Travelog for: BellaKitten

We were supposed to go play on a lion statue but they had made an icerink around it  And we didn't have our ice skates with us... So, we continued to the malls to do some shopping. It was warm and cozy inside. As opposed to wet and chilly outside  NK mall was too glamorous and expensive for us but Gallerian was more affordable. We didn't buy much though. I still let my host tick the Life Mission box as we were shopping in another country. Another to my home and another to my host's home 

We met lego Santa! I told him you had been a good mom, mom  My host told him I had been a good kitty too  We'll see how that helps... After all, he's just lego Santa.

After shopping in the mall(s) we went to look for a place to eat. My host decided McDonald's would do, at least she could be sure the kids ate what she ordered  My host had bought some postcards and wrote those at the McD. She was suprised how hard it had been to get stamps. In Finland you get them in any store that sells postcards (basically everywhere) but here you get them only at a place called Pressbyrån. She felt lucky when she finally found one next to the McD. She felt relieved to find mailboxed between these two spots too  I could hear her mumble "No wonder there aren't many postcrossers in Sweden, it's darn hard to send mail here!" 

After our meal we started walking back to the boat. We had been on our feet for hours so it was about time!

We rested in our cabin and had a snack before going on a tour in the boat again. I checked the safety information on our door - that probably should've done yesterday when we first came in... Well, better late than never! The lamp in the last photo was fascinating, the mirrors made it look like it went on and on! My host took the photo so that it looks "upside down".

In the second last photo you can see our route on a map. The boat has to stop in Mariehamn (Åland aka Ahvenanmaa, an autonomous part of Finland) to be able to sell tax free products. It's a law or something. Just like they could sell snuff only while on Swedish sea! Not that any of us bought it, just thought it was funny.

Meowrning! Here we are, arriving back in Helsinki. The Baltic Sea was calm on our way back too. The island we pass by is Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. It's a really narrow place we went through!

Now it's also lighter so we saw the city and not just the lights.

I'm tired but happy that I had this opportunity to see the capitol of Sweden!

Today I met Santa Claus! It was the Grand Opening of Old Porvoo's Christmas (follows the Grand Opening of Porvoo's Christmas which we missed) and Santa was scheduled to pay a visit. We heard that he would arrive on an old train (or actually it's a Rail Car) called Lättähattu ("Flat Hat"). The last trains to/from Porvoo operated before the 70's. After that, only during the summers for touristical reasons.

Here I am at the old railway station among old trains. There's also a steam locomotive operating during the summers. And there was this tiny railway model inside one goods magazine (sort of a shop). But back to Santa! He was very nice and said hello to every kid that didn't look too scared  I meowed to him that I've been good - and that I saw a lego Santa in Stockholm! He laughed like Santa's do and said I had been a good kitty - hear that mom! 

Merry Christmas! This is the Grand Opening of Old Porvoo's Christmas. Well, it's not that grand... The Opening of Porvoo Christmas is usually Grander  But Santa came to say "hi" and sing with us - and give candy to kids (in that "teepee"). Some people held speeches wishing merry Christmas. There were also Tsar Alexander I and his love  They even spoke russian! There was a torch parade but they walked so fast we didn't get photos 

We also did some window shopping  Old Porvoo is full of small shops selling lovely handicrafts.

Meow! I'm now packed and ready to continue my travels  I'll be heading to China!  It's a long way there but I hope I arrive soon. Thank you Finland, it was great!

Oh!It's a funny experience.
I stay in Shanghai for two weeks.And then,I am here in Liaoning province together with Connie.I love the snow here!I will make a snowman then!

I wanna talk something about my campus-visiting. The library is beautiful.Connie and Suki took me to play in the small square near the lake.What a sunny day!