Also known as Kauppatori, Helsinki's Market Square is a bustling meeting place for locals, curious tourists and serious shoppers. Here you can grab a quick bite of sandwiches, hotdogs or ice creams, do some serious shopping, or simply take in the site and people watch. However, what really caught my interest and curiosity is the Havis Amanda, the statue of a naked nymph at the center of Market Square by Ville Vallgren. According to my readings, this statue was met with protests when it was first unveiled. I guess it was deemed inappropriate. These days, it is one of most famous attractions in Helsinki.
Legend says - that she's a mermaid rising from the seas, with four fishes spouting water with four sea lions surrounding her.
Too naked? What do you think?
Here's another fountain I saw at a park near the Market Square.
The park was full of people resting and relaxing.
This is an ice cream shop tuck in the corner of the park.
Unfortunately, our tour of Helsinki is nearing its end, so we took some time off for coffee. I was surprised that the coffee shop is owned by a Finn married to a Filipina.
Of course, I also bought some sweets for the road.
Next stop, St. Petersburg, Russia.
I immediately scanned the later photos for scantily dressed people around, and not seeing one makes me happy for the sake of arts of the nude mermaid :)
ReplyDeleteThese squares are what's missing here in the states, well at least in my state. What a nice place to people watch.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely place. Glad you got some chocolate for the road. Life always seems better with some chocolate in hand.
ReplyDelete@ Gremliness, :)
ReplyDelete@ Photo Cache, There are a few squares in the DC area, but Europe seems to have the better ones :)
@ Loree, I agree. Chocolate has a way of making things sweeter.
not too naked, just enough. and it's good she is realistically-sized. :)
ReplyDeleteThe female form in all its naked glory should be celebrated and not hidden. =)
ReplyDeleteEurope is full of naked statues so there is nothing as too naked, imho.
Tutal after a while you simply forget there is a naked statue there and it seems that only tourists or the new visitors to the place would take notice hehe
Hmmm coffee! I can see some heart shape in it..About the mermaid, not too naked. It's art.
ReplyDeleteHow was the Giesha chocolate? =)
ReplyDelete