16/07/2024
I went to HEL and loved it. 🔥
Wow, Helsinki is totally underrated. I thought 7 days may be too long and I wish I had more time! An expat described Finland as the Japan of Europe - it’s safe, clean, orderly, tech-forward, and a whole lot of quirky. Here are my highlights:
- discovering all the public art and sculptures throughout the city.
- having the most delicious reindeer steak at Restaurant Savotta.
- strolling through peaceful Suomenlinna, a sea fortress that was built to defend Sweden, then Russia, then Finland.
- staying in a glass igloo (which deserves its own post).
- enjoying late tennis sessions before the sun sets at 10:30pm.
- trying bear for the first time!
- playing on a clay court for the first time at the beautiful Kalastajatorpan tennis club, surrounded by a forest.
- enjoying a famous Finnish sauna experience at Loyly, taking dips in the Baltic Sea in between saunas.
- learning about Moomins (IYKYK) and how obsessive Finns get about collecting their mugs.
- trying salted licorice!
The Finns are so fascinating to me
…they don’t believe in small talk (which I love!)
…they’re extremely proud of Finnish brands and products (Moomins, Marimekko)
…they love their sauna so much they put one on a Ferris wheel
…their newborns sleep in a box, provided by the government
…they believe in trying before buying when it comes to relationships - so many have children together first before they decide to marry (or not!)
With that, I’d definitely go back to HEL again!