DAY 7: KOTKA MARETARIUM, VARISSAARI BOAT TRIP AND SANTALAHTI BAY

After breakfast, we set off for the Maretarium. I ferried Vova, Irina, Boris and Lucia down first. Then I came back for Anna, Sandy and Olivia. The weather was beautiful again- hardly a cloud in the sky again, and warming up quickly.

The Maretarium was sort of like Deep Sea World in North Queensferry, but brighter and a bit more imaginatively set out. Everyone enjoyed it, especially Anna's dad and Boris, who are very keen on fish and fishing in Russia. Sandy loved the huge tanks of fish too. At each tank, Olivia was trying to touch the fish through the glass.

At the end, we visited the shop, where Sandy wanted to buy everyone a chocolate fish! He also bought a small boat and a Maretarium T-shirt.
WE then walked over to the harbour area to catch the boat for the trip to the island of Varissaari. It was scorching by now. The boat was packed for the 15 minute ride.


Leaving the harbour at Sappoka, Kotka, heading for Varissaari.


Easing away from Kotka.


Plenty of nice looking boats here.

When we arrived at the island, everyone got off to explore. We took a few photos then headed off to the cafe where we claimed our free coffees and pastry cakes. It had to be emphasised to both Anna's mum and Aunt that we didn't need to pay for these, otherwise they were going to refuse them! Anna and I joked that it was going to prove very difficult to get us all out to lunch one day as we had planned, as simply, Anna's mum refuses anything bought for her! After some discussion, Anna's dad and Boris agreed that they would come with us to the Kotka Golf Club clubhouse for a few beers one evening. Some progress at least- if we actually manage it!


Just after landing on Varissaari.


The group together, taken by Uncle Boris.

We returned to Kotka at 2pm and came home via the Euromarket supermarket, where we bought meat for a barbeque tomorrow.

At home after a late lunch, Sandy, Olivia, Anna and I explored the shoreline down from our house. As we came home around 5pm, I realised that I was burnt around the neck and face, and also on the feet. The sun had been really hot today! According to the forecast on EuroNews, tomorrow should see the temperature climb to 26C, or 27C!


Back home after a busy day, the watermelon was a welcome refreshment.


With the beach in the background.

We spent the evening watching Russian DVDs on the living room TV. Boris was looking through a paper advertising cars for sale, and we found a 2005 Skoda Octavia, the same diesel model as mine advertised for the incredible sum of 31,900 Euros!! I explained to Boris that our similarly aged 2005 car, new, cost us in the region of 16,500 Euros! So, don't come to Finland to buy a car is the moral of this! While food appears to be slightly more expensive than in Scotland (say 10% to 20%) cars appear to be priced much more expensively.

As each day passes, we love this place more and more.....