Sites and scenes: Helsinki

The Daughter of the Baltic

25 May 2015 | From Leila of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

As the capital and largest city of Finland, Helsinki is Finland's major political, educational, financial, cultural, and research center as well as one of northern Europe's major cities. In 2009, Helsinki was chosen to be the World Design Capital for 2012 by the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design, narrowly beating Eindhoven for the title. In 2011, the Monocle magazine ranked Helsinki the most liveable city in the world in its "Liveable Cities Index 2011". In the Economist Intelligence Unit's August 2015 Liveability survey, assessing the best and worst cities to live in globally, Helsinki placed among the world's top ten cities.

Helsinki is a vibrant seaside city of beautiful islands and great green parks. The city’s rhythm is laid back yet at the same time refreshingly active in terms of both the number and quality of restaurants and nightclubs. It is a compact city easily explored on foot. Design, architecture, culture and shopping are all great exploration angles and large park areas, forests, lakes, and the coastline with numerous islands sprinkled off it make certain there’s no shortage of natural presence. Needless to say, there’s something going on in Helsinki every day of the year.

Source: Visit Finland

How the Finns call their country

Suomi

25 May 2015 | From Petra of Finland

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Suomi is Finland, The land of alcohol, trees, polar bears and metal. Suomi means "Finland" in Finnish language. The name Suomi (Finnish for "Finland") has uncertain origins, but a candidate for a source is the Proto-Baltic word *źemē, meaning "land". In addition to the close relatives of Finnish (the Finnic languages), this name is also used in the Baltic languages Latvian and Lithuanian. Alternatively, the Indo-European word *gʰm-on "man" (cf. Gothic guma, Latin homo) has been suggested, being borrowed as *ćoma. The word originally referred only to the province of Finland Proper, and later to the northern coast of Gulf of Finland, with northern regions such as Ostrobothnia still sometimes being excluded until later. Earlier theories suggested derivation from suomaa (fen land) or suoniemi (fen cape), and parallels between saame (Sami, a Finno-Ugric people in Lapland), and Häme (a province in the inland) were drawn, but these theories are now considered outdated.

Finland is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. Finland is part of the geographic region of Fennoscandia, which also includes Scandinavia and parts of Russia.

Finland's Oldest City

Turku Åbo

25 May 2015 | From Ansku of Finland

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Turku (Swedish: Åbo) is a city on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Southwest Finland. Turku, as a town, was settled during the 13th century and founded most likely at the end of the 13th century, making it the oldest city in Finland. It quickly became the most important city in Finland, a status it retained for hundreds of years.

Because of its long history, it has been the site of many important events, and has extensively influenced Finnish history. Along with Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, Turku was designated the European Capital of Culture for 2011. In 1996, it was declared the official Christmas City of Finland. 

My 1000th postcard!

Sunflower and butterfly

25 May 2015 | From Ritva of Finland

SURPRISE POSTCARD

May 25th, 2015 - I received my 1000th postcard, and it came all the way from Finland. There is also an interesting story behind this postcard. Ritva, a kind lady of 60 years old, sent me a random message from Postcrossing telling me that she just wanted to send me a postcard, and asked for my address. I gave her a reply along with my address and asked for hers in return. She did reply weeks after and gave me her address. I don't know if she did receive my postcard as I never heard from her again. Hi, Ritva, thank you again for the postcard. I appreciate your kindness. Hope you're well and in good health. Wishing you more beautiful postcards!

This postcard somehow reminds me of Spring ~ although we do not have Spring here, or any of the four seasons so to speak. I love how she used a matching stamp, and wrote such warm words - telling me that this postcard represents 'sun, light, and joy of my life.' Spring is always reminds us of new beginnings. Thus begins my quest for a thousand more postcards :)

Backstage in the theatre

Vyborg City Theatre: Tuovi Hirvisuo Locker room 1937

11 Feb 2015 | From Auli of Finland

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Now here's an interesting postcard of an old photograph from the early nineteenth century. The old picture, taken by Eino Partanen, shows a former Finnish actress preparing for a play backstage. Doesn't the picture somehow makes you wanna say 'Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"

The postcard definitely gives an old vintage vibe as if transporting you to the past - a blast from the past. Auli got this postcard from a theatre museum in Helsinki. The postcard is part of the Teatterimuseon kokoelmat (Theatre Museum Collections).

Finland's Open Air Museum

The Pienmäki Farm Buildings Museum

7 Jan 2015 | From Eilai of Finland

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This open-air museum describes the early 20th-century farm life in Central Finland. The Pienmäki Open-air Museum at Niemisjärvi in Hankasalmi allows visitors to explore a fine collection of Central Finnish farm buildings and accompanying lifestyle in a genuie rural environment. The oldest buildings in the homestead museum date from the 18 th century. Pienmäki's log buildings, approximately 20 in all, constitute a built cultural environment of national significance.

A Tuttu Jänis photograph

Carousel provincial party in Kuopio

24 Nov 2014 | From  Maarit of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

This photograph was taken by Tuttu Jänis in 1930 in the city of Kuopio. It is a carousel and not a Ferris wheel, but I thought I'd group it with my Ferris wheels postcard collection anyway. This postcard was from the photo-archives of Kuopio, a city and a municipality located in the region of Northern Savonia, Finland. Maarit bought the card during a visit to a museum.

Tuttu Aaro Rafael Jänis (October 26, 1905 St. Petersburg - 18 February 1980 in Kuopio) is a Finnish photographer. He served as editor-in-chief for Pohjois-Savo Magazine, and also acted as a subscription and advertising photographer, depicting a variety of events, competitions, fairs, buildings, etc.

The stamp shows a Viking, Norse seafarers. This is not the first time that I have received a stamp from Finland similar to this. During that time, I actually thought that the sender decorated the stamp with stickers - adding eyes and lips to form a face of a lady. Now I realize those stickers are indeed part of the stamp. I wonder how many Finnish 'face' stamps are there?

Nature of Finland

A world of wild contrasts

24 Nov 2014 | From  Tuija and Antti of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Finland is a heaven for nature and wildlife enthusiasts. 69% of Finland is covered by forests, while 10% of the country is covered by lakes. There are over 30 National Parks, 20 Nature Reserves and many more areas of untouched wilderness, where you can go hiking or picking wild berries or mushrooms.

Finland is a complex and diverse country that it is not easy to describe in a single word. Finland is fortunate to have four different seasons. People travel from the archipelago in the springtime to the lush summer in the lake district, then experiences the forests and bogs during the fall, until finally arriving at the cold and dark midwinter in Lapland. The same lake where people come to swim and sail in summer forms a perfect skating rink or skiing arena in the winter. 

In Finland nature is everywhere around you. Even in the biggest cities, the nearest forest or sea shore is close by. Water is never far away. Dense forests always await somewhere nearby. And there is also sure to be open bog or farmland within easy reach. All of these landscapes are part of Finland’s varied natural scene.

Sources: Finnish Lakeside Cabins, This is Finland

Hedgehog greetings from Heinola

Tsemppiä

7 Nov 2014 | From Susanna of Finland

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Tsemppiä is a Finnish word that expresses a wish of fortune or encouragement. It may be directly translated as 'good luck' or 'go for it', though several other translations may be used depending on the sentence.

Heinola is a lively, pleasant small city close to nature. It is a town and a municipality located in the region of Päijänne Tavastia, Finland. Heinola is largely situated between two lakes, Ruotsalainen and Konnivesi. Before World War II, Heinola was widely known as a spa town. Heinola is perhaps best known for its summer activities such as the Sauna-sitting World Championships.

With my bike and umbrella...

The Art of Living

10 Sept 2014 | From Elina of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

'Elämisen taito on maailman kaunein taito' translates to 'The art of living is the world's most beautiful skill'. It definitely is a skill each person must learn to master, or at least learn how to stop existing and start living.

Existing is simply being here, there - on earth. Not doing anything of any significance, staying on a boring routine, not taking chances, having no control of your decisions - just breathing. Living is being in control of your life, doing things your way. It's fulfilling your dreams, finding something meaningful, making yourself happy, taking action, and actually changing something.

In general, someone who exists feels as if everything is outside of their control while someone living is about knowing what you want in life. You try to find meaning in everything. Living involves thoughts, feelings, and emotions - understands them and not letting it interfere with our decisions.

Aho & Soldan

Two Boys. 1930

26 Aug 2014 | From Ulla of Finland

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Brothers Heikki Aho and Björn Soldan are considered as the pioneers of Finnish documentary film. The former an engineer and the latter a photographer, they founded Aho & Soldan in 1925. The company produced over 400 documentaries, ranging in subject matter from ethnography to propaganda. Drawing influence from contemporary European avant-garde movements in film and photography, Aho & Soldan’s diverse body of work married cultural tradition and patriotism with images of a modern industrial nation.

Source: ICA

A boy and his dog

Fishing with my dog

4 Jul 2014 | From Keijo of Finland

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I have never gone fishing before, let alone with my dog. Though there was a time when I just held the fishing rod of my late uncle for a while, then dropped it down being the impatient me. I can't remember if it did catch a fish. All I remembered was I left it to have some snacks and to rest under a tree. This was in my late uncle's commercial fish ponds.

Does that count as fishing? Yeah, I don't think so too ;p

A fashion shoot

Paola & Mariano

5 May 2014 | From Juho of Finland

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This reminds me of a fashion advertisement of some famous clothing line that we usually see on the pages of magazines or in huge billboards. Or also maybe a still shot from an old movie.

oh, and I love the stamps! I'm not a stamp collector but this one is really nice.

Within the darkness

In the Darkness, you can be anyone

18 Mar 2014 | From Tuija of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Let me just share two of my favourite quotes about darkness:

“Light thinks it travels faster than anything but it is wrong. No matter how fast light travels, it finds the darkness has always got there first, and is waiting for it.” ― Terry Pratchett, Reaper Man

“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars.” ― Og Mandino

A Claude Monet illustration

Woman with Parasol Facing Right

8 Mar 2014 | From Marjatta of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Claude Monet was a French painter, initiator, leader, and unswerving advocate of the Impressionist style. He is regarded as the archetypal Impressionist in that his devotion to the ideals of the movement was unwavering throughout his long career.

Claude Monet painted Woman with a Parasol Facing Right in 1886. He lost interest in figure painting after his wife Camille's death, but, in Giverny, he enjoyed painting companion Alice Hoschedé's daughters outdoors in the fields of wildflowers. 

Monet painted Suzanne in a white summer dress under a green parasol twice, once facing right and once facing left. The painting is reminiscent of Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son from 1875.

Source: Painting Mania 

Lonely Turtle

Missing someone

19 Feb 2014 | From Teija of Finland

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Teija translated the words in the turtle's speech bubble as "I miss being close to you". Such a sad turtle. I wonder who he/she misses...

An Angry Birds spin-off game

The Bad Piggies

8 Feb 2014 | From Maija of Finland

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Bad Piggies is a puzzle video game developed by Rovio Entertainment, and it is a spin-off to Angry Birds. The Bad Piggies are after the eggs again. The objective of the game is to build a contraption that transports the pig from a starting point to the finish line, usually indicated by a map.

Northen Lights - Aurora Borealis

Revontulet Lappi, Suomi

22 Jan 2014 | From Jorma of Finland

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Caused when charged particles from the Sun collide with atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere at the altitude of 90~250 km. Due to the collission, oxygen and nitrogen are emitting aurora light.

The Night Train

Night Train: Surrealist Routes Into the Kiasma's Collection

22 Jan 2014 | From Tuula of Finland

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"Yojuna" is Finnish for Night Train. The postcard is from the book "Night Train: Surrealist Routes Into the Kiasma's Collection." The book is a showcase of arts styles and movements and surrealism. It was published in Kiasma, Museum of Contemporary Art, Helsinki.

My 400th card

Autumn in Helsinki

17 Jan 2014 | From Sari-Anne of Finland

OFFICIAL POSTCROSSING

Helsinki is the capital of Finland. It is the world's northernmost metro area of over one million people, and the city is the northernmost capital of an EU member state. Helsinki is Finland's major political, educational, financial, cultural and research centre as well as one of northern Europe's major cities.

In autumn the daily mean temperature remains below 10°C. Autumn begins around the last week of August in northern Finland and about one month later in southwestern Finland.

Source: Wikipedia, Finnish Meteorological Institute