Leib & Helsinki

Got lazy yesterday. So no post. The only two highlights were going to the doll museum with Georgia and dinner at most sought for Leib restaurant. Dolls museum was very nice but definitely catered for Estonian kids - there were probably dolls from their favorite shows so they could relate to something every step of the way. Exhibits are really interesting, lots of interactive ones. Georgia enjoyed it.

Leib was good and solid but not OMG. All the food is really fresh. Prices are reasonable. Staff is nice and courterous and a bit on the clumsy side. We must have gone on a preggo night. We've seen 4 of them which is kind of funny for such a small place..

Oh, and there is military music festival going on. So there are marching bands and performing bands in all sorts of uniforms. Isabella likes that.

At night we went to the port to figure out where the fast line to Helsinki (Lindaline) leaves from. It took a little figuring out because there are no signs. It is actually on the left side of the ugly Soviet era monstrosity.

So today, Dan, Georgia and I went to Helsinki. We were so sorry to leave Isabella -  she is always in such good mood in the morning and greets every new person that wakes up with laughs. And we all just left!

The ride there was pretty smooth. I was worried that Georgia would get sick but she was OK. Enjoyed her cartoons and games, had breakfast on the ship, spent some time outside.

In our typical fashion we did not have any plan for Helsinki. But it was pretty easy to orient. First, we went through the covered market on the pier - one of the highlights - it is a wooden building with tiny coffee shops, and stalls selling the most enticing baked goods and fish.

Next, we went to the tent market a bit further. One of the vendors was offerring fried sprats to try and we tried. And stayed back to have breakfast #2 - fried sprats with calamari. Next we walked around for a bit. It is a large city with long city blocks. It has a pretty building every not and then but overall it is not very pretty. It does not have the small old town character that we so much like in Tallinn and Vilnius. Just a regular modern city. With the overload of shops. Some locals look like they take advantage at least of the food ones in a big way.

Dan tried to get a roll of Euro coins at the bank. Apparently you cannot just give them banknotes and expect a roll of equivalent currency back. You have to have a bank account. First time. The one and only coin store that we found (they do a great job putting a flyer with their address in the banks) sells that stuff at such premium that it can explain in part the relationship between a dollar and euro.

After that we went to the information desk of the Main Train Station and asked the indifferent Russian lady there what you can do with a kid there. She directed us to amusement park and Oceanarium. At her recommendation we took the tram 3B to get there. The crowded ride took us over 40 minutes and in the end we got off rather than to contigue following the zigzag pattern. The line was inhuman for the amuzement park - and anyway it was better for older kids so we just went to see the fishes. Pretty decent collection though not spectacular. The one in Baltimore is waaaay better. They do a good job with the interesting kid exhibits and stations - like what the brand new shell of of a crab feels like and petting of a sea urchin. We walked back through the park. This way was only 20 minutes, and so much more pleasant. Feels a bit like a Central Park.

Some promos were going on on the streets and we got several bottles Monster & some candies. Georgia was very impressed. The day continued to proceed well for her - she got a pony ride at the promenade on the main street. Finally, we had some more food at the outside market, and some pastries at the covered market to close the day.

The ride back was so so. Starting with waiting in the line (or rather in a disorganized crowd of young and committed beer drinkers) for 45 minutes to get on the boat, followed by a bumpy ride on the boat and Georgia throwing up. She felt much better afterwards though. Despite some ups and downs it was a very good day overall. It was good to go back to Helsinki after not being for the last 12 years since our big summer backpacking trip. It was good to spent some alone time with Georgia.

And then we went home. Isabella was very happy to see us.