31 August

After an interesting night (with three others in the cabin and them coming in at different time3), I got up at about 0630, had a shower (at least it was bigger than in a train), dressed and was down for breakfast just after 0700. Slight problem – breakfast was not on until 0730. However, the early crew whiled the time away and we were in as soon as it opened.
The selection was up to the standard of all the others, but naturally they have to carry the food, so some was prepared earlier or carried frozen, so there were differences. As I didn’t have access to my suitcase, no VEGEMITE on toast for me! I had to make do with bacon and scrambled eggs, cereal and bread with ham and cheese.
After, I was able to take photos as we entered Helsinki. I had someone point out the fort and the path we took to the terminal. I also met some of the volunteer firemen from last night – a few sore heads!
We were all down at the Information Desk at the appointed time and slowly trooped off and very soon we were on the bus but now with a local Helsinki guide. She took us (on the bus) to different places, including the city streets and shops, our hotel, the beach (small, but sufficient), a monument to Sibelius, the Rock Church and many other sights including markets, squares and parks. After what seemed like a few minutes but was really nearly three hours we stopped at the Senate Square and most of us went for a walking exploration of whatever interested us within the city area. A few went straight back to the hotel with the luggage.
It was amazing running into various ones of the forty of us (well, thirty-nine others) at different spots around the town. What made sightseeing in some spots so hard was the number of cruise ships in town (apparently this is the last day of the season) and so tourist buses were everywhere. I had a look down the main shopping street, around the corner (a few names and places tickled my fancy, as I thought they were out of place) and along to the market place near the quay. Here I saw an interesting interchange where a customer was trying to taste berries, the man didn’t mind but the woman on the stall came along saying, “No, no!” and waving her finger. I also saw a “statue” and gave him some Swedish coins (as did another from the tour) and he bowed, I took a photo and he was so gracious I gave him a koala pin. Then I got engaged in conversation with a Finnish lady with an English accent, but she had lived in England for a few years.
I walked back to the Senate Square, and had a look in the cathedral there, then we all caught the bus back to the hotel. Here we got our keys (and I got my Internet card) and went up to rooms, so I checked my mail (a little), posted a blog (okay), processed my photos from yesterday (okay) and tried to upload them to Flickr. Alas, it kept stalling on the first one. Time after time I tried, but no luck. Eventually I gave up and had a shower and changed, and went down for our final meeting at 1830. Here we got arrangements for tomorrow (for me easy, I stay another night) and then said farewell to all others on the trip as some are leaving early, some are leaving at different times and some of us will be departing at odd times to different places.
I went back up, wrote this up (even though I’m probably going out for a little after) and posted it. I will keep trying with the photos!