Our First Afternoon in Helsinki
By the time we arrived in the Holiday Inn Helsinki City Center and checked in, it was already past 7 pm. I took a shower and freshened up. Then we took a quick stroll around the city center.
The Lutheran Cathedral in Senate Square. The locals simply call it the Cathedral.
I first saw this Helsinki landmark on Rick Steeves travel show. I sure was glad to have had this time to visit it in person.
Here I am in front of the Cathedral.
The monument of Russian Czar Alexander II in the middle of Senate Square.
This was a lighthouse ship now parked and serves as a restaurant. It has a gift shop inside it too.
The Uspenski Cathedral (Russian Orthodox)
This brick building was so elegant and imposing to look at. We got to visit it and see its absolutely amazing interiors on our first full day of vacation this summer.
In front of the Uspenski Cathedral
A partial view of the Uspenski Cathedral
A view of the facade of the Uspenski Cathedral
The Viking Ferry
We checked this ferry line's terminal close to Market Square. There were many people disembarking after having spent a day in Tallinn for a shopping and sightseeing excursion.
The statue of the Three Blacksmiths close to Stockmann Department Store.
One of Helsinki's main shopping streets
The FORUM Mall, one of the malls we saw and visited in downtown Helsinki