We were obviously more relaxed about the train trip last night because we both slept most of the night (I may have had a sleeping pill! :) ) The train arrived in Helsinki at 9.15am and we took a cab to the West Terminal which was only about 10 minutes away. Using the transport system here is sooo easy. If they say you will arrive at 9.15am - that's when you arrive. Easy to get cabs. We had the ferry booked for 1.30pm but as there was a ferry leaving at 10.30am I managed to get our booking changed. The ferry is amazing - a $220 million build it takes 2000 passengers, cars, huge transport vehicles ... it's sensational. As we board the ferry there are people everywhere ... and I mean everywhere! I have booked a Business Class trip so just as well I asked as we were directed into the Business area which is just lovely and includes fabulous food and drinks. It's a two hour journey and we have at least three different groups of people come to talk to us when they hear we are from Australia. A seamless journey, when we disembark it's easy to grab a cab and within a few minutes we are at the Hotel Telegraaf built in 1878. Built to represent the wealth and status of the bank it closed it's doors with the outbreak of WW1. It became the telegraph exchange and there are the original telephones all through the hotel and in the rooms, all in working order.
The hotel has a spa and pool so I spend the afternoon relaxing in the spa, a quick dip in the pool - it's cold! and then a fabulous facial ... just what the doctor ordered!
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| Helsinki Terminal |
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| The ferry |
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| In the business lounge |
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| Food and grog supplied |
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| Pool and spa |
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| The spa looks out to a beautiful courtyard |
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| Hotel Telegraaf |
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