Good morning!!
It's 3:52... I've just got in from a fantastic night out in Helsinki! It was a really good night and I really can't be bothered to write about it now so I'll say good night and then do it sometime tomorrow :) Night! X

Hello!
I am just sat waiting to board the ferry across to Estonia. I have just had a catch up on FaceTime with Zoe and I'm feeling good after a brilliant night out :)

Yesterday we arrived in Helsinki at around 1pm and started a driving tour on our way in. We called at the Helsinki Olympic Stadium from the 1952 games and went up a tower there to see a panoramic view of the capital. After this we went to the Sibelius Monument, a huge sculpture to celebrate the work of the musician Sibelius who was Finnish. We then went on to a church that had been built in a rock. In the church I sat quiet listening to a pianist play some lovely pieces and sent a few architectural pictures to Craig.

We got to our hostel at around 2pm and immediately we all went out to explore the city. We were out all afternoon and went to visit 2 cathedrals, markets and went on a ferry ride to the fort just off the coast. This played a huge role in the war and Finland's fights against Russia for independence. The view from the island was amazing over the ocean and with clear blue skies, hot weather and sun it couldn't have been any better.

Update - I'm now on the ferry, Jack Daniels and Coke in hand on the top sun deck :)

After the fort we headed back to the mainland to get some food. We had a good feed in a small brewery but had to pay €8,50 for a beer!! It's was good though and I had a 'Midnight Sun' pale ale :)

Our night in Helsinki was our first big city since Oslo and with our city centre hostel everyone was ready to party. I had a nap in the hostel before having a shower and putting my glad rags on, I even ironed my shirt! We then started on the pre drinks before leaving for the bars. The first bar we went to was called Shot Bar where you could buy pretty much any shot you wanted. I had a beer, how very sensible of me :) Next we went to a very cool open air bar what was full of locals. Me being me I immediately left the group and spoke to a group of local girls. They seem to adore English guys here so I had no problems :)

After socialising with a few different groups I found the tour group again and we headed to The Vatican club. After the initial shock if paying €10 to get in I had a great night. The lads decided to have a dance off on the pole and I did England proud again, apart from getting cramp in my thigh which was extremely painful!!

After busting my moves to a few songs I bumped into a girl I had been talking to at the previous bar, Tiia. We had s good dance etc :) After a few more hours I walked her to the train station to get her train home and to my surprise a lad called Todd from the tour was with her friends. We said our goodbyes and Todd and I walked back to the hostel.

This morning I was up nice and early and enjoyed a nice cooked breakfast in the hostel. I then went to have a walk around the local market and bought I fridge magnet before heading to pack up my bags. My wallet hadn't arrived at the hostel when we left so now I'm without it. Im going to arrange for it to be couriered home when it arrives in Helsinki.

We're off to Tallinn, Estonia today which will take my tally of countries visited in the world to 28, 11% of the world. I'm already planning my next trip and think a visit to Eastern Europe or China and a few more countries over there might be the next destination!

Goodbye for now :) xx