Destination: Helsinki, Finland

The first thought that comes to mind when hearing “Finland” might be Nokia phones for the older generation and Angry Birds for the younger — that is, if you’re one of those who actually flipped open one very old Nokia phone or follows the Angry Birds news updates. Helsinki is the capital of Finland, one of the most northern countries in the European continent. It’s so up north that one can take approximately 12 hours to reach Lapland, an area known to border the North Pole and within the Arctic Circle. Finland is somewhat of a different place from its close counterpart Sweden. It’s a country of hundreds of islands, lakes, and thousands of acres of forestland. Finnish is the main language spoken, but Swedish is also very common: Many areas alongside the western region are Swedish speakers only, and many cities and towns are bilingual. English speakers are found everywhere as well, which is not so common among other EU neighbors, so thumbs up for Finland.
Finland is the home of ice and winter and gorgeous green landscapes in the summer. The Nordic country has a small population that is mainly concentrated in the south, near Helsinki. The trendy capital is a very laid-back city, yet very high in technology and fashion. It is full of galleries, quaint museums mirroring the city’s rich cultural heritage, fabulous boulevards with boutiques, fascinating restaurants and elegant cafés, and much more. Even with all the benefits provided in this modern world, the Finns are very close to nature, taking every necessary step in preserving their forests and natural wildlife. For every tree knocked down, sixs trees replace it. Many Finns prefer to live around the outskirts of the city among one of its islands connected by a series of bridges. A typical Finnish home must include a small red cottage in the backyard with white-rimmed wood linings. Many of the cottages include saunas and fire places as well.
As a tourist, the seasons best to visit are both winter and summer. Wintertime is harsh and very cold: Days are very short, sometimes as short as 5-6 hours, but it is still a very different experience. Winter spans from around the end of October until April, with permanent snow covering the ground all throughout these months. The Baltic Sea and Gulf of Finland freeze and may ice over in harsh winters. It is then thick enough to walk a whole kilometer in. Ice fishing is a known pastime practiced by many. There are all sorts of games and sports activities done even during the winter. One very exciting and favorite pastime winter activity is sitting in the sauna — which is included in every Finnish home — then running and jumping straight into the frozen seawater. There’s an etiquette regarding the sauna, but this is not for the faint hearted. It’s said to have good medical benefits, but one must not have any cardiovascular complications or other life-threatening problems. The Finns call this avantouinti (ice-whole swimming) or the Polar Bear Plunge, so do not be surprised if you find an old man run and jump in freezing water; it’s just natural to them. The Finns are very athletic and it helps with the long winter nights to stay in good physical and psychological health. Temperatures can go as low as -35 degrees Celsius in the south and -50 degrees Celsius in the north, not including wind chill.
As a winter visitor, it’s best to head north to Lapland and experience a great and wonderful phenomenon known as the aurora borealis. “Polar Night” is when the sun does not rise above the horizon at all — due to the earth tilting away from the sun — and if you head even more north, the sun might not even shine at all. There are many cabin resorts available for tourists and one very intriguing snow village 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle. The snow village is constructed on a yearly basis and provides many attractions as skiing, snowmobile safari, husky dog safari, reindeer safari, ice sculpting, and much more. Hotel rooms in the Snow Hotel are all made of ice, the beds are made from ice blocks, the floors, the walls — everything is made of ice. The restaurant interior is also made of ice; the plates, tables, chairs and drinks are served in hollowed ice cubes as well. If the weather permits, the auroras are shown clearly in the night sky with stars covering every inch of it as far as the eyes can see, something not many can say to have seen. It is truly an experience one is bound to not forget.
Summer is another great season in Finland, with temperatures are as high as 30 degrees Celsius. Every year on June 20 or 21 comes midsummer day, the longest day of the year with the sun rising from the east and setting in the west with mere minutes until it rises up again from the East, a continuous daylight. The weather is always nice during the summer, with cool evenings and bright sunny days to trek around Helsinki or visit nearby cities such as Porvoo or Naantali. Naantali is located on Finland’s south shores with many beaches and ports lined with boardwalk restaurants and cafés. One very special kids’ park is Moomin World, based on the book characters by Swedish-speaking Finnish author and illustrator Tove Jansson. A show based on her books was aired on Saudi TV Channel 2 in the 1980s. They’re a family of white round trolls, often resembling hippos with long round snouts that have many adventures with their friends.
There are daily trips to neighboring Stockholm on the Viking Line or the Silja Line. The cruises launch every 12 hours, and there are day trips and overnight stays depending on the preference. The cruises are available all year long. Many tourist attractions are easier to visit in the summer days though. The great fortress of Suomenlinna is easier to get to by boat in summer than in wintertime. Many open-air cafés are seen throughout the city of Helsinki, mainly in the Esplanadi Boulevard and Mannerheimintie Boulevard areas. Both sides are divided by a public park that connects the port with the shopping areas. Many Finnish and international clothing stores can be found, as well as small design and interior stores.
Helsinki is a city with its own flare. It’s a calm, serene city with an easy flow of tourists that are attracted to its many maritime activities as well as their creative art and architecture. One interesting feature that confuses many tourists is street signs, which are written in both Finnish and Swedish. A must-visit location in the summer is the Kauppatori or Market Square bazaar, which has many handcrafted keepsakes. A great Russian Orthodox church stands in the background. It is known for its massive gold dome heads and bright red brick exterior. Swedish and Russian influences can be seen in many areas around the city, and the Finns have held on to their heritage very well, but have also accepted their neighbors’ influence. Helsinki is a hub for many stopovers and a welcoming change from the lavish and sometimes too extravagant cities of Europe. It’s a destination city for those who seek tranquility and a remarkable experience.
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