Distractions, reflections

I’ve been going back to Helsinki one to three times per year over the past five years.  On the past few trips, I’ve been staying at the same apartment in the city centre, just behind the National Museum.  I usually land one day early so I can get over jet lag, and do a little visiting.  On the way to the grocery store at at Kamppi, I came up to the plaza and noticed another in the ever-changing schedule of activities.

The Finns can make hockey a year-round sport.  I noticed that the goal post and net are a smaller target than in the winter.

On another rink, women were making aggressive moves with their hockey sticks.

The next day was rainy.  I arranged to meet Ritva at one of my favourite places, Kiasma: the Museum of Contemporary Art.  I assume that the large pink writing described the show, because I still don’t read Finnish.  The Kiasma web site describes a show called  Fluid Street.

These 2005 “Modified Social Benches” by Jeppe Hein don’t encourage visitors to lounge.  Read more... (804 words, 29 images, estimated 3:13 mins reading time)

Continuing my round-the-world trip from Toronto to Tokyo to Beijing, I was in Helsinki for my shortest stay ever: 3 days. I’m often stayed in the west suburb of Espoo, but a short stay with a large potential for jet lag made an apartment in town more practical. In the city centre, it’s a close walk to the subway and bus station at Kamppi. There’s always something happening on the plaza.

On this day, there was a carnival. A magician would do tricks for you.

Old and young lined up to win prizes at putting.

I don’t often ride the metro in Helsinki because it doesn’t run to the suburbs. In town, though, it’s quick, and I can charge the fare on my mobile phone to run down the prepayments that I accumulate every 6 months to keep my phone number active.

One stop west is Ruoholahti. This area is near the sea, on the southwest side of the city.  Read more... (359 words, 12 images, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)