Helsinki was considered the city where "East meets west" than across the water in Tallinn, 'West meets east". This city is beautiful, but even the brief look we had strolling around this afternoon was a picture of communist recovery. A mass of contradictions even beyond the structural obviousness of the modern sky scraper next to the medieval fortress walls. We arrived from Helsinki after lunch on the M/S Viking XPRS. Getting on was like a New Years sales rush...

And in related news, Darryl has left the building. Chris and I woke to the joyful messages from Darryl at the Rydges Hotel, Sydney Airport. He has a huge smile and a room up grade. Well that will do it. Darryl is sitting in the bar with his 2 free drinks and discount dinner overlooking the runway choosing his preferred plane to Singapore tomorrow morning. Then a big chill in Changi Airport and flight to Zurich, Switzerland for a quick change to Stockholm. I a...

I love Finland. The country works. It is friendly and efficient, the trains and buses run on time yet there is a friendly easy going nature in the place. People seem to want to be helpful. Today we went into town as we had read that the Roveniami Tourist Centre had free public computers I could plug my camera into. How exciting being able to up date the blog with about 200 more photos. Look at any album after Oslo, there will be new pics. What we also found...

Well this was amazing on our way to Santa village in the Arctic Circle. I told Rod from the beginning of the trip that we are getting a photo of Santa hehe! Well the trip there was great when we arrived there wasn't a lot of snow but, hey! It's almost as far north of the world you could be, well as far as I've been. Day one we explored the Santa village and met Santa. The village has plenty of souvenir shops. How many souvenirs can you have? When we got a photo w...

Ho ho ho!!! We met Santa in his home. Well that is the biggest reason to travel this far north to Roveniami, Lapland. Actually, it has turned out to be the only reason. In both a good and bad way. May is the quietest month here and it is almost like being in a deserted ghost town. The village is empty. It does mean no queuing, but it also means several of the main attractions are closed. I knew this was a tourist attraction, but it feels like we have booked...