rowingwithrory

HELSINKIARRIVAL

NEXT WE CAUGHT THE BUS FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE CENTRAL TRAIN STATION, WITH ITS STRIKING JUGENDSTIL ARCHITECTURE (A FORM OF ART NOUVEAU), THE COPPER CLOCK TOWER  REMINDED ME OF NORWICH’S CITY HALL

WE THEN DROPPED MY BAG OFF, RETURNING TO THE GREAT DOMED CATHEDRAL, WITH STEPS OVERLOOKING THE OLD TRAIN STATION AND SQUARE WHERE THE NEW YEARS EVE LIGHT SHOW WAS BEING MADE READY

FLYING WITH FINNAIR 2011

GETTING UP AT A PEACHY 2.30AM TO DRIVE DOWN TO LONDON HEATHROW, THE COLDEST I FELT LAST YEAR WAS WALKING FROM AN AIRPORT CARPARK TO THE TERMINAL

THE COMPLEMENTARY COFFEE, APPLE JUICE AND 3 FINGER SANDWICH PACK WAS A VERY WELCOME ‘SECOND BREAKFAST’ AFTER  QUITE A LONG MORNING

UNFORTUNATELY I CAN’T DEAL WITH SLICED CUCUMBER, AN UNLISTED INGREDIENT FROM THE OTHERWISE VERY SPECIFIC DESCRIPTIVE

ARRIVING IN HELSINKI, THE AIRLINE LOUNGE OFFERS A WELCOMING SPA AND SAUNA, SOMEWHAT MORE IMPRESSIVE THAN OTHER AIRLINES/AIRPORTS I’VE EXPERIENCED

NEXT TIME I KNOW TO LEAVE AN EXTRA HOUR OR TWO BEFORE MEETING PEOPLE AT THE AIRPORT

BOXING DAY WALK FIN

REACHING THE BEACH, MOST PEOPLE WERE GOING BACK TO THEIR CARS, WEARING ALOT OF WATERPROOF BOOTS AND THE LIKE, WHICH WE FOUND IMMUSING UNTILL WE TRIED TO GET TO THE SEA ITSELF…

BOXING DAY WALK CONTINUED (2)

WHEN WE REACHED THE BEACH, THE SUN WAS STARTING TO SET, OVER THE FLAT NORTH NORFOLK LANDSCAPE, MAKING FOR SOME GREAT LIGHT TO TAKE THESE SHOTS

REMINDED ME A BIT OF THE GRAIN FIELD SCENES IN GLADIATOR

BOXING DAY WALK… CONTINUED

DRIVING ON FROM CASTLE ACRE, WE PASSED THIS OLD VW ESTATE, JUST LYING IN FRONT OF SOMEONES HOUSE ON THE SIDE OF THIS COUNTRY ROAD

SUCH A SHAME ITS BEEN LEFT TO DECOMPOSE AND RUST, A PIECE OF HISTORY THAT COULD BE RESTORED AND ENJOIED

BOXING DAY WALK

A NEW FAMILY TRADITION IN PREVIOUS YEARS, AFTER EATING TOO MUCH CHRISTMAS DAY, HAS BEEN TO TAKE A LONG WALK ON BOXING DAY

WITH MY COMPACT TO HAND, MANY IMAGES WERE CAPTURED, STARTING AT CASTLE ACRE WITH A VERY BLEAK SKY AND INTERESTING VEGETATION