Dipping into Helsinki

I haven't done much traditional sightseeing so far in Helsinki. Not a single museum.  Yesterday, I started with a late morning swim at the Yrjonkadum Swimming Hall.  This pool is open on alternate days for women (and men the other days) and bathing suits are optional.  In fact, they have only been allowed at the pools since 2001.  So I took my time getting changed and took note of what other people were doing.  This is not the occasion when you want to walk naked across the room and then discover it's bad form to do so (it's not).  There's no frolicking.  Just two lanes for swimmers and one for walkers.  The walkers seem to be a bit of a social occasion as they slowly walk two by two up and down the pool.  It's a nice way to swim, I think we need a pool like this at home.

Two churches were next.  I've visited a lot of old churches so I chose to see the newer ones in Helsinki.  The Chapel of Silence which is in the centre of Helsinki and is run by Social Services.  Anyone can drop in and enjoy the peace, have a coffee and chat to one of the social workers if they feel the need.  The Rock Church was excavated out of the rock and solid rocks now form it's walls, complete with a little trickle of water down one wall.  It was an interesting building. 

I ended the day with an ice hockey match.  The Jokerits (Helsinki) were playing the Blues (nearby Espoo).  It's a great game to watch.  Like ice dancing without the sparkly dresses.  Um and the occasional smashing someone from the other team against the wall.  The crowd was great.  There seems to be a mosh pit at each end from which each team's fans jump up and down in unison and shout and sing.  Then there was the zombie moment that seems to mean something to the Jokerit team.  Having decided that I would cheer for the home team, I was very happy that they won.  It was a close game with the Blues coming close to equalising right down to the final seconds.

Today I walked out to the Cable Factory where there was an antique fair on.  There was some really nice (and really expensive) things.  I was quite taken by some paintings by Elvi Maarni.  A bargain at just 4,500 Euros each.  I settled for a pair of earrings.  At just 5 euros, I think they are more second-hand than antique, but I like them.  Think I'll wear them out to dinner tonight.

This afternoon, I caught the ferry to Suomenlinna Fortress.  The fortress is build across two islands and you can walk around the old cannons and through some of the tunnels.  It has a church on it (dedicated to Alexander Nevsky - you remember him?) which also doubles as a lighthouse.  It had been lightly snowing on and off throughout the day, but it started snowing more heavily while I was on the island with the snow settling on the ground rather than melting.  By the time I got back to Helsinki, the streets were covered in a sheen of snow, making everything look a um whiter shade of pale.