We took the Greyhound at 7 am on Sunday, got to Toronto at noon, and flew to Finland in the afternoon. We arrived pretty tired but also excited. After all, this is Finland. How many times will I get to visit this place?
The only problem with Finland is… Finnish. It doesn’t look like any language I know and it really didn’t make any sense to me. Way too many “ö” and “ë” if you ask me. But fortunately, most people spoke great English so we were able to get around without too much trouble.
Helsinki is small but very nice. We walked a bit everywhere and ended up by the harbor and a small market. The two churches nearby were very beautiful… and the atmosphere was quite friendly.
And we are now in Beijing!
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Wow. Amazing scenery and architecture. I have yet to visit Finland but I hope I will one day. Have fun.
I had the same problem with Budapest. Hungarian is just so different and had no similarities at all with the Indo-European languages I know. But then I expected that, but still it was a little disconcerting.
Linguist-in-Waitings last great read…Next-Generation Flying
So pretty … you have no idea how much I want to visit Finland before I croak. And, I’m sorry, but every time I see any kind of reference to anything in Scandinavia, my brain goes straight to Monty Python.
Including the majestic møøse
A Møøse once bit my sister …
No realli! She was Karving her initials on the møøse
with the sharpened end of an interspace tøøthbrush given
her by Svenge – her brother-in-law – an Oslo dentist and
star of many Norwegian møvies: “The Høt Hands of an Oslo
Dentist”, “Fillings of Passion”, “The Huge Mølars of Horst
Nordfink”.
Ghostys last great read…Alt Lang Syne
Wow.. Finland AND Beijing. How exciting. I’m so pleased to be reading about your travels!
Colleen @ Function of Times last great read…Grocking an Award is Tough Business (Part 1 of 2)
Finland 🙂 That’s nice! Finland is so beautiful! Hope I will make it one day! and as usual great photos. last one “White Church and Blue Sky” is simply scenic.
You have a nice time 🙂 Hoping for next update from China 🙂
Salut Zhu,
Great ! I have never been to Finland, and Helsinki looks very interesting.24 hours is oh so short but I’m more than sure that you took advantage of this day to the fullest.
One day, but an experience that you will remember a long time.
You lucked out for the weather !
Happy traveling up to Beijing.
Bises 😉
barbaras last great read…Becoming friends outside of your PC
Hmm…in contrast to most other comments here, I have no real desire to go to Finland since it looks far too much like another place I’ve been to.
But hey, all in due time.
RGs last great read…Bound By Habit + Installers Are Evil
Wonderful Zhu!! Reminded me of my trip to Helsinki too 😀
i have tagged you for a meme…i’m not good at these types of things, but i figured i’d let you know. no pressure, it’s an odd one.
Oh, and nice photos! Those are really cool. I need to get out of my cubicle someday.
@bluefish – It was much better than I thought it would be, for sure. But I don’t know much about Nordic countries… so it doesn’t mean much.
@Linguist-in-Waiting – I know exactly what you mean, Hungarian is one weird language! I don’t even know its roots…
@Ghosty – 😆 That reminds me I have to rent the Monty Pythons again when I come back!
@Colleen @ Function of Time – I know I’m lucky 😉 The two countries are quite different though!
@Annie – Update coming up 😉 Finland kinda looks like Canada actually I found. Minus the crazy language!
@barbara – It was short and of course, I didn’t lean much about the culture. But Helsiki is a small city so we got to see quite a lot I think.
@RG – I can understand! If it weren’t for the flight layover, I don’t think I would have thought of going 😉
@shionge – I didn’t know you went there! You travelled quite a lot.
@sir jorge – I’ll give it a shot when I come back. Thanks 😉
Aargh! So many lovely places left to visit. 🙂
Shantanus last great read…Imperial Vienna
I want to go to Finland so badly!!! Nice pics!
Wow, your photographs are so crips and colourful. They have wonderful architecture in Finland, and that steamboat is simply beautiful!
Grahams last great read…A little preview of where I live and work