7 - Dispatch From a Finn Fan

Arrival into a city’s harbor is making the grand entrance. The classic buildings, old church spires and commercial center all wrapped up in a promenading seawall.

Helsinki, like Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm - is a harbor town. Ferries, yachts, cruise ships and working boats bobbing under Nordic noses - now rosy from late spring’s 20-hour sunshine. The city looks out at the harbor - the friendly Finns well-tended front yard.

After we do the obligatory long days of walking and gawking past famous Finnish designs, old and new, and feast at a fair in the square - we pass a dock to see a ferry ready to depart for one of the many nearby islands.  Go to bed or jump on?  Why not - it won’t get dark ‘til 1AM?  A swipe of the card and onboard we go, out to where Helsinki began - as a giant fort to protect this harbor.

But the days of military might have passed civilized Scandinavia. The fortified island of Suomenlinna is now a park - and weekend destination for Finnish yachties.  

The local boat builders still turn trees into art, the huge historic dry-dock still fills with old sailing ships, and a little microbrewery re-floats the passing sailors. 

Returning to the city by boat for the second time I realize that a city with no harbor is a grand hotel with no lobby, a mansion without a staircase, a portrait without a frame. Baltic arrivals are all about their harbors and Helsinki has a dandy.

- Seaborne Stew

Sivelius music monument 

Mear child's play

Old Lutheran Church

Old Finn's were designers too.

Friendly Finn

City Hall and hard working Finns

Senate Square

Architectural displays everywhere

Parliament and a big pike? 

More impressive building 

Festival food in the square

The season for Baltic strumming fish

Finnish moon-shine

Lover's Locks Bridge (some are rusted shut)

Orthodox with a harbor view

Old dry-dock a  pre-industral age marvel