Our first full day we spent in a rental car out of the city. We picked up the car and headed out along the coast with a map and a few stops circled from the guy at the rental car counter. We stopped in a few small villages along the coast, relaxed on the sandy coast, and walked around small marinas with great views of the surrounding coves - quiet and peaceful with rocky edges and forests that met the sea. It reminded both of us of Maine - trees, lots of tall, tall trees and not very populated. It was a quiet day spent getting a feel for life outside the city.
The city of Helsinki is a real mix of cultures. The country of Finland has been ruled by Sweden and Russia and you can see the influence in the architecture around the city. It has the largest Russian Orthodox Church in Western Europe right at on the harbor of the city. There is also a beautiful Lutheran Catherdral in the main square and 82% of the population is Lutheran. One day when I was there on my own as Bob worked I ran into a musical demonstration in the square where military bands from 4 different countries were performing for the crowds. The steps in front of the Cathedral were packed with people, the sun was shining, and music was playing. Diverted me for an hour or two from a bus to Porvoo, a small town I went out to see later in the day. Language wasn't much of a problem either as almost all Finns speak English very well. It is the second language of the country. Great for us!
Everyday markets are set up on the harbor in Helsinki. They sell fresh fish, vegetables, and fruit. The beauty of it is the colors, smells, and volume of fresh products. There are also stands that are grilling salmon, calamari, and vegetables, so you can get a wonderful meal and sit at one of the picnic type tables set up next to the stands. Half of the market is food and the other half are handmade products from Finland - gloves, hats, jewelry, wood carvings, paintings, souvenirs… The amazing thing to me is the stands are set up and taken apart each day. There has to be at least 50 stands. Leading to this market harbor is a beautiful street called the Esplanade that has a green space in the middle where people can linger. On both sides of the Esplanade are shops, cafes, and restaurants.
From the harbor you can take ferries among the archipelago of Helsinki. We took one out to an island called Suomenlinna which was built during the Swedish era as a maritime fortress. You can spend hours walking paths, exploring old buildings, visit a museum, picnicking anywhere you choose with beautiful water views in a very natural environment.
Another small town only 30 minutes from the city is Porvoo. The town was established in the 13th century and is the second oldest city in Finland. It has a medieval stone and brick Cathedral founded high on a hill to dominate the village which was an important trading port at one time. The old town is a series of streets with wooden houses and cobblestone streets that lead up to the church. Very charming place to wander around. It is famous for red-colored wooden buildings on the riverside in the old town. They were painted red in honor of the arrival of the King of Sweden. 
No comments:
Post a Comment