Disney Cruise Baltic Sea: Helsinki
The Helsinki Cathedral is by far the most iconic structure of the city.
On our fifth day on board the Disney Cruise, we docked off in Helsinki, Finland. Looking outside from our window cabin, the weather didn't seem to foretell anything amiss. But when our bus dropped us off at our designated area, we were in for a surprise, we didn't expect was a strong gust of wind billowing on us as we ventured on to see the city. Then the rains fell, but that didn't dampen our spirit of exploration and trod on by foot.
Our bus dropped us off in Scandic Marski. From there we traversed the city.
That mandatory father-daughter picture before digging in some eats on the go.
Used by approximately 200,000 passengers daily and making it Finland's most-visited building, the Helsinki Central Station has also estimated that over 400,000 people check the time when passing its 48.5m high clock tower. Covered in Finnish granite, its distinguishing features are its clock tower and the two pairs of statues, otherwise known as the "Lantern Carriers" by Emil Wikström that the spherical lamps on both sides of the main entrance.
The Helsinki Central Station, or the Hall of Justice Building according to Alex, is an art nouveau edifice designed by Eliel Saarinen that opened in 1919.
One can experience exceptional Finnish performing artist at the Finnish National Theater. The place comes alive with shows that will surely enthrall the audience. The plays that are selected are theme-based and thought-provoking that can delight and transport you back in history. Walking within its interior, one can savor the intricate detailing and unique glass paintings as well as a tour of its magnificent halls and witness great acoustics. Lokals have always known the theater to be haunted. Who knows, maybe during a performance night, you may chance upon the infamous Grey Lady and famous Finnish actors, Urho Somersalmi and Aarne Leppänen.
Founded in 1872, the Finnish National Theatre is the oldest theatre that performs in the Finnish language in Finland. The building is a masterpiece by architect Onni Törnqvist-Tarjanne designed in 1902.
I just couldn't resist. Alexis meet Alexis Kivi, one of the great Finnish writers and author of the novel Seven Brothers.
The Senate Square, as well as its surroundings, form a one of a kind and cohesive example of Neoclassical architecture. The square is dominated by four buildings designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in the years 1778-1840. They are the Helsinki Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the main building of the University of Helsinki and the National Library of Finland.
The Senate Square also hosts a sound installation called the Sound of the Senate Square. It is lokal equivalent of the European glockenspiel that can be heard every day at 5:49pm as it travels from one building to the next. The composition by Harri Viitanen and Jyrki Alakuijala can be heard for 5 minutes and 18 seconds.
It is said that Alexander II, Tsar of Russia and Grand Duke of Finland, inspired confidence in his Finnish subjects. Following his assassination in 1881, a competition for a memorial was organized in 1884 calling every sculptor in Finland to participate. Initially, Johannes Takanen won the match by a narrow margin with Walter Runeberg taking second place, and a joint commision was declared. However, Takanen died in 1885 leaving the work to Runeberg instead. It is said that the judges had given particular acclaim to Takanen’s treatment of the Tsar's figure. However, from the very beginning, the judges had been fascinated by the entry that Walter Runeberg included on the pedestal.
Runeberg created the monarch’s figure according to Takanen’s images and included it’s symbolic pedestal figures representing Law, Light (Science and Art), Peace and Work (Lex, Lux, Pax, and Labor). The statue symbolizing law was the maiden of Finland wearing a bearskin. The very same maiden can also be seen in the pedestal of Runeberg’s memorial to Finland’s national poet J. L. Runeberg, located in the Esplanadi park.
The Helsinki Cathedral rises on the northern side of the Senate Square is by Carl Ludvig Engel. It's set as the stage for both national as well as festive academic services, and one of the most popular tourist sights throughout Helsinki. Formerly called St. Nicholas Church and Great Cathedral, the current main church of the Helsinki Diocese was completed in 1852.
Twelve sculptures of the apostle serve as the city's guardians. Exhibitions at the Cathedral Crypt or Kirkkokatu 18 are available during the summer months and a souvenir shop called the Cathedral Shop.
The church is the center of Helsinki's Empire and a landmark for those arriving by sea and has become the symbol of the city.
The Ateneum is home of Finnish art and Finland's best-known art museum. The famous works in Ateneum's collections date from the 19th century to the modern age that holds the collective memory of the Finnish people. The hugely popular exhibitions of Finnish and international art ushers in new perspectives into the past and the future. On display until 2020 are the Stories of Finnish Art exhibition celebrates the Ateneum collections. Visitors are guided through the development of Finnish art from 1809 until the 1960s. Side by side on display are Finnish and international masterpieces from Ateneum's collections, such as Le Corbusier's Two Women, Eero Järnefelt's Under the Yoke or Burning the Brushwood, and Edvard Munch's Bathing Men just to name a few.
The Ateneum is home to a myriad of events. The museum organizes monthly workshops, lectures, guided tours, and clubs meetings. Ateneum also hosts a museum shop and a Bistro. The Ateneum Art Museum is a member of the Finnish National Gallery, together with the Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma and Sinebrychoff Art Museum.
As we headed back to the bus, we walked a little more around the city and stopped by several stores to do some shopping ... and it was a good thing too because suddenly, hail started falling and we had to duck for cover. Thankfully, they weren't the size of baseballs but that of golf balls and meatballs instead. Either way, we didn't want to feel them banging on our heads as we walked around Helsinki. Coming out of our shelter, the weather was almost freezing -- even in June -- and we immediately sought the warmth and refuge of our bus. As we arrived near our ship, we were greeted by none other than Santa! It suddenly occurred to me that the Finnish believed that Santa Claus or Father Christmas lived in the northern part of Finland called Korvatunturi or Lapland. It was an additional treat for the kids to meet a real Santa -- you couldn't get more original than that!
