HELLO HELSINKI

Traditional-style rug washing pairs up a seemingly dull household chore with the great outdoors. We dragged a couple of rugs down to the pier, laid them out on the washing tables and got scrubbing with sea water. The best bit is using the hand-cranked drying contraption to squeeze the water out of the rug.

If you’re interested in a spot of summer scrubbing, head down to the pier near Kaivopuisto. Plus, if you’re as lucky as we were, a gaggle of excitable snap-happy tourists may pass by and make you feel like a celebrity for five minutes.

Nakki is a brand new hotdog bar on Eerikinkatu. Meat or veggie hotdogs will set you back four notes a pop, there’s also Jamaican ginger beer in the cooler, espresso for €1.50 and Nouvelle Vague on the stereo. Suffice to say, it’s an excellent little hotdog joint.

Spotted on the pavements of Punavuori, this chalk-based graffiti packs a sweet sentiment, “You make me feel so MAHTAVA.” For the non-speakers, mahtava means grand, magnificent, awesome or simply great.

Take a wander through Punavuori over the next few days to check out this smile-inducing street art for yourself.

It’s only nine in the morning and after four pieces of bread, a handful of lettuce, two slices of cheese, a mouthful of tomato, one and a half boiled eggs, a couple of croissants (with a smattering of jam) and a cup of coffee, I need to lie down.

The Likemind Breakfasts happen here in Helsinki on the third Friday every month. The idea is that you meet a bunch of friendly folk at some ungodly hour in the morning and then gorge on the breakfast buffet.

We dropped in to GLO Hotel’s cosy bar for late night cocktails. The music was terrible but the drinks were positively scrummy.

I selected the raspberry mojito, a fruity twist on the traditional cocktail, while she ordered the piña colada mojito, an offmenu, but apparently delicious, concotion. Both were served with a naughty dash of sherbet.

The Design Museum happens to have a café serving quiche, coffee and cake. It’s a great spot for a late Sunday breakfast followed by a sleepy browse of their bookshop.

The museum is at Korkeavuorenkatu 23. You can find more info at DesignMuseum.fi.

We decided to take a boat and explore the fortress island (did you know you can use your Helsinki travel card on the ferry?). The old caverns are dark, damp and pretty spooky.