Welcome to Helsinki, Finland, known as the “White City of the North” because of its Neoclassic and Art Nouveau buildings constructed of indigenous white-colored granite. Spring is a delightful time to see the city: Lilacs in full bloom add much color & perfume the air. Unfortunately, we did not see much of the city – just a 3-hour bus tour called “Glimpse of Finland,” glimpse being the operative word: If you blink you might miss the sights on Viking’s included bus tour. We did see the city’s iconic Sibelius Park, its mammoth icebreakers (resting side by side for the summer), Senate and Market Squares as well as the home of Finland’s fair-haired boy, Kimi Räikkönen, of Formula 1 fame.
This year Finland is celebrating its 100th anniversary of independence from Russia. The country’s national pride is immediately evident in Helsinki – in its monument to composer Sibelius and its military recruiting show in Senate Square next to a statue of Alexander II, a constant reminder of its close relationship with Imperial Russia. We concluded our bus tour with a stop at the city’s Market Square with its impressive array of Finnish food.
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