The last of the “early” starts for us. We’re in Helsinki, Finland that may give you a clue for the title! After another room service breakfast we headed out to our bus. It was overcast, drizzly and around 16C. Today was the day of the Helsinki Marathon, so our driver had to make a few detours.
As we started our drive around Helsinki the rain decided to welcome us. By the time we got to the first stop iy was pouring down. The first stop was the “Rock Church”, or to give it its correct name the Temppeliaukio Church. The main religion in Finland is Lutheran, and this is a Lutheran church built in 1969. Fairly modern, but unusual in design in that it was blasted out of bedrock. A few pictures below.
Today’s useless information, the organ has 3,001 pipes!
Below is the Church from the outside, not quite so inspiring.
The rain had backed right off by the time we left, but the damage had been done, my top half was warm and dry thanks to a waterproof jacket. Unfortunately the jacket diverted all the water onto my jeans!
It was back to the coach, it was not possible to get photos through the windows as they were wet with water droplets. We continued around various parts of the city until we reached Sibeliuksenpuisto or Sibelius park The park was named after Finland’s greatest composer Jean Sibelius on his 80th birthday in 1945. Within the park is the Sibelius Monument designed by Eila Hiltunen. The park also contained the first geocache of our trip!!
The next stop was senate square, unfortunately most of the square was given over to celebrate the 150th birthday of Paulig coffee. Coffee is a big thing in Finland, they drink more per capita than anywhere else in the world. The square is named for the old Senate building which is now Government offices.
Also close to the square is the Finnish Lutheran Cathedral, completed in 1852.
Traveling back towards the ship, the rain pretty much stopped! I managed a couple of pictures out of the window
Upsenski Cathedral started life in 1868 as a Russian Orthodox church, in 1919 when Finland won independence from Russia it became the main Orthodox Cathedral of Finland.
Like most Nordic countries, Finland has a relatively high taxation rate, but in return Tuition is free right through University, free health care, pensions etc. It was recently voted the happiest country in the world. If only they could control the weather!!