After eight months of solid winter,
Helsinki is vibrant with color and activity on a mid-June day.
Market Square, at the end of the Esplanadi, on the harbor front.
Plenty of fresh flowers, produce, souvenirs.....
...and reindeer hides.
The Esplanadi
Helsinki Cathedral
Finnish children, arguably the most adorable on the planet.
It's a biker's haven in this flat, bike-friendly city.
The trolley: not only easy transport, but also very charming.
Ample outdoor cafes for a beer and hard-cider break.
Klaus K Hotel
A 15-minute ferry ride takes you to Suomenlinna Sea Fortress.
A peaceful place to stroll, picnic,
have a local meal.
Wooden boats.
The brewery...
...with some local fare.
Finns are the #1 coffee consumers in the world,
consuming on average six cups a day.
That's 25 pounds of coffee per person per year.
And they drink it very strong, without any fussy names.
No Starbucks here.
And the people of Helsinki? Even the taxi drivers are friendly.
But, difficult as it is to accept, you're not supposed to tip here.
It's insulting to the Finns, as they see that being kind and helpful
is part of their jobs, not motivated by a tip.
I'm afraid I insulted everyone....once a waitress always a tipper.
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