Scandic Grand Hotel, Helsinki, 24 August 2025

Our next adventure has finally commenced. Yesterday we left Melbourne at 10:30am for a 10 hour flight to Hong Kong. After approximately a three hour stopover there it was back on board again for the thirteen and a half hour flight to Helsinki arriving around 5:30am this morning. They were good flights with lots of food and the Helsinki leg let us both get a reasonable sleep.

Getting through immigration we a but slow although as it was early and it didn’t really matter. After sorting out tickets we took a train into the city centre and were able to leave our packs at the hotel before heading out to explore the city.

We had coffee at a nice waterfront cafe before wandering around the many large sailing ships moored in the harbour. This was followed by a climb up to a magnificent Orthodox Church (couldn’t go inside due to a service).

We then spent time at a foreshore market selling very good quality items, fruit and vegetables as well as hot food. We will probably return there tonight for our evening meal.

Following the market we took a ferry across to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress and walked around the island visiting the fortifications, military museum, dry dock church and other outdated facilities. The most spectacular sight was the fence around the church made from old cannons and anchor chains.

On return we were finally able to check into our hotel.