Fwd: Helsinki

We took the Art and Architecture tour which we thoroughly enjoyed.  We had a terrific guide and left the gloomy skies of St. Petersburg for the bright sunshine of Helsinki.  I should mention that our guide told us that this was their coldest summer in 50 years.  She thinks this is the dawning of a second Ice Age.  

We journeyed  into the countryside which reminded us of the Canadian Shield.  The air was unpolluted and fresh.  The Finns do not have to treat their water as it is so pure.  We visited the Forest Castle, home of three internationally famous architects located on the side of a beautiful lake, and another artist's home on the outskirts of the city.  We stopped at Senate Square and climbed up many steps to view the church and drove past the Market Square on our way to the embassy district which faced the Gulf of Finland.  The apartments in this area cost upwards of $10,000  a square metre.  We passed a monument that depicted four men glowering at the world.  Our guide told us that we just had a view of a Finnish man smiling.  She could attest to this as she was married to one.  We spent some time looking at souvenirs before walking to the ship.  What a difference here - we just walked off and on the ship - no customs, no passport control.
We arrived back to an invitation to sit at the Captain's Table the next night.  We quickly changed our reservation at the specialty restaurant so we could go.  Enjoyed another delicious meal, headed to the classical piano bar for an after-dinner drink and then to bed.