A day in Helsinki, Finland

Helsinki.

The guidebook says: Finland's architectural heritage before the twentieth century incorporates Swedish, Russian and Viking motifs into buildings that often seem to arise from the human subconscious as interpreted by Scandinavian mythology.

Whatever.

Helsinki is a city of about a half million people and is one of the world's first planned municipalities. It is filled with beautiful Neo-classical architecture.

The major boulevard and upscale shopping street is the Esplanadi. It was once a political dividing line with the ruling Swedes walking on one side of the park and the Finns on the other.

Photographer's Note:

The statues are cute but the tourists are cuter.

Locals traversed Esplandi on their way to work. We (pictured in the distance in red and blue) searched for a cafe. Some of us desperately needed coffee.

Carl Ludvig Engel designed many of the grand public buildings in Helsinki. The guy was a genius with very good taste.

The statue being mimicked by the live subject is not Carl Ludvig Engel.

Ah, coffee is at hand. The Cafe Brasserie Kapelli is a "famous restaurant and drinking complex". Located in the middle of Esplanadi park it was originally built in 1837 and served as a rendezvous for artists and "high society gentlemen". It was restored in 1976 and serves very little in the form of breakfast foods.

This also is not Carl Ludvig Engel. The search continues...

The most prominent building on the skyline but not designed by C.L.E. (though the square on which it sits was) is the Lutheran Cathedral. It was being renovated, like much of Helsinki, during our visit.

At last, Carl's work. Still no statue but notice the "artfully skewed Orthodox double cross" above the front door of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity.

The "House of Scientific Studies."

With two scientists in our party we attempted to enter but were DENIED!

Nick and Michael had unfortunately left their scientist ID cards on the boat.

It was unbearably busy during morning rush hour.

The "russet" coloured low building is the official residence of the Lord Mayor of Helsinki.

The Venetian facade of the House of Nobility found on Aleksanterinkatu.

It was challenging to navigate in a town with street names like Aleksanterinkatu, Krijatontekijankatu and Pohjoisranta.

And always, there was the ship lurking huge in the harbor.

Reassuring.

The Burger's House. Yes, I spelled that correctly. It's the oldest surviving wooden house in Helsinki, dating from the early 1800's and a fine location in which to strike a goofy pose.

Everyone wants to ride the reindeer.

Helsinki's Railway Station was not designed by Carl Ludvig Engel.

The guidebook notes: The sculptures on either side of the entrance are evocative of the monumental works of Pharonic Egypt.

More to the point, this building has been copied for use in films like Batman.

We ate an amazingly good lunch (Nick had reindeer!) in this restored brick building. We have no idea what it was restored from but they cook mighty good stuff in there.

Some folks are rendered giddy by the sight of their ship.

And did we mention how cold it was...

And how bleakly Baltic the scenery outside the city was...

We thought this was a pretty house.

We found it in the Embassy section of town.

The ship.

Again.

Unidentified island in the Helsinki Harbor as viewed from the deck of the Silja Serenade.

One final note on the city skyline. The blue building you see on the left is actually a devilishly clever painted canvas facade of the original building hung to cover the scaffolding while the building is being extensively renovated. Cool, eh?