Rainy Helsinki

Trip Start May 03, 2012

Trip End May 14, 2012

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Flag of Finland Helsinki, Southern Finland, Finland
Thursday, May 10, 2012

Today we toured Helsinki, Finland via boat and bus and had a local guide tell us all about the Finland history and modern sites. The day started out pretty cold, rainy and overcast. The sun only came out at the end of our tour. As we toured the Gulf of Finland, Brett said it reminded him of North Bay in Canada. There are 310 rocky islands that sit in the bay. Some are uninhabited and others have full time homes and businesses and others just have summer cottages.

The architecture in Finland is a combo of old Scandinavian, Russian and contemporary. Finland was part of Sweden for 600 years, then Russia for 100 years and only gained its independence in 1917. The city is very clean and easy to navigate. The Baltic region had a very cold and snowy winter this year, so locals are excited to have the snow melted and seem to enjoy every bit of sun that they can get

Sunset from St. Petersburg to Finland

. Our guide wanted to take us to every park in Helsinki. We Buffalonians can relate!

Reindeer and moose are plentiful animals in Finland so we see a lot of vendors selling fur and products made of antler. If I wasn't against wearing real fur, there are some beautiful hats that I would love to wear.

Back on the ship we enjoyed a show by an illusionist. How these magicians are able to cut a woman in half amazes me every time!

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Sunset Comments!	View of Helsinki from the Gulf of Finland	View of Helsinki from Gulf of Finland	Helsinki
Russian Orthodox church	View of the pier	Cathedral with a statue of Alexander the II	At the waterfront Comments!
Monument to Finlandian classical music Comments!