We walked a long way today. The weather was gorgeous.
We started at Soviet-proportioned Rautatientori with its pleasant railway station (from where trains depart to destinations all over Finland, as well as to St. Petersburg and Moscow) and traipsed out to Hietaranta Beach. where Eloïse and Lucas played in the sand, swang on the swings and slid on the slides. I was surprised to find that Helsinki even had a beach, but it does and the children liked it, even if it wouldn’t win many awards (except, perhaps, for most fag-ends per square metre)..
From the beach, we continued to Hietaniemi cemetery, which is really beautiful. If you’re going to be dead and buried, it may as well be here. This place was meant to be walked in. One thing that puzzled me, though, was that the vast majority of the names on the headstones were Swedish. I’m not sure why that is.
After a late lunch at Café Ekberg, we wended our way back along Pohjoisesplanadi to Esplanadi, where people were sitting in the grass, picnicking and soaking up the sun. Ubiquitous pan-pipe blowing buskers in full Red Indian regalia attempted to woo the crowds.
We continued down to Kauppatori, beyond to majestic Uspenski Cathedral and across onto the island of Katajanokka, with its relaxed Art Nouveau neighbourhoods and peaceful waterfront views. There, Eloïse and Lucas played in another playground and soon our day was done.
I’m too tired to write much else this tonight. More tomorrow.