Finland time was all spent in Helsinki after a morning moto ride from Turku in 5 deg C.
The ferry arrived at 7am (I lost 1 hour going East to Finland and 1 hour potential sleep as the boat crew started getting everyone up at 6am to have a faster turn around and right back to Stockholm). A beautiful morning seen from the ship as we navigated the Finland West Coast and then off to Helsinki. But first, some more clothes on, I mean all my clothes on!
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Aftermath of the big night on the boat |
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Morning Moon |
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Because the boat is Swedish they fly this flag off the back
and a smaller Finnish flag towards the bow as a courtesy. |
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Getting close |
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To live here, wow |
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Heavy equipment |
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Tight parking! I may have been yelled
at for bumping a guys car with my bag |
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Here we are, Turku, Finland |
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Turku seems nice |
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Turku |
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It's F'ing Cold 5 deg C |
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Taking the old main highway C3R6T3V6 |
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Imagine hitting anything in this cold |
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Possibly the worst coffee shop of the trip, warm at least
No internet, high prices and poor quality. ouch. |
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Crazy Fins still riding in this cold |
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Helsinki! |
I arrived in Helsinki to Tani's apartment, a friend I made in Argentina, with no internet and no way to contact him I asked the help of a stranger (who turned out to be some famous Dancer so that was cool, Anniina Raittinen) who called him and sorted it out for me. Thanks!
Tani and I had some good days attending a Finnish pro hockey game, a couple good nights out, watching some World Cup of Hockey and enjoying Finnish Saunas which in Finland are just Saunas!
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Season opener |
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Green shirt guy stood and clapped
for 15 minutes in the opening. |
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I've seen this before. |
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No skates!!! Dangerous. |
Finnish Pro Hockey League - Tani was able to get us tickets just before the game which started at 5pm!
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Great seats and only 25 euros! |
Good guys winning!
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Good sportsmanship |
Beauty of a 5pm hockey game, we were putting the motos away by 8pm then hitting the town!
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The menu at a massage parlor. |
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Yep they exist in Finland |
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Must be good... Club Kaiku |
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Finnish rappers
Aivovuoto |
Finnish Rap!
Ride around Helsinki
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Helsinki Waterfront |
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Lots of sail boats |
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Cobble riding |
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Look at this custom bike |
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View from the new waterfront sauna |
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Some sauna users going for a dip |
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Padel a tennis like game |
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Cobble and Tracks |
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Give this Italian thing a spin |
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Nepal food |
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Seafood pizza, yum! |
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One day at the classic sauna |
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A little home cooking |
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Finnish Jenga |
A good afternoon at Sompa Sauna. This is a free sauna on the waterfront cared for by the sauna goers themselves. You build your own fire (unless the guys before you have left a fire behind) wait 30 minutes or so and enjoy the view. Sadly this sauna will come to an end when urban development takes over this area. Enjoy it while it lasts!
Sauna plan
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Getter done |
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The Italian bikes hanging out |
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Dodgy steps for the dipping area |
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Luckily someone had just left |
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Hot stuff! |
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Cool off |
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Sompa Sauna |
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Another way to Cool off |
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After work people coming in droves |
Sauna action
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Check that out |
Other Stuff
Sheet folder. WTF?
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5 minutes I would never do |
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clever, this is common in europe and makes sense to me |
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No one likes putting dishes away |
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the turbo button to unlock more
water power! |
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Weirdest bathroom doors I have ever seen
Check out the gun door handle |