Baltic Cruise: My day in Helsinki

I booked a half-day city tour of Helsinki through Crystal Cruises, which was a nice introduction. The city is celebrating its 200th anniversary as the capital of Finland, so there isn’t a preserved medieval quarter here (like Stockholm and Tallinn); instead new buildings and old blend together to create a fascinating cityscape. It's no wonder Helsinki was named the 2012 Design Capital of the World. 

Monument to Finnish composer Jean Sibelius

I enjoyed seeing the Sibelius Monument at the waterfront park named for the composer. The monument was created by the Finnish sculptress Eila Hiltunen in 1961 (apparently, it caused quite a stir as the first abstract public monument in Finland). The famous Rock Church (also called Temppeliaukio Church) was special, but I think the Post Office thrilled me more with it's clean lines.  

The Post Office in Helsinki

After the tour, I stayed in town walking all along the narrow, cobblestone streets. Each block has such a variety of architectural styles (art deco office building next to a Soviet apartment building) that my eyes were delighted by the contrasts.  Esplanade Park offered a charming greenway between two boulevards lined with lots of shops and cafes in the heart of the city. Market Square is at the bottom of the park, on the water, with city views of Uspensky Cathedral above. Farmers, fish mongers, food vendors and craftsmen sell their wares in a lively setting, which was a perfect spot to end a wonderful day.

Here's a link to my photos.
 

Fish Monger at Market Square