Exploring Helsinki

Day 1: Sunday, April 16th

We arrived in Helsinki at about 6:30 PM local time. On our drive from the airport we saw the Opera House, the Parliament building, and an amusement park. After checking in at Hotel Anna, some of the group decided to explore and find dinner. Due to it being late on Easter Sunday, not many restaurants were open so we settled on Big Mama's, an Italian/Mediterranean restaurant near the hotel.

Day 2: Monday, April 17th

We started our day with breakfast at our hotel and a 3 hour guided tour around Helsinki. We saw many of the city's most famous landmarks, including the Temppeliaukion kirkko, or Rock Church, the Sibelius Monument, Helsingin tuomiokirkko, or the Helsinki Cathedral, and Stockmann, one of the biggest department stores in Europe with its own grocery store. The weather has been brisk, to say the least! Each day we've had steady flurries, and today we got to see the fountain in the middle of the esplanade frozen over. We finished the day with a group dinner at the lovely Kapelli restaurant.

Morning at Hotel Anna

Beginning of our Tour at Senate Square and the Helsinki Cathedral

The Baltic Sea

The Newspaper Building and Modern Art Museum

The Sibelius Monument

(We can all be a little grumpy!)

The Rock Church

The Outdoor Market

Streets of Helsinki

Stockmann Department Store

(and grocery store!)

Summer modeling a sauna hat!

The fanciest Burger King, found in the Helsinki Train Station

Kapelli Restaurant

Appetizer of Reindeer and Wild Boar

Various Dinners

Carol and her new hat

Day 3: Tuesday, 4/18

We started today with some free time to further explore the city. Some of the group went off to explore the markets and shops, others went to check out the museums. At 2:30 we met with a representative from the University of Helsinki to begin our orientation to the program. After the meeting, many of us dined at a traditional Finnish restaurant, Savatto.

A Helsinki Bookstore

Kiasma, the Helsinki Modern Art Museum

Walking through the City

Inside the Helsinki Cathedral

The Helsinki City Museum

Dinner at Savotta

Day 4: Wednesday, April 19th

We spent Wednesday morning on our first school visit in Espoo, returning to Helsinki to meet at the University of Helsinki. After our meeting, we were free for some short city exploration time.

Ekberg Bakery

A Russian store, with Russian books, magazines, snacks, newspapers, etc. Finland shares a long border with Russia and was under Russian control for quite some time. This is Finland's 100th anniversary of their independence, but there is still a lot of Russian influence.

Public Library

Marimekko! Crate & Barrel fans will recognize this print.

What's with the asparagus, Helsinki?

Day 5: Thursday, April 20th

Today we visited Normal Lyceum Secondary School here in Helsinki. This gave us plenty of time to explore in the afternoon, as school let out at 2:20. The group decided to take a ferry to visit Suomenlinna, an island just outside the harbor that has been declared an Unesco World Heritage site due to its historical fortress, built by the Swedes and used by the Russians, it is now home to a few hundred permanent residents, shops, and restaurants. In the summer, residents of Helsinki flock to Suomenlinna for picnics.

Our tickets for the ferry, which the Finnish people are so trusting that they do not even check or collect. This ship goes back and forth to Sweden.

Suomenlinna

Willow twigs and feathers for the traditional Finnish Easter witches!

Dinner on Suomenlinna

View from my room at Hotel Anna

Day 6: Friday, April 21st

We started our day back at the University of Helsinki, participating in discussions and lectures on teacher training, mathematical thinking, and early childhood education. After a wonderful week with our University friends and contacts, we said goodbye and went out for our final exploration of the city.

Breakfast at the hotel