Is Helsinki sinking?

Of course we all are. I listened to something about Ulaanbaatar which is apparently the coldest capital city in the world. Last winter it was the coldest ever, and led to 1/6 of the animals upon which the human animals depend died of starvation last winter. The snow/ice was so deep the animals couldn't bury thier noses deep enough to get whatever is left underneath. Climate change just gets more scary. Except in Texas, obviously because it is due to wokeishness and Biden.

Well Helsinki has a lot of water, thankfully currently below the level of the land. Being up here so far North is a bit disorientating because whilst there was no midnight sun (it would have been midnight rain anyway) it doesn't exactly go dark either. I dropped off in my cabin and was a bit alarmed when an hour or two later we seemed to have arrived. We had not. I was vaguely aware of the existence of the Aland islands but I didn't know I was paying a state visit there. I was in bed anyway and hadn't brought my ceremonial sabre with me so I turned over and went back to sleep. Seems 'my' ferry is the Aland's main way to escape or return. Aland has been bashed up by Russians and Swedes over the centuries. These days it is technically part of Finland but speaks Swedish. It is also in the EU, but not in the VAT area which explains why the ferry has an enormous shop and sold me a bottle of Scotch for only aout twice what it would be in Morrisons. Cunning these Alanders - makes the ferry stop there so it is outside the EU for an hour.

Geography lesson is over. approaching Finland in the early dawn is breathtaking

Eventually found where on the boat I was booked for breakfast and I must say it was an excellent meal. Escaped at some length in my car and had to use the morning for looking around because my hotel wouldn't be ready before 2. A fair amount of moseying about the areas near the ferry port, and a trip (well really two episodes) on the hop on hop off open top bus. Couldn't understand why I couldn't follow the map, but the driver alerted me when I got off for a break I was using the map from the rival company. The 2 buses are very easy to confuse. One is called the Red Bus. The other one has red buses. I am not much of a tourist but a nice way of getting a sense of the place, and it was a good sunbathe today when it was very sunny and 29 degrees I saw somewhere. The guide said the whole bay freezes over in winter and makes a monster ice rink.

Today it had melted, and there was a heat haze. Lovely

There are alot of birds in Helsinki, including many I a do not see elsewhere.

Not all that more to report. There is an old market hall on the waterfront - reminiscent of Birkenhead in my yoof.

Local snacks were on offer.

Eating bears gives me indigestion.

More Helsinki tomorrow then another ferry to Tallinn (in Estonia). 2 new countries (for me) ticked off, 4 to come.