Car - Daewoo Matiz 0.8 2005 Mileage - 11.000 km before departure Gasoline spent - 52 liters, average consumption 6.2 l / 100 km On the counter (round trip) - 816 km For those who are going to Helsinki by car for the first time, I tell you how I did it for the first time on my own. My friend and I were going to conquer the European expanses for a long time, but we were going to apply for a visa only in mid-April 2006.
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Car - Daewoo Matiz 0.8 2005
Mileage - 11.000 km before departure
Gasoline spent - 52 liters, average consumption 6.2 l / 100 km
On the counter (round trip) - 816 km
For those who are going to Helsinki by car for the first time, I tell you how I did it for the first time on my own.
My friend and I were going to conquer the European expanses for a long time, but we were going to apply for a visa only in mid-April 2006. The visa was done through a familiar insurance agent, who immediately provided insurance, a photo for a visa, and a Green Card for a car and standing in line in the consulate at his expense - all this cost 2.800 rubles per nose. They did it for three weeks.
The hotel was booked online. Since the trip was immediately planned economical, they were looking for a hotel no more than 100 euros per room. Through yahoo, I searched directly for hotel sites - as a result, I found Hotel Fenno at Kaarlenkatu, 7.77 euros per day including breakfast (buffet) and morning sauna (www. hotelfenno. fi). Very well found, as it turned out.
The hotel has a garage - 10 euros per day, subject to paid parking and rabid blacks breaking windows in cars sleeping on the street - it was more than successful. Nothing was asked for the hotel reservation - not even a credit card number. They just emailed a referebce number and waited for our arrival.
Further products were purchased - fruits and vegetables, sausage-cheese, juice-cigarettes. Everything came in handy. I decided not to take a can of gasoline, but it didn’t come in handy, 3/4 tank was enough for me from Torfyanovka to Helsinki and back.
Started on Friday 19.05. 2006 after work. We stuck in a traffic jam on the Vyborgskaya embankment, and reset the meter readings there. We left the city at 20:00. We reached Torfyanovka in 2.5 hours - we didn’t even look at the map - there are signs “Helsinki - there” on absolutely all the forks along the highway.
The road left much to be desired - a line of trucks towards the border, a two-lane road, everyone goes to overtake, trucks go almost along the side of the road to let the cars through + rain + fog, quite tough. At the Russian border, at 22.30, they were the only passenger car that wanted to cross the border towards Suomi. Gloomy dark barracks, lanterns burn through one, not a single sign is illuminated, traffic lights do not work. There was a slight hitch at the border for about ten minutes - I had to rewrite the unfortunate declaration three times, the gloomy customs officer in the window refused to explain where else I had not put a cross and returned the declaration to me three times for revision. As a result, without even looking in the trunk, we were released into neutral. Another 500 meters - and the Finnish post. The traffic lights are working, the lanterns are on, the smiling Finn behind the window in pure English explains that you need to remove the cover from your passport, rolls it for three seconds and wishes “Nice weekend”.
The green card was not asked at either border or the other. Sat down. Buckled up. The headlights were on and so, fortunately it was 23.00 and it was already dark even in our northern region of the white nights. Further, for 20 km we drove in shock - a string of trucks stood on the left lane to exit, and only 2 lanes, and the posts along the edges of the road - a little steering to the right and goodbye to the hood, and oncoming cars still drive along our lane - 20 km I did not believe that this vaunted Finland with ideal traffic rules and their execution. But the trucks are gone. Finally, the road became four-lane, lights appeared, indeed, signs with a speed limit after each intersection, signs made of light bulbs, everything glows, burns, is perfectly readable. After the first 50 km, it became not scary to drive, given that not a single car was driving in our direction.
200 km to Helsinki at night through an unfamiliar country, an unfamiliar route, all with the same fog and rain turned out to be so much easier that I just started to feel sleepy. I had to let a friend drive, who got her license three months ago and practically did not practice. But even she easily coped with the task. We reached Helsinki in 2 hours. Before entering the city, I got behind the wheel (and at first we were afraid to stop in the wrong place, but there were so few places on the highway that we moved right at the bus stop). At first they tried to follow the map, then following the “Centrum” signs, in the end, they still taxied to the wrong place, somewhere to the port, got lost, and the time was 01.30, but fortunately we met a Finnish couple on bicycles, at the very least they explained to us in which direction you have to go (not because they didn’t speak English, they just didn’t know where to go!
All Finns, in my opinion, move around Helsinki exclusively by trams). I, cursing everything in the world, cut the bus through a double continuous red light, and after another half an hour of ordeals, we finally found a hotel. Looking ahead, I’ll say that we went back in the afternoon, already oriented in the city, and left without any problems. And at the hotel a Russian aunt was waiting for us at the reception, a garage, a clean comfortable room (albeit small), a warm shower - and nothing more is needed. Sleep.
Saturday. We woke up at 9:30 and went to breakfast. Very good and varied buffet. We got acquainted with the Lithuanians, they wished us a “nice meal”. The plans for the day included visiting Sveaborg and walking around the city. We did both the first and second. Sveaborg - to be honest, there is nothing to look at. If you live in St. Petersburg and the river buses to Peterhof do not surprise you, then the ferry to Sveaborg and the fortress itself will not leave any impressions at all.
The central square and the Cathedral, yes, monumental. But not as beautiful as the same Isaac, Kazan and Savior-on-Blood. Constant comparison spoils the impression.
On the way back, we got to the day of the Finnish fireman - a bright and colorful spectacle - about 100 units of fire equipment from the 18th century were driven out to the central square, firemen in uniform, balloons, music.
Frozen - returned to the hotel, here the food bought in St. Petersburg came in handy, and a bottle of Italian red bought along the way - warmed up. We went out into the street again, this time we went aimlessly and after 10 minutes we stumbled upon the Linnanmä ki amusement park - a very nice sight with the cost of rides from 15 euros to 160 euros - you have to crave adrenaline so much to pay such money for you were turned upside down over the fountain! We looked, we were horrified, we took pictures.
In the evening we went looking for a place to drink beer.
We went into a bar near the station, where there were five more Finns besides us, everyone peacefully went about their business - they played solitaire games on the computers in the bar, watched Eurovision. As soon as we arrived in Helsinki, the Finns took first place. The next day, the victory in Eurovision was expressed in the fact that in just an hour the city was decorated with flags, and the cheerful Samba Carnival walked along the streets to the music.
The general impression of the capital of the country of a thousand lakes: a toy city. A dollhouse, clean town, with three small minuses: in a day and a half in the city we noticed: men pissing on the street - three times (just not embarrassed, at the station square, for example), a sleeping drunk Finn at the entrance to the subway - once (absolutely decent, not dirty, just a boy drunk in the trash), cars broken with bits (windshields, hoods) - three times.
Sunday 21.05.
2006 - early in the morning we went to see the church in the rock - the spectacle is really phenomenal! True, we were late for the organ, but even so the impressions were enough. From there, we walked to a park with a monument to Sibelius - well, original, yes. But again, everything is a toy, the scope of the Neva banks is clearly not enough.
We got into the car at 2:30 p. m. our time. Buckle up, turn on the headlights. They left the city without problems. We drove 200 km to Valima in 1.5 hours - I already knew the way, and in light, I practically did not exceed the speed limit. And not a single Russian car overtook us. With a light heart, we passed Valima in five seconds, passed the neutral line ...and stood at the Russian border for three hours ...The very first pothole behind the border post returned me to the former harsh reality. Three more hours and we're home.
Feelings are chaotic. First, it's hard to drive alone. Maybe out of habit, of course, but even energy drink did not help - it made me sleepy from monotonous driving.
Secondly, I perfectly understood that there was simply nothing to go to Helsinki for the second time - all the sights and I were photographed against the background of them. I think, of course, about the ferry from Kotka to Stockholm, long live the city of Karlsona (does such a ferry go in general? ), But this is in two months now, not earlier!
Mileage - 11.000 km before departure
Gasoline spent - 52 liters, average consumption 6.2 l / 100 km
On the counter (round trip) - 816 km
For those who are going to Helsinki by car for the first time, I tell you how I did it for the first time on my own.
My friend and I were going to conquer the European expanses for a long time, but we were going to apply for a visa only in mid-April 2006. The visa was done through a familiar insurance agent, who immediately provided insurance, a photo for a visa, and a Green Card for a car and standing in line in the consulate at his expense - all this cost 2.800 rubles per nose. They did it for three weeks.
The hotel was booked online. Since the trip was immediately planned economical, they were looking for a hotel no more than 100 euros per room. Through yahoo, I searched directly for hotel sites - as a result, I found Hotel Fenno at Kaarlenkatu, 7.77 euros per day including breakfast (buffet) and morning sauna (www. hotelfenno. fi). Very well found, as it turned out.
The hotel has a garage - 10 euros per day, subject to paid parking and rabid blacks breaking windows in cars sleeping on the street - it was more than successful. Nothing was asked for the hotel reservation - not even a credit card number. They just emailed a referebce number and waited for our arrival.
Further products were purchased - fruits and vegetables, sausage-cheese, juice-cigarettes. Everything came in handy. I decided not to take a can of gasoline, but it didn’t come in handy, 3/4 tank was enough for me from Torfyanovka to Helsinki and back.
Started on Friday 19.05. 2006 after work. We stuck in a traffic jam on the Vyborgskaya embankment, and reset the meter readings there. We left the city at 20:00. We reached Torfyanovka in 2.5 hours - we didn’t even look at the map - there are signs “Helsinki - there” on absolutely all the forks along the highway.
The road left much to be desired - a line of trucks towards the border, a two-lane road, everyone goes to overtake, trucks go almost along the side of the road to let the cars through + rain + fog, quite tough. At the Russian border, at 22.30, they were the only passenger car that wanted to cross the border towards Suomi. Gloomy dark barracks, lanterns burn through one, not a single sign is illuminated, traffic lights do not work. There was a slight hitch at the border for about ten minutes - I had to rewrite the unfortunate declaration three times, the gloomy customs officer in the window refused to explain where else I had not put a cross and returned the declaration to me three times for revision. As a result, without even looking in the trunk, we were released into neutral. Another 500 meters - and the Finnish post. The traffic lights are working, the lanterns are on, the smiling Finn behind the window in pure English explains that you need to remove the cover from your passport, rolls it for three seconds and wishes “Nice weekend”.
The green card was not asked at either border or the other. Sat down. Buckled up. The headlights were on and so, fortunately it was 23.00 and it was already dark even in our northern region of the white nights. Further, for 20 km we drove in shock - a string of trucks stood on the left lane to exit, and only 2 lanes, and the posts along the edges of the road - a little steering to the right and goodbye to the hood, and oncoming cars still drive along our lane - 20 km I did not believe that this vaunted Finland with ideal traffic rules and their execution. But the trucks are gone. Finally, the road became four-lane, lights appeared, indeed, signs with a speed limit after each intersection, signs made of light bulbs, everything glows, burns, is perfectly readable. After the first 50 km, it became not scary to drive, given that not a single car was driving in our direction.
200 km to Helsinki at night through an unfamiliar country, an unfamiliar route, all with the same fog and rain turned out to be so much easier that I just started to feel sleepy. I had to let a friend drive, who got her license three months ago and practically did not practice. But even she easily coped with the task. We reached Helsinki in 2 hours. Before entering the city, I got behind the wheel (and at first we were afraid to stop in the wrong place, but there were so few places on the highway that we moved right at the bus stop). At first they tried to follow the map, then following the “Centrum” signs, in the end, they still taxied to the wrong place, somewhere to the port, got lost, and the time was 01.30, but fortunately we met a Finnish couple on bicycles, at the very least they explained to us in which direction you have to go (not because they didn’t speak English, they just didn’t know where to go!
All Finns, in my opinion, move around Helsinki exclusively by trams). I, cursing everything in the world, cut the bus through a double continuous red light, and after another half an hour of ordeals, we finally found a hotel. Looking ahead, I’ll say that we went back in the afternoon, already oriented in the city, and left without any problems. And at the hotel a Russian aunt was waiting for us at the reception, a garage, a clean comfortable room (albeit small), a warm shower - and nothing more is needed. Sleep.
Saturday. We woke up at 9:30 and went to breakfast. Very good and varied buffet. We got acquainted with the Lithuanians, they wished us a “nice meal”. The plans for the day included visiting Sveaborg and walking around the city. We did both the first and second. Sveaborg - to be honest, there is nothing to look at. If you live in St. Petersburg and the river buses to Peterhof do not surprise you, then the ferry to Sveaborg and the fortress itself will not leave any impressions at all.
The central square and the Cathedral, yes, monumental. But not as beautiful as the same Isaac, Kazan and Savior-on-Blood. Constant comparison spoils the impression.
On the way back, we got to the day of the Finnish fireman - a bright and colorful spectacle - about 100 units of fire equipment from the 18th century were driven out to the central square, firemen in uniform, balloons, music.
Frozen - returned to the hotel, here the food bought in St. Petersburg came in handy, and a bottle of Italian red bought along the way - warmed up. We went out into the street again, this time we went aimlessly and after 10 minutes we stumbled upon the Linnanmä ki amusement park - a very nice sight with the cost of rides from 15 euros to 160 euros - you have to crave adrenaline so much to pay such money for you were turned upside down over the fountain! We looked, we were horrified, we took pictures.
In the evening we went looking for a place to drink beer.
We went into a bar near the station, where there were five more Finns besides us, everyone peacefully went about their business - they played solitaire games on the computers in the bar, watched Eurovision. As soon as we arrived in Helsinki, the Finns took first place. The next day, the victory in Eurovision was expressed in the fact that in just an hour the city was decorated with flags, and the cheerful Samba Carnival walked along the streets to the music.
The general impression of the capital of the country of a thousand lakes: a toy city. A dollhouse, clean town, with three small minuses: in a day and a half in the city we noticed: men pissing on the street - three times (just not embarrassed, at the station square, for example), a sleeping drunk Finn at the entrance to the subway - once (absolutely decent, not dirty, just a boy drunk in the trash), cars broken with bits (windshields, hoods) - three times.
Sunday 21.05.
2006 - early in the morning we went to see the church in the rock - the spectacle is really phenomenal! True, we were late for the organ, but even so the impressions were enough. From there, we walked to a park with a monument to Sibelius - well, original, yes. But again, everything is a toy, the scope of the Neva banks is clearly not enough.
We got into the car at 2:30 p. m. our time. Buckle up, turn on the headlights. They left the city without problems. We drove 200 km to Valima in 1.5 hours - I already knew the way, and in light, I practically did not exceed the speed limit. And not a single Russian car overtook us. With a light heart, we passed Valima in five seconds, passed the neutral line ...and stood at the Russian border for three hours ...The very first pothole behind the border post returned me to the former harsh reality. Three more hours and we're home.
Feelings are chaotic. First, it's hard to drive alone. Maybe out of habit, of course, but even energy drink did not help - it made me sleepy from monotonous driving.
Secondly, I perfectly understood that there was simply nothing to go to Helsinki for the second time - all the sights and I were photographed against the background of them. I think, of course, about the ferry from Kotka to Stockholm, long live the city of Karlsona (does such a ferry go in general? ), But this is in two months now, not earlier!
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