Well Finland seemed a bit of a culture shock after the last few weeks. from small narrow old towns to a modern city set out in wide blocks. Helsinki is a great city with a real scandanavian feel. it is also the smallest city to ever hold the summer winter olympics. i visited the olympic statium (my third of the trip) went uip its panorama tower. also visited its excellant sports museum. while still had enough time to wonder around the streets helsinki really is a city dominated by the sea. it has many islands and is a great place just to walk. it felt nicer than oslo i was really disappinted when it came to leave but i guess that has been the theme of this trip so far.

This really realls like the end of the first leg of my tour around Europe later today i am getting the overnight BUs into Russia to St Petersburg and that start of a new adventure. i never really thought too much about this part of the trip it was just the starting point throought main land Europe but it really has uncovered some gems and i can only hope the rest of the trip is as ebjoyable at this one has been (and hopefully a bit cheaper as well)