Chapter 6: Helsinki (July 18):

We arrived in Helsinki to bright sunshine and warmer temperatures (what a novel concept for a vacation)! Jo & I started off the day by taking a shuttle to the city and exploring it on our own. We started by walking to the Rock Church which wasn’t open yet but walking around to the front of it for a photo stop we noticed a young lady in the church lobby trying to coax a pigeon (no I’m not making this up) out of the building. So with mom heading for the high ground I help the girl shoo the pigeon out of the church. For my labors she let me into the building to take a picture. Pretty cool structure cut into a large rock formation hence the name. We went to the city center where we took in the sites on palace square but the real highlight was the open air market down by the pier. We treated ourselves to some fresh raspberry crepes…delicious as the picture looks! In the afternoon we took a tour of Suomenlinna Fortress which is an interconnected series of six islets guarding the approach to the city by sea. It was neat and we got to see the lighthouse and museum on the fortress as well as stop by a coffee shop for pastry. There was a small beach that the locals use by taking the ferry across the bay and hang out at during the summer months. We were told that the water temperature was 64 degrees and people were actually swimming in it (let me tell you, the water was COLD and as a side light, what is it with European men wearing Speedos?). The sea actually freezes over in the winter and the locals from the island and city drive across the ice four months of the year (guess that Ice Road Truckers Show is real). While walking around the fortress we saw a woman walking a long haired dachshund and took a picture (we miss our three little wieners, well at least I do)! After the island tour it was back to the ship with no Teemu Selanne sightings in Helsinki!

Well the story doesn’t end (more bird fun for mom); we get back to ship to find a sea gull on our private deck that can’t seem to figure out how to escape over the glass partition. Based on the amount of gull droppings he was there for quite some time…the beauty of the blog is that you can take a picture of EVERYTHING…enjoy! Our Cabin Steward came to the rescue and with bare hands (pretty bold strategy) picked up the gull and set him free just as the ship was leaving harbor for St. Petersburg!

Before dinner I bought your mom a Matryoska doll set from the gift shop; they are stacking dolls carved out of wood and the authentic ones are hand painted. The set we purchased has a Christmas – wintry pictorial and consists of ten individual pieces that I’m sure Jo will be proudly displaying in our China cabinet.

Another Carnival dining story for the greatest hits…after dinner I order the “Cherries Jubilee” which arrives with a single cherry…the comment card post cruise will suggest a NEW dessert selection called “Cherry Jubilee”!

Musical vibe for the Chapter: Genesis: “Home By the Sea”
Towel Fun: Sea Gull (gotta hand it to the Cabin Steward, that’s pretty timely)