Brisbane-Helsinki

We're finally off and away, leaving behind the Australian coast over the Northern Territory (below) and enroute to Helsinki via Singapore.

It's a perfect blue sky day when we land. Takes about half a minute to realise that doesn't mean it's warm - it's hovering somewhere just above 0 degrees and there's an icy chill that's seeping through our bones. By the time we've negotiated a bus into town, a block or two walk through the city, and a tram ride to our hotel, I've gathered layers of jumpers and gloves and scarves along the way, and look like the abominable snow woman.

Yes, that's ice on the water …

But a lovely city, despite the cold. With just a couple of jet lagged days, we didn't see as much as we would have liked, but took the ferry out to Suomenlinna sea fortress; and visited the gorgeous Uspenski (Eastern Orthodox) Cathedral, set on a hilltop overlooking the city. 

Uspenski Cathedral