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Cultural grind

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008

All I can recall of Tuesday through to mid afternoon is lying of my top bunk wishing the world would stop trying to force its way into my head in quite so insistent a manner.  With a pressing list of cultural sights to be seen in a city that was already making a very strong case to be included in a favourites list this was no occasion to sit at home and feel sorry for myself.  So when Rdoc and Arny had returned from lunch we ventured out into the, hopefully unseasonably, cold. [read on]

Come have a sow-na

Sunday, September 14th, 2008

This is a lesson in how to forget a city.  With Russia dominating the planning and preparation, the regionalism of the Baltic being the first stop, the only thought that had gone into Helsinki was that there is a ferry there from Tallinn and a train out to St Petersburg.  So ignorant was I that it was a surprise to find that Finland uses the Euro.

The RoRo ferry over was pretty rough and not that fun, just like the Interislander a route which this boat will probably be used for in the near future, apart from the last bit as you come into the harbour and pass these cool little islands with cute wee houses on them.

Hermit house

One of these islands is apparently a big tourist destination but it is called Suomenlinna which sounds a lot like semolina which is a dessert I detested as a kid and we knew nothing about it so chances of a visit were not good.  We were about the only ones not walking off with the maximum allowance of duty free, apparently people make this trip return just to buy booze as even with the price of the ferry it’s still cheaper than the local bottlie.  No need for us though as the bounty of Russia was on the horizon. [read on]

Consistency explained.

Tuesday, September 9th, 2008
Riga.  (For the help of German customs officers it is the capital city of a country you have invaded more times than a Bush has landed troops in the Middle East.) There are moments when the daunting prospect of Russia looms ... [Continue reading this entry]