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Helsinki, the capital of Finland, lies on the same latitude as Anchorage, in Alaska: of all the capital cities in the world, only Reykjavik, in Iceland, lies further north. Despite its northerly location, Helsinki enjoys warm summers that compare with those in London, Amsterdam and Brussels. An additional bonus is extended daylight hours around midsummer making it almost possible to read during the one-and-a-half hours of nocturnal twilight. On my first night, my jet-lagged mind fought against sleep when the sky was still light over the dusky city. I was therefore relieved to find that the hotel had provided thick double-lined drapes which kept my bedroom inky black.

Finland – A Daughter of the Baltic

Angelica
2006-04-05 12:40:06

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Helsinki, the capital of Finland, lies on the same latitude as Anchorage, in Alaska: of all the capital cities in the world, only Reykjavik, in Iceland, lies further north. Despite its northerly location, Helsinki enjoys warm summers that compare with those in London, Amsterdam and Brussels. An additional bonus is extended daylight hours around midsummer making it almost possible to read during the one-and-a-half hours of nocturnal twilight. On my first night, my jet-lagged mind fought against sleep when the sky was still light over the dusky city. I was therefore relieved to find that the hotel had provided thick double-lined drapes which kept my bedroom inky black.

Popularly known as ‘the Daughter of the Baltic’, Helsinki graciously combines the old and the new. Neoclassical buildings stand next to contemporary designs, such as Finlandia Hall designed by the late Alvar Aalto. One of my favorites was the dramatic underground Temppeliaukio Church quarried from bedrock and topped by a 24-metre circular copper dome. From ground level it looked as if a spaceship had landed and buried itself in the main square. By contrast, the magnificent Uspenski Cathedral overlooking the harbor is built in the Byzantine-Slavonic style.

More than thirty per cent of the city is devoted to landscaped parks, and its leafy boulevards are a haven to the many dog-lovers and courting couples during the long twilight hours. One of the most notable parks is Sibelius Park, in which an impressive monument, made of hundreds of steel pipes, stands in honor of the Finnish composer, Jean Sibelius.

My favorite place for people watching was bustling Market Square where, amid a colorful medley of flowers and fruit, energetic vendors sell anything from fish to birch brooms. From here visitors can take a boat trip to the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.

For ritzy shopping, the most popular spots are Mannerheim Street and Esplanade, ...

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