Yes, I’m stretching the definition of “a long weekend” a bit. A month ago, I had about four days in Helsinki and so I thought I’d tidy up what I did and turn it into an itinerary to give you an idea of how to spend a few days in Helsinki in the summer. Mine … More A long summer weekend in Helsinki itinerary
I have a film camera. You may already know this – I did Russia on Film a couple of years ago and I’m genuinely surprised I didn’t do Rome on Film, since I took photos there. Long story short, I found three ancient rolls of film, bought a camera on eBay and snapped away. Actually, … More Helsinki on film
What’s more Finnish than a sauna? I’ve given this question a little consideration and I can’t think of anything more Finnish. I’m a bit of a fan of some spa and wellness and so went I went to test out my newfound language skills, of course I also wanted to try out a proper Finnish … More Löyly: a traditional Finnish sauna experience (for tourists)
I was last in Helsinki eight and a half years ago – and then only for a single evening – and things have changed a little since then. First, there’s now a nice easy train between the airport and the city centre. Second, there’s a floating geothermal pool in the harbour. Did I hear the … More Geothermal bathing in Helsinki at Allas Sea Pool
The week before I went to Helsinki, I saw that line as the title of a piece about Iceland, which is actually about Hvammsvik Hot Springs, which I discovered in February and adore. But with plans to go to Helsinki just four days away, the phrase “holistic & healing” jumped right out at me. I … More Helsinki is the holistic, healing holiday destination you’ll never forget
Fourteen years ago this week I was on my first ever solo trip. Well – that kind of depends on your definition. I’d done the trip to Italy a good few years ago; it wasn’t solo but my only companion was another fourteen-year-old, and I’d spent a year living in Switzerland and travelling around in … More My first solo trip: Helsinki 2008
More than ten years on, let’s have a look at my first ever solo travel trip. I was 23, which actually wasn’t as young as I felt at the time. I’d done quite a lot of travelling at university because I spent a year studying French in Switzerland and so I used all my free … More Suomenlinna: a day on Finland’s Fortress
Wednesday is Halloween so let’s go back to Halloween four years ago. I was in Rovaniemi, in northern Finland. I’d spent the day in town, wandering along the river because everything was blue and white and silver and frozen and yes, I nearly died of hypothermia. Although in hindsight, having survived a white-out blizzard in … More Fortune telling in Finland
It’s December now so it’s past time to be thinking about winter trips – to Lapland, to the Arctic, to the cold and the snow and the Northern Lights. I like cold places and cold trips and I’ve made a little list of things you might want to take with you. 1) A hat with … More 10 Things to Take to the Arctic
I’m sorry if you’ve seen this post before but I know no one reads the older posts, which is why I’m taking the opportunity to re-write one per month. This is my favourite travel story ever and I really want to tell it to everyone. This is my Great Train Adventure. It was late October … More The Great Train Adventure
I Am A Polar Bear 