Trip to Helsinki - Blog 6

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER
0900 hrs – Got up and had toast and ham then some Syltsprits Hillosilmä for breakfast

1030 hrs – Left luggage at the apartment and headed down to Market Square

1100 hrs – Arrived at Market Square and had a look around

1215 hrs – Stopped at one of the market stalls and had sausages and potatoes

1230 hrs – Left Market Square and headed back to the apartment to pick up the luggage. Dad went and got luggage while mum and I had a look in a jewellers across the road from the apartment. We then headed to the taxi rank just round the corner and got a taxi to the airport.

1440 hrs – Arrived at Helsinki Vantaa Airport, had a drink and a muffin at Coffee Spoon, got checked in, went to the loo then went through security and headed to the gate

1735 hrs – Boarded the 1755 hrs flight to Heathrow

1915 hrs – Took off from Helsinki after a delay due to a leak in the right engine

(Times are now GMT)
2030 hrs – Arrived at Heathrow Terminal 3. Rushed to Terminal 5 to catch the 2100 hrs flight to Edinburgh. We would have missed it and had to spend a night in London had it not been delayed as well. It was delayed technical problems, they replaced that plane only to find the replacement had a contaminated water supply so had to find another replacement. It was delayed by 40 minutes

2140 hrs – Took off from Heathrow bound for Edinburgh

2320 hrs – Arrived at Edinburgh, got our bags and my wheelchair from baggage reclaim then got the bus to the long stay car park

2340 hrs – Left Edinburgh Airport

0040 hrs – Arrived back in my hometown of Galashiels and got the essentials unpacked

0140 hrs – Got ready for and into bed

Trip to Helsinki - Blog 5

MONDAY 21 SEPTEMBER
0845 hrs - Got up and had toast and peppered ham for breakfast

0930 hrs – Got ready to go to Market Square

0950 hrs – Left to go to Market Square

1020 hrs – Arrived at Market Square and bought tickets for Sunlines “Beautiful Canal Route” 1 and a half hour cruise which takes you round some of Helsinki’s islands

1100 hrs – Left on cruise

1230 hrs – Got back to Market Square and went round the market and then went to Uspenski Cathedral. I couldn’t get in with my wheelchair so mum and I sat outside while dad went in and took photos

1620 hrs – Stopped at Chico’s in The Forum for something to eat. I had breaded cheese fingers then a brownie. Dad had a barbeque cheeseburger and mum had grilled chicken fillet, blue cheese, pepper sauce, vegetables and potato wedges (Bonnie & Clyde)

1750 hrs – Got back to the apartment

2030 hrs – Dad made meatballs and mash for tea

2230 hrs – Went to bed

Trip to Helsinki - Blog 4

SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER
0830 hrs – Got up and had toast and peppered ham for breakfast

0930 hrs – Got taxi to Market Square

1000 hrs – Got ferry out to Suomenlinna

1015 hrs – Arrived at Suomenlinna. Went around the island. Stopped for something to eat at Panimo. Mum had herring, dad had sautéed reindeer and I had lasagne with carrot and ginger sauce. We all had a try of each others

1500 hrs – Got the ferry back to Market Square

1515 hrs – Arrived back at Market Square

1620 hrs – Went to the supermarket at the bus station

1730 hrs – Got back to the apartment and had shower

2200 hrs – Went to bed

0400 hrs – Woke up and couldn’t get back to sleep