Helsinki, Finland: We learned this morning the ship we take down the Norwegian coast makes 33 stops a long the coast, I presume that means 31 not including the beginning and end ports of Kirkines and Bergen, an average of six per day. The route began as a mail boat carrying the post to isolated coastal fishing villages. It carries freight and mail today, and passengers, both locals and tourists like ourselves.
We also learned we will likely need mosquito spray as it is the season for them in the north woods. I remember needing it in Alaska where we visited about this time of year, it's the same general conditions.
Later: This morning we took a city tour of Helsinki and saw several things: an Olympic stadium, a Sibelius memorial, the square before the Lutheran cathedral, and various government buildings. Most importantly, we visited what gets called in English "the Church of the Rock" although the Finns call it Temple Square Church, Helsinki's most well-known attraction.
This piece of off-the-wall architecture is literally a circular hole in the ground, dynamited from solid rock, and roofed over with a flat dome of glass and concrete. Windows are around the dome's periphery, effectively in the roof. Interior rock walls still show blasting evidence, and the acoustics are amazing.
From the outside the church looks like a large flying saucer alit upon a rocky knob. On the inside it resembles the austere assembly hall of a dwarf king from The Hobbit films. Very little about it says "church," mostly the pews and organ pipes on the wall, the altar is downplayed.
During open hours there is always someone playing classical music on the grand piano. Today I heard the somber notes of Handel's Dead March from Saul. it seemed fitting in this subterranean space. The other DrC took excellent photos of the church which you can view at cruztalkingtwo.blogspot.com.
I first saw this edifice eight years ago and never forgot it, it is that special. It was a definite treat to revisit it this morning. Tomorrow we are off to Ivalo in northern Finland, by local air. Next stop - Sami country, what we once called Lapland.
