You are now leaving the American sector.

Vainikkala, Finland

Crossing the border to Russia at Vainikkala. Not sure what to expect. This will be interesting.
They put me in a car full of damn American pensioners on what I think is their first trip to Russia - maybe even abroad! I can't believe how long it took them to fill in the migration card and how often the same people asked the same questions. Yes, the visa no. is the visa ID, for crying out loud! And they all sound like Dubya. Without my music - a bit of Jay Chou with Xandria trimming I'd go nuts. Funny thing is they really look like small-town folk look like in the movies.
The first half of the border crossing was disappointing. A very blonde officer hardly looked at my passport. Took me a while to realise they must be the Finns doing their exit check. I'm leaving EU! "You are now leaving the American sector."
Well, right now, I'm rather smack in the middle of it, it seems.
I hope I'll still get a stamp in my passport!
[...]
Ok, now for the Russian border check. They start by taking away everyone's passports and carrying them in bunches to the back of the train. They look more serious than the Finns did. Their colours seem more faded, closer to black and white. In the same way the countryside changes to look a bit more faded, maybe I even dare say rundown. The colourful Finnish farmhouses have disappeared and have been replaced with concrete and corrugated iron buildings. I hadn't expected the change would be so abrupt. It's clear that Russia has a very different character from Finland (and Europe).
[...]
Hooray, got my first stamp (and my actual passport back). The Russian officer calling my name pronounced it better than most other foreigners so far. It seems that we've been waiting this side of the border to give officers time to check every passport. Let's get on then. I want to see more of Russia. I want lunch.

Finnish gulls know the game

Helsinki, Finland

When I tried to fool a seagull pretending to throw it food it hardly moved and then seemed to wink at me knowingly. As if to say "Spassvogel" (German for "very funny"). Finnish gulls know the game.
Helsinki is a nice place. Before I left someone told me it was an ugly, grey little town. Quite the opposite actually! It's very colourful with beautiful turn-of-the-century architecture. Of course, no older than that - Finland, Suomi, is a young country, only founded in 1915 when Russia lost its power over it (probably due to the revolution).
I like Helsinki. It seems so diverse and metropolitan despite its small size (only a cinema I haven't found yet). Finnish food is also nice. A hearty breakfast with fried potatoes, sausage and omelette (served by an incredibly cute Asian girl - should have asked her out!). For dinner I had an expensive but tasty reindeer stew.
The only downside is that things are quite pricy. 7 Euros for a breakfast!
And Finnish girls are so beautiful! Practically all really are blonde (naturally or otherwise). Really bright blonde, nicely curvy, mostly on the slim side and many have bright blue eyes. It's like looking into a fragment of the blue Finnish sky.
Despite high prices for beer and generally alcohol the Finns seem to drink a lot - that was a bit sad. A group of Finnish truck drivers spent practically the whole trip on the ferry drinking. At least they stayed civilised and didn't bother other people. But on a Sunday morning you can see the traces of massive beer consumption in Helsinki's streets. Signs I know too well from UK.
Still, it's a very clean city and feels safe.
People may be shy but friendly.
And even what I saw on a short boat tour around Helsinki convinces me that the countryside must be dazzlingly beautiful. Little houses by the lakes, private saunas by the water side for immediate access. Blue lakes and bays, lush green forest. Hendrik has the right idea - next time I'll come back with a bike and camping gear.