So, today I took the ferry to Suomenlinna. It was either today or probably not at all, because tomorrow I head to Stockholm and today was the last day I could use my Helsinki Card to travel and get into museums for free. I will explain. A Helsinki Card is a card sold by Helsinki Expert, good for one, two or three days, and is a really great idea for visitors to Helsinki. With it, all modes of public transportation are free. No fumbling for change or trying to figure out how to buy a ticket. Entrance fees to all city museums is free with the card. As is entrance to the Fortress, and the ferry across to it. They even include a 2 hour city tour by bus that normally costs 26 Euros. Free with the card. My three day card cost me 52 Euro, but I think I more than made up for that. I didn’t bother with public transit because I see more when I walk around, and it is hard to take photos from a bus or when you are underground on a subway, but the entrance fees to things and the city tour more than pay for the card. Many restaurants will also give you 10-20% off your meal if you have a valid card while there. I recommend, if you visit.
Anyway, the Fortress. I spent 6 hours on the island, and my feet are telling me that they noticed. The whole island is done in round cobble stone, not the flat paving stones in a lot of places, but the round softball-sized stones embedded in packed earth. It’s hard walking, and hard kneeling when you take photos from the ground, as I do. Still. The weather worked very well. Brief flickers of sun, mostly cloudy, with steel-grey clouds that really worked, given that I was on a 200 year old Maritime fortress originally built by the Swedes to protect themselves against an attack from Russia or Denmark. Back then, Sweden governed Finland, you see.
Lots of photos. I think most of the photos that I took on day one are probably throwaways, given that I retook a lot of them yesterday, and today definitely made up for it.
Speaking of photos. I need to ask a question. Why do tourists feel the need to automatically stand in front of something and have their photo taken when they see it? Do they not realize that they are basically in the way for everyone who wants a photo with no one in it? I am glad that you are having a good time, but can you please remove yourself quickly, once the photo is taken? I may want to put my photo on my wall and I don’t need to see you, or your “I love NY” tshirt, or your baby stroller in it. Thanks. I appreciate it.
Last night was interesting. The Metal was loud, and excellent. So much so that I went next door and picked up the new Noumena album. You know, so I can inflict it on myself over and over again. There is an excellent music shop specializing in metal right next to Tavastia called Keltainen jäänsärkijä that certainly filled the need. They had a ton of vinyl, and not just old stuff. It’s refreshing to know that places like that still exist in the world.
If the weather cooperates tomorrow, I might walk through the Botanical Garden. It’s supposed to be pretty cool. There is also a shop down town that sells *nothing* but Star Wars memorabilia. No. I couldn’t. Not gonna happen. Next to it, though, is an outdoor shop with a ton of great gear. Aside from the Garden, tomorrow is essentially a free day since I’ve hit just about all I wanted to do. There is a huge market down on the water front that was closed today (the building, anyway — the vendors were still outside selling all sorts of stuff), so I will probably head down there and have a coffee.
On the subject of coffee. This could be a post all in its own, but Finland is the world’s largest consumer of coffee, per capita. Two weeks ago, I was in one of the world’s largest exporters of coffee. The two coffee styles are very different. More European, obviously, compared to Vietnam’s table side use of a Phin, and distinctly different, as far as roasts go. If I had to describe it, I’d say “grassy”, almost under roasted. It’s good, but definitely on the light side of light roast for me. This means, of course, that is absolutely laden with caffeine and it goooooes down eaaasssy. I think I had 10 cups at breakfast. With, naturally, rye bread, home made preserves, and peanut butter. Sweet.
