Helsinki's Market Square

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.

Heslinki's Senate Square

Designed by Architect Carl Ludvig Engel, the Senate Square compellingly shimmers with the summer Baltic sun, while the blue sky becomes the perfect backdrop for Helsinki's center for political, religious, scientific and commercial powers. I felt dwarfed by the Senate Square's beauty and historical influence, but for a mere traveler like me, this is a must visit in Helsinki.

Monument to Emperor Alexander II, erected in 1894 which was13 years after his assassination. The yellow building at the back is the main part of the University of Helsinki.

Helsingin tuomiokirkko (Helsinki Cathedral)

The Cathedral's front is a great place to eat lunch and chat for the locals.

The pipe organ inside the Cathedral.

Beautiful chandelier inside the Cathedral.

The Cathedral's altar.

The Alexander II monument again. This time, a Seagull sits on his head.

Blue skies over Helsinki's Senate Square.

For fun facts, the Senate Square was used:

• in the movie Reds (1981) with Warren Beatty
• in the movie The Kremlin Letter (1970) with John Huston
• in the movie Night on Earth (1991) with Jim Jarmusch
• as opening for the music video Sandstorm by Darude

I have not seen these movies except for certain parts of Reds; my dad was watching it at one time. I do love Darude's Sandstorm.

Helsinki's Sibelius Monument

After the Temppeliaukion Kirkko, we rode the bus en route to the Sibelius Monument. This is one of the coolest monuments I've ever seen. You can sit and stare at this structure the whole day and let your mind surmise its meaning or its significance. A monument to honor national composer, Jean Sibelius (1865-1957), the monument at first glance reminds me of a pipe organ. Maybe I was compelled to think so since Sibelious is a composer of music. This monument was a result of two competitions added with a heated public debate. In the end, it was Eila Hiltunen who won the competition and was commissioned to build this monument.

Sibelius Monument was unveiled on September 7, 1967.

Apparently, this wasn't part of Hiltunen's design. The Monument Committee requested a "figurative element" to be added - Sibelius' face during his creative age. This face was drawn by architect Juhani Kivikoski.

...the Sibelius Monument consists of approx. 600 acid-proof stainless steel tubes of various diameters, welded together individually and hand-textured by Eila Hiltunen. While several specialists were consulted on metallurgy, structural calculations and welding methods, the physical accomplishment of this structure, which measures 10.5 (length) by 6.5 (depth) by 8.5 (height) meters and weighs 30 tons, is the work of two people, Eila Hiltunen and assistant-metalworker Emil Kukkonen.(Source)

After visiting the Sibelius Park, we walked towards the back and found this peaceful lake.

Helsinki's weather in June is mild and pleasant. Given more time, I would have gladly spent my day having a picnic here.

Cafe by the lake.

And if you're paying attention, I've got new sneakers :).

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As many of you have noticed, kayni's corner cafe is becoming my travel journal. I've decided to make it a full time travel blog and if ever you're still interested to read some of my personal ramblings, they'd be posted at kassidy's notes. Thank you so much for always reading and commenting.

Helsinki's Temppeliaukion Kirkko

Travel in Europe is so convenient especially if you're planning to visit more than one country.  European countries are blessed with land borders yet it's amazing that you can still discern the differences between countries especially their language and traditions. I think this is because each citizen maintains a strong loyalty to their own birth country and to their own traditions. Another thing that amazes me is that, most of the people I met in Europe speak at least two to five languages.

Anyway, after visiting a few cities in Germany, we set foot on Helsinki, Finland. We decided to do the hop-on, hop-off bus and we found it to be very convenient. Also, Helsinki is an easy and friendly city to explore. I found the language so hard to understand and the signs/spellings really threw me off.

Street signs.

Lovely street.

I like how this building looks like a dome.

We arrived early at the temple and it was still closed. This is the entrance.

While waiting for the temple to open, we sat and relaxed at this garden located at the entrance.

When we finally entered the temple, I was filled with awe.

The church's walls are made of rocks. This is the altar - so simple yet the temple has a certain commanding presence that it is a place of worship.

I love how the rays of the sun shines freely inside the church.

According to the brochure, this Lutheran church was blasted out of solid rock.

The roof of the temple.

I couldn't get a good photo of how the temple looks like from atop, so here are three postcards I bought at a nearby shop.

If you are interested in great architecture or just want to find a place to worship or pray, I recommend this place.