantic way. They both got into the same cab and were going the same direction. When does that ever happen and she still played hard to get and was wondering why she was alone… I thought the answer was quite simple!
We had a really good laugh and the sum total of all of that was that i felt a little erm… tired when i woke up this morning. I peeled myself out of bed and teetered down the ladder to make some green tea in the hope that the caffeine would perk me up. There was no early rise to get to the park, more a slovenly scuttle about the apartment to pack just in time for me to check out. I dropped my bags off at the train station and made a beeline for the nearest Robert’s coffee shop (thanks Hopper you saved my day!)
I wasn’t sure what to do next as i wasn’t feeling my perkiest, i needed to sit down but didn’t want to do nothing and waste my last day in Helsinki, so hopped on the loop tram again to see if i could find a nice cake shop. This was an epic fail, as the motion only made me feel worse and i ended up having to get off early! I ambled along the short walk from the flat and lifeless ferry terminal to the harbour side and watched the herring boats packing up shop before they return to the day job of actually catching the stuff. It was fascinating watching the wives and daughters disembark and help the fishermen prepare for going back out to work. The fresh air did me no end of good as well!
I then found my way to one of the other city museums, which was equally as fantastic as the first. It had another exhibition on the life of the city in times gone by including a kitchen made up from old apartments in the city and more photos of life and what people eat and how they cook it etc. It was fascinating, and right up my street. Tucked away at the top of the museum there was an amazing photo exhibition of the people of Helsinki and how life has rapidly changed since photo clubs were set up 125 years ago. Little snapshots into how people’s work, hobbies and family life has evolved in recent history. From the building of modern apartment blocks with more facilities to holiday styles and partying. . Again, this really piqued my interest and i was enthralled as i walked round, the only one in there for most of the time. I think the museum staff thought i was never going to leave as i then found a big area with bean bags and touch screens with information on Helsinki etc. This was heaven for my hungover and sleep starved self. I could have very easily had a very cosy nap in there! But it was near to closing time and i needed to get back to the station to get ready for the next stage in my adventure. The illustrious ride on the Lev Tolstoy, whisking me overnight into Moscow.
Signing off to go find the Lev Tolstoy, and a new head…
Ciao x x x
