Day 9 - March 27, 2014

Today was an opportunity for everyone to go and explore before the girls leave to their billets, and prepare for this weekend's tournament.  Everyone had a list of different things that they wanted to see and do.  We had a group take a bus out to Porvoo, Finland for shopping and sightseeing.  We had a group relax, stay in Helsinki, and shop here.  We also had a group that took advantage of being in this part of the world and they took the 2 hour ferry over to Tallinn, Estonia.  Tallinn is the capital of Estonia and was part of the Soviet Union as recently as 25 years ago.  There is a ton of ancient and recent noteworthy historical events that have occurred there.

The Estonia group got back safely a little later this evening.  The other two groups, after the first returned from Porvoo, separated and criss-crossed the never-ending shopping opportunities here in Helsinki.  It seems that everywhere there are malls connected to malls.  I cannot think of anything back home that compares to the concentrated and diverse shopping opportunities here.  Many of the girls are in heaven.  There are also a number of strategically placed cafes and pubs for weary fathers who need to take a break from the endless shopping.

The weather today in Helsinki was beautiful.  It was 12 C, sunny with no wind.  Sitting outside was a spring time treat, and I for one took full advantage on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral, drinking my coffee and watching all of the people.

Some of the billet families came into Helsinki tonight and had supper with the Canadian girls and parents.  I think everyone got along fine, and had fun.  The Finns, though often shy, are very fluent in English.  (Certainly better than our Finnish).  A few of the girls went to their billet families tonight and will rejoin us for team photos tomorrow afternoon.  I appreciate that it is certainly a challenge to billet, and be billeted, with people from a different culture, but luckily everyone has ringette in common.

My observations for Day 9:

• Hopefully tomorrow, with the gang back together, I can post some good group pictures for everyone back home.
• I understand that today we had our first Sting international incident in Tallinn.  Apparently the armed guards at the Presidential Palace are a little sensitive about where pictures can be taken from.  We quickly retreated.  Final score - Estonia 1 Sting 0.
• I saw a business in downtown Helsinki today called Amanda's Bar and Bistro.  Sounds like a perfect hangout for retired Sting players and coaches.
• I understand that the appetite for prairie oysters, once explained, is not big here.
• I photographed a window poster today in Helsinki.  I am not sure if it is a comedy, or something artistic that I don't understand - but it made me think of our cowboy blog picture back on Day 4.  Things are starting to make sense.