Tag: helsinki

Helsinki Appendix

Firstly, I added more details about the Finnish presidents (and one more picture), so if you are curious, you can revisit this post.

And secondly, I wanted to show the interior of a new Helsonki tram. These trams can go back and forth without turning (like trains); they have doors on both sides (like trains), and they have charges 🙂

All Presidents Of Finland

Helsinki has memorials for several Presidents of Finland (possibly for all of them, and I just don’t know), but unless you know that they are president’s memorials, you would never recognize them. On Sunday, Boris suggested we visit all the presidents he knew, and since it still felt not as cold as in Vienna, I agreed (and barely made it, because it was actually pretty cold!)

Relander, second president of Finland, called “Upwards, Outwards.” Symbolises stability and growth
Risto Ryti, the fifh president of Fonland, served in 1940-1944. His personal history is really tragic, and the memorial symbolises it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risto_Ryti
The is not a president’s memorial, but the only building which survived after the old sugar factory was demplished to give place to the new Ppera building.
A memorial to Finnish sugar industry 🙂
A memorial tp Urho Kekkonen, the eight and the longest-serving Finnish President (from 1956 to 1982)
A closer view
100 years of Finnish democracy monument, The sculpture was initiated by a women’s organization to honor the first 19 women elected to the Finnish Parliament in 1907; first ever elected women in the world
Mauno Koivisto, nineth Finnish President, memorial, dubbed as “Mediator,” reflects the role of Koivisto “between East and West”
Juho Kusti Paasikivi, the seventh President of Finland, served from 1946 to 1956, right before Kekkonen. The memorial is dubbed “East and West”, because he had to balance between the demands of the neighboring Soviet Union, but he still tried (successfully) pull Finland towards integration with the West. The inscription reads: The start of all wisdom is acknowledging the facts.

In short, all post-WWII Finnish Presidents had to balance between being the USSR neighbor and trying to do the best for the people of Finland

Music in Helsinki

Wednesday was my first working day in Helsinki, but after work, we went to a proper concert. Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra performed Elgar’s Violin Concerto (“the longest violin concerto”:)), and the Beethoven Fifth (and the whole concert was called “The Sound of Fate”. The soloist was Christian Tetzlaff, whom I heard a number of times at the CSO, and who is absolutely brilliant. He canceled his CSO appearance in October due to visa issues/in protest. Not sure which one is true, I heard both versions, but in any case, I was delighted to hear him again.

Also, that was the first time I attended a concert in the Helsinki House of Music, and I had an opportunity to experience this outstanding venue!

The coolest organ I’ve seen in my life!

Beautiful sound and great view from any seat, easy entrance and exit, fast service at the cafe and at the coat check – everything about this venue is perfect 🙂

Last Day In Helsinki

Yesterday, we were trying to do everything we didn’t have time to do during the past two weeks :). We went for a bike ride, which was great, especially because I might not have an opportunity to go for a bike ride for a while (looking at my schedule realistically).

We went to Regatta in the afternoon, and they were serving glögg in addition to their usual coffee and hot chocolate, so we ordered glögg and blueberry pie with vanilla sauce and enjoyed being inside this little fairy tale, as always.

And I can never miss their outdoor creativity!

When it became darker, I went to see whatever Christmas lights were already up:

To my surprise and delight, I found that not only Stockmann Christmas display was already up (it was not up five hours earlier when I went to get chocolate!)

And then I spent two hourse packing, and ended up with two luggage pieces!

Bach Messa In Si Minor At Toumiokirkko

I am so glad we went to this concert! Boris was doubtful whether we should go, and with it’s been raining non-stop, it was very tempting to saty at home hybernating. I am so glad I changed my made and made an executive decision to get us tickets!

After the concert, when I was energized beyond the level any espresso drink can deliver, Boris told me he underestimated how new this experiense would be for me. And actually, I do not think I ever heard Bach in a church, believe it or not! The boys choir is absolutely out of this world! (That’s a different music, but I just can’t get over them!)

And on the way home back from the concert I saw that Helsinki is being decorated for Christmas – not the full regalia, but getting there, and I hope to catch a glimpse of it tonight!

The Moomin Exhibit At The Architecture and Design Museum

After spending time in the Oodie Library, we relocated to the Helsinki Architecture and Design Museum. Since the whole of Finland (and probably the whole world) is celebrating the 80th anniversary of the first Moomin book, the museum opened an Escape to Moomin Valley exhibit.

I feel like it’s the best Moomin exhibit I’ve ever seen. It was so interesting to see how Tove Jansson’s ideas can be viewed through the architecture and design lens.

Continue reading “The Moomin Exhibit At The Architecture and Design Museum” →

And Actually, I Am Traveling Since Saturday!

I departed from ORD on Saturday afternoon, and it was one of my most uneventful journeys, even though it was on American Airlines, and not in the early morning.

To my surprise, both departures and arrivals were on time. The service in Business Class was as it should be, unlike the last time, and the food in the Heathrow lounge was excellent.

The only thing that went unplanned was that my attempt to buy a new fall jacket in Helsinki was unsuccessful. I love the one I bought several years ago, but I wore it up to the holes in the pockets and on the seams, so I wanted something “almost like that one.” It turned out, however, that fashion changed, and fitted waterproof jackets no longer exist— only the puffy ones.

I pulled out my super-comact-foldable one, which I kept in a drawer “just in case” – it worked perfectly today, but I still want to take something home.

One of Helsinki’s shopping centers with flying flower baskets 🙂

On Monday, I went to my co-working space (my UK co-worker was traveling earlier, and I wanted to make sure we had some coverage). I noticed the kids corner there, and I do not think it was there before!

I was able to work the whole day. Boris came there with my luggage at 5:30, and we headed to the airport. The flight to Riga was less than an hour, and by 9:45, we were in our hotel room.

The window view in the morning:

And then the actual work started!

Seen In Helsinki

Partially obscured, because I was in a hurry and didn’t want anyone seeing me taking pictures of the bathroom, but I still wanted to take a picture of a gender-neutral parent changing a diaper 🙂 .

Two-level bike parking at the train station
And yet anothe ice cream!
Lindonberry season – I got a box in the store, and ate it with rahka, and there is still some left – I will take it ho

On Monday, I worked at Valo again (the staff is saying “Nice to see you again :)).

And in addition to breakfast and lunch, they now have afternoon coffee:)

And finally, here is a mystery photo of the day – any guesses where I took it?

The Rest Of Vacation

The rest of my time in Helsinki was spent biking with Boris and supporting the Finnish economy by shopping for chocolate, marmalade, and both kids’ and adults’ clothes. Also, I was still doing tons of conference-related things, and I also had to dial in to work several times. One might argue that I should have disconnected entirely, but I was afraid that if I left things as they were, there would be too many things to fix when I returned, and it would take way longer.

Unfortunately, it was raining almost every day, and between the rains and the necessity to do some community work, the bike rides were less frequent and shorter than they would be otherwise. Also, I didn’t have a chance to go to Soumenlinna. The good thing is that I finally broke Boris’s resistance to going to the Regatta, and in addition to my going there alone on the first day, we went there twice together, including today.

They called it a reindeer pie, but I would say it was a reindeer quiche. In any case, delicious!

Also, we witnessed something really special: two Asian ladies trying a cinnamon bun and a blueberry pie with vanilla sauce for the first time! They asked to sit at our table, since it started raining again, and it was pretty crowded inside the Regatta. And when I saw (and head :)) their reaction at the first bite, I asked them whether it was their first time, and they confirmed. I told them that Regatta was the perfect place to do it for the first time!

Raining

We tried to beat the rain twice today. The first time, we biked for about an hour and had to take the train to the city center, and then biked back home in the rain. I felt cheated because I was very serious about biking more today.

The rain stopped in the afternoon, and it even became sunny, and Boris said he would go for another bike ride, because there would be no more rain for two hours. We went, and we got so rained on, I can’t even describe it! Boris said it was much better than in the morning, because it was an adventure 😂. My biking clothes is still drying!