Ahhh, arrived in Helsinki at 8:40am Sunday morning to be greeted by a very drunk but loopy happy friend I'd met in Granada, Spain. It was fantastic knowing someone there. I went straight out of hostels and cheap food and into a quiet apartment with home cooked meals and free laundry (which was desperately needed). And Timo made my stay one of the best in Europe. I didn't want to leave!
I have to admit, I didn't do many touristy things. Although Timo did take me for a few walks, they always had a purpose. The first was to find the Russian Embassy and discover how long it would take to get a Visa there on the spot. 4 days if I rushed it, which would have cost a lot, and since I waited 3 days to get into the Embassy - which is open 9-12 only - I decided I didn't have time. St. Petersburg drifted back to it's mysterious, fanciful image beyond the horizon. So I learned where to buy ferry tickets to Estonia instead. I also saw both major areas for outdoor markets and Timo took me to an island a short ferry ride from Helsinki harbor where old Swedish/Russian/Finnish fortress walls still exist. He knew lots about the history and we wandered some pitch black tunnels and stared at the ocean and the old cannons and guns for a few hours.
Other than that I wound up meeting most of his family and friends and simply drinking, hanging out, and having lots and lots of fun. It felt good being around local people and just relaxing instead of rushing from monument to museum to tour. I did still get a feel of Helsinki rising out of communism, what with its statues and dark red russian cathedral facing a bright white lutheran one, though is had nothing on the next cities I visited. The strangest part of the city? It's Black Death Park. It's a small green with tombstones from that era marking graves of dead inflicted with the disease. Creepy. The best part? The great memories Timo gave me, and the fact the Finn way of cheering is easy to remember in english: Get Pissed! Er... Kippis! (or however it's really spelled!).