What a delightful surprise is Helsinki! The capital city of Finland is surrounded on three sides by the ocean, which is visible from almost any part.
Our day began with a bus tour of the old part of the city, with photo stops at the Lutheran Cathedral church (built when Finland was under Russian rule, so it has domes like a Russian Orthodox Church), at the memorial for the famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (above), and at the "rock church", built into the bedrock so that the chancel and nave are underground. It probably is very serene, but at the time of our visit, it was packed with tourists.
After lunch we took a shuttle bus back to the town center for a stroll along the streets and the outdoor market place. More than the usual souvenirs, vendors offered fruits, vegetables, furs, wool, and items made with reindeer antlers. Further up the streets were big name stores with the usual big name prices.
Back on the ship, which set sail for Sweden at 4 pm, we attended a lecture of the birth of Russian Impressionism by Al Miner, the Captain's farewell reception, and another lecture on "The Future of the Common Market" by Rob Warne. Later tonight we will hear a concert of the music of that Swedish group "ABBA".
Tomorrow: Stockholm and the end of our cruise. All good things must come to an end...
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