Saturday, 7 August 1982

Helsinki

This is the imposing ferry I arrived by. It was like a floating hotel really, and I imagine a civilised way to travel if you had a berth.


Helsinki is a severely neat city. Somehow I felt that suited its northern clime. This is its cathedral. All these places have long tongue twisting Finnish names so I try not to misspell any.


I found a small market. I always enjoy browsing at markets. I must have been intrigued by these furs. They were sleek to the touch.

I rang up Päivi, the girl I had met back in Nice. Obviously there was no Internet in those days so she must have given me her number. We met and she showed me a place to have an economical lunch.


She took me to some of the sights of Helsinki. This is the interior of Temppeliaukio, a Lutheran church that is embedded in rock. A very modern design which attracts a lot of visitors.


Sibelius was the Finn most familiar to me, from his music. His compositions evoke the stark beauty of this northern land. This sculpture is dedicated to him.

I corresponded with Päivi sporadically over the next few years. We lost touch when she got married.

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