Thursday, July 26, 2012

Monday, July 23 – Historic Center and Kamppi


So, first off, huge apologies for lateness. I've been pretty much writing day to day posts, just uploading photos has been hell because the wireless is funky here...They're coming though, I hope.

So, let’s look at a map.
This is actually an old tourist map from the 60s, found it in the City Museum. Anyways, on the right, see the knob of land sticking out around the middle? That’s actually an island, called Katajanokka, and that’s where I’m staying. Right at the beginning of the harbor is an open air market, and that’s where I went for breakfast, yum.  I ended up at a bakery type place, with someone who was willing to speak Finnglish (most people give me dirty looks when I try to speak Finnish…oh well) and got Rahkaapulla, which is kind of like a healthy cheese Danish.

Moomin and I then visited the City Museum, which had a huge exhibit on old Finnish films. 


Suomisen Perhe was apparently from the WWII era, when everyone wanted to hear about stable families. The person who wrote the descriptions added in snarky details such as “Person told time from the clock tower because you can have superhuman vision in movies” and “Brother and Sister playing together happily, just like in every family”

Then, we went to the mall. No kidding. I went to the mall of my own free will. (I was lured by a supermarket, and then later found out there was one on Katajanokka). The mall (Kamppi) is also a huge bus station (linja-autoasema) and metro stop, it’s a huge mix. (see! Bus arrival times and a supermarket in the background!)
Moomin got pretty tired of the mall, but happily there was a park/square right outside.
The final stop for the day was the Cathedral.
I spent a lot of time standing at the top of the stairs, watching the people in the square below. It was raining gently, so very few Finnish people were out (seriously, Finnish people are really not into rain), though there was a group of cosplayers (at least, I think they were…or maybe just people with cool costumes) who were most definitely speaking Finnish…

Anyways, that is the official Day 1…wheeeee!












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