Sunday, 10 April: We're stopping over in Helsinki for a couple of days, on our way to Japan. Having arrived here on a sunny afternoon and checked in at our hotel, we walk into central town in the early evening, to visit the places we missed on our last visit here. |
Gaselle on the wall of Stockman department store. Don't ask us why.
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Hotel Torni, built in the early 30s. We're on our way to the Ateljee Bar, right at the top (where the flag is.) |
Bunnies and a glass of white - which costs 8.50 EUR (ouch!) but also turns out to be a very good wine, which is the main thing.
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You can see all over Helsinki from up here - no wonder the bar is really busy on a sunny Sunday evening.
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A chemist's sign, opposite the Market Square.
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Uspenski Cathedral, with the sunlight at dusk making it golden.
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The harbout at dusk. There's still a lot of snow on the ground, despite the sunny weather and plus temperatures. |
Dinner at Sundmans Krog: Grilled lavaret on a bed of cauliflower, leek, sour cream and dill, a glass of house white, and green salad.
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A blurry photo of Usakousa outside the Cathederal, on our way back to our hotel. It's windy and cold, hence the blurred photo.
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Monday, 11 April: We've never figured out what this place is all about. Looks like an office.
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Lunch at Fazer's cafe on the top floor of Stockman: open sandwich with pan-fried salmon, with sweet pickled red onions on sticky rye bread.
I'm a department store restaurant otaku, and this place is great: stylishly designed, with both function and comfort in mind.
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Afterwards, in the food hall. "Vintage Merlot flavoured salt"?!?! |
Tuesday, 12 April: On Hakaniemi Square. I'm nipping over to the Market Hall, as it's lunchtime...
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The best "fishy" stall in the hall, where I remember buying some fish sandwich on our last visit.
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More fishy stuff.
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And pies & quiches too.
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My lunch, in the end: a bread filled with intense layers of small fish (vendance). Very fishy, and very filling too!
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A couple of hours later: rabbits at the Duty Free shop (non-Schengen side) at the airport.
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And even later. I meet those small fishy guys again on board Finnair flight to Nagoya, this time smoked. Next to them are grilled Lappish cheese, whitefish roe on toast and smoked elk.
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Outside, this is what Karelia looks like from above. (I know, that's a very quick meal service after take-off - but there are only 2 passengers in the Business Class, so no wonder.)
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