Helsinki, Finland!

07.11.08 - 10.11.08

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Went there on the Mariella..

. And was hooked on this coin pusher game onboard..


The trams in Helsinki are the main means of public transport within the city centre..

Uspensky Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe..


Walked around Market Square while waiting for our ferry to Suomenlinna..

This tent café advertises itself to be +18°C inside..
I took a peek inside and it was crowded..

A shot of a shot in Jeremy's camera.. On the ferry to Suomenlinna..


A surprise shot by Kim..

Grave of Augustin Ehrensvärd, architect of the Fortress of Suomenlinna,
a UNESCO World Heritage Site..

Su calls this place the 'Hobbit Hole Place'..

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Finland was historically a part of Sweden and from 1809 an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire.. This street sign is in Swedish, Finnish and Russian..
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Sofiankatu Street Museum..

Helsinki Cathedral, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Helsinki..


The National Museum of Finland..

They were having a joint exhibition on the Finnish War with the Royal Amoury in Stockholm called 1809 ~ A Kingdom Divided and a New Beginning..

And they have a very fine collection of ecclesiastical art although the Historiska Museet in Stockholm beats them to it..
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The pre-1963 Order of the White Rose of Finland with the original swastika design

and the post-1963 one with fir-crosses in the museum's collection..
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After that, Jeremy and I made our way to Yrjonkadun Uimahalli without the girls..

It’s has an Art Deco interior with a pool, electric saunas, a wood-heated sauna and a steam sauna.. The wood-heated sauna was a first for me and so was the swim (I think)..

There are separate hours for men and women.. The reason? People swim in the nude here.. Recommended by The Guardian as one of the five best public baths in the world..
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The Presidential Palace didn't impress me at all

and the busy road in front of it didn't make it anymore appealling either..

However, it looked better illuminated at night with the reduced traffic..
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Visited the Olympic Stadium..

From the top of the Stadium Tower, you can throw coins onto an unofficial 'wishing ledge'..
Something which I think is an absolute waste of money..
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Eduskuntatalo, the Finnish Parliament House with a statue of Svinhufvud,
the first Head of State of independent Finland..

UFO?

Nope.. It's a very popular church constantly swamped by tourists like myself.. And when I was there, a brave handful from China would take turns to go up to the pulpit in front, raise up one arm and say ANINUYA! while posing for a camera shot.. I was like !#$%^&* WTF?

Temppeliaukio Church aka Rock Church aka Anti-Devil Defense Bunker..

To Kim's delight, we visited the Natural History Museum..

Very good planning and design went into the exhibits..

Anyways, here is Kim, Jeremy, myself and Maureen!

Headed to the General Post Office to send some postcards

before leaving Helsinki back for Stockholm..
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On the Gabriella.. Donato degli Antinori is good wine..

Hooked on another game! =)