Hello from Helsinki

We are finally free from behind the Iron Curtain, and with that freedom comes such luxuries as Internet access, so I finally have a decent chance to post a real update again. Rather than try to cover the last week or so all at once, I'll leave Russia for a later time and just cover off the latest from Scandanavia:

- we drove to Helsinki yesterday. For some reason, I got randomly pulled out of line at the Russian border check. It only took a few extra minutes as they are extremely effecient at cavity searches owing to their KGB heritage (JK)
- had a quick bus tour, then back to the hotel for a dinner buffet that was by far our best meal since the contiki trip began. This hotel is also by far the best we've had.
- we had free time today for the first time on the trip, except for the odd hour or so. Not that that was bad, they just try to pack a lot into the Russian days because it's harder to do stuff on your own when everything is in cyrillic. I quite enjoyed the back-to-back 14 hour days, but having some downtime has been a nice treat as well. About 80% of the group took a day trip to Talin in Estonia because we were told there isn't much to do in Helsinki, but John and I met up with Aussie-Ben, his girlfriend Peta, and her sister Jody and went exploring in the salmonela fortress here. OK, that isn't what it's really called, but I can't really figure out the Finnish signs, especially since I now mentally try to read everything as though it was still cyrillic. Do a google search for the fortress in Helsinki and you'll find what the real name is. If there is more than 1, it's the one that is on Unesco's world heritage list.
- fortress was gorgeous, especially the 10 minute ferry ride through the calm baltic sea waters past many small rocky mountains. The highlight though was the "beach". It was a small section of sand maybe 30 yards across, but since it was totally unexpected, we all took off our shoes and dipped in our feet. It was so cold that it literally hurt, and no matter how much warning we had, each person yelped when they entered. Being stupid Canadians that we are though, John and I decided to show our Aussie friends what kind of cold temperatures we can really tolerate and shed our shirts for an impromptu swim to the dock 20 meters out. I almost chickened out when it looked like John froze up halfway there, but bit the bullet and followed suit. I have never swam so fast in my life and barely remember even feeling the water, except that my feet were screaming bloody murder at me. By far the coldest water I have ever swam in, but very invigorating.
- also got to try some reindeer meet... Ethan, sorry buddy, but Santa ain't coming this year because I just ate Rudolph. He was delicious. I think I'm going to try to find some Blitzen for supper.
- tonight is more freetime, so I think a bunch of us will be hitting the sauna because apparently that is what you do in Finland. Tommorrow morning is more free time so we'll likely hit the harbor markets and a couple churches, then we board a boat for an overnight cruise to Stockholm.
- One more random thought, and perhaps a teaser for Russia when I get to that write up: capitalism has it's problems, and I personally agree with some of the ideaology behind communism, though not as an imposed political system. There are many in Russia who still favor it's return even. But having done this trip, I can now conclisively say that anyone who still debates communism versus capitalsim has never driven across the Russian-Finish border. Wow. What a differene you can see in the quality of life that changes as quickly as you can drive over the line. Even from on the bus in a rural area, several people commented how they felt like a weight had just been lifted off their shoulders.