But one thing I do notice, is that everyone here in Helsinki loves to use their mobile phone very much.
They talk on mobile phone when walking the dog, they sms while in the tram, figiting keypad driving single handedly in a car. I am overwhelmed by how much mobile phones play a part in the people's life here! I never felt that way when I was in US nor did it feels the same way when I was back in Melbourne. American's are really no so much into mobiles in reality when compare to Finns. Actually come to think of it, it was the same back in Stockholm and later Oslo and Copenhagen as well.
We quickly checked into the nearby Eurohostel after we came out from the Mariella cruise ship. Location of Eurohostel is really good, whereby it is a 5 min walk from port to there. There is also a tram station right at the corner junction next to the hostel. Trams depart every 10 minutes, straight all the way down to city center (10min). So everything is really convinient here. Didn't take any pics of Eurohostel, but if you are there, you should really check that bomb-shelter-cum-fridge like looking elevator. Open your door like how you'd open the fridge and get it. It's weird!
We have only stayed here for 1 night. But I guess for
newcomers like us, 1 night is really enough to see the town center. Just walk walk and take pictures here and there. We bought ourselves the HKL Tourist Ticket (matkailijalippu) (1 day €6, 3 days €12 or 5 days €22) which was fair deal, and not as expensive as the Helsinki Pass. The Helsinki pass is really not suitable as we don't have time to use the Helsinki museum entry that comes with it.
Stopped by at the Russian Orthodox Uspensky Cathedral. Its visible even from far with its golden domes. Nicer to look is the interior deco, looking small inside but painfully decorated with patterns, flowers gold trimmings all over the place.
Walked around at the open market near the primer minister's office, pretty lame with few stores just there to earn tourist $$. We bought a few fruits and veg here, not so fresh after all. Not recommended if you wanted to see local people buy stuffs. Heard there's another really big indoor market quite worthwhile on the other hand but didn't really bother checking that out.
Mom stopped by at a boat selling salmon's delight. At first I was expecting just another trader selling smoke and cured dried fish. A girl that came on a bicycle then introduce my mom to the pan friend salmon fish patties which was surprisingly quite savory and tasty. Lightly peppered and packed wit loads of salmon tasting.
Then was just walking around the city center, comprising the Esplanade, Aleksi shopping street, etc.
Also past by was the Helsinki Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko) on the Senaatintori Square (Senate Square), apparently a Lutheran church. Didn't go in, cause did not know it is a church. Thought was a parlimen some kind of serious formal set up since the prime minister office was just a around the corner somewhere.
Was wondering what's another Da Vinci Code doing here really. Anyone to enlighten me?
Next day, we went to The Church in the Rock (Temppeliaukion kirkko, literally Temple Square Church).
Perhaps for stirring attention, the found this piece of big rock, and then the carved the whole church into it. This place even have pipe organ too, though it look a little too modern setting around. I would say the acoustic sounding must be very good as the shape of the church is circular.
I wanted to go to the Sibelius park to take some pics with that organ-like monument. But time was really running out as we were to catch a flight back to Stockholm later in the evening. Perhaps next time, in the many years to come I will complete this.
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