Finally a clock that tells the true time

Post for 1 September

After a late night we had arranged with Riikka to meet us for breakfast at 9 am at the Albert Hotel.  In the end, we sent her a message this morning and put everything back 30 minutes.  We don't need to check out until noon, so it makes it easy.

Both of the major churches that we want to see have services this morning and are not open to visitors until after 12 anyway.
It was certainly worth the measly €8 for the convenience of having the car on-site. We have got the packing down pat now and having sent some of our clothing, shoes and books etc back by post, we now have more balanced and lighter suitcases.  So right at noon we pack the bags into the car and wriggle out of the very tight car space.

Or first stop is at Uspenski Cathedral.  We park right in front in a private car park. Either not too many people know about this hidden gem, or are not prepared to pay €5 for an hour's visit. I don't care and really are appreciative of the fact that I don't need to walk too far!  And finally, a Church clock that has the correct time!!

This is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, and the main cathedral of the Orthodox Church of Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). Its name comes from the Old Church Slavonic word uspenie. It is built in the Russian Orthodox style with gold plated orbs atop the turrets and church high points. Riikka has explained that if you want to be officially recorded in a religion, and have the option of choosing religious education for your children, then you need to pay a religious tax in Finland. The joke is that most of the tax goes to replace or add to the gold leaf atop this Cathedral on a regular basis.  

There are signs at the entrances saying 'No Tourists' but after countless others push past us to walk in, and some soul-searching on our part, we decided to also take a quick peek.

Inside the air is thick with the remnants of the incense used in the services this morning and it creates and it creates whorls as the sunlight streams through from the windows.  It is ornate with gilt and iconographic pieces.  As we are here, a small wedding party has arrived in a late model Porsche and is directed to the Krypt - presumably for their service.

While not particularly old, the Cathedral is striking from near and far with that gleaming gold against the green capped rooflines.

The next church we visit is in the other quarter of the waterside centre.  This is the Helsinki Lutheran Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko). This is a very large imposing white building with a green domed roof.  It towers over the large and impressive Senate Square. 

Getting a car park in the street below the Cathedral, we entered through the Krypt that was currently home to an interesting art exhibition by Makela Pirkko. 

Inside, this building is humble and understated and is in direct contrast to the ornate orthodox church we have just seen.  The Lutheran religion does not put the emphasis on the altar, but rather, on the pulpit where the priest preaches the word of God.  

The young, female priest, dressed in a brightly coloured striped dress leaves as we take a seat in the pew.  She was not more than 35.

We wandered out to the top of the steps of the Senate Square, observing the very geometric layout of the architecture around this impressive square.  Down around the fountain, there is a flurry of activity which appears to be the packup after last night's Midnight Run through Helsinki - celebrating the last day of Summer here!

After this, Riikka gave us an hour tour through the streets of Helsinki and out along the waterside residential areas.  I particularly loved the new Helsinki Wave Library set is wide, open lawned areas.

We finally dropped her off outside Taro's home with lots of hugs and kisses and genuine love.  It has been so lovely to spend special time with her and to have time with the family generally.  We are already planning to catch up again when Riikka and Runo come out to Australia looking at job opportunities next March or April. 

Flying to Stockholm tonight, we say goodbye to Finland and watch some of their thousand of islands and islets dwarf as we move away, and the fingers of water that move into the countryside slip away.  As we near Sweden, the clouds start to appear.  Once we are over this coastline, it is evident that although there are some islands off the coast and rivers extending away from the coast, there is not as many as Finland.  And the forests here are denser, more tightly sown and yet another different green.  So close, and yet already we see the differences.











The clouds thickened, the cotton wool became denser, the plane shuddered a few times, buffeted by the storm and just under the hour later, we landed at Stockholm (Arlanda) airport.  I pulled my irksome ankle as we walked the half kilometre from the gate to the baggage claim area. So now I am really hobbling.

We caught a cab to the Raddison Blu Arlandia hotel and have already decided that we will book another night and have a rest day tomorrow to try to soothe it.  The cabbie told us it had been raining on and off today and we promised him clear skies tomorrow.  He laughed it off and we had to convince him that we have taken the sunshine everywhere we have been!


Dinner tonight was ordered in - Donna had a HUGE Caesar Salad with Chicken and I had the Swedish Meatballs with Lingonberries and mashed potato.  Nice to just veg.