Today wasn't quite so rushed. No tour, just a Hop On Hop Off bus around Helsinki. We hopped off fairly early into the route and went for a wander through the city to the Market Square and the Harbour area. The first thing we found was an Aussie Bar. Thought it might be a good coffee spot but not open at this time of day. We also found a very unusual public toilet along the way. A multi-gender urinal – a large stainless steel basin around ankle height. You learn something every day......
We found our way to the Senate Square. The Senate building, built in 1822 is a pretty impressive building, even without the gold touches we have seen for the last couple of days. A statue of Emperor Alexander II is located in the centre of the square. The statue, erected in 1894, was built to commemorate his re-establishment of the Diet of Finland in 1863 as well as his initiation of several reforms that increased Finland's autonomy from Russia.
Had a look at the market and the harbour. We were very impressed with the variety of mushrooms on sale as well as the variety of berries.
Although now the capital of Finland, Helsinki was founded in A.D. 1550 by King Gustav Vasa of Sweden as a trading post to compete with Tallinn to the south in Estonia, which was Danish at that time. Its growth was slow until the establishment of Sveaborg (nowadays Suomenlinna) Maritime Fortress in the front of Helsinki in the middle of 18th century. In 1809, Finland was annexed by Russia during a war of that period and the capital of Finland moved from Turku to Helsinki in 1812. The Czar felt the Grand Duchy of Finland needed a capital of grand proportions. The architects Johan Albrecht Ehrenström, a native Finn, and Carl Ludwig Engel, from Germany, were given the task of rebuilding Helsinki in the Empire style. This can be seen today around the Lutheran Cathedral, which was completed in 1852. The same style, and even architects, is also a part of Saint Petersburg's history. Though thoroughly a Nordic capital, Helsinki today reflects the influences gained from the Western and Eastern cultures.
It's interesting that that Russian influence when it was rebuilt by the tsars of Russia along the lines of a miniature St. Petersburg, resulting in it playing that role in many Cold War movies. Today, Helsinki pulls off the trick of being something of an international metropolis while still retaining a small-town feel despite its population of over 604,000.
After a cup of coffee, we jumped back on the HOHO for part of the circuit to the Rock Church (Temppeliaukio Church), a Lutheran church built directly into solid rock. The church was designed by architects and brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and opened in 1969. Apparently, the rough rock walls mean the acoustics are amazing and it often gets used for musical concerts.
Back on the bus to complete the circuit and head back to the ship for a late lunch. An earlier day today and a snooze in the afternoon.
