Tampere Tour

It was nice to have a lie-in this morning. I cleaned the flat - which didn't take long and then caught the bus into Tampere to meet Dian and Lorraine. It was really nice to see them again. We were booked onto the lake lunch cruise. Unfortunately the weather was not good - it was a grey, wet day. The windows were steamed up on the dining area. We did go up top briefly but spent most of the time chatting and eating!

Lorraine

Dian

We had planned to go for a walk in the forest area of Pyynikki but we decided it was too wet. I took them on a tour of some of the sights of Tampere. We walked up to the main square - Keskustori and then along the main shopping street - Hameenkatu. Today the market was open so we went in. It was a really nice indoor market.

We went into several shops and I took them past the Tirkkonen building and then to the souvenir shop. Many of the things were very expensive but they each found something to buy. We then walked to the large shopping centre - Koskikeskus. Dian decided it was probably just as well she was at Jyvaskyla as she would be spending all the time if she were here. She did think she might come earlier on Saturday when we are meeting to travel to Helsinki and do some shopping though. The town was very busy today. The boat had also been almost fully booked. Today the students went to their schools in the morning for their graduation and then it is the tradition to have a family party either at home or at some other venue. It was a shame as many would have planned to be outside and it was so wet. Tonight some of the older students will meet with friends and celebrate the end of term.

I then took them to the coffee shop I had discovered in the main square. It not only sold very nice coffee - including decaff, but also extremely nice cakes!

Lorraine with one of her purchases!

It was then time for them to catch their train back so I decided to go back to the cathedral. I had brought my walking tour map and so went past the monument in honour of the apparently famous Finnish tango singer Olavi Virta.

"Flow of Life"

I arrived at the cathedral and went to the entrance - the gate was shut. I walked all the way around only to discover a notice stating that it was open every day from 10-17 and it was now just gone 5pm so I had missed it for today. Hopefully I will go back tomorrow.

The front of the cathedral

The lovely tulips outside

It had been really nice to see Lorraine and Dian as it would have been a quiet and long weekend. Tomorrow I am hoping the weather may be better.