Helsinki

The Sibelius monument

Helsinki is a great city - full of beautiful old neighborhoods and upscale shopping. The city fought hard during several wars to gain and keep their independence and they still have a very hard-working, strong people. We took a coach tour this morning all around the water, the Parliament (there's a female President!), several churches and the marketplace. The country is fond of their saunas, every house has one and there are many little sauna houses on the water. There are holes in the bottom so you can jump into the sea following your sauna, even in the winter somebody cracks the ice and goes in. They say it keeps you very healthy.

Downtown square

We strolled down a wide, tree-lined street with a large path of grass in the middle where people were picnicking and shopped. We had an amazing lunch in a ritzy neighborhood. The weather was perfect again - cool, crisp, sunny, breezy.

Shana and Shawn - two peas in a pod

Tomorrow we arrive in St. Petersburg for two days. We may not have internet service while we are there, so I'll write again when we do.