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Helsinki 2017
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I did a day trip by ferry to Helsinki from Tallinn in Estonia. It was a two hour trip each way, and I left at 7:00 AM to have enough time to explore Finland's Capital city before heading back to Tallinn.
The Baltic Sea was calm that day, but a mist hung over the many islands as we approached Helsinki. |
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Helsinki iis surrounded by water on each side, and there are boats everywhere. | |||
The Market Square in the South Harbour is a favourite for visitors and locals alike. There are stalls selling street food while others sell fur coats and handicrafts. | |||
This is the Uspenski Cathedral. It is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. It was built in 1862 - 1868 when the Russian Tsar, Alexander II, was the sovereign of the Grand Duchy of Finland.
When I was inside the Cathedral, I asked an official there if this was a Russian Orthodox church. NOPE! This was now a FINNISH Orthodox church, and it had nothing to do with those pesky Muscovites! The Finns value their hard-fought independence. |
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The magnificent interior of the Uspenski Cathedral. | |||
Helsinki Cathedral is a Lutheran church. It was originally built in 1830 - 1852 as a tribute to Tsar Nicnolas I of Russia, who was also the Grand Duke of Finland. | |||
Helsinki Cathedral was designed in the austere Classical style of its time. | |||
The Cathedral's organ. | |||
As far as I could tell, Helsinki does not have an "Old Town", like Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn, But I enjoyed walking around its various districts, often coming across little architectural gems from various epochs. | |||
Staunch, no nonsense, Finnish Character, caught in stone! | |||
This golden street performer was doing a roaring trade. He had an excellent gimmick. Whenever someone deposited a coin in his golden bucket, he would honk his horn a couple of times. Instant gratification for the young donors! | |||
Never let it be said that the Finns do not have a sense of humour.
This statue is in the docks area and I am not sure if it is meant as a welcome sign to incoming visitors, or a Finnish way of saying "Piss Off" to those who are departing. |
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