Before picking up my family from the bus station I drove around Kotka and discovered the Katarina park on the southwest side of the island the town center. It's a 20 hectare space where there used to be an oil harbor. It most likely hasn't been developed as a residential area because of that. The park is really nice.
There were paths like this. Various plants were on the side with signs indicating the species.
A map of the town center at the info point
It was a good thing there were paths like this or bare rock. On the southern coast of Finland and the archipelago in particular there are ticks that carry a bacterium that causes Lyme disease. I wouldn't want to walk in the grass wearing only sandals and shorts. People living in infested regions are recommended a vaccine against the disease. The ideal weather for visiting the archipelago is sunny but not too hot because you'd want to be wearing long pants, socks and closed shoes. Lyme disease is rare in the interior of the country.
I turned back from here.
I took the following from a different area in the park. There was a bird watching tower on the highest point.
The information point and the parking lot is in the foreground. The port of Kotka in Mussalo is in the background.
The remains of a fortress
I left the park and picked up my family from the bus station. They were hungry. So was I. I was asked to look for a place to eat before picking them up, which I did. We had dinner at a restaurant at the passenger harbor close to Maretarium, a public acquarium.
Dinner by the water was a good idea.
It was a bit too late for a cruise in the archipelago. Maybe some other time. Some were not too expensive. (€20 per adult.)
Finally, some images of an old residential area on the island where the town center is and some street views.
One of the seaside parks
