The Finns are notorious sauna-fiends: the country is home to five
million inhabitants and there are over three million saunas in Finland,
yielding an average of one sauna per household.
In Finland, the sauna is not a luxury, but a necessity, as well as a place for physical and mental relaxation as well. Saunas are an integral part of the Finnish way of life.
In Finland, the sauna is not a luxury, but a necessity, as well as a place for physical and mental relaxation as well. Saunas are an integral part of the Finnish way of life.
Saunas are found on the shores of Finland's numerous lakes,
in private apartments, corporate headquarters, and even at the House
of Parliament. At the present time, one of the cabins on this ferris wheel is being made into a pine-clad cabin that will be equipped for up to five passengers to enjoy
the views of the Baltic Sea and Helsinki's city center
from up to a little over 131 feet in the air. It will be pricey! For a two and a half minute relaxation in the ferris wheel sauna, it will cost about $267 American dollars!
Russian Orthodox Uspenski Cathedral with guilded cupolas--completed in 1868.
Luthern Cathedral on Senate Square--two
major landmarks of the Helsinki skyline! The Luthern Church is the
state religion. About 80 percent of Finns are Luthern but only 2
percent attend meetings weekly!
Completed in 1854 when Finland was part of Russia, the cathedral is topped with a prominent green dome and the 12 apostles.
The simple, almost stark, interior of the Cathedral...
The organ sits high above the benches below.
Sitting on the steps of the Lutheran Cathedral looking over the city below.
Before we had to board the bus again, we took a little walking tour of the city.
A little open-air market. I have NEVER see raspberries that large!
All of the fruits and vegetables looked absolutely perfect!
The Helsinki train station has more than 200,000 passengers a day going through it--making it the most often visited building in Helsinki. Notice the more than life-size statues of men holding lanterns (or, as
some say, globes) in their hands.
From close up, look very serious
in carrying out their task of lighting up the entrance of the railway
station. From a distance, they could also be taken as guards of the
building.
This is the Helsinki Natural History Museum. Out on the porch are two giraffes "enjoying a cup of tea."
On a little walking tour, we saw this stuffed reindeer near a shop that sold Christmas items.
Whoops! The sign was on the wrong side!
We then made a stop at the Temppeliaukio Church. This is a Lutheran Church that opened in 1969 that doesn't look like much on the outside, but inside is an amazing architectural achievement. It was blasted 100 feet down in solid rock and is, therefore, known as the Rock Church or Church of the Rock.
It even has a pipe organ! Under the church is an air raid shelter equipped for 6,000 people.
The church is bathed in natural light which enters through the skylight surrounding the center copper dome made of 13 miles of wound copper tubing. The Rock Church is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the city; half a million people visit it annually.
A woman pastor was giving the sermon the day we were there.
We next made a stop at the Helsinki Music Center. After a decade-long construction process and a cost of $271 million, this Music Center opened in 2011.
The people of Helsinki are so proud of this center as they should be!
Walking on the grounds outside the Music Center.
We then boarded the bus and drove through the Finnish countryside.
We drove to Porvoo, Finland's second-oldest city. This was definitely our favorite part of Finland!
We walked the cobblestone streets in this medieval town.
It was a very steep climb up to the cathedral at the top of the hill.
Back in the little town, the shops were truly so interesting and fun to wander through.
I loved the little doll house furniture sold at this shop.
My SIL Denise is really the shopper! She always finds the best deals and has so much fun doing it, so this little doorway with the word "SHOP" above it seemed to just fit her perfectly!
There were, also, open air markets. This little shop had every different kind of reindeer pelts you could think of!
All too soon, it was time to board the bus again. We absolutely loved this beautiful, little quaint Finnish town!
We passed the site of the 1952 Summer Olympic Games. This is Olympic Tower and stadium.
Statue of the "Flying Finn"--Paavo Nurmi (famous Finnish runner)--
Ethan, our grandson, used to be obsessed with Thomas the Train. These buildings looked exactly like the animated ones in that kids' show.
Sibelius Monument--Unusual monument created over a period of six years...
...using hundreds of steel pipes...
and dedicated in 1967 to honor the most Famous Finnish composer...Jean Sibelius (1865-1957)
Passing by very decorated cemeteries.
In the center of Market Square is what is known as Czarin's Stone-erected in 1835 honor of the visit of Czar Nicholas and Czarina Alexandra of Russia.
At the end of the day, returning to our ship.
Tomorrow: Stockholm, Sweden!
1 comment:
I'm so glad that we were able to drive out to the countryside this cruise because, to be honest, Finland (even though that is where Doug served his mission) was my least favorite country to visit the first time! Porvoo was just beautiful, peaceful and quaint. We had so much fun just visiting the small, touristy shops.
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