Before this trip to Helsinki, we were told some variations on the following themes:

• “They keep to themselves.”
• “The Finns are stand-offish.”
• “They won’t talk to you.”

I’m not sure where those Finnish people are hiding, but so far, we can barely walk a block without someone helping us.  The minute we stop with our map and our compass, someone stops to help us with directions, probably because they can’t stand how hopeless we look as we try to read some multisyllabic street name like Mannerheimintie or Nordenskioldinkatu.

To be fair, we actually approached Jenny & Elina for help, but like every other person that helped us, they made sure we were on the right track before they left us to our own devices.

Worth mentioning is the fact too, that so far, every single person that has helped us has been female (Kevin seems quite okay with all this blonde help). Maybe it’s because the men don’t have a clue where they are either? Or perhaps the idea of giving directions is as abhorrent to them as asking for directions?

Here’s something else worth noting…this city is awash in salmon in endless tasty variations. It makes me wonder why we don’t have as many creative ways to serve salmon back in Vancouver? I think we could take a few lessons from these Finns.

I have no doubt that they’d be very helpful if we asked.

And now we are off to take in the sauna (stretch out and pronounce the ‘U’ if you want to say it like a true Finn), that is in the top floor of our hotel...because that’s just what you do here in this very friendly country of Finland.