Finland is a fine land (28 hours in Helsinki)

 

Greetings from the airport in Bangkok, Thailand where we wait for our flight to Laos. As Lori said on the plane – between the Manchester and Helsinki preliminaries, it almost feels as if we’re completing our holidays before they actually start. For reasons beyond explanation, other than karmic interference, getting to Vientiane, Laos from Manchester,England involved flying Manchester-Frankfurt-Helsinki-Franfurt-Bangkok-Vientiane. Why the first Frankfurt-Helsinki run was part of the gig instead of just going Man-Frank-Bang-Vien is beyond me. But since Trevor and Juli, completely independent of Lori’s and my plans, were arriving in Helsinki to spend Xmas with her family on the same day as we were scheduled to arrive, I took it as a direct intervention from the gods of travel, (with whom we have a fairly extensive relationship) and went. As is oft the case them travel gods did not disappoint.

Juli helped us find a place to stay, right in the core of the city. It was a step above hostel but was clean, cheap, and the layout exemplified the type of spatial efficiency associated with Scandinavia (editor’s note – Finland is not part of Scandinavia, a fact lost on most of the world including a goodly number of Finns). It was fun to mentally revisit the style of accommodations that typified many earlier travel years that reflected both Lori’s and my previous experiences.

So here’s the take on Suomi. Sunrise – 9:12, Sunset – 3:24. Tevya was right when he said ‘Quickly go the days’.

Helsinki light at 1:00 PM

The architecture is very varied. Art Deco, classical, modern, post-modern. Each one abutting the next.

City centre. Note ice rink (and Zamboni)

Cobblestone streets intermixed with paved areas.

Uber ubiquitous.

Tall, slim, blonde women, clad in black jeans, oft ripped at the knee. And either there is one plastic surgeon in this city making a fortune or they are all born with cute, little, slightly turned up noses.

We Ubered to the home of Susanne Varila, Juli’s mom, for dinner. She, Trevor, brother Johnny, Lori, and I shared a typical Fin-din. Moose ragout,

a dough and potato concoction served with a topping of egg-butter

with her home made cheesecake for desert. Food was delish and plentiful. The cheesecake bore a more than passing resemblance to Gloria’s cheese bagelach.

Dinner was followed up with delightful conversation in the parlour. The home reflected Susanne, who personified Bohemian lifestyle. Not a huge surprise given that Juli exemplified Bohemia and Trevor is certainly no stranger to the cause.

Three cats, stars of all shapes and sizes, myriad candles, a plethora of cd’s, furnishings and keepsakes, photographs, posters, curtains, etc. made for a wonderful cozy setting.

We stayed until late, bade a fond farewell and Ubered back to the hotel.

The following day we headed to a massive and well curated exhibition of Henri Cartier-Bresson’s photography. While not quite in Lori’s league, I’d have to give him an A for effort.

In actual fact, his composition, subject matter and internationalism, provide an overview and insight into the major events of the 20th century like few others. Having lived in China as the Kuomintang were falling to Mao’s Communists, having photographed Ghandi a few minutes prior to his assassination, seeing Egypt, the US, Italy, Spain and others in the 1930’s and then revisiting them in the 1950’s, his lens presented contrasts and similarities through a gifted eye that tied into both his heart and his brain, as HCB himself had declared.

So one more Uber to the airport and goodbye Europe, hello Asia.

Special Birthday greetings to Chaver Ron. Many more happy and healthy days.

 

3 Comments
  • Julian
    Posted at 13:22h, 24 December Reply

    Bruce. Where are you? It is the 24th of December and we have a starting time at the Royal at 11am. No kidding. Rubin invited me to join a bunch of fine fellows on the Blue. He said there are no guest restrictions in December so I am cleared for tee off. Have fun.

  • Julian
    Posted at 13:23h, 24 December Reply

    Bruce. Where are you? It is the 24th of December and we have a starting time at the Royal at 11am. No kidding. Rubin invited me to join a bunch of fine fellows on the Blue. He said there are no guest restrictions in December so I am cleared for tee off. Have fun.

  • Unknown
    Posted at 13:02h, 28 December Reply

    Bruce you have the gift of gab and Lori great pictures . What a team plus interesting people and places. You have it all and I am happy just to be part of the ride. Lots of love Ron

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