Helsinki Love

As we cross the city limits, Ole lets me know that I should keep an eye out for a gas station because we are 20 km away from the campground and still have enough fuel for 26 km. 6 km buffer is more than enough, he says. I HATE this kind of situation. Really, really hate it.

Ole didn't want to stop so Henry wouldn't wake up. I understand that. But I still hate the situation that has arisen.

Anyway. We safely reached the gas station and campground. But we won't do it again.

The next morning Helsinki really comes to life. Avocado toast, granola bowl, poached egg with croutons, free refill coffee, juice, and white wine. I think I've already fallen in love with Helsinki here in the sun in the garden of the charming Café Siili.

What a likeable and relaxed city. On the way from the café to Temppeliaukio Church, we see many parks, playgrounds, nice shops, and beautiful houses.

The church is an impressive building. Whether you like the band or not, if someone carves such a thing out of the rock and then puts a huge copper roof on it, they have created an impressive building that you can look at with awe.

That's what I think. Ole and Henry don't think so. Although they come inside, when Henry passes the big "Silence" sign, he becomes overjoyed and yells and squeals as if there's no tomorrow. Papa is gleefully enjoying it, and Mother is stressed. Just get out of here.

And because we stay true to our love for ugly magnets, we immediately head into the next souvenir shop. Friends of bad taste, we have already found three really nice specimens. See for yourself:

After the exhausting selection of this collector's item, our stomachs growl, of course. So we stroll through the city towards the market halls. I really wanted to try some Finnish specialties. But the old market hall was closed and the new market hall was packed. And then it became burdensome. Everybody is hangry. After a brief hiccup, we end up in a solid snack bar. We find out that Henry really likes corn soup and can crash his car onto the floor many times in a row. Nice.

They say shopping is best done on a full stomach, so we head straight to the nearby second-hand shop. I'll only reveal this much: my wardrobe is now a piece of leopard print richer.

Henry is completely exhausted by now and accordingly hyperactive. That's enough for today, let's go home.

We take it easy the next day and set off towards Suomenlinna around noon in the best weather.

This is the fortress island of Helsinki. After a 15-minute ferry ride, we reach it and immediately turn into a nice restaurant. I want to continue my new day drinking project, so we order white wine, rosé, weird quinoa beetroot tofu stuff, and a really delicious appetizer platter with Finnish specialties - bear salami, smoked reindeer calf, goose pâté, smoked salmon, strange fish paste with roe, and hearty cheese. Yummy!

Afterwards, we stroll through the sun with full bellies, Henry falls asleep, and since we have to take advantage of that, we find a quiet bench and enjoy 30 minutes of peace.

When Henry wakes up, Ole hands out snacks and we walk back towards the center of the island. Ole is attacked by a seagull for the second time on this vacation, which really wants his cookie. Henry starts crying bitterly with fright. Ole swings his sweater around and scares away the truly aggressive pests.

After that, we first go to the playground and on the way there, we realize that Henry can't walk straight for 2 meters. He ALWAYS sees something somewhere and turns. If you have time: super funny. If you have to cover some distance: super exhausting. But luckily, we don't have to.

On the way back towards the city, our child loudly reminds us that 30 minutes of sleep are not enough for a little child. And with every loud cry, the idea of going to Juuri Finnish tapas, also called Sappas, shrinks. We'll save that. Because we will definitely come back. But tomorrow morning our ferry to Tallinn leaves.

Annika