Streets of Helsinki - Part 1

 Helsinki is a relatively new city. At 1.4 million, in the greater metropolitan area, it has lots of models of transport, plenty of green areas including large green belts radiating from the center of town, and ranks highly in livable cities of the world. It was the capital city of Finland in 1812, because Russian Emperor Alexander the First said so. Because Finland had been taken over by Russia in 1809, they did so. Before 1812, it was a small town but lots of money for infrastructure was poured into building by the Russian government to resemble the neoclassical buildings being put up in St Petersberg.

This is Hotel Kamp. It was originally built in 1885, demolished and facade redone in 1965 by a bank, then bought back by the Hotel Kamp line in the mid 90's and restructured with classic elegance.

A solar powered birdhouse because why not. It might be for a camera inside the birdhouse.

Some stone turtles, also just because.

This body of water leads to the Baltic Sea. We saw many people using it for travel in large boats and small.

The Kalio church, is a Lutheran church completed in 1912 and is popular for concerts due to its acoustics. Most Finnish people either believe there is a life-force or spirit or no life force, spirit, or god. Only a third of the populace believes there is a god. Therefore most churches rent out their space for musical concerts.

An example of the architecture, streets, and tram lines in the downtown core.