Helsinki, Finland June 17 2015

Today we are arriving in Helsinki.  Helsinki was built in the first half of the 19^th century.  It is also called the “white city of the North”.  In Helsinki you are more likely to see a herd of reindeer than a polar bear.  Helsinki is unique among Northern European cities, with an identity formed by cultural influences from both the East and West.

We have a late arrival at 12 noon, so we are able to enjoy the morning by getting pictures with characters and cleaning up the stateroom a little. We seem to get more and more stuff every day.

 

We are meeting with our Adventures by Disney Group once again in Animator’s Palate at 11:45 a.m. so we can be first off the ship as soon as it is cleared at 12 noon.

We are going out to Bosgard Organic Farm which is about an hour out of Helsinki.  This is perfect since we ran non stop yesterday in St. Petersburg.  We drive through the city and country on the way to the farm.  Beautiful scenery all along the way.

We arrive at the Bosgard Organic Farm and meet Marcus, one of the two owners of the farm.  He explains how they run an organic farm.   

We head inside for a private lunch of BBQ beef, salad and veggies and a delicious dessert that was to die for.  

The salads were absolutely delicious

Dusty even licked his plate.

We then get a tour of the farm and see the sheep and cows that they raise organically.

Olaf enjoying the farm.

Next we head to the deli store and see the bees that are making honey.  They also make organic jams and jellies.  I purchase some honey for my daughter and son-in-law as they love honey so I try to bring them a jar from different places in the world I visit.

We are then headed back to the city of Helsinki where we take a tour of Helsinki and head to the Senate Square to get a few quick pictures.

Then we are off to the Temppeliaukio Church which is also called the rock church.  The church is built of all rock and the acoustics are suppose to be incredible for concerts and such.  There are church services every Sunday in the building.

The ceiling is made of copper wire

Right across the street there is a souvenir shop which we are given about 15 minutes to shop at.

Then off to the ship we go because all aboard is 5:45 p.m. and it is already 5:30 p.m.  We get back to the ship right after 5:45 p.m. and next thing you know we are headed to our next port of call.

Tonight it is Villains Tonight in the Walt Disney Theater, and then off to another dinner.  Stop by an take a quick look at the Bibbity Bobbity Botique up on deck 10 Midship.  It is advertised as Anna and Elsa's Boutique, but signs upstairs say BBB.

Afterwards we head to Fathom's because the group Junnk is back on board.  They are a variety act and are always well received.  It is four young men from the U.K. and they play percussion on different kinds of instruments they have made.  They are excellent.

 

 Time to call it another night.  Tomorrow we visit Stockholm Sweeden.