I’m back, and have moved two countries from my need to go there list to the I need to visit again list. It was a quick short off season trip but it was amazing nonetheless. This whole trip was spearheaded by my good friends Aimee and Tuomas. Tuomas originally from Finland, took his lovely bride on his business trip to Helsinki. This meant during the day poor Aimee would be wandering the streets of Finland alone. I couldn’t let this happen, so when Aimee asked me to accompany them to Helsinki I jumped at the opportunity. Plus it would allow me to see Johanna and Heikki again whom I had meet the pervious year at Aimee and Tuomas’ wedding.
The visit started by Aimee taking me to the open air market in the Port of Helsinki, where we started the day with a couple delicious crepes, and Salmon soup. I had never had salmon soup before, and if you haven’t you’re missing out. Later that night Aimee, Johanna, Tuomas, Heikki and myself took in a Finnish hockey game, boy was that a treat. The sporting atmosphere in Finnish hockey is completely different than that in the States, people are constantly cheering and chanting, there were cheerleaders in all the aisles, and the rink almost looked odd to me with the lack of flashy advertisements, which made it more about the game. Also, there is no alcohol allowed at your seat. This meant that in between periods instead of everyone rushing to use the restroom everyone was rushing to the bar in the lobby for a pint. The home team HIFK won in a shoot out, which made the atmosphere even better. What a way to start the trip.
I was in Finland for only five short days the first part of which I stayed with Aimee and Toumas in Helsinki the other part in Espoo at Johanna and Heikki’s house. During the rest of my stay Aimee and I went to Suomenlinna, an old island fortress complete with cobblestone roads and stone walls around most of the boarder. Even though it was cold windy and raining we managed to have an amazing time exploring the island, and at times danced in the rain. I took the train into Helsinki from Espoo and toured around the city until Johanna meet me for happy hour. Johanna, Heikki, and I took a cruise over to All-Linn, Estonia for a day with. All-Linn, or Lower Town, is one of the best preserved old towns in Europe. It looked like something out of an excellent period piece. While there we had dinner and drinks, I had bear meat for the first time, another delicious treat.
This trip just scratched my wander lust for a bit, wetting my appetite for what I hope will be another visit. I learned that a week is not nearly enough time to fully experience another country but the duration I was there is the only thing I would change about this trip. I thank all of those who helped make the trip possible especially Aimee, Toumas, Johanna, and Heikki for letting my stay with them and putting up with me for as long as they did.
Viru Gate All-Linn, Estonina ~ Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland ~ Street Art in All-Linn, Estonia
Suomenlinna in Helsinki ~ Port of Helsinki
Market Square ~ Market Hall
Glad to see some of your photos from Finland trip. It is amazing you always seem to find street art no matter where you go. Perhaps you are the artist since you seem to be where these pieces show up (like Superman/Clark Kent) ( Brian Lipps/street artist).