i had forgotten how much fun it is to travel with someone.  the majority of trips i take are solo, so it was pretty nice wandering through the streets of Helsinki and having someone to talk to along the way.

we started off the day by walking through the Botanical Garden on our way down to the waterfront area.  a big cruise ship had come in during the night so the weekend market was in full swing.  homemade trinkets, artwork, flowers, fruit, vegetables, and souvenirs were a plenty.

we stopped off and took a look at the Helsinki Cathedral and then hopped a ferry to see the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.  not only is this a historic sight, but it’s also a weekend picnic and relaxation destination for the locals.  the grassy knolls, small beaches and giant rocks were starting to fill up as we left in the early afternoon.

we then walked through downtown and had lunch at a funny little chain restaurant called Wrong Asian Kitchen.  not bad for a quick meal.

after noodles we slowly made our way back to the hotel to take a break in the day.  the hotel has a nice patio, so we took advantage of the good weather and hung out there until someone (me), had to take a nap before venturing back out into the city for another wander and dinner.

over pizza and beer at Vespa we made a plan for sightseeing tomorrow.  until then………..