Hope I can remember... it's been so long.
Did all the major museums and sights and cathedrals. Saw The Matrix: Reloaded in a huge building called the Tennis Palace. It has a 14 screen cinema inside along with a museum and an art gallery. Both of these I visited the day before. Had a Helsinki Pass to ride the trams un limited and get into most museums for free. Saw and visited the Rock Church. An interesting modern church with a strong medieval feeling. This is likely caused by the fact that it's built into the rocks of a hill in the middle of town. Only the entrance gives it away as modern. I returned to it the next day to catch an organ practice.
The city in unique in that it's only about 5-6 storeys tall. All the church steeples are visible above the buildings. A very busy, rushing feeling to the daytime city gives way to the relaxed cafe sitting of the evenings. There is a sauna on every corner and a massage parlor (legitimate) on every block. Every hotel has a sauna... including mine which was on my floor.
Gotta run. This place is closing.
Posted by gailene at June 11, 2003 04:54 PM