Helsinki

Prologue: Since one is able to edit a blog at any time, I have decided to insert new subtopics that come to mind. I realize that most of the time when I write these blogs, it is late at night. I am tired and a few days later I think "I should have written about that other think that happened." Also I am alone now. Last night while out at a restaurant I wrote four pages in my journal about an event that took place within an hour. One other thing- I have been able to download some of my pictures, so I will be able to post more pictures. I will add those photos to previous blogs where relivent. So go back and check if you like.

After a wonderful last few hours with my wife at Covent Gardens, then a stroll along the Themes, we parted for our respective destinations. Donna was taking the train to Heathrow to go back to California. I was to take a flight to Helsinki by way of Gatwick Airport. We both had to spend the night in the airport. I was lucky. There were slightly cushioned seats in the waiting area and I joined about 30 other sleepers, each taking a bank of seats as a bed. For the time that I slept, I slept well, but every 15 minutes a proper English voice came on the loudspeakers- and these were LOUD SPEAKERS. "This is a very important message. Please check your luggage for liquids and creams..." You get the idea. I got up at 4 AM and occupied myself in a variety of pleasurable airport activities- walking from one end of the waiting area to the other, reading, browsing the shops, people watching and finally a little breakfast.

Downtown Helsinki is dead. I mean empty of people, except tourists. It is a shock after the massive crowds in London and Paris. It is empty because of a holiday the Finns call Midsummer. I am not sure how long that the holiday lasts but just about every person goes to the country for a holiday. As I understand it, Friday night was Midsummer Eve and there was a gigantic bonfire on a quaint and historical island Suomenlinna.

There are a few places open- a coffee shop here and there and a restaurant or two. I ate at a traditional Finnish restaurant- Zeton's last night. It was decorated in period chicken decor- farm implements, chicken wire, country signs and of course stuffed chickens. I like to try different things and the roast reindeer looked great but since it was €28, I decided to opt for the reindeer casarole.(Spell check is not helping me here.) Braised reindeer and gravey over mashed potatoes and (I assume) red gooseberries with two warm pickles. It was quite delicous. Today I take a bus tour of Helsinki. I will let you know how it goes.