Helsinki

After breakfast in the railway station, we managed to find where to store our camping luggage while we're in Russia. Then we went out to explore Helsinki. What a lovely city. We were surprised how warm it was, and by how the architecture is very like that of St. Petersburg. We had lunch near Senate Square, and then spent some time round the Square itself, where we looked at the cathedral and listened to a musical parade by some Finnish soldiers. Then Isla did some busking, just by the statue in the middle of the square, taking advantage of the busloads of tourists which kept arriving. This is such a lovely, small, cosy city, that we were quite happy cycling. We went to the Esplanade Park and had ice cream and coffee in a lovely old cafe, and then wandered about the market and bought some crafts, and then watched small children having pony rides in the park. Then we gave our three bikes over to a really friendly couple, Katia and Teemu, who run a bike tourism company, renting out bikes and giving tours of Helsinki by bike. See www.biketours.fi . We took the bikes to their garage, intending to pick them up again on the way back from Russia, before we get the boat from Helsinki to Tallinn.

Busking earnings:- 18.34 Euros (In 30 minutes.)
Kilometres cycled: - 0 (haven't started yet).