Helsinki, Finland June 17 - Part 2

 

We took a boat ride to the Island Fortress.  Boy was that interesting.  We had a guide who should get an Academy Award for his presentation.  It was great fun.  The fortress was built to keep the Swedes and Russians from invading Helsinki.  It was built to keep invaders out, so when the Russians got through to Helsinki and waited out the winter, they were able to get to the fortress easily by walking on the thick ice.  So the fortress was lost.

  

  

                                

   We found this rock with 1863 carved on it.  Don’t have any idea who or why.

 

   Just wondered why the dolls had to have arms.  Couldn’t we tell they were male or female by the skirt?  Notice the door the sign is on.  It is very old and put together with thick nails that are bent over on the inside.

 

   

Now the fortress is a park, that is very well used.

I apologize for all the pictures, but we loved this place.

Our ship, as seen from the boat taking us to the island 

This seagull stayed stationary above us most of the way to the island, then when he decided we were not going to feed him, he found another boat to follow.

These geese are not of the Canadian variety, but the ducks sure look like mallards.

 

   

We are really tired because, in part, we have been waking up hourly to look at the sky.  The sun goes down around 10 or 11pm and the beautiful sunset remains in the sky all night until the sun comes up at 3:30am.  Yes, I know that personally.