Helsinki, Finland May 29, 2012

We are now in Helsinki, Finland and heading to /Rock Church. These were typical apartment buildings with enclosed balconies due to harsh winters. Everything was landscaped and very clean. 

This is Temppeliaukio Rock Church. Large rock that was blasted and built into a church.

Three guesses what this box is for. If you said offering you're are right.

Beautiful color in the rocks.

This path actually had a pattern. Nice!

Top of the church next to the roof.

Still taking pictures on the bus and getting a little better now that we are almost at the end of our bus rides. We are heading to the Ice Bar and Hotel. 

It was really bright out so I couldn't really see Kathie! I think she was talking to me. ha! Can see the white hat from Monaco! Senate Square and Lutheran Cathedral.

Cool! The bus pulled into a parking lot with a large warehouse type building. We went in and got boots, gloves and snow suits on and entered the ice land.  

The first thing we see are the dog runners. They are much smaller than one would expect. 

 The Ice Bar with vodka served to us in ice shot glasses. It was lime flavored vodka. I learned that I really don't like vodka alone. The rest of the gang liked it.

I was starting to sweat in all the clothes not due to the vodka. :)

Still too cold for me to consider sleeping here! I'm sure it really isn't for sleeping. Just poses.

Not quite like Stone Mountain picnic area but this was pretty fun.

 

Tandem skiing does not seem to be a good idea but the guys are always game for trying new things. 

Everyone was laughing except poor Terry. He hurt his ankle/foot the way he fell. It took a while to get the skis off!

If anything looked silly it was sledding down a slope on very small pieces of plastic. We were yelling like a bunch of teenagers. :)

Jeff kept going sideways.

"Where's the wall?"

OK, the reason I took a picture of this building is because it was a landmark for where Kathie and I needed to catch a bus back to the ship. Terry and Jeff went back on their own and Kathie and I went shopping. I wanted something from Finland for our new house. Kathie was a great sport going with me. Of course, we are very much alike and didn't want to miss anything, including the department stores.

We saw a lot of these on the ladies in the Baltic area. Maybe when I was younger I could have pulled these off with a short skirt.

I'm happy now! I bought towels from Stockman's. Couldn't find lace valances or curtains.

Our time is up and we headed out of Helsinki, Finland. There are thousands of islands and most appeared to be rock with trees. Very pretty!

I would have loved to camp somewhere like this place!

Would have loved to visit this little place.   A bit exposed and isolated but way cool. For now I'll have to settle for the views on our way to Nynashamm, Sweden to visit the Vasa Museum.