Helsinki/Finland

3.8.2024 Helsinki

I had also booked a tour with Cecilia for today. We gathered and disembarked around 9:00 AM.

A tour guide awaited us, who had grown up in Brazil, lived in Latvia for several years, and spoke very good English.

Our first destination was the Jean Sibelius Monument. Afterwards, we visited the impressive and uniquely styled 'Rock Church'.

We then continued our journey towards the Reindeer Park. We made a brief stop at a nature center, after which we reached our destination.

First, we were greeted by two reindeer, one of which was snow-white. The operator of the Reindeer Park explained to us that all the reindeer had been rescued: orphaned or from illegal captivity, they had found a good home here. Two buckets full of lichen were prepared for us to feed the reindeer. This way, we also got to know the remaining four of the six reindeer living there.

Afterwards, we were served coffee and delicious pastries in a yurt-like tent. Finally, we drove back to Helsinki. There, we took a city tour and saw impressive historical and modern buildings. At the train station, a crane was at work, the function of which I recognized immediately: 'Dinner in the Sky', a meal at great heights like the one I had experienced in Stuttgart.

We got off at Parliament Square and walked to Market Square. There, I bought a box of 'Cloudberries', which look like yellow raspberries but taste more sour. The bus was waiting for us at the Ferris wheel and took us back to the ship.

However, I didn't board yet, as I still had an appointment. I knew Kathrin from Bad Cannstatt. Although politically she belonged to the opposition as a Green, I had always gotten along well with her and her husband personally. She had left the Greens and emigrated to Helsinki. When she learned that I would be coming to Helsinki, she suggested that we meet for coffee, which I gladly accepted.

So I went to the agreed meeting point 'Löyly Restaurant & Sauna'. Just before that, I met Kathrin and her friend. We ordered at the counter and sat on the terrace. Since I hadn't had a proper lunch yet, I ordered what Kathrin claimed to be 'the best salmon soup in all of Helsinki' for the exorbitant price of €24.00. It came with three slices of rye bread and plenty of butter and was indeed excellent.

Shortly after I finished eating, a rain shower drove us inside the restaurant. We had a wonderful conversation until it was time for me to return to my ship. The two ladies accompanied me to the security gate of the harbor.

While the ship was departing, I got a Chai Latte at the coffee bar. There I fortuitously ran into Joan, who raved about our trip from the previous day. We chatted until it was time for dinner.

Afterwards, 'Duo Lyodji', an acrobat couple who fascinated with their strength acts, performed in the theater.