So the hotel we had in Helsinki had these weird bathroom walls that were just glass with a bit of paint on them which plenty of see through spaces to see in from the outside. Managed to convince the thermostat to go down to about 19C (not sure that it actually did) so slept relatively well. In fact we had an early night (21:30) and slept through til 6:30!
Breakfast didn't start til 7am though, and they wanted to leave at 8am, so it was a very rushed breakfast for us (the room was pretty chaotic too, but we went to a second room which was a lot quieter).
Then it was driving driving driving north out of Helsinki.
Flock of (presumably) migratory birds flying overhead
We had a morning pitstop. I got frustrated with the people sitting in front of us (and will be for the entire trip) who just fuss around when the coach stops and block everyone else getting off the coach. Even the dude's wife was like "stand aside to let people out" but he didn't care :( I hate people.
Our Insight Vacations tour coach at the morning pitstop outside of Lahti
More driving. Finland is like 74% forest so that's pretty much all we saw all day. Mostly young growth by the look of it as timber is Finland's primary industry.
Crossing Vihantasalmi bridge. Finland is either forest or lake
Crossing the Kilpolanskoski River near Kilpola
After the first pitstop they put on some Sibelius. The first track being Finlandia. Except our tour guide will. not. shut. up. He talked for about 80 of the 90 minutes of the first leg this morning and as soon as Finlandia came on after the pitstop he talked just about all the way through it. Sad times.
Lunch was at a similar roadside combo of supermarket and cafeteria.
Finnish rural countryside near Hatsola
No Parking pigs outside the supermarket at the rest stop near Juva
Armoured soldier sculpture outside the ABC Sale rest stop near Juva
When we got to Kuopio in the afternoon we went up the tower overlooking the lakes and the town. I couldn't be stuffed waiting in the huge queue for the lifts, so walked up the steps! All 380 or so of them (Mum counted)!
Ikea Kuopio
Mum and me up Puijo Tower
Puijo Ski Jumping Hills from the tower
Lake Kallavesi west of Kuopio
Kuopio from Puijo Tower
Kuopio from Puijo Tower
Kuopio from Puijo Tower
Kuopio from Puijo Tower
The restaurant in the tower looks very nice
Puijo Tower
Photo by Mum
Puijo Tower
Puijo Tower
Drove into town and to the hotel. We actually got a room with a view of the town square which is pretty cool! And our room is 451.. how cool is that?! ;)
Dumped our stuff, accosted the bellboy and took our own bags up to our rooms, then went for a wander around the town. Lovely weather and we walked all the way down to the lake and back.
Kauppa Halli (Kuopio Market Hall)
Kauppa Halli (Kuopio Market Hall)
Kuopion tuomiokirkko (Kuopio Cathedral)
Kuopion tuomiokirkko (Kuopio Cathedral)
Kanttila (Minna Canth House)
Snellman Park from the cathedral
Museum of Kuopio
Kuopio Cathedral and Snellman Park
Me at the Kuopio old harbour lakefront
Photo by Mum
Wanha Satama restaurant at the old harbour
Ticket office for lake cruises
Me on the compass rose at the old harbour
Photo by Mum
Kuopio lakefront
Anchors in the passenger harbour playground
Jackdaw looking for food scraps at a restaurant in central Kuopio
Kuopio City Hall
Me with a sculpture in central Kuopio
Photo by Mum
Nalliainen (The Fool) sculpture by Pekka Kauhanen
Me and Oksapoika (Branch Boy) sculpture by Pekka Kauhanen
Photo by Mum
Tried to get onto the internet but my laptop refuses to connect to the wifi. The phones connect just fine though. Go figure. Also, turns out this hotel (and apparently the next one) has a free guest laundry. Maybe that's a thing in Finland. Good to know.
Since we couldn't listen to Finlandia on the coach, I found a beautiful video on YouTube (on my phone since the laptop won't connect - sad times) with Finnish landscapes and animals - just lovely.
Dinner was in the steakhouse downstairs in the hotel. Entrée was a delicious vegetable soup (mostly tomato). Mains was "crispy beef brisket" which was just amazing. So tender and tasty. Dessert was a nice enough panna cotta.
I've had something under my left upper eyelid since this afternoon .. super frustrating :(:(:( edit: managed to get rid of it before bed.
Comments