craven morehead
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Helsinki and the midnight evening
I had a layover of 23 hours between my arrival from Edinburgh and departure to Bangkok. While this effectively added a whole day to my travel time back to Australia it also gave me a quick look at Finland. And Finland in midsummer.
The photo above shows the airport train at the central Helsinki railway station. The time is about half past ten at night and it is effectively still daylight.
I arrived at 1441 - an hour after the Bangkok flight for that day had departed, so forcing a 23 hour layover until the next flight - and this time made my way to immigration rather than transit. Finally a stamp in my passport for Finland and I could claim country number 32. I was asked my purpose for visiting Finland - transit, I replied - and asked where I was staying. "The Scandic in town", I said, and apparently the bloke knew what this was and I didn't have to pull out my booking confirmation. He stamped my passport and waved me through.
I hung around the baggage carousel for long enough to assure myself that my big yellow bag wasn't coming out and that it was (I hoped) set aside for my next flight.
I'd contemplated finding an airport hotel but discussion here had revealed that the trains into the city centre were cheap and frequent and I'd enjoy myself a lot more in the city.
I like Helsinki airport. There are all sorts of useful facilities, such as a supermarket on the way out (or in). A passenger can buy necessities without having to pay captive market rates or go without. The signs led to the railway station and when I took the escalator down, I gasped.
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The escalators occupy part of an enormous void. What you see in the photo above is only half of it; there's another bank on the right heading down to the platforms below. Three elevators serve passengers who prefer a speedier and less agoraphobic experience.
I took a better photograph on my return journey but dear lord I felt rather like an ant navigating my way through this space.
The ticket machines were easy to use. Four Euro with a tap of my card and I had a paper ticket. I couldn't see a way to buy a return ticket so I assumed - rightly - that the central railway station would have similar machines offering a similar price.
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Everything about Finland impresses. The interior of the train carriages were comfortable, practical, and uncluttered in design. Everything sparkling clean, everything organised, plenty of space.
I've been on some trains in some countries where the beancounters have been through and removed any trace of room. There are seats for the paying customers, access corridors pared down to the minimum, mean little luggage racks etc. etc. These trains have comfortable seats where the passengers don't get in each other's way, if you have a wheelchair or bicycle space is set aside for your needs, overhead luggage racks hold more than a briefcase…
Plenty of announcements in both Finnish and English, everything labelled and mapped and never room for uncertainty.
Scandinavia as a whole is amazingly well ordered and Finland even more so. I love it.
The main railway station is pretty big but easy to navigate. My hotel, the Scandic, was right next door. Pretty much part of the same building, actually.
More gorgeous design. Clean lines, heaps of space and light. Checkin was simple and my room easy to find.
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Easily the best room of my whole trip.
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I unpacked my bag, set all my devices to charging up, and retired for a nap. I had plenty of daylight to look around later on.
I think I stayed very close by this hotel last trip to HEL in 2017. I bunked down for a few days at the Holiday Inn just out Central Station. Will check this place out for next visit in Jan '24 Keep up the good work. I'm sure many will be happy you persisted, maintained the will to live and continue to put in the hard yards this time. A most enjoyable TR, written with your personality, sense of humour and own style all evident. Cheers