Finland- Helsinki

We have spent the last week in Helsinki in what nic has now proclaimed as her favourite city we have visited

we got a quick 2 hour bus from Tampere and arrived to a very sunny Helsinki. It was actually pretty good weather all week, we only had one day of light rain and we decided to use this day as a rest day anyway.

We rented an apartment in the suburb of Toolo in Helsinki center through Airbnb and after the first two whole apartments we rented have definitely decided that this is the way to go. We are really enjoying the flexibility to come and go without disturbing anyone (like in the other airbnb places we have stayed where the hosts live there also) its also nice to spread out and have our own space and be able to make our own meals. not to mention, the three whole apartments we have rented have been about the same or only slightly more than staying with other people, and all have been cheaper than any hotel or even hostel we have found... crazy but true. 

anyway.. thats enough of that... onto Helsinki...

bec looks like a giant in this tiny tiny kitchen

our first stop of touristy touring was the rock church where they built it inside a giant rock rather than building it somewhere else.

next was a walk down to the square to visit the food market to eat some local pasteries before we headed up to the next church. I should also mention that Helsinki is home to so many churches. 

Some views of the city from the church 

TRAM!! 

another church

Suommelinna fortress on an island. islands about 15 minute boat ride from the center of Helsinki- great day out of the city

Drinking some local brews while at the islands brewery

Nic on a beautiful island, at a brewery with her (beautiful ;) ) girlfriend and shes playing a game.. ...naturally...

another church. this one was white inside and out not the most exciting church we have ever been too 

inside the fortress wall

The islands beach

yay she made it to the top!

Finnish hobbit holes lol

lots of cannons

Nuuksio National Park

This park is about an hour out of Helsinki by bus. its a beautiful park which has a great many walking trails to walk and lakes to look at. Also some deer but we didn't see any :( 

This is the day of the longest lava game was played. it lasted 3km's and was the best game ever

Bec is so excited to be here at the park

bec loves moss

bec also loves trees

'I love nature' 

Im not sure what happened here... 

And so begins the the lava game

People come to the park also to pick berries and mushrooms to eat. 

the only animal we saw that day. A frog 

Back in Helsinki...

Sibelus monument ( he was a composer in the early 1900's)

A trip to the local cemetery filled with many trees, lanterns, creepy angels and squirrels 

the squirrls are so cute

creepy angel coming out of the ground

80% of the headstones had lanterns in front of them

another squirrel 

and a cute bird came to say hi coz it thought i was giving the squirrel food

so pretty and green

Finland is Nic's favourite place so far and it has so much lactose free stuff, easiest shopping trips ever...

After helsinki we headed of for a 5 day trip to Saint Peterburg Russia! we spend three fun filled days there and then caught a ferry back to Helsinki where we spent our last 2 hours on Finnish soil before catching yet another ferry to Tallinn Estonia, where we are now... 

after all of the action packed adventure and travelling we are taking tomorrow (Sunday) off so shall load photos and things for Russia then :) 

Stay Tuned...