Helsinki

There are a few ferry operators that run between Tallinn and Helsinki. Prices may vary depending on the time of travel as well as ferry but the crossing would probably takes a little more than 2 hours. 

I had less than 2 days in Helsinki so I decided to see a few attractions in Helsinki. 

Temppeliaukio Church is naturally quarried out of a natural bedrock. The church hall is like a dome lined with copper and supported on the rock walls by reinforced concrete beams. Due to its design and shape, the church gives an excellent acoustics sound as it bounces from one end to the other during a choir session there.

Helsinki was chosen to be the World Design Capital 2012, and I could see why. The city is filled with beautiful buildings with architectures from Art Nouveau to Romanticism. 

The Helsinki Cathedral is symbolic to Helsinki. There are steps leading to the main entrance of the Cathedral. As I stood watching from the top, I could see rows of stalls with decorative lightings reveling for the coming Christmas celebration. It was truly magical. Kiasma is contemporary art museum designed by American architect Steven Holl. The building curves to one end intertwining with the geometry of the city and landscape. The museum housed Finnish and foreign art, particularly from the Nordic and Baltic States. 

After two weeks of non-spicy food, I had the desire to eat something real spicy on my last night before heading back to New York the next morning. I decided to go for Indian. The food was pretty good but unfortunately, it was not spicy at all. I was disappointed but also felt sad that I had to leave. 

There are so much in Helsinki that I had yet to discover. I am hoping to visit the place again but hopefully in a warmer weather next time.

The Baltic States: Tallinn

My last stop in the Baltics was Tallinn. A 4-hour bus ride from Riga, Tallinn has one of the best well-preserved Old Medieval Towns in the world. I stayed at a Fat Margaret's hostel which is less than 2 minutes walk to the gate of Tallinn's Old Town. It is an old house with steps that squeak as I walked up to my room on the second floor. The sky was already dark by 3PM as I ventured out to Old Town. I was impressed with it. 

The fortified walls and towers with cobblestones streets and narrow lanes within the medieval houses is a joy to walk. I think Tallinn is the best among the three capitals in the Baltics. Since it is so close to Helsinki, the city gives a modern European vibes to the city as well as an old European charm to it. Once I'm outside the Old Town, the city is filled with modern buildings and shops.

The Kohtuotsa viewing platform situated on top of Toompea hill has a beautiful view of the Medieval neighborhood against the backdrop of the city's modern district. I was told that the platform is the most famous picture point by the tour guide. The tour took me to the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral which is the main Russian Orthodox cathedral. This onion-domed structure is richly decorated to symbolize the Russian dominance in Estonia. The cathedral does hold marriage ceremony but it would never closed to the public. Thus, the wedding couple may have a hard time knowing who their guests really are during the ceremony as people would come and go at any time. 

The Freedom Square has an interesting story too. The Monument to the War of Independence is constructed to commemorate all those who had fought for freedom and independence. It consists of glass plates and a Czech Republic company was awarded to build the monument. Unfortunately, the monument was poorly done that a court case was filed against the company. Finally, the company had to return 600,000 Euro to the city of Tallinn in early 2014. The monument is brightly lit at night, and it stands directly opposite St John's Church, a Lutheran parish church contrasting the new and the old in the city.

Rotermann Quarter is a collection of dilapidated buildings some years ago, and they are now turning into commercial and cultural center with a taste of avant-garde architecture. The place is home to local designers, as well as Kalev, probably the best-known chocolate brand in Estonia.