Helsinki

My family and I drove to my younger nephew's confirmation. It was nice to meet relatives again some of whom we did not see at my daughter's 10th birthday party a week ago. My sister lives in the western part of the region of Uusimaa and Helsinki was along the way home. Some pictures below.

A street view from the district of Ullanlinna in the very south of Helsinki

We had dinner at Sushi'N'Roll. It's in a posh area where you run into well-known people all the time. A famous designer whose parents founded Marimekko was sitting at a table near us outside. A few hundred meters from the restaurant there is cafeteria that used to be frequented by the half-billionaire Aatos Erkko. He was a regular there. It's completely normal for very rich people to be seen in public with no bodyguards or anything in Finland. I've seen him there once with a friend of mine who lives in the area.

That's grilled salmon with avocado and California rolls. I'd say that was good.

We took a walk in the nearby Meripuisto park.

There's a boat harbour next to the park.

When we were leaving, there was a sudden and intense rain shower.

Art Noveau is a very common style in Helsinki.

We walked past an estate agent's office. The apartment is one of the buildings in the picture in this area. The price is about €10,000 per square metre. Compared to cities like London or NYC Helsinki is clearly cheaper but much more expensive than other cities and towns in Finland.

We'd left our car here.

We drove towards the east along the seashore. That's a Silja Line ferry on its way towards Stockholm.

That silver sky picture was taken close to home.