Engel's downtown

Despite sleeping till noon today, I took the bus downtown and snapped some pics. These may be the first and last images I share for a while, because my mac charger only works on apple products. My battery is so low I must ration it from now on.

My main impressions of Helsinki were that it seemed to be a real blend of the Swedish and Russian influences. The buildings are rectangular and Scandi, but then they are topped with onion-domes. I am definitely going to pursue a tourist VISA to Russia so I can check out St. Petersburg. I also intend to take a weekend trip to Stockholm.

Apparently, most of the city was designed in the early 19th century by Carl Engel. I don't know if it was just the time, or if it was Engel's aesthetic, but this is a very feminine looking city. The most common color scheme is pale yellow with white trim. Engel's dome, which punctuates the skyline and marks Senate Square, is white with baby blue onion-domes trimmed in gold. The city feels safe and super-pleasant, but eerily deserted on a Saturday afternoon. Businesses aren't open long on weekends, and I didn't see many Finns out wandering the streets, so I wonder where they hide-out. I've read that many Finns have country homes in the Lake District, so maybe they are all getting a last taste of summer. I did see some people congregating at cafes with terraces.

Tomorrow I am either going to the Cable Factory to price discount designer goods, or to the Hakaniemi Open Market. After that, if it isn't raining, I am going to walk around the nearby Botanic Garden.

The only umbrella I saw was marimekko, and it was 32 euros. It was lovely, but that is a bit of a princely sum for my needs. Of all the things I brought, I forgot rain gear.

Next weekend I think I will check out the Suomenlinna Sea Fortress. Once the fall colors are in effect, which could be weekend after next, I am going to take the bus out to Nuuksio National Park. It looks so beautiful. Flying in I saw how Finland was splattered with lakes, and covered in tall Firs. Even in the city, it is still fairly lush. There are abundant trees and moss.