The Adventures of Podge & Tubbs

At last, land fall. After three and a bit days at sea, we finally reach dry land at Helsinki, the Capital of Finland. Although our arrival was delayed by a medical airlift the previous day we made good time and from a going ashore perspective, made little or no difference to anyone’s planned itinerary.

Our planned itinerary was to take a tour showing us the highlights of Helsinki and then for us to visit the Ice Bar and Hotel. This billed as having been made out of ice in which could sample the delights of sleeping on an ice bed, eating at an ice table and, more importantly, drinking at an ice bar. Naturally therefore, it was going to be cold: it was cold: it was –4 inside: it was +25 outside: we were dressed for +25. So, we were given snow boots, extra socks, gloves and a thermal suit to wear. We did look attractive.

Once inside, we were greeted by an Arctic, or is it Antarctic, landscape with Reindeer, Igloos, plus Sledge and Toboggan runs. Outside of the Igloos, was a restaurant carved out of the ice and a bar, which incidentally was serving complementary vodka. Now, me being well ‘ard, I hadn’t bothered with gloves, and boy didn’t I know it when I picked up the glass only find that it was actually made out of ice, jeez, it was cold. The nice lady behind the bar said I could take the glass home as a souvenir if I wanted then she gave me another shot of vodka [cos I was a nice man].

After that we checked out the ‘huskies’ who were taking people round on a sledge to give them the feel of travel in the Arctic. The dogs weren’t actually Huskies but they were lovely doggies anyway but we passed on the sledge ride. We checked out the igloos and ice beds then we found Santa’s house.

All too soon we had to return to the ship though we did get a chance to stop on the way at a souvenir shop and Cathedral carved into the rock. Here we found why Santa wasn’t at home. He was at the souvenir shop having a rest with a couple of trolls.

After dinner we ‘retired’, again, to the Observatory Lounge for a couple of rather large brandy’s. And then it was off to bed. Tomorrow we take on Russia via St Petersburg and on the way we put clocks forward another blooming hour. Worse still, we have an early start for a tour to Peterhof Palace.

Maybe, I’ll lose some weight tomorrow.

Wow, what a glorious sunny and calm day today was. There genuinely wasn’t a cloud to be seen. And, even though we had put the clock’s forward by another blooming hour, the day was making it’s presence known around 04:30 though I did quickly go back to sleep. I awoke at around 08:00 to a nice hot cup of coffee, which makes a change as it’s normally that’s up and making the drinks. Maybe my cankles made me sleepier than normal. One thing’s for sure, I was in right grump for breakfast, made even worse by the fact that my full English Breakfast came with scrambled rather fried eggs, and no black pudding to be seen. I wasn’t happy.

Anyway, hunger sated, we all went for a walk around the deck for another four laps (1-mile) before settling down for a well earned latte coffee and yet another session of dolphin racing and lo and behold, Master Nicholas another £6 to go with his £66 win from bingo yesterday.

As today was a sea day and as the weather was as I said before, glorious, we had pretty much a lazy day sitting and reading interrupted by the need to for lunch and afternoon tea and then early evening drinks before dinner, when everybody was invited to dress like a cowboy / cowgirl: Lucky I had a chequered shirt then.

Early evening brought with it an announcement from the Captain that we would be making a quick route change and head towards Stockholm in Sweden from where a helicopter was being urgently despatched to collect a passenger who had been taken too ill to continue and needed urgent medical care. Not sure what the problem was nor should it. I only wish all the very best to him or her and hope for a speedy recovery.

Naturally, the detour would put us back a little and so our arrival at the next port would be later than planned.

In the restaurant we sat and waited for our other table companions before ordering. We waited, and we waited and we waited and I started to wonder who was in that helicopter, and then just as I was becoming concerned they arrived:Phew. And with that we all tucked into Southern Fried Chicken, T-Bone Steak, Chilli Beans and of course Chips. Yum Yum.

After dinner we ‘retired’, again, to the Observatory Lounge for a couple of rather large brandy’s. And then it was off to bed. After all, tomorrow brings with it Helsinki though maybe a little later than originally planned.

Maybe, I’ll lose some weight tomorrow.