A brighter start to the day so after breakfast we took a bus into Kamppi and our first stop this morning was to the Laituri museum just across the square from the bus station. This museum houses Helsinki City Planning Department’s exhibitions and on display at the moment is an exhibition on cycling in the city so we decided to take a look.
The gallery covers everything you might need to know about bicycle traffic in Helsinki and we learnt that average cycle traffic along the Baana cycle route is 10,000 a month in the icy cold winter months but rises to 100,000 a month in the summer. The Baana being a disused railway cutting which slices through the city centre now transformed into an urban cycle and pedestrian route. There was a floor to ceiling visual graph to which visitors are invited to add a colour coded sticker representing their age and average time spent cycling in the city which provided a visual analysis. We also came across a cycle simulator which lets people try out and explore new cycling routes in the inner city that cyclists might not have been aware of, introducing people to the type of terrain and landscape in a matter of minutes.
I liked having a try on the Bike Traffic Games which test how well cyclists understand traffic rules, cycling safely and avoiding accidents, it then analyses what kind of a cyclist you are – it was all very interesting and good fun. We picked up new cycling maps which will be useful as ours are a few years old. If you are local to Helsinki and you might like to take a look for yourselves the exhibition runs until the end of September.
From Kamppi we walked through Esplanade Park towards the harbour where we were intrigued to see these polka dot covered tree trunks. Reading the signs we discovered they are a temporary installation by Yayoi Kusama a world renowned contemporary Japanese artist who is famous for her polka dots which are adding a splash of colour to the Esplanade until 9th October.
We then enjoyed a long walk along the waterfront passing the Old Market Hall and the harbour. It’s a scenic walk passing many elegant embassies and Jugend style homes. We stopped for coffee at Cafe Carusel which has an attractive outdoor terrace and this was a good place to sit and watch some of the racing action from the European Windsurfing Championships which are taking place in Helsinki this week.
If you look carefully at the photo you will see that one of the competitors is actually from Thailand! We thought this very strange as Thailand is obviously not part of Europe but apparently competitors from outside Europe are welcome to participate in the races but cannot win medals which actually seems a nice idea.
Next, we had a look around Helsinki Central Railway Station. Recently, the UK’s Daily Telegraph newspaper listed this station as being one of the 20 most beautiful stations in the world and it’s easy to see why it received this accolade, you can read the article here.
The station is built of granite and features a clock tower and two pairs of statues holding spherical lamps which are illuminated at night. The station was designed by Eliel Saarinen in 1919 in the National Romantic style. The internal concourse and booking hall are elegant and spacious and provide direct access to the city’s underground metro system.
We returned via Kamppi as we wished to do some food shopping and passing through the concourse we paused awhile to watch some folk dancing that was taking place, a cheery end to another fun filled day in Helsinki.
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My son who plans and builds cycle routes in Vancouver would like to visit to see their cycle routes. I know he has been in Sweden and Netherlands doing the same thing. Love the tree art. Thanks for sharing Marion. Allan
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Finland has a superb cycle network and I feel sure that your son would be able to gain ideas from the country’s paths. Thanks for reading, Marion.
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Great post! And thanks for visiting my blog. Welcome to visit also Rovaniemi and Finnish Lapland one day!
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Thank you! I’ve actually been to Lapland, Saariselka, but only in winter for ski trip. I’d love to visit in summer sometime!
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Love your journeys! I had never really thought about visiting Helsinki but it seems like a really cool and vibrant city. Thanks for sharing!
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Hi Riana, Yes, it is a very beautiful and vibrant city. I hope you get an opportunity to visit.
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Wonderful pictures of Helsinki!
I love Helsinki railway station and was shocked to read that all the railway offices etc. will be moved to Pasila. There are speculations whether the old station in the centre will become a hotel or shopping mall 😀 A pity that yet another public space will be converted into a private money-making machine. Well, at least I hope they will preserve the building!
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Oh dear Sinikka I hadn’t read about the possibility of that happening, it would be very sad and the city has quite enough shopping malls as it is!
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Love this descriptive post and wonderful pictures that capture the city, very nice.
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Thank you Karen for your kind and encouraging words.
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Loved your post about Helsinki! I was just there a few weeks ago and enjoyed the polka dot trees as well 🙂 I already wish I was back there; it was great to reflect back on my trip as I read your post.
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments. Helsinki is such a beautiful city, one of my favourites.
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Really enjoyed the stroll around Helsinki!! The cycling exhibition sounds interesting, what a difference in numbers in winter and summer. Love those polka dots too.
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The polka dot tree trunk covers are really simple but they do look bright and cheerful. I can see why there’s such a big difference in cycling here, as it must be hard work cycling on ice and using studded tyres in winter!
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Lovely tour.i enjoyed reading it.
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Thank you so much for your encouraging comments!
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I love Yayoi Kusama…I should have known from the polka dots! Rad!
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They are really bright and cheerful!
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Hi again. If You do not mind, I give here a link to my old post. I remembered it when looking at the last photo of Your post.
Airing national costumes .
When You travel someday to Rio de Janeiro, then visit to Penedo (Little Finland), Brazil near to Rio, where You meet Finnish traditions and can dance and listen to Finnish traditional music on Saturdays on Finnish club. Links are after my photos. There is also a blogger’s post, who visited there because I recommended it. I visit to Penedo twice in the seventies and enjoyed. It was marvelous to swim under the moonlight in a pool and then go to Sauna. So if You missed some Finish traditions in Finland, find them in Penedo, Brazil! 🙂
If You go there see how well Brazilians dance old Finnish dances.
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Thank you for sharing g this with me Sartenda, I really enjoyed reading it and viewing the beautiful costumes.
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I’m glad you are enjoying your time in Helsinki. Amazing post! 🙂
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Thank you for your encouraging comments. I’m so pleased you enjoyed my post.
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A place that I am determined to visit. Thanks for reminding me!
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Oh do visit soon Andrew, you will love it!
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Seems like there are a lot of activities to do; enjoyed the post:)
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Thank you Rashminotes, there certainly is!
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Wonderful Helsinki tour. Your photos praise the beauty of Helsinki and present nicely its main sights. Thank You for this post. Happy weekend!
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Thank you once again Sartenada for such a compliment, I dearly love Helsinki!
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What a nice tour of the central places!
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Thank you for such a nice compliment! It’s very encouraging to read. Helsinki is such a beautiful city.
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