Debi's Blog: Finland Day 11

Day 11...began with rain. There have been a lot of rainy days on this trip, but we really haven't let them slow us down. We did delay our morning start, but around noon we met Marika again in downtown Helsinki and went to the open air market. The market was right where the ferry docks for Suomenlinna, and we had seen it the day before, but really didn't have time to shop. Today we had plenty of time. We just wandered around and picked out a few souvenirs here and there. For a snack we had giant pancakes that were rolled into a waffle cone shape and then filled with strawberries, chocolate and whipped cream. They were sooo good! We then walked around downtown and saw the Presidential Palace and some huge and beautiful churches. The Evangelical Lutheran Church had 53 steps to the top, and everyone except Grandma and Aden made the climb. Aili and Alex even ran up them a couple times for the fun of it!

The Presidential Palace

Uspenskin Cathedral

St. Nicholas' Lutheran Cathedral

Next came the malls. Marika took us shopping, and we walked, and talked, and ate, and shopped for several hours. We mostly spent time and money in shops that are uniquely Finnish (although Alex and I indulged in some Ben & Jerry's), and we had a really good time. By the end, our feet were exhausted, and we were ready for a quick sandwich before heading away from the city.

We then drove to Matti and Leena's house where our trip had begun to have some dessert and say our goodbyes. Matti's sister Maija had been on her own trip to Estonia when we first arrived, but she was there tonight to visit with us. Maija and Leena had made some wonderful desserts for us, and it was a very nice visit. My mom continued to surprise me with the amount of Finnish she can speak. Marika was surprised too, she had been working so hard at keeping up with her English, and didn't realize that my mom does know some conversational Finnish.

Aden got out his ball and bat, and then told Matti that he needed to practice golf immediately. :) Matti was very sweet, and he and Tero got out practice balls and some clubs and helped Aden and Alex take some swings. Aili and I even got a few swings in. Aden has also decided he enjoys frisbee golf, and needed to play that in Matti and Leena's yard as well. We finally convinced Aden to come in for some snacks and Leena even cooked up some chicken nuggets that the kids said were the best they'd ever had. Aden rolled around on the floor with a giant stuffed red Angry Bird that was Marika's and she and Tero sent him home with a Mickey Mouse book that has words in both English and Finnish. Bet you didn't know that Angry Birds comes from Finland. Rovio is a Finnish company! :)

While I'm ready to get back home, the kids and I (and Grandma too) have had a fabulous vacation. There is no way we could have done it all, or as well, without all the family that has joined us on every step of the trip. We are going to miss you all, and hope to see everyone again before too much time passes.