Here in London Town: One picture says more than 1000 words

 

The pictures speak for themselves, because I don't really have much to add. The days in the office were busy, got one run in in the morning, dinner after work. A little walking around town too.

Here in London Town: Beat that, Usain Bolt!

 

We got home by 6pm last night and by 10pm I had unpacked my things, washed and dried my laundry and packed again. To fly to London this morning.

In the morning I went to take a covid test because you can only enter UK with a vaccine passport and a negative test before and after the flight. And with a passenger declaration. Considering that I had been to six different countries during the last 10  days, it took me more than 45 minutes to fill the declaration and a lot of swearing. At 2pm I was at the airport and instead of the scheduled 2:45pm the plane departed at 3:05pm. Add the bus gate in Helsinki and my 40-minute transfer time turned into 8 minutes. I bolted to the passport control wearing the mask and my backpack and then from there to the gate. All sweaty, gasping for that little air through the mask, and boarding as last one the plane. And… the first thing I did in London was to take the test again…

At the hotel I got an upgrade to a room with a view on the eighth floor, and quite surprisingly for London, firstly the room was extremely large, secondly very funky and thirdly with just one tap in the bathroom! For the first time ever in London, I could wash my hands with warm water, not left with hot and right with cold!

Powered by Nature: The next Capital

 

The morning started with an absolutely incredible sunrise. I noticed the first teaser from the bed, pulled on my jacket and ran to the upper deck.

Once I got back to the cabin, it was 6am and high time to go down to eatery to have breakfast before arrival at 7:15am. After we got back to the cabin, it turned out that the cleaning team had already been there, moved our belongings, stripped the bed and taken used towels from the shower. When we asked about it at the information desk, we were told that cleaning of the cabins would actually start before arrival. I was just glad we didn't leave our underwear on the bed before leaving for breakfast.

The road from Turku to Helsinki took about an hour and a half, we parked in the port again and walked from there to the city centre. I had everything important planned - we will have lunch in Tamarin. I had checked their website - the restaurant is open as usual. It became apparent that everything else was closed until noon on Sunday, and since we were relatively tired, we had little interest in walking around the city.

In any case, it was 12 noon finally, which means that Tamarin had to open. We walked to the entrance, and clearly the place that hadn't been open in a while was Tamarin. There was hardly anything open at all and we finally found ourselves at Taco Bell. I took  Taco Supreme with chicken breast. And was served taco with ground meat. At least they replaced it fairly quickly.

We had had enough of walking and decided to take Uber to the port. On Sunday in central Helsinki, the nearest Uber was 15 minutes away. But well, we were tired. I started to confirm the order. The app informed me that a mask is required and told me to prove that I'm wearing the mask by taking a picture of myself wearing the mask and uploading it. So we walked to the harbour. Scott slept all the way to Tallinn. Except for those five minutes when I ran down in the car to get him a blanket and he had to reject a damsel who wanted to take my place.

Powered by Nature: In the Capital

 

For the breakfast, the guests were divided into three groups, and we ended up in the one that was supposed to eat in the conference hall. We had a lot of pancakes, croissants, eggs and bacon. After the breakfast we packed our stuff and started the drive to Stockholm.

Just an hour and a half later, we parked in the Viking Line harbour and walked into downtown. We walked around in the old town, watched the non-existent change of guard and then started moving towards the ABBA museum. A quick lunch in the Italian restaurant on the way, where we were served a very good lettuce salad with grilled chicken for Caesars salad.

At the ABBA Museum, we spent at least two hours listening to their music, learning about history, and taking pictures.

On the way back to the port we had a quick coffee and cake stop and visited a souvenir shop.

Sailing in and out of Stockholm is always extremely picturesque with breathtaking city views and hundreds of skerries. This time we managed to pull the anchor just at sunset and we were able to enjoy some exceptionally great views. Once we started looking where to have dinner on the boat, it turned out that although the buffet was not the cheapest, in every other canteen only main course and drink would have cost the same amount. And when Scott saw all the seafood and an endless amount of beef tenderloin, there was no way we would have moved anywhere from there. We also got a table directly in the front of the ship with views of the skerries.

Powered by Nature: Elite Grand

Since we were staying in a small B&B this time, the breakfast was not a regular loaded counter, but each table got a small plate with a selection of cheese, meat and vegetables, and there were also hot breads, eggs, coffee and yogurt on the common table.

We walked around in Ystad for a while and then made our way to Mörrum to see relatives again after more than 20 years. An hour and a half went by quickly and we headed for Stockholm with the plan to drive as far as Scott is able to drive and then choose a place to stay. It turned out that Norrköping was in a completely suitable location and I booked us the Elite Grand Hotel there. Since the whole big hotel - 7 floors, each ca 30+ rooms had only one very slow elevator, after the first acquaintance with the elevator we kept walking to the sixth floor using the stairs only.

While looking for a place to have dinner, we discovered that Norrköping has an unexpectedly nice city center. We walked around and finally found a suitable restaurant - we ate a whole full table of tapas again and then some more. And we were already pros using the menu on the phone.

Powered by Nature: Fairy Tale Land

 

The first thing the breakfast room offered was hand disinfectant and disposable plastic gloves. We rejected both because our hands were clean. I took some pancakes, a boiled egg and a croissant from the very unsatisfying choice of food. When I started peeling the boiled egg, it occurred that the egg was shown hot water only from afar, and before I could react, half of the contents had already poured out. I ate my pancakes.

We walked down to the river to spend some time until it was 10am - Lakrids & Bülow, our favourite liquorice brand is from Denmark and our expectations were high for a wide selection. It was 10am. We were in the shop. They had about five different types on the shelf. There are at least 10 in their shop in Kristiine Center...

We then walked to Bronuts instead to get a couple of donuts. We left the store with a box full of them.

About an hour from Odense, right next to Copenhagen, is Dagor, a town that has made it to the list of the 10 most beautiful small towns in Denmark. We first drove to the seaside to have a small picnic, and after that we walked around the yellow houses and on the flowery streets.

Later in the evening, at 4:45pm, we arrived at our accommodation in Ystad, Sweden. The time of arrival had to be very precise, because only a two-hour window from 5pm to 7pm was given for check-in.

One of us napped, one of us went for a run, and 7:45pm we went to Pinchos to eat some tapas. It was a new concept for us, where the only activity on their part was showing us to our table. To order food, we had to download the app, order from there and pick up our own meals - drinks were handed out at the bar, meals were picked up from the kitchen. We took about a dozen different tapas and during all that time only once they took the dirty dishes away. Once we started to pay the bill, the app immediately offered the possibility to add a tip as well. Since we didn't see an option to add a name (our own, because no one else was running around on our behalf that night, not even half as much as we did ourselves), we skipped that opportunity.

Powered by Nature: How we went shopping in Germany

 

Hotel Amerika was the only accommodation on the whole trip where we didn't have breakfast included. However, it was possible to get it at a price of 19 euros per person. We walked down to the cafe in the morning to see what caviar was offered for that money. About 3-4 varieties of meat and the same amount of cheese were displayed. Eggs and cake were available on request. And coffee. We decided that for 38 euros we could buy the same stuff from Aldi and at least a week full of breakfasts would be taken care of. We got on the road and stopped at the first roadside bar and started the day with hot dogs and French fries.

Since Germany was so close, we decided to make a quick shopping trip there - to stock up on cosmetics and groceries. At about two o'clock it was all done and we drove to Odense in Denmark, known as the birthplace and hometown of Hans Christian Andersen.

We took our things to the room and went out to explore the city. We walked around downtown and the old town. The latter was practically empty of people and we enjoyed these beautiful little houses and flower-filled streets.

Finally we also found a restaurant to eat. Cafe Vivaldi looked aristocratic with its high ceilings and white tablecloths. The girl walked us to the table and handed us two menus in Danish language. She also announced that we from there we are on our own - orders must be placed at the counter. We went to ask for an English menu and it turned out they didn't have one. However, since there was a short menu outside next to the entrance to dupe tourists, Scott took a picture of it and we used it as a menu. Trying to place the order, he stumbled upon the next hurdle - the girl behind the counter could not understand any of the English foods and asked Scott to use the Danish menu to place the order instead. Food was ok. And almost what we ordered.

Powered by Nature: Early Bird

 

 

Early morning we packed and started our way to Kristiansand to take the ferry to Denmark. The journey was picturesque but eventless. We made some stops and enjoyed the views.

We arrived in Kristiansand with an hour to spear and made good use of the time in the fishing village next to the harbor - we enjoyed fish and chips and I cleaned pigeon shit from my sweatshirt.

As the departure was delayed by 10 minutes, the captain announced that he apologizes, but we will arrive with 30 minutes delay. Apparently mathematics was not his strongest side in school.

Once on board I walked out to the deck to see what Kristiansand looks like from the sea. The deck and railing both were full of people. When a couple close to me left the railing, the chubby lady behind them took their place, and my mathematics and counting skills told me that the slot that fit two people a minute ago, can fit two now as well, and I went to stand next to the lady. Second later she took back her earlier place a meter away from the railing and mumbled something something about keeping the distance. I’ll remind you: both the deck and railing were packed.

After three hours on windy sea we reached Hirtshals and the first cars were able to get off the ferry when the brakes were pulled and the ramps were up again. It turned out that there was something wrong with the ramps, but they are working on it to get us all to the grounds of Denmark quickly and safely. It only took them half an hour and we were already heading to Hotel America.

We had dinner in our room, had a long walk along the fjord and went to sleep.

Powered by Nature: Stavanger Underground

 

As expected, the morning started with pancakes, bacon, maple syrup, eggs and watermelon.

After breakfast we walked down to the reception again and mentioned that we still have only 19 degrees in the room. The third girl in a row promised to fix things.

Yesterday we looked from our boat up to the Preachers Point, today’s plan included hiking there. Described as a simple hike, my expectations were high on a peaceful walk and enjoying nature and breathtaking views. Furthermore, the second half of August had arrived and the weather had cooled down a bit, so it was reasonable to assume that there are not many other tourists there.

We added the destination into Google Maps and found out that 2/3 of the road runs underground in tunnels :) First one, a 9km tunnel started right after we got out of the city limits and then immediately the second one, a 15km tunnel. Life’s like in a metropol’s subway.

We reached the starting point of the hike, and the first 300 meters of the four kilometers were exactly as I imagined - a comfortable walk. Paths full of blueberries and lingonberries. Only the promised views were not yet visible. After 300 lovely meters the trail turned into the forest and the next 200 meters were still completely enjoyable and I agreed that it was a relatively easy hike. Then we reached the rocks. To keep moving higher, we had to climb the wet mainly vertical rocks. When I secretly started to hope that after suffering for an hour we would slowly getting closer to the top, it turned out that wohooo, the first kilometer and a half had passed. And all of that 1.5 kilometers we kept moving in an endless row of tourists. My imagination didn’t reach to what this trail would look like during the peak season. You probably don't see the trail at all.

The trail was not physically hard, but extremely uncomfortable for walking. It was more like walking between Lego blocks in a dark room at night and every now and then climbing over furniture. The last 500 meters also were too close to the edge for my taste.

And there it was - view of the remaining 468 tourists. And of the Lysefjord. We stood in line to take cliff edge photos, enjoyed some more views, and started moving back down. Anyone who claims that getting down goes faster has probably never hiked 4km down on large and slippery rocks.

We went through the underground road again and returned to the hotel to get changed. When we opened the room, we were struck by a decent Sahara - in the meantime, someone had brought a radiator into our room and turned it on at the maximum temperature. Apparently they did not manage to get their central temperature control to work.

Recently, a long list of the best burger places in Europe was published, and this list also exceeded the news threshold in Estonia, as the fourth place was held by VNLD burger. But there was also a burger joint in Stavanger on the list, which was very conveniently located just a few minutes from our hotel. Scott ordered a classic burger and me one with organic salmon. They were super delicious.

Later in the evening we drove to the local beach to watch the sunset.

Powered by Nature: Alaska

 

 

By the time I was back from my run in the morning and we were getting down to breakfast, it was already way past 8:15am that they offered us yesterday. Considering yesterday's disappointing dinner, our expectations were not remarkably high, but the counters were loaded - four types of eggs, pancakes, maple syrup, bacon, various fresh fruits, watery oatmeal without milk and salt, crispy croissants, hams and cheeses, and the list goes on. We just wished that they would offer the same choice in the evenings.

 
Scott had booked us a Lysefjord cruise and by 10am  we were already on the boat. We sailed between the little islands around Stavanger and finally reached the fjord, which is one of the most beautiful in the world. It really was - we saw Preachers Point, where we also have a trip planned tomorrow, lots of waterfalls, three goats, a vagabond cave and a lot of mountains.

 
At half past two, we returned to the hotel and then headed out again around the corner to have a light lunch at the taco bar. We entered an empty bar, where only one table was occupied by one man. We asked the young man behind the counter whether the order should be placed at the counter or at the table, and he confirmed us that both options are perfectly suitable. We took the menu and chose the table. We also chose some tacos, hoping that the beef taco is still beef, not vegan like the menu claimed it to be. And then we waited. And waited. And waited. Until I finally marched to the counter and placed our order. And then back to the table, because it turned out that you have to pay right away... The tacos were very good.

 
But in order not to lose out on any calories, we moved on from the tacobar to look for the Donought Worry donut bar. As any decent donut bar should, they had two types of donuts on the counter for testing, and after trying both of them, Scott thought that it was enough. Well, his wife didn’t agree, so we took one apple fritter and one raspberry sprinkles donut.

 
The hotel’s evening gourmet featured a pepper beef and three tasteless salads. Regardless, the beef that made it to my plate came from the leftovers of the chicken wings yesterday, and the fried rice had probably lived its first life as porridge. Fortunately, we weren’t hungry either: D