When we pulled into Helsinki station the weather was much milder (-1) and we got quite warm on the 30 minute walk to our hotel. The Raddison Blu near the ferry terminal in the one part of central Helsinki we hadn’t yet been was really comfortable. It was one of those places that is kept up to date but also has cards all over the room for the billion different extra services offered. We of course used none of them.

After a futile walk all the way across town to our previous hotel to try and get my European adapter back, we found a little restaurant on the corner offering a selection of Finnish foods and other stuff. It turned out to be the restaurant in one of the Sokos hotels .We decided that was an appropriate dinner destination and I enjoyed a fabulous salmon steak stuffed with shrimp, sitting on roast potatoes and artichokes with a magnificent sauce. Dan had a burger which he described as possibly the best he had ever tasted. After dinner, we went back to the hotel  and tried to kip.

We both woke early (again) and went to breakfast about 8. The hotel breakfast buffet (included with our room cost) was impressive – English and Scandi options and an incredibly impressive range of breads. We loaded up and then set out for the walk back to town and the bus to Helsinki airport. The checkin was painless and we were actually able to check in at a kiosk by scanning our passports. We took advantage of the free wi-fi while we waited for our flight for the quick (CBR-SYD length) hop to Stockholm.

Christmas themed activities – 3  War museums and model shops – 0