DAY 151 THURSDAY AUGUST 23 REUNION BIG BAND

The first wet day we have had for a long time.  Probably since we left Scotland.  We stick to a theory that in Europe in Summer the sun always comes out at 5pm.  We put off some outdoor plans till tomorrow and spent the time arranging for our apartment manager to print out our Korean Railway Pass and out German Shipping Line tickets to Auckland so we would be ready with these pieces of paper when the time comes.  The Citykoti people have been very helpful and we would recommend their apartments to anyone coming to Helsinki.  We sent an email to Igor of Real Russia who have organised our Russian-Chinese section to book a train from Beijing to the wharf where our Korean Ferry departs as he advised us that the bus service to the wharf has been withdrawn permanently. We sent a reply to Laurel Colless to arrange to meet her tomorrow evening.  Then we shopped for food suitable to take with us across Russia on the train.  The rain was only light so we set off on a walk in our Goretex jackets and worked our way around the waterfront, looking at the hundreds of ships and yachts.  It would take a week to cover all of Helsinki's waterfront so we felt after two hours of walking we had given it a fair shake.  When in Uppsala we found a disturbing display about landmines.  This monument in Hesinki about sea mines was just as disturbing, but hopefully this is finished with now.

We were hoping to wander through the "Old Town" as we have in other cities, but did not find it today.  We found the open-air food market and bought a plate of tiny fish called "white fish" for 8 euros and sat down on some benches in front of a stage.  As we ate musicians started setting up on the stage and we saw a notice that a concert would be starting in an hour.  We were tired from our walk and it was still too early to go home and the rain had stopped.  We do manage to sit and do absolutely nothing for an hour sometimes and the wait went quickly as there was continual activity on the stage.  Near the stage was a small statue which will never get the attention of Copenhagen's little mermaid.  Every Scandinavian city has one and this one is somewhat modest.

Now we know what a baby boy merman looks like.
The band called itself "The Reunion Big Band" and immediately took us to thinking about U Bouddi in Killcare.  It was fronted by three young women called "The Soul Sisters" who blended very well and a male lead.

The star of the show was the drummer and he was up to Bob Himbury standard.

There was a keyboard/piano, two guitars, 3 trumpets, 4 trombones, 4 saxophones.  They spoke in Finnish, but sang in perfect English.  All their songs were American hits of the 70s to 90s: YMCA, Stop in the Name of Love, You Can Keep Your Hat On, etc.  We came away thoroughly entertained and counting six unplanned open air concerts we have been fortunate to sit through since we came to UK/Europe.  At 5pm halfway through the concert the sun came out on schedule.