Category Archives: Scandinavia 2011

Day 42 Tallinn

21 Jul


Day 42 Tallinn, originally uploaded by Big Al!.

I was going to post another cliched photo of the red roofs of the old town, and it is very photogenic, but I thought it’s more interesting that you can eat bear round these parts. I had bear in Helsinki, so I’m enjoying something I haven’t had (not properly genuine ones at least), since leaving Russia on the original trip – Pelmeni (Russian dumplings), only slightly spoiled by the break-dancing in the town square which isn’t really in keeping with the historic atmosphere, but which isn’t as bad as the talentless arseholes who sit around tunelessly thumping bongo drums….

Day 41 Tallinn

20 Jul


Day 40 Tallinn, originally uploaded by Big Al!.

Short ride from hotel to ferry terminal. Long wait to board the ferry, bored on the ferry. Then Tallinn. At first glance nicer even than Copenhagen, until rounding the corner to discover the mass of tourists. Germans, Russians, English stag parties. Give in, go along with it, tourist restaurant, staff in "authentic" traditional garb, silly hats, horns, people watching people watching people watching people. English laughing at Russian fashion sense, Russians laughing at their own corrupt oligarchic wealth, Estonians laughing at stag party binge drinking, Germans having serious conversations about the economy and the environment.

Day 40 How to be able to afford to eat in Scandiwegia

19 Jul

Finland is noticeably cheaper than Norway, and even Sweden, but that still leaves everything ludicrously expensive. Even a street vendor kebab will cost a tenner or more. So, top tip to eat without having to sell a kidney first:- Don’t eat all day, then go to the all-you-can-eat pizza buffet on Mannheimintie or whatever the main street is called, just over from Stockmans. €6.90 for as much salad (yeah, right!), soup (yeah, right!) and pizza (yum!) as you can manage. If it was one slice it would still be the cheapest food in the country. Avoid garlic bread and other fillers. Avoid fizzy drinks. Eat till you can’t eat another bite, then have one more slice. Then get another slice, peel the topping off and eat that. There are no terms and conditions saying you have to eat the base instead of selecting the prime bits. Have a nap for half an hour, then eat two more slices. Now you can have a lie down somewhere, knowing that you don’t have to eat for another 3 days, thus saving yourself a month’s wages.