We didn't have to be off the site till 3pm and our 24 hour transport tickets were valid until then as well so we took ourselves back into the centre of Helsinki. The Hop On Hop Off red double deckers doing city tours with audio commentary cost €30 for each of us so, being the cheapskates that we are, we had ascertained from Lonely Planet that the number 2 & 3 trams did a circuit of the city and we obtained a leaflet detailing the sights to see from the site reception. The cost was covered by our 24 hour tickets so, effectively, nothing.
We had gone only a few stops before Amanda pointed out Café Ekberg, apparently the oldest café in Helsinki. We were right outside at the time but the tram was moving off so we got off at the next stop and walked back. We ordered coffee and a very ornate (and expensive) pastry to share. Getting back on a tram outside, we continued on our tour. It was pleasant enough just watching the city go by.
Having time to spare, we wandered round the square beside the station which was occupied by numerous stalls flying national flags and selling food from their countries. There was a British flag, the stall selling a vast range of fudge, teas and china ware. Feeling peckish, we opted for a Finnish stall and enjoyed a plate of tiny battered fish like whitebait, fried potato and vegetables.
Later, leaving the site, we made our way to the nearby ferry terminal for our passage to Travemünde in two weeks time to check out where it was and also to reserve a cabin for the night the ferry arrives in Travemünde as we are able to disembark the following morning, rather than leave late evening and then have to find somewhere to park the camper overnight.
We then headed east to Porvoo where I had thought there was a camperstop but I must have had the wrong co-ordinates so we carried on, switching to the motorway E18 towards Hamina and covering fifty miles in good time. There is a campsite a few miles beyond Hamina (called Hamina Camping, not surprisingly) but we weren't sure if it was still open. However, we had the co-ordinates for what we found to be Rampsi Marina (60.55911°N 27.18329°E) and found it open. It is on a little peninsula beyond a car park and café. We are in a gravelled area, with hookups, overlooking water that ultimately becomes, I think, the Gulf of Finland. Anyway, it has only cost €15 and facilities are very clean. We are about 30 miles from the Russian border.
Amanda
Checkout time at the site was 3pm, but the helpful
girl at reception said there was no rush - 4pm, 5pm, they weren't
full! Geoff had already asked about next week and, again, being off
season, they are happy for us just to pay the reduced pitch fee for
the camper without people or electricity for the two nights we will
be away; excellent!
We set off back into the city on the Metro, using our 24 hour passes purchased yesterday. They also enabled us to use buses and trams, and we had discovered that you can take the number 2/3 tram in a figure of eight from Central Station, which gives you a tour of the city, getting on and off wherever you like, AND with a free leaflet guide which points out all the buildings on the way. A very good alternative to the expensive tourist tours.
We hadn't gone very far when the guide pointed us to Cafe Ekberg, said to be the oldest cafe in Helsinki, 'on your right'. We quickly alighted at the next stop and went back for coffee and a shared pastry. Although it was not yet noon the place was full of people enjoying the buffet lunch - three courses and coffee, which was about 10 Euros, I believe. The place was smart and comfortable, and we spent far longer there than we had intended.
Back on the tram we covered more of the city, before getting off to walk back to the square in front of Central Station for a meander through the outdoor international food market. By now it was nearly 2 o'clock, so we shared a plate of tiny fried fish (even smaller than whitebait), fried potatoes and veg from the Finnish stall before catching the Metro back to the site, where we packed up and left just after 3.
On our way, we went to the Ferry Port from where our Finnlines ferry to Travemünde will depart in order to amend the booking slightly so that we can stay in our cabin for a second night in port at
Travemünde,
rather than leave the ferry and try and find somewhere to stay at
9.30 pm. It was also good to find our bearings in the Helsinki North
Ferryport, which was rather confusing. Both missions accomplished, we
emerged from the Finnlines office to find that the camper had gained
another admirer. This time it was a chap who wrote for a caravanning
magazine (he said). Again he was impressed with its compactness, and
kept saying "you have a lovely car". Like the earlier
admirers, he couldn't believe it was eight years old.
Moving on, and heading east, we had intended to stop for the night in or near Porvoo, but quickly abandoned what looked likely to be a fruitless search for somewhere suitable. Maybe we will stop there during the day on our way back to Helsinki. Quick decision made, and we got straight on the motorway to get to our next possibility, just over an hour away, at Hamina, on the coast. Here we found the small site open. It is near the town, on a lake, with simple clean facilities. It will do very well. Some boy racers on their buzzy mopeds have been a minor irritant, but hopefully they have beds to go to!
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