Day 35 Helsinki

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Tish still needed rest to vercome her illness so Andrew headed out to Suomenlinna Island which is a UNESCO sea fort originally constructed by the Swedes when they invaded ad conquered this part of the world but as a sea fort, it was used by Russia in the 1800’s and Germany & the Soviet Union in the 1900’s. The fort is pretty much intact and there are 800 people living in the accommodations on the island which ensures buildings and structures are maintained. The stone structures including bunkers and tunnels are impressive and there is plenty of Military hardware around the islands to give the visitor an idea of life in the fort. Th most impressive structure is the dry dock which used a windmill and horse driven pump to empty the drydock after a boat is secured in the dock. But the best thing about the island fort is the views of Helsinki and the hundreds of smaller islands adjacent.

After returning to the mainland, Andrew took a tram trip to see the Sibelius Monument which is a tube monument in the Taka-Toola area of Helsinki. Andrew then returned to the apartment and met up with Tish and an evening visit to the Finlandia Hall, an impressive 1971 arts and entertainment complex follows by a walk around Toloviken Lake including climbing high above the lake to a cafe where we enjoyed some coffee, donuts and cake before heading over the train line to Helsinki City Theatre and listening to a concert by a couple of local performers one of which was Astrid Storm when we were there.

We then made our way to the Helsinki Amusement Park which is perched high on a hill with numerous rock outcrops where we checked out the rides and grabbed a bite to eat however the amusements were turned off at 9:00 am so we made our way to the trams stop and caught Tram No 1 and Tram No 4 back to the apartment.

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Photos

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The ferry arrives to take Andrew over to Suomenlinna Island to visit the UNESCO Military Fort

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Andrew heads out to Suomenlinna Island and the UNESCO Sea Fort leaving Helsinki south harbour behind

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The Helsinki Marketplace is left in our wake as we head to Suomenlinna Island

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Helsinki south harbour has 4 cruise ships docked as we cruise past on the way out to Suomenlinna Island

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A great view of two cruise ships docked in Helsinki south harbour as Andrew heads out to Suomenlinna Island

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Part of the fence around the soldiers church on Suomenlinna Island

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Canons guarding the sea fort on Suomenlinna Island

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Unique chain fence around the soldiers church on Suomenlinna Island

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Inside the soldiers church on Suomenlinna Island

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Some of the fantastic views on Suomenlinna Island

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Fantastic visual and audio exhibition in a dark warehouse as part of the sea for on Suomenlinna Island

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Some of thge bunker complexes at the sea fort on Suomenlinna Island

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Fungi on street on Suomenlinna Island

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Dry dock on Suomenlinna used by the Swedes, Russians, Nazis, Soviet Union and finally Finland

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Islands off the south point of Suomenlinna Island

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Bridge between the first and second island at Suomenlinna Island

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Canons protecting the southernmost island on Suomenlinna Island

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The rest of the Sibelius Monument in Helsinki

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The Sibelius Monument in Helsinki

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We stop for coffee, donut and cake at a cafe high above Toloviken Lake

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Sculpture outside the Helsinki Theatre