Cold Day in Turku

Awoke this morning with a sore throat - sure sign that I am coming down with a head cold. I guess it is not surprising considering the hotel room is like a sauna (heat wise), the shops and restaurants/cafés are all heated and it is freezing cold when you venture outside. The temperature at noon was only 6 degrees C after falling to zero overnight. Tomorrow is forecast to be a high of only 8 after falling to -2 overnight. I feel like an Eskimo walking around outside with layers of clothes and a beanie and to think the first 3 weeks of the holiday I lived in shorts and t-shirts in Estonia. Yesterday afternoon after checking into our internet-based hotel with a little trouble (all bookings are done via the internet, there is no reception and guests are sent a PIN by SMS to enable access to the hotel and room) we had our first walk around the town and although I visited here over 30 years ago I didn't recognise anything apart from the large boats on the River Aura that flows through the town.

Boats on the River Aura that have been converted into bars and restaurants. We turned a corner on our walk and discovered a brewery, Panimoravintola Koulu, set in former school. This brewery pub only serves it's own brews, around five lager-style beers that change with the seasons. Maree and I went back there today for lunch and I am working my way through the beers!!

Panimoravintola Koulu Brewery. Earlier this morning we visited Turku Cathedral, the 'mother church' of Finland's Lutheran faith. Consecrated in 1300, the brick Gothic building was rebuilt many times over the centuries after damaging fires.

Turku Cathedral

Arrived in Turku

Arrived in Turku at 2.00pm today after quick 2 hour train journey - the train departed exactly on time which for someone with detailed history of travelling with Metro trains in Melbourne came as a surprise !!!

Our train and Helsinki railway station Yesterday afternoon in Helsinki we decided to go to a restaurant we noticed before we went to Munich which offered an all-you-can-eat reindeer buffet - we walked in circles for over 90 minutes before we stumbled on it only to discover it was closed for the day because of some catering duties. Not very impressed we continued on to a little Italian - styled cafe we had visited before only to discover it was closed for a private party - by this stage I had worked up a thirst and with Maree complaining of sore feet we retreated to a local suburban bar we discovered with Robert prior to Munich. The bar was a welcome chance to rest our weary feet and have a couple of Koff beers. No-one in the bar spoke English (including the female bartender) so we had some fun ordering our drinks and provided some bemusement for the locals.

Suburban local bar in Helsinki

Maree outside the Italian-style cafe which was closed for private party We then went on to the Teerenpeli Bar near the Kamppi Shopping Centre for my last taste of their craft brewed Coffee Stout on draft - very tasty.

Teerenpeli Bar

Aussie Bar near Kamppi Shopping Centre where we watched the Hawthorn vs Geelong AFL preliminary final We decided to return to our hotel, Hotel Arthur, for what may be our last reindeer meal and it was cooked to perfection - medium rare.

Inside the local suburban bar where only Finnish was understood

Hotel Arthur, Helsinki

Resting in Helsinki after Munich

Arrived back in Helsinki yesterday afternoon after an early morning departure from our hotel in Munich. Good to slow down a little but had forgotten how expensive Finland is. I had a large stein of beer here last night which cost the equivalent of $A 23.00 for the one litre stein; in Germany the equivalent cost was $A15.00. Ventured to our favourite restaurant last night, Zetor, for another fill of reindeer sirloin - tender as usual and cooked perfectly. Went to a local market after breakfast and then booked our train trip for tomorrow to Turku, Finland's oldest town, for a 5 night stay. Turku is approx 150 kms west of Helsinki on the coast, a 2 hour train trip. We then ventured to a market at the port for some typical Finnish fare - I had the salmon paella and Maree had the salmon soup.

Last beer in Munich

First beer on return to Helsinki at the great Oluthuone Kaisla near our hotel

Local market near our hotel

Dinner last night at Zetor Restaurant, Helsinki

Lunch today at market at the port

Last day in Munich

Last day in Munich started with breakfast of white sausages with mustard and pretzel and beer (of course) at the Spaten tent at the Oktoberfest site and during the day the heavens opened and we finished up drenched. The advice provided by Britta Blessmann (a former Munich resident) that the only way to eat the white sausages was without the skin was invaluable as although dressed as tourists we fitted in with the locals.

Breakfast on a wet Munich morning We leave tomorrow for Finland (again) and will probably head to Turku after 2 nights in Helsinki; Robert will continue with his European odyssey to Budapest via many cities finishing up in Amsterdam.

Munich is a beautiful town

Up early this morning to have a traditional Bavarian breakfast of white sausages, pretzels and beer. Went to the Hofbrahaus (only visited by tourists) followed by lunch of local cheeses, bread and beer at a market garden. Will probably head off the Oktoberfest again later this afternoon.

Breakfast at the Hofbrahaus restaurant

Lunch of local cheeses at a busy market