Workers of the World Unite - It's May Day

 Dear fellow travelers,

Today is May Day and a public holiday in Helsinki where the celebrations of the previous evening continue, although I believe there was a break during the night. Below is the action from last night - don't watch all 25 or so minutes, my technical advisor is cat and house sitting and I can't edit it without their assistance.


Tram service was operating a Sunday timetable with further disruptions due to a march by the Universities between 4pm and 6pm. Getting my hopes up, that yes fellow travelers would be visible. However only two were spotted furling their socialist flags as they entered the most capitalist place - Robert Coffee. I suppose latte socialist are only a variation on chardonnay socialists. 

Anyway back to capitalism, as we left the apartment through the rear entrance and meandered through a park into a street which turns out had numerous second hand clothing shops closed today - but watch out tomorrow.

Following the crowds as who knows we might stumble across something interesting.










Finns enjoying May Day 

More Finns enjoying May Day

BOC - this is why Helium is in short supply

Other Finns

My Finnish holiday home

Some dude at the port


Next was lunch and we were keen to try the Salmon soup in the Old Market Hall, which was very enjoyable. The only challenge is that it pays to have practiced squats as this are needed to use the public loos as there isn't a lot of space in the cubicles.

Salmon Soup

Robert Coffee - My kind of place


As we were filling in time before our trip on the Baltic we meandered around the Market/port area. And yes I did spot someone who had had a dip as their bright pink skin stood out against their blue bikini.


Getting the message across



Russian Orthodox Church

There always has to be a church



Market Day



Royal Palace

Student Overalls

The opposition viewed from the Russian Orthodox Church



Next we headed out onto the Baltic, initially on the top deck of the boat until commonsense prevailed and we moved into the cabin where  NZ's Jeremy Clarkson had a coffee and I had a glass of wine. 
So fun fact time.
  • Sweden has had a far longer influence over Finland than Russia
    • Swedish is an official language and is taught in schools
    • Russia's dominance lasted from around 1809 to 1917 - a little over a hundred years
    • 6 islands formed the Naval fortification that was important to both the Swedes and Russia
  • Helsinki is a relatively new city built in the1700s and currently has a population of 600k
  • 60% of the worlds icebreakers are built in Helsinki 
Dinner was a fish meal in one of the orange tents in the market square. apologies Seoul, Helsinki bet you to it,
NZ Jeremy Clarkson

Glamour Shot






More Finns having fin


Brave person a top that crane


Three not so little maids all in a row

Little Maid - 1

Little Maid - 2

The third little maid


Tomorrow is our last day in Helsinki so time to check out the shops!


 

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