Sunday in Helsinki

 October 30, 2022

On Sunday, shortly after breakfast, Wade, Anna, their youngest four kids bundled up and headed to Helsinki for the day.  The church service at their prayer house doesn't begin until 5:00 pm, so we had some time to explore.

We first parked near the waterfront and walked around a bit, and then went into a park.  From there we climbed up a hill to some kind of observatory.  On the waterfront there was an ice cream stand.  Apparently jet lag somehow increases your appetite, because I really wanted to buy ice cream.  But Wade was the dad, and said no, so I gave in. 

Most of the trees were bare, but these trees were still a gorgeous gold.  Judging by the piles in the sidewalk, they'd already shed a lot. 

Anna and I followed the path to the top, but Wade and the kids took this shortcut.  I admit, I was fearful of getting stuck.  From the top I can see it's plenty wide, but at the bottom I couldn't tell.  

There are so many statues in Helsinki.  Unveiled in 1968, the Statue of Peace marked the 20th anniversary of The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance between Finland and the Soviet Union.  The youthful, female figure is to represent the spirit of peace returning after a war, with a new, peaceful heart.

We walked back to the downtown, where the fragrance of baked goods wafting into the street drew us into the cozy interior of a bakery.  The kids shared big cinnamon swirl pulla from the bottom shelf.  I had one of the chocolate drizzle ones.  Yum.  

We took them to go and ate them as we walked through the esplanade, looking at more statues.  

Since we still had plenty of time for exploring, Wade suggested that we take the ferry out to Suomenlinna.  This is an 18th century sea fortress covering several islands across from the Helsinki area.  I toured it several years ago, but this trip was just to enjoy the ferry ride on this sunny, but brisk day.

It was nice and cozy inside the ferry, but we spent much of the time on deck so we could better enjoy the scenery.  

Helsinki skyline

Fancy island restaurant

Another island restaurant

Fishing cottage

The photo below holds a special memory.  Here, Wade was showing me how our dad had stood just so on the ferry to Honningsvag, Norway, some years back.  That was where his father had lived as a child.

Fishing cottage silhouetted against a dramatic sky

Back on shore, Wade was glad to see that his special knit hat that he'd purchased in Bergen, Norway, but dropped as he boarded, was still there.  After stopping for some photos of the Helsinki Cathedral, we went to a mall and ate a late lunch at a Chinese buffet restaurant, before heading to Sunday school and then church.

Helsinki Cathedral