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July 4 Helsinki
Click a picture to see a
larger view.
Happy 4th of July! Seems we are making a habit of
celebrating Independence Day in foreign countries. This time it is Finland.
There were no fireworks, but at least the sun always shines this far north this
time of year.
This was day three of trying to keep things Scandinavian
assigned to the correct country. OK, Ikea is Swedish and Nokia is Danish,
right? Actually, visiting the countries gives you a vivid sense of each that
you will not either forget or confuse. Now we are in Finland and found its character
quite distinct as well.
Helsinki is not an ancient city. Everything
is new and we found the city to be limited in its attraction. However, this was
the first country where we took a trip out into the countryside, and that was a
delight.
We
first stopped at the small town of Porvoor. The town is now a
shopping Mecca
for tour buses offering a variety of small shops along two cobblestone streets.
The one shop I did enjoy was the one selling chocolates. It was very popular
and I had to stock up.
We then headed to a horse
farm worked by several generations of a family. The family brought out several
show horses. Beautiful animals. We then had a typical Finnish lunch served in
the family home. Finland
has a great countryside. Visitors would do well to set out at once for the
country.
Back into Helsinki, we visited a
most unusual church. There was a huge rock in the center of Helsinki into which a couple of enterprising
men blasted a hole for the sanctuary of a church. The Scandinavians are not
church goers – fewer than five percent attend services. However, one had to
appreciate the novelty of the church if nothing else.
We then stopped near the old
port for sidewalk shopping. This area is framed by a fine old church and public
buildings. However, Helsinki had Stockholm as a hard act to
follow. 
Back on board the ship that night we were treated to some 4th
of July enhancements to dinner, but alas, no fireworks.
