June 8, 2016: The Brit’s are so very proper — even in drinking. Note the Harrogate Pub menu here that not only offers and describes a variety of “house” gins but also includes a “rather proper” section of tonics to accompany one’s gin of choice. The TC’s now experienced recommendation: British Bulldog Gin with a dash (of course) of Fever Tree Tonic. Seems the British prefer not to ruin their “taste” with overly sugared mixes, and remain al naturale. So very British you know!
June 6, 2016: No doubt about it — Finland is the sauna capitol of the world — mostly indoors (the TC, through some clever maneuvering, was able to enjoy a full sauna in his Radisson Blu hotel room), with some outdoor sauna’s as part of wilderness lodges. Now, something sauna new in Helsinki — the country’s first public outdoor sauna — in a marina with stairs into the nearby ocean to cool off. Avid sauna users in Finland believe the sauna “is an essential place for cleansing and purifying minds and bodies.” And to help with the “cleansing process,” no cell phones allowed. Now that’s pure happiness!
June 5, 2016: Exposed large brick-like cobblestone rock makes up most streets and walkways around the older city parts of Helsinki. After about 20 minutes of walking, your toes, feet, legs, calves and thigh’s feel it — and after a full day of visiting sights and shops you’ve accomplished the ultimate in painful deep massage. The Finns seem used to it — not sure how the women in those spiked heel laced shoes feel about it?
June 4, 2016: From Helsinki’s central square government buildings to the ultra-cool Museum of Modern Design, the city captures both history and design. Everything seems to work together — inside and outside the box (or garden as the colorful tree shows).
June 3, 2016: Notice the paved lane far left — reserved for bicycle traffic only — the TC found that out the hard way! Helsinki shares building style with old Russia, a mix of Scandinavian countries and a growing ultra modern high tech clean and steel look. Many streets though still look the same way they did over 100 years ago.
June 2, 2016: It doesn’t take much sun to move the Finns outside even in cool weather — most outdoor cafés and wine bars serve blankets to wrap in when sitting outdoors. Pictured here is what the TC would consider the Finnish “Rodeo Drive” — lots of high end designer and world class brand shops, cafés, hotels, and people watching — all in a tree and park-like setting. Food and service is outstanding — the service industry is considered a career in Finland as well as Estonia. The Finns don’t smile much — well I guess you wouldn’t either if you only had 4 hours or so of darkness in the spring — less in the summer — and winter, just the opposite.
June 1, 2016: Ferry transit terminals —Tallinn and Helsinki — are quick and efficient transit points for foot passengers and vehicle/truck traffic. Electronic check-in makes it all work quickly — you are issued a small electronic enabled ID card that opens the turnstile for entry and security checks if you’re stopped. Plenty of visible security — with spot checks along the way for shady looking travelers. No TSA style bag search, disrobing, and dumping of liquids. Some pushy travelers have to be the first on and the first off, and watch you’re step if you’re following behind a pet with a careless owner. The only TC “you could do better suggestions” — a way to check your baggage and then pick up at the destination! Malta Ferry folks have figured that out and makes getting on and off the ferry less hazardous to being injured in a rolling bag collision. It really is the “only way to sail!”
May 31, 2016: The Star, my Tallinn Ferry from Tallinn to Helsinki, is spacious, clean, efficient with friendly crew, quick electronic check in, comfortable room for lots of people, cars, buses and trucks, options for dining, drinking and duty free shopping (a real revenue resource especially with deals for booze and beer), features trip cabins if you want to relax, really good and fast internet, the world’s biggest floating Burger King, and both a business class and “comfort” lounge. The business class lounge is for those frequent travelers who want a quite place to work while the comfort lounge, a private hideaway on the front upper deck, a spacious comfortable lounge style area to relax away from the “common folk”! Both lounges feature complimentary snacks and beverages — with a near by bar for something stronger — and service staff to do the heavy food and beverage lifting. About USD$25 to upgrade to one of the lounges — one way passenger walk on and off fares around USD$50 for the two hour voyage. The folks here and the rest of Europe have figured out how to make public transit services (ferry, train, bus) work and work well. We could take a lesson!
May 30, 2016: It takes around 2 hours to travel by Tallinn Ferry from Tallinn, Estonia to Helsinki, Finland — one country to another; back home in 2 hours I can travel from my home in California’s Sonoma wine country to a Burger King in Weed, California (same state, same country, granted a somewhat different world). Geez — transportation so much more efficient in other parts of our world! By the way, for Burger King fans, they have one onboard the Ferry — largest most efficient I’ve ever seen. For those that remember, “Where’s the meat?” At Burger King — on the high seas!
