MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008, HELSINKI, FINLAND

MONDAY, MAY 12, 2008 - HELSINKI, FINLAND - After the two full days in Saint Petersburg, we rather welcomed the "slower pace" of this day in Helsinki.

This is our first sight of Helsinki, Finland looking through the drapes on the ship.

I think we're seeing a park or a large house with beautiful grounds.

And, a church.  Somewhat similar to some of those we saw in Russia.

Guess you might recognize these folks?

I found this street sign interesting...even though I don't quite understand it.

 It appears the street might be somewhat wet.  Think it was raining lightly.

 City views follow...

Our tour stopped at the Rock Church.  Temppeliaukio Church is a Lutheran church in a neighborhood of Helsinki.  The church was designed by two architects, who were brothers, and opened in 1969.  Built directly into solid rock, it is also known as the Church of the Rock and Rock Church.  (There's really not much to see from the outside).  Plans for the temple square where the church is located began as early as the 1930s when a plot of land was selected for the building and a competition for the design was held.  The selected plan was interrupted in its early stages when World War II began in 1939.  After the war, there was another architectural competition in 1961 which was won by a second group of architects.  For economic reasons, the suggested plan was scaled back and the interior space of the church then reduced to about one-quarter of its original plan.  Construction finally began in 1968, and the rock-temple was completed for consecration in September 1969.

The interior was excavated and built directly out of solid rock and is bathed in natural light which enters through a skylight surrounding the center copper dome.  The church is used frequently as a concert venue due to its excellent acoustics.

And, I admired the organ.

Our next stop was at the nearby Sibelius Monument which is dedicated to the Finnish composer Jean Sibelius (1865-1957).   Below is a picture of the Sibelius Monument dedicated to Sibelius located in the Sibelius Park in Helsinki.  The park was designed with 600 carved cylinders representing both organ pipes and silver birch trees, the national tree of Finland. 

This two-part monument to the great composer is quite unique in style, covering both a likeness of Sibelius, his head perched on a stone wall, and a free-flowing rendition of musical pipes, all done up in silver tones.  Rather amazing in concept and utterly perfect in execution.  The park-like setting adds a neutral backdrop so you can contemplate the expressiveness of the setting, and maybe even  try tapping the overhead pipes.

While I enjoy hearing many of the compositions of Sibelius, my favorite is Finlandia.

 

It's May and there are blooms even this far north.

 We stopped at another church...

 And, this sign that was flying near the church steeple.  I thought it was probably a nice religious declaration.  When I "googled" it for translation it came out:  "seat of the Bible belt; conservative"; it might mean a church that is part of a group defined by the coastal region that is more conservative in doctrine.

I thought the churchyard was very pretty.

 The buildings are attractive.  The cars have American influence in models and brands.

(The following pictures are taken looking through the window of the bus).

Perhaps the back side of the rock church or a similar rock.

 This pretty building with the familiar golden arches at the bottom right of the picture.

And, back near the dock, we find a travel ship that will take us to Tallinn on a cruise.