August 24, 2013 – Baltic Cruise Helsinki, Finland

We arrive in the Norwegian city of Helsinki. Another warm sunny day with a temperature of 71 degrees. Very, very lucky with the weather so far.

Welcoming sign at the ship dock.

  

Far more park area in Helsinki than in Copenhagen or Stockholm.

Below, the tower and stadium built for the 1952 Olympic games held in Helsinki.

Copenhagen, Stockholm and now Helsinki all have old tram systems that still work today.

 

Above, the very modern Helsinki Opera House.

National Library of Finland above and complex of buildings making up the Nokia Company below.

Nice broad sidewalks in the shopping area.

Below, buildings in the central business/shopping district.

Outdoor market at the seafront. Food, vegetable vendors, seafood vendors and a few souvenir vendors. Very lively and much fun to stroll.

Famous Stockman’s Department Store in Helsinki and below, the Finnish National Cathedral.

Views of the waterfront of the city on a site seeing bus tour.

Modern apartment buildings below.

 

Below is the famous Ekberg Bakery in Helsinki.

  Small food kiosk in operation since 1893!

Elaine in the open air market beside the seafront.

 

Above, the National Lutheran Church of Finland.

We stop at one of the many very formal coffee/pastry shops in Helsinki. The Fins love their coffee and pastry.

A stroll along the pedestrian boulevard located in what is called “The Police Garden” so named because the police force was allowed to establish vegetable gardens in this area to supplement their income. Below, a bride arrives to take some wedding photos in the park area making up the boulevard median.

A close up photo of her ring.

Above and below, the famous Stockman’s Department Store. The older part of the building above is the original store. It was later expanded and connected to the modern building adjacent to it. It now takes up the whole block and is 8 stories of shopping. Below, Elaine likes the 8 shopping floors, but sadly for her, we did not have time to explore all the floors.

The “Grotesk (Grotesque) Bar?” Don’t ask.

Map view of the city of Helsinki and its many islands.