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Finland
By Bob Enzel
SNOWSHOEING IS A FUN ACTIVITY TO DO WHEN VISITING FINLAND. IT IS
EASILY DONE JUST OUTSIDE THE CAPITAL CITY OF HELSINKI WHERE THE BEAUTY OF
NATUR IS COVERED IN UNSPOILED SNOW.
It's not complicated. "If you can walk, you can walk in snowshoes". Merely
strap on a pair and you’re ready to go. February to April is best for
sun-filled days and an abundance of snow. A thirty minute ride out of the
Helsinki railway station will bring you to Nuuksio National Park where you
may take an organized snowshoe hike.
http://feelthenature.info/snowshoe-safari-in-nuuksio-national-park
Snowshoe off the trails...
Overnight adventures in the taiga of Kainuu, Eastern Finland will let you
trek up ridges for a vast view of beautiful countryside, cross frozen lakes
and rivers and check out spectacular frozen waterfalls.
http://www.upitrek.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=20&Itemid=33
See the Aurora Light Up Dark Forests
As fun as snowshoeing is during the day, doing it in the middle of the night
is a real thrill. See the Northern Lights blazing in the sky will make it a
memorable experience. Make it happen for you in Levi, Lapland.
http://www.lapinluontoelamys.fi/english/winter-activities/night-tour-to-levi/
Further afield there are several choices for snowshoeing. Or, scroll down he
below site and check out some short films on "an ice water dipping", "dog
sledding" or cross-country skiing.
http://www.visitfinland.com/article/take-a-white-hike-2/
Helsinki Dining
To best explore Helsinki do it by walking
This will allow you to check out the many
restaurants for both lunch and dinner while
shopping, sightseeing and strolling the
lovely Finnish capital.
Here are a few of the many choices in alpha
order:
Ask... It's proprietors have worked
in top restaurants before opening this
seasonal and organic restaurant in an art
nouveau setting in Kruununhaka area.
www.restaurantask.com/
Chef & Sommelier..."Organic, handmade
and pure are the keywords here". This
restaurant is located in the "posh" area of
Eira.
www.chefetsommelier.fi/en/
Eat & Joy/Muuuu Maitobaari...Finish
local food products to take home. Eat & Joy
is in the Farmers Market in Kluuvi Shopping
Centre.
Muuuu is their Milk Bar.
www.eatandjoy.fi/eatjoy-farmers-market-and-eatjoy-kluuvi-market-hall/
Juuri..."Famous for its specialty,
Sapas, a Finnish take on...hors d'oeuvres".
Finnish fruits, "classy" finger foods,"wild"
main courses.
www.juuri.fi/en
Nokka...First time visitors will like
their Helskinki Menu. Ingredients are from
local suppliers and small farms.
www.ravintolanokka.fi/en
Olo...Opened in 2006, Olo has already
been awarded a Michelin star.
"Modern Nordic cuisine with respect for
traditional raw ingredients".
www.olo-ravintola.fi/en
Spis...Small and cosy. Featuring a
fresh Nordic vegetable ingredient
philosophy, with meat and fish on the menu
also. Artisian wines and Nordic beers.
www.spis.fi/philosophy
Teurastamo..."A
abattoir-turned-creative-food-hub...Innovative.
A place for small food related businesses to
try out new concepts".
www.teurastamo.com/en/teurastamo.html
Helsinki Sightseeing
The architectural works of Alvar Aalto,
considered as the “father of Scandinavian
design” was featured last year, but are
always worth a visit.
Enso-Gutzeit Headquarters built in 1962 is a
box-shaped modernistic building with a white
marble façade. It’s located at the city’s
waterfront, but is a working office building
and can only be viewed from the outside.
Academic Bookstore on the Esplanade was
built in 1969. The Aalto Café on the far
balcony is a great place to enjoy a snack
while perhaps shopping for a guidebook?
Near the Central Railway Station is
Finlandia Hall is a city landmark with a
marble exterior and copper roof. The concert
hall was completed in 1972 and the Congress
Wing in 1975. Lighting, furniture, moldings,
panels and flooring allows the viewer a peek
at Aalto’s attention to detail.
Riihitie House constructed in his early
years (1936) was home and office for the
Aalto family until 1955 and a working office
until 1976 when he passed away. It’s located
in Munkkiniemi, about a 25 minute tram ride
from Helskinki city center.
The campus of the Otaniemi University was
also designed by Aalto between 1949 and
1965. It was renamed Aalto University in
recognition of the architect’s achievements
in technology, art and economics. It’s
located about 15 a minute bus ride from
Helsinki center.
For more information on the Iconic buildings
of Alvar Aalton click on the below sites.
http://www.finlandiatalo.fi/en/architecture/guidedtours/
http://www.alvaralto.fi/htm#aaltohouse/
http://www.riihitie@alvraalto.fi/
http://www.wdc2012helsinki.fi/en
Kotka Maritime Festival
At the end of July, the Kotka Maritime
Festival is the largest maritime carnival in
Finland. Concerts from classical to rock,
exhibitions, street theater and a Children’s
Maritime Festival takes place around the
Vellamo Maritime Centre in the Old City
Port.
www.visitfinland.com/
Tampere Fish Market
Twice a year in spring and Autumn at
Laukontori Square in the Southern Finnish
city attracts seafood enthusiast to view and
eat the most diverse range of fish in
Finland…in a festive outdoor atmosphere. The
fair is in April and late September-October.
Tampere is about 1.5 hours by train from
Helsinki.
www.gotampere.fi/
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