Hola from Helsinki

Hi all and yes I know Hola is not the appropriate language but the finnish word for hello is probably something like häöäölalalalalahehehehö and that would have taken too long to type... er... yeah

OK so very quick update from Helsinki before we head to russia and I go quiet on you. Since I last wrote we have done a canal cruise in Stockholm (the venice of the north apparently... actually a very dirty city with a lot of odd people but yes there are canals...) and then our group went to the Ice Bar to drink some of Sweden's best exports Absolut vodka. You are only allowed to stay inside for 45 minutes but it was excellent and I have many a picture of me looking stunning in my fur-lined poncho... pity you can't see it!

yesterday morning we went to the Vasa museum which is basically a big ship from the 1600s that sunk and has now been pulled up and restored... more interesting than it sounds I promise. Then, after continuing the "where are all the public toilets" search of Scandinavia we headed to our ferry to Helsinki. This ship is called the Love Boat (the theme music was played on the bus til we all got thoroughly sick of it) by contiki folks due to the all you can eat and drink buffet that is held on board which apparently can lead to some love for some people. I did partake in the all you can drink and eat bit but no love for me apart from an invitation to dance from a 50 year old swede with a mullet which I regretfully turned down. the ship was absolutely fantastic - like being on a big cruise ship and a really excellent experience.

Since we got into Helsinki this morning we have visited Senate Square, the Sibelius monument and a church built into a rock cliff thing... all very interesting but apparently that has about cleared us out of tourist options here. not much longer before we head to hostel and then tomorrow we do our border crossing into Russia (and I am VERY excited!).

Gotta fly but I hope you are all great! Talk soon I hope!!!
Clare

Hi from Sverige

Hi all! I can't believe my big long post has gone awol and now am seriously running out of time so here is quick summary for ya!

Copenhagen - I met up with my tour group since I last wrote, out at our hostel in the middle of nowhere in a converted military barracks. We have a good bunch with lots of aussies, few kiwis, canadians and americans. There are only 30 of us so far but other 20 are joining us in Helsinki tomorrow before Russia. My roomies are Jess (sydney), Halfway Sarah (Port Mcquarie) and Dark Horse Catherine (Adelaide). really nice group and enjoying hanging out with them.

I have been to visit the very little Little Mermaid and climbed a big church tower. Brave Clare got pulled out again for that little mission and only one minor panic attack occurred but nothing on the scale of the Larnach Castle incident of 1997... 'nuff said... we also visited the Carlsberg brewery, which for Jess and I ended up being a bit of a race through to get to the free drinks at the end. That all set us up very nicely for a punch party at the hostel that night to get to know the gang. Everyone felt very rough yesterday but despite their best attempts at blaming the weird Danish soft drink I think it is fair to say that the vodka and bacardi had more to do with it... hmmm...

Yesterday was a big bus day after a very short ferry ride over to Sweden. we had a bit of a look around last night and then today visited the Town Hall where the Nobel Prize banquet is held every year (very impressive building - one room decorated entirely in gold leaf!), and Gamla Stan (the old town). This afternoon we are doing a canal cruise through Stockholm - this place is known as the Venice of the North... I did not know that and have not been to Venice but can report that there sure is a lot of water about!

Later today we are visting the Ice Bar and having a group dinner and then tomorrow we go on board a cruise boat ferry thing to go to Helsinki... there is an all you can eat and drink buffet on board which is a bit of a worry with this group!!! I will be sure to take some pictures for you all. Now on that note - sorry about the lack of pics... most internet places won't let me plug the camera in so will keep trying but no joy so far. In other bad news for you, dear reader, is that we are about to enter the twilight zone and I may not be in touch for a week or two. Apparently from here until Germany communication can be a bit dodgy so I will, of course, be trying my VERY best but don't worry if you don't hear from me for a bit.

Miss you all - having a great time but still thinking about ya and wondering how everyone is doing so keep those comments and emails coming!

C

Technical Difficulties

Hi all! Hope you are great and missing me as much as I am missing you. I just did a massive big post for you updating you on all my news from the last couple of days but it doesn't seem to have worked so trying this as a bit of a test before I do it all again! Wish me luck...