The sun rises on another birthday for Anne, blue sky and sunshine as ordered. As often happens, we are on the road again which precludes me from buying and bringing presents. No room in the motorcycle saddle bags, oh I forgot we have suitcases. Well there is always next year. This will be a first for Anne as her birthday will be spent in two countries, Estonia first, then Finland.  Does that count as a present?Anne wanted to see the oldest Pharmacy in Tallinn in Town Hall Square, so a short tram ride to town sees us at the doors at opening time.  First recorded mention is in 1422 making it the oldest in Europe, operating continuously at the same location for over 600 years!  The pharmacy is now both a working pharmacy and museum although I suspect most customers are here for the history. The Burchart family ran the business at one time for 10 generations. Very impressive and the reason the owners’ children never attend a career day at school.

Another smooth ride across the Baltic Sea and we are back in Helsinki and off to the Hilton Helsinki Kalastajaatorppa hotel for something little different, called the IGLUX Experience.  In addition to the normal hotel room, we get a waterfront igloo.  Well, not quite made of blocks of ice,  our igloo shaped room with glass ceiling is made of something a little stronger, and hopefully warmer.

Entering the IGLUX reminds me of the Apollo space capsules, the door is at an angle and opens more like a hatch. Note to Elon Musk as he prepares the next Starship launch that the 2slowspeeds are still up for a little off world travel when we can no longer ride. Please keep us in mind Elon.  We settle into our own little igloo world looking out over a bay off the Baltic Sea.

Our evening is spent drinking champagne to celebrate Anne’s birthday and watch the slowly setting sun through the roof of the igloo. All nice and cosy as the temperature drops outside.  I think we are the only occupants in the six igloos so we have the place to ourselves. Birds come and go, oblivious to our presence thanks to the one way glass.  One way as long as you leave the lights off! 

Our last day in Helsinki sees the morning taken up with an oceanside walk around Laajalahti bay, a stop for coffee and cake in an old house, then we get the latest hotel checkout ever: 8pm. Perfect timing for the departure of our flight to Singapore and then home. A chance to visit the centre of Helsinki and visit the impressive Central Station which is a convenient tram ride from our hotel at the end of the 4 tram line at Saunalahdentie.

Helsinki Central Station building was inaugurated in 1919 but its tracks date back to the 1860s when emperor Alexander II of Russia proposed an improvement program for Finland, connecting the inland country with the marine harbours.  Part of the cavernous entrance has been converted into restaurant and we take an early dinner

A pleasant tram ride back to the hotel, relax until our 8pm checkout and while still light, make our way to the Airport.  There are only a couple of international departures around midnight and pretty much everything is closed.  With the quiet, we fortuitously walk through a 77 metre long multimedia installation showing the best of Finnish scenery which we might have missed if the place had been busy.  A haven of peace in what is normally a hectic space. 

After an emotional couple of weeks in Europe, we have enjoyed the relaxation for a few days here in Helsinki and Tallinn. Both are worth a visit and only a couple of hours apart by high quality ferries. Now let’s get Anne back to work in Cairns.

– Anthony