HELSINKI, FINLAND


(Finland Flag)


(Finland Map)


All of the images below are thumbnails and can be clicked on for a larger image.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6, 2011:

We docked in Helsinki, Finland at 7:00 on a sunny Saturday morning.
After disembarking the ship I journeyed to the town of Porvoo, just an hour's drive east of Helsinki.
Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from the 14th century.
Many visitors to Finland consider the country's second oldest town, Porvoo, to be the most beautiful.
Porvoo's unique charms include its delightful waterfront of red ochre sheds, the medieval cobblestoned
streets and alleys, and the charm of Old Porvoo where you'll find the beautiful Porvoo Cathedral.
The Old Town Hall, now the Porvoo Museum, is seen on the left.
The Porvoo Cathedral (right) was built in the 15th century, although the oldest parts date from the 13th century.
Old Town Hall, now the Porvoo Museum in Porvoo, Finland Medieval cobblestoned streets of Old Town in Porvoo, Finland Porvoo Cathedral in Porvoo, Finland

The town is famed for its many wooden buildings, picturesquely perched by the Porvoo River.
Porvoo River in Porvoo, Finland Porvoo River in Porvoo, Finland Medieval cobblestoned streets of Old Town in Porvoo, Finland

After our visit to Old Town Porvoo we went to lunch at The Kiala Manor/Distillery.
The actual restaurant is situated in the former cellars of the distillery.
The Kiala Manor/Distillery

After our lunch in Porvoo we drove back to Helsinki where it started to rain.
Helsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland with a population of 600,000 people.
Our first stop was at the Sibelius Monument.
It consists of series of more than 600 hollow steel pipes welded together in a wave-like pattern.
Our next stop was at the underground Rock Church built inside a massive block of natural granite.
Sibelius Monument in Helsinki, Finland Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church) in Helsinki, Finland

Our final stop was at Senate Square. The Helsinki Cathedral dominates the Square.
A statue of Emperor Alexander II is located in the center of the square.
Also on the square is the main building of the University of Helsinki.
Helsinki Cathedral and the statue of Emperor Alexander II of Russia on Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland. Helsinki Cathedral and the statue of Emperor Alexander II of Russia on Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland Main building of the University of Helsinki on Senate Square

We sailed away from Helsinki at 4:00.


29 minute video of my visit to Finland.

MY DAILY EMAIL SENT ON AUGUST 6, 2011
Greeting from Finland!

We docked in Helsinki, Finland this morning. It was a beautiful morning. I took a drive out into the Finnish countryside and visited the historic old town of Porvoo.

Porvoo River in Porvoo, Finland

We spent about 90 minutes walking around here.

Medieval cobblestoned streets of Old Town in Porvoo, Finland

Then we had lunch in the basement of an old distillery only a couple miles down the road. The food was actually pretty good or maybe I was just glad to be done with Russian cooking.

The Kiala Manor/Distillery

After lunch we drove back to Helsinki. This is when the clouds started to roll in. Our first stop in Helsinki was at a park with this art sculpture constructed of 6000 pipes.

Sibelius Monument in Helsinki, Finland

Next we visited the Rock Church. Which is a church built into a rock. The guide said this was the most popular attraction in the city. This is also where it started to rain.

Temppeliaukio Kirkko (Rock Church) in Helsinki, Finland

Our last stop was at Senate Square pictured below. The statue is of a Russian tsar and the church is the Lutheran Cathedral.

Helsinki Cathedral and the statue of Emperor Alexander II of Russia on Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland.

Maybe I took the wrong tour, or I was still tired from St. Petersburg, but I didn't find Helsinki to be a very interesting or beautiful city. I will hope for better luck tomorrow when we visit Stockholm.

Tim
Click on email photos for the large full-size photograph.

I returned to Helsinki in 2013. Click HERE for the details.


Click on the arrow above to continue to the next adventure, Stockholm, Sweden!

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