Helsinki, June 13-15, June 19

Rose liked Helsinki for its lack of historical buildings.  She has grown tired of historic cities with their museums and churches.  Helsinki sustained quite a bit of bombing in the Second World War and Rose liked that the city was “new” and modern.  All of us like modern design and Helsinki boasts a number of modern buildings and design stores.   Highlights were two of the city’s chapels: the Temppeliaukio and the Kaampi Chapel.  Simple, clean lines and warm woods.  Not unlike the concept behind a synagogue back home except these were more inviting spaces. Andy and I visited the Kiasma (Helsinki’s modern museum) without the girls because they are trying to finish up the school year.  We were sorry Rose missed it – she would have liked the “Rose”:  thousands of small candies placed in the shape of a rose. There are tons of design shops but our time was limited so we saw the big names but missed the Alvar Aalto house (closed that day). We settled for designer coffee at The Good Life and enjoyed an excellent flat white with coffee roasted at the Barn in Berlin. If it weren’t so cold and dark most of the year, it would be a really nice place to live.