Weekend away in Helsinki with Amie (Day 2)

We started today off a little slower than I think was in the plan... We were both tired from the long journey yesterday and wanted a little lay-in, I allowed it until about 9, making Amie some toast and tea before we got dressed and started our day.

We walked out of the apartment and headed towards the city center, it was only a 10 minute walk, but it was horrible drizzle, the stuff that soaks you through, so we walked quickly. We looked around the center and I pointed out the shops and the parts of the city I knew about. We made our way to Senate Square where we got a load of nice photos and then walked back to the park area where we got on an Audio Bus Tour.

On the tour, we went around the new and old parts of the city on the bus, with earphones on. The commentary was in English so we could hear what everything was. It was really well timed, and gave enough information about the history and also what happens today.

We drove past the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Museums, Old Market Square, the Cathedral, Parliament of Finland, Temppeliaukio Church and the Helsinki Stadium. We managed to get get about 100 photos (93 actually) some of which are ok, and some are a bit blury :-)

The tour was about 1 hour 30 minutes and dropped us off at the harbour.

We walked back through the shops and ended up having lunch at McDonalds because everywhere else looked really busy. We went through the shopping centers, where Amie randomly got nose bleed... We managed to get to a little stall where they gave us a full kitchen roll and  got Amie to sit down and allow it to stop. After all of that, we continued on through the shopping centers and then through the little shops on the street which were very exciting. We went into the all year round Christmas Shop and Amie was in her element... Looking around all the decs, gettings very Christmasy.

We called it a day at about 5pm and made our way back to the apartment... We watched a bit of tele and I was on sleepless patrol, making sure Amie didn't drift off, otherwise there was noooo way that we would go out for an evening meal. We had resevations for Colorado which is a resturant underneath the hotel I usually stay in when I'm coming to Head Office. The food was lovely and very filling - an American which I know is not very Finnish, but we really struggled to get reservations for anything!

Back in the apartment now - 10pm... Ready for bed, then realised it was only 8pm in the UK :-( I don't want to break my body again so I think I'll be staying up a little later!