Take me back to Finland!

Part 1

It was a teenage dream for me to visit Finland and especially Helsinki. So last April I decided with a friend of mine that it was the time to book our tickets and go... Landing at Helsinki was a unique experience. Imagine the view from the airplane. This country has 187, 888 lakes!

We stayed in a quiet and safe area called Huopalahti. Αnd soon we started wandering downtown. The first thing I noticed was how safe the transportation is! Trains, trams, bike paths and few cars. The Finns do really know how to respect and maintain the beauty of their city!

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The central railway station in Kluuvi impressed us with its architecture. This is actually the heart of Helsinki! We passed by the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and the Museum of Art Ateneum. In some places you could see old buildings with great architecture!

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And so we arrived in a classic attraction of Helsinki, the Cathedral!

This is an Evangelical Lutheran cathedral that was built between 1830-1852. The difference from the classical European temples is the simplicity, the white colour and the serenity that exudes that beautifully blends as a whole with the rest of Helsinki.

And from the Cathedral to Helsinki’s harbour staring at the big ships, the love padlocks at the small bridge and the view of the city...

Part 2

Typing the words the nostalgic reminiscence comes natural... This country has something magical that you can not forget!

Next stop the island of Suomenlinna (the Castle of Finland). Historically the island was a marine fortress and today it is an attraction with 800 inhabitants and a World Heritage site of Unesco. What I really loved were the small fortified houses that reminded me of the Hobbit houses and seemed dreamy in that foggy day!

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After we had some rest in our apartment we went out for a drink. Helsinki has a lively nightlife if you know where to go! The locals are always willing to suggest you nice places. Generally the bars have a more rock-metal style. We visited Tavastia, Corona and Loose bar.

The whole Helsinki has a youthful vibe, an intense aura. With many students, with residents that enjoy walking in nature, the simple things in life. It dominates organization, creativity, tranquility. Such an inspiration!

The Finns are very kind people. Quite shy at the beginning, but after a while they show you how friendly they are (especially after drinking another beer! ). I have the best memories of all the people I've met! It is also interesting that they are the biggest coffee consumers in the world, they love their saunas, they often eat "pulla" (a kind of sweet bread with cinnamon and sugar) and "salmiaki" (it's a salty licorice that you find in many variations), they have a notably beautiful language and they are the creators of The Moomins!

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Last but most favorite place that we visited was the Seurasaari island. Here it is like you are in a fairy tale! Wooden houses, windmills, the immense white bridge, the sunset... A real paradise for nature lovers. The island is an oasis in the midst of the city and at the museum the traditional Finnish way of life is displayed in the cottages, farmsteads and manors of the past four centuries.

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And so our journey came to an end and now we had to return home. I think that the memory I captured when leaving Finland is the time when the sun was setting into the icy sea. What I saw, what I heard and what I felt was a strong feeling of completeness and peacefulness. That's the magic of the journey that makes you wanna have no limits and live each moment intensely!

Until next destination, farewell...

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