Day 10: AROUND SANTALAHTI AND KOTKA FOR LAST DAY SHOPPING FOR ANNA'S PARENTS!

This is Anna's folks' last full day here, as they leave tomorrow for St Petersburg again.
After breakfast, I took them into Kotka to do some shopping. I then came back, got Olivia, Sandy and Anna and we all also went into Kotka.

We were looking for some clothes, so spent most of the morning flitting around the shops. Anna bought three unnusual tops at sale prices- she was looking for something a little different, and she certainly managed that! No-one in Dunbar will have similar clothes, I am sure!
I bought a T-shirt, a pair of shorts and a pair of trainers, again, all were a little different from what I'd probably expect.

We had ice creams in the Sibelius Park in the sunshine, where we sat close to an attractive water feature.

When we met up with Anna's parents, it appeared Anna's mum had bought half of the shops! She had certainly found some amazing bargains- waterproof Goretex lined boots for Maxim (Sandy's cousin) that were similar to a pair we bought for Sandy a year ago- his cost us £50, Irina managed to get Maxim's for the bargain price of 20 Euros, reduced from 75 Euros! When I showed her my trainers, and their price (19 Euros) she rushed off to the shop to buy a pair for Anna's dad!



Sandy and Olivia, with Boris and Lucia



Sandy, with Baboushka and Dedoushka



Our red squirrel visitor enjoys some apple!

At home, I fired up the BBQ for the second time and cooked 2kg of pork, which we had with potatoes, sausages and brocolli.
After the meal, Anna, Sandy, Olivia Vladimir and I walked through the wood to reception, where we had beers and ice creams in the evening sun. It had been another lovely warm, sunny day. Is it ever any different here?
We had been watching a couple of red squirrels running around in the trees for a few days, and had been putting out old fruit for them. Well, today, one of them came right onto the veranda, and was happy to sit within a couple of metres of us. It sat eating bits of apple happily, and I managed to get a couple of close up photographs.



Olivia and Baboushka

Sandy and Olivia both came to the jacuzzi with me before they went to bed. They both loved it. The sauna was in use too, and why not too, as we won't be able to enjoy such luxuries once we leave here!

Tomorrow will be our last full day here. What a shame, as it's so incredibly beautiful here. I have enjoyed it so much, as has everyone else. It would be fantastic to imagine that one day we might be able to do it all again.



Olivia with a happy Dedoushka!