I like flying Finnair. The seats are comfortable, the food is good, the attendants helpful and pleasant and the flight to Europe is shorther. Of course you always have to stop over in Helsinki, but I like this.
I was lucky again with the weather. The late summer days are quite long still and it was warm and sunny. Everything was still green, but there were signs of autumn – it can’t be far away.
The botanical gardens were filled with gorgeous colour.
I took the tourist bus around the city. Tickets can be bought at the Tourist Information office near the harbour and the bus leaves from the nearby park. It is a great way to see Helsinki. Some of the sights are a little outside the city, so it saves quite a lot of walking. After a short trip around the centre our first stop was at the rock church. It is quite literally carved out of the bedrock.
Another interesting stop was the Sibelius Monument. He is Finland’s most well known composer, famous for Finlandia.
The tubes represent trees in the forest – a major inspiration for Sibelius – not organ pipes.
The park on Esplanadi has two new sculptures. It is a beautiful green space in the centre of town and full of people enjoying the great weather.
This little kiosk in the park was built the year my grandfather was born. I wonder if he ever went there.
I had a wonderful 2 days wandering around Helsinki. I’ll be back next year in May. I hope I get fabulous weather again.