Easter in Helsinki

Today is kind of a bonus day.  Usually, I fly out on Saturday and arrive on Sunday.  This time, I got a cheaper flight flying out on Friday so my first full day is Sunday.  Easter Sunday, so I didn't expect to do much today.  I ended up doing more than I thought I could.

Woke up around 9am.  I hadn't figured out how to adjust the thermostat yet, so I was overheated all night.  Whoever stayed here before me liked the temperature oven like.  I had been forewarned that buildings in Helsinki are exceptionally insulated so I wasn't worried about being cold inside...but I wasn't ready for hot.  I've since figured it out.  What we have here is an old hot water radiator system with dials on each individual radiator.  Only one I haven't turned WAY down is in the shower room.

Bathroom situation is interesting and, I've been told, traditional.  Separate toilet room and shower room, which is not unusual in all of Europe.  However, the shower room is one room with a drain in the middle and the sink, mirror, etc on the other side of a half glass wall.  The washing machine is under the sink.  There is no door on the shower room...the doorway is a shower curtain.  The toilet room is so tiny that the door would hit your knees while using it.  Luckily, I don't have a roommate....

So, I puttered around, had breakfast, took my shower, and looked at the temperature.  Puttered around some more because it was 27 degrees out.  It ended up not getting much warmer, so I bit the bullet, layered on the clothes and headed out.   My destination: Market Square.

I started off not wearing my hat, but I ended up putting it on less than 15 minutes out the door.  I am destined to have hat head for this entire week.  It was actually a pretty nice walk with a few snow flurries along the way.  Streets were quiet, but not deserted.

I did make it to Market Square with no mishaps.  There were actually stalls set up too but, I think, not as many as would usually be there.

This is a fountain that is right before you get to the market itself.  The statue is named "Havis Amanda" and was sculpted in France by Ville Valgren. I told you it was cold!  The fountain is still running but there is plenty of ice there.

This is my first view of the Market.  Helsinki also has a giant ferris wheel, which seems to be a new trend in capital cities.

The stalls that were there today were full of local crafts and tourist goods.  I can do most of my shopping here.  I did hold off to wait to see if there are more vendors that show up on days that aren't holidays.

I also spent some time walking around the South Harbor area.

I watched one of the ferries head out for one of the islands off the coast.

I also saw this misleadingly Russian looking boat, which used to have the name "Nautilus" when it was used for fishing and marine research.  Renamed the "Nikolai II" is is a restaurant, but didn't look too open for business.  I think they must have been closed for Easter.  I did later find lots of good reviews, so I will have to check it out when I go back to the market.

Seen from the far side of the Market, this is Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral.  On my list of places to visit while I'm here.

After wandering around, peering in stalls, and freezing my butt off, I decided to leave the market.  I accidentally found the tourist information center, grabbed a bunch of brochures, and bought my Helsinki card.  It includes public transportation for 3 days and free admission to a buttload of museums (along with some other stuff).  Helpful guy in the tourist center advised me to wait until Tuesday to activate it as Museums are closed on Mondays.

I decided to wander around a bit and ended up in what appeared to be the shopping district.  Shocking, I know. However, I find a bit of interesting architecture.

This was a building I found particularly interesting.  

Especially this bit to the left of the doors

This is from a different part of the same building

Cool statues on a different building across the street.

I ended up finding a large department store so I could use the WC.  This was on the level with the grocery store area, so I ended up getting something for lunch along with some more cheese and Easter candy (cuz...it's Easter!).

I ended up back in my rental and have been drinking a buttload of hot tea.

Television here is an interesting mix of original Finnish programming or English language stuff (British or American) with Subtitles.  I'm watching some Michael Fassbender right now...

Unfortuately, I could not find Dr. Who...so I will suffer....