Helsinki – Day 2 – A Captain’s Adventures

Another spectacular, nearly cloudless morning in Finland!

After a short tram ride, I caught the 8:00 am ferry to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, an island fortress near the city.

Helsinki is definitely a city of water – there are more than 30 islands that are part of the city. (Over 300 as part of the archipelago). And in the winter the water around the islands freezes and people ice skate between islands! Finland is also the least densely populated country in Europe.

The Suomenlinna Church was build during the Russian regime, by order of Czar Nikolay I, to function as a military church. The Alexander Nevsky garrison church was completed and inaugurated in 1854. After Finland gained independence the church was consecrated, at Christmas 1918, to function as a Lutheran church.

A funny sign in the bathroom on the ferry – in English – “A little trouble, a little rinse! Thanks!”

Interesting Finnish Facts

Finland is actually “Suomi” in Finnish.
Alcohol is most heavily taxed in Finland as compared to almost anywhere else in the world!
Ice Hockey is Finland’s second religion!
Finland’s biggest goal always is to beat Sweden in ice hockey.
There are hordes of Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean tourist groups in Helsinki. And nothing gets in their way for a photo! Be ready to get pushed around.
Helsinki and the surrounding areas are flat for as far as you can see northward from the Olympic tower. And even in the north there are no high mountains like Sweden and Norway. Highest point is 4,300 feet.
Finland was classified as an ally of Nazi Germany in WWII.
The Paris Peace Treaty imposed heavy war reparations on Finland and stipulated the lease of an area near Helsinki as a military base for fifty years.

And for breakfast? “Belgialaiset vohvelit” or Belgian waffles!

Alexander II in front of the Lutheran Helsinki Cathedral

The International Market in Senate Square below the Cathedral

The market had flags from: Finland, Thailand, Spain, France, Hungary, Nepal, America, Greece, Poland, Columbia, Italy, Morocco, Belgium, Ukraine, Nigeria, Great Britain, and maybe some others I missed. A lot of food and shopping choices!

Built directly in the rock mound on the site.

Can’t be a Frank Lloyd Wright creation, too many round corners!

Interior – notice the 360 degree vertical glass that lets all the natural light in.

Museum of Natural History

Originally built as a Russian boys “gymnasium” or school. After Finland’s 1917 independence, the building served as headquarters of the Finnish Army, then as a Military Cadet School for a couple years until 1923. The University of Helsinki bought the building and it turned it into the Zoological Museum, and then the Natural History Museum in 1996.

***Cadet bathroom break***
This was one of the photos they have in the history of the building.

Site of the 1952 Summer Olympics. It’s still used for major sporting events (National team matches), concerts, etc. Also the stadium tower was a great place to view the city and surrounding area!