Posts Tagged ‘Suomenlinna’

POTD: Suomenlinna Church off the coast of Helsinki, Finland

Monday, August 19th, 2013

The Suomenlinna Church was first built in 1854 as a Greek Orthodox garrison church for the Russian troops stationed in the Suomenlinna sea fortress, and originally had five onion domes.

The simple chandelier hangs directly below the dome of Suomenlinna Church. Both photos taken handheld with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.

The simple chandelier hangs directly below the dome of Suomenlinna Church. Both photos taken handheld with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.

During the 1920s, the Suomenlinna Church was converted into an Evangelical Lutheran church.

Its central dome serves as a lighthouse, which sends out blinking Morse code signals for the letter “H” in Helsinki.

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POTD: An old couple cycling down the path on a Summer day

Wednesday, August 14th, 2013

We’d just gotten off the ferry from Helsinki to the off-shore sea fortress of Suomenlinna. While the excited tourists and local families with children hustled and bustled around the pier, I spied this old couple quietly cycling away from the hullabaloo into the tranquility of the island’s interior.

An old couple cycles slowly down a gravel path on a hot summer’s day on the fortress island of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland. Taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.

An old couple cycles slowly down a gravel path on a hot summer’s day on the fortress island of Suomenlinna in Helsinki, Finland. Both photos taken with a Nikon D600 with AF-S NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR lens. Photo credit: John Tan.

Suomenlinna actually comprises eight islands, five of which are connected by bridges and sandbars. There are about 850 inhabitants on the island, while 400-500 people work there.

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Travel: Helsinki – Capital of Nordic Finland

Sunday, July 14th, 2013

An island fortress, a rock church, and plenty of fun for the kids, Helsinki is a suitable family destination with long daylight hours in the summer.

Located in the central Senate Square, the Lutheran Cathedral was completed in 1852 and is a symbol of Helsinki.

Located in the central Senate Square, the Lutheran Cathedral was completed in 1852 and is a symbol of Helsinki. Taken with a Nikon D600 with 24-120mm lens.

Our first glimpse of Helsinki was gloomy and grim.

It was raining and we’d arrived at the central railway station, an imposing mostly brown building clad in granite, dragging our luggage.

The Uspenski Cathedral is a classical onion-domed Russian church that sits majestically on a hill overlooking the Market Square by the harbour.

The Uspenski Cathedral is a classical onion-domed Russian church that sits majestically on a hill overlooking the Market Square by the harbour. Taken with a Nikon D600 with 24-120mm lens.

Our mood improved as the weather cleared up.

Sunshine really makes a difference, although it was to rain intermittently over the next few days.

Hitting the sights

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