First day in Helsinki continues - getting better with public transport and checking into my apartment

During the course of my Kallio exploration I received some good news from the apartment I found on Booking.com. Turns out it would be available for early check in. Very nice to avoid the hassle of stashing luggage and wandering for 4 hours in the check out / check in gap. So I got my stuff together and opened up the HSL app to plan my journey to the apartment. With my new understanding of the icons I saw that it looked fairly straightforward. Walk to the Hakaniemi metro, ride it one stop, get off, grab a tram. Fair enough, let's go.

Descended to the platform via a nice and tidy escalator (in contrast to some of the tube stations I'd see in London a few days later).

Train itself was also in good shape and orderly.

Platforms were neat, not particularly crowded (it was noon-ish on a Thursday), and the exit escalator had soothing mood lighting.

The app indicated a 5-minute walk to the tram stop. That must be upon exiting the train below ground, as you can see the metro stop exit off in the background here. So it's not a 5-minute schlep with bags along sidewalks to the tram. It's literally 5-minutes *maybe* door to door.

And then off in the other direction you can see the tram coming.

However, I think it was around now when I achieved my next level of learning with the HSL app and using Helsinki public transportation: it's real-time, time-sensitive. So the route you call up 20 minutes before leaving your hotel is not necessarily the same that you would take 20 minutes later when you actually leave the hotel. Not a problem. Pull up the app and check the latest route reco and adapt.

Now I had the opportunity to double my tram pleasure, taking the ol' 6T to the 3. Took a few out-the-window pics as we moved along.

And then as we stopped at Erottaja I was grateful for the detour as this little stretch was beautiful. It's Bulevardi, a charming stretch of upscale retail, cafes and hotels. Lovely street that runs northeast-southwest as a boundary of sorts between Kamppi and the Design District.

(Klaus K hotel is one of our partner hotels - strong location)

Snapped a few more out-the-window pics. Ekberg 1852 and Casa Italia would be top of my list for a nice sidewalk coffee and snack if I had a more leisurely afternoon planned.

Also spotted a snazzy kitchen supply shop where I stopped later to pick something up for the wife (no worries, she doesn't read this).

Then, having successfully navigated the metro-tram-tram sequence to my destination, I needed to solve the key pick up equation. Instructrions were to look for "Mari Bakery"

Check.
Then find the door on the side and use the code to open.

Check.
Then find your specific keybox, take the key and be on your way. Simple enough. Would be less fun arriving after dark in the rain. But midday in clear weather, all good. Next is a short (but uphill) walk to the actual apartment.

Perfect for 4 nights solo. Really enjoyed the location, which I'll touch upon more in later posts.