Helsinki

Mr C a serious check out at station security. The train was under 4 hours from St Petersburg, even with the border stuff, first Russians checking all our exit papers and passports, then Finnish was was just a wave at our EU passports. We are going to miss that after Brexit. We both dozed on the train as we were a bit ‘tired’ after our late cocktail night.

ArcLight and Alph met us at the station and we got the tram to their flat. It was lovely to see them. We were out in no time to a lovely cello recital by first a young chap, then a young woman, from the college nearby. Only about 20 people were there - it was held in a bookshop. They were great, especially silly when they played together. So passionate and intense. It was a wonderful treat.

Then Jo had booked us all for dinner at a really nice unpretentious place where we had absolutely gorgeous food, beautifully presented.

What a lovely welcome to Helsinki.