Helsinki, Finland: (14 pictures) – Day 29


Helsinki from the boat - When I left Oslo, I was planning on going to Stockholm, Sweden and staying there for a day, but since it was raining, I continued straight on to Helsinki, Finland on an overnight ferry boat ride.  This picture was taken right as we were approaching Helsinki harbor.



Upensky Cathedral - This interesting church was very close to the ferry terminal.  It's actually a Russian Orthodox church.  The Russians have always had a huge influence on Finland since they are neighbors.  While in Helsinki I was only about 100 miles away from being in Russia.  I was also only about 500 miles away from the Arctic Circle.


The “Mariella” - This was the huge boat I was on for the 16 hour overnight voyage between Stockholm, Sweden and Helsinki (and later to go back to Stockholm).  I had a great time on the boat, along with the 2,500 other people on board.  I also ate at one of the best buffets I've ever had in my life and it was much grander of a boat than I ever expected.


Temppeliaukio Church - This was a very interesting church because it was built right into a hill of rock.  From the outside, you can only see the roof of the church.  From the inside, all of the walls are solid rock.


Jean Sibelius Monument - This monument was dedicated to the compser Sibelius.  It's right in the middle of a pretty park in Helsinki.


Small bay near park - I was having a great time in Helsinki, so when I saw this pretty scene of a small bay I took a picture so I could remember as much about the city as possible when I came home.


Lake in a park - This is another pretty scene from a different park in Helsinki.


House of Parliament - I rode past this building on a bike that was technically free to rent.  Helsinki (as well as Amsterdam and Copenhagen) has a program where they bought a whole bunch of bikes, altered them so their parts wouldn't fit other bikes, and then spread them throughout the city.  You can unlock one by putting a coin in the bike.  When you're finished you just return it to one of many special bike racks throughout the city and once you lock it up, your coin pops out again.


Senate Square and Cathedral - This church was the only other major sight in Helsinki besides museums.  But even though there wasn't much to see, for some reason I really liked the city.  Maybe it was because overall it was the cleanest city I saw while I was in Europe.  Everything seemed almost pristine, including this church.


Inside the boat - This is the inside of the boat "Mariella" that I rode between Helsinki and Stockholm.  This is just one of the five or so bars on board.  The boat also had about five different restaurants, a grocery and liquor store, a dance club, an entertainment lounge with a stage and performances, a couple movie rooms, and a deck ten stories above the water that gave great views of all the islands it was passing by.


Helsinki Harbor from the Boat - This picture was taken as the boat was leaving Helsinki.  You can see the big white cathedral on the right.


Suomenlinna Fortress - These old walls were built to protect Helsinki during the 1700s. The submarine on the left is named Vesikko.


Suomenlinna Fortress - The fortress actually spreads across five islands you have to pass through as you leave Helsinki by boat.


Sunset at sea from the boat - This was the prettiest sunset I saw on my whole trip.  The crazy thing about it is that this picture was taken at 10:45 at night, since Finland is so far north above the equator.

Continue on to Stockholm, Sweden

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