FINNAIR in-flight meal and 3 kind of Marimekko paper cups on my return flight to Japan

Once I get on a direct flight, I can feel just relieved as it will bring me to Japan even if I'm sleeping!

It's fun time to lay back and see the movie with a drink😊  I enjoyed Fantastic Beasts♪ 

Look at this lovely Marimekko patterned paper cup💕  I wonder what they will serve on the plane!

I'm always looking forward to in-flight meal when I have a flight. I love to see how foreign meal is incorporated into in-flight meal. 

Speaking of fancy chocolate in Finland, KarlFazer Milk Chocolate is it! I saw it right and left at the shops in Helsinki Airport. I'm happy that it's kindly delivered to passengers and I'm able to taste it on board😍  Oh I see, it's cool same color as Finland national flag!

Now that I've photographed 2 kind of Marimekko paper cups, I want the 3rd too as souvenir pictures. Thanks to the corporation of the flight attendant, I could take pictures of a gray paper cup with a gray paper napkin. It's soft, gentle color...

I was not sure If I could visit Finland again, so I did everything I could even for paper cups. 3 colors paper cups are my precious memories together with other wonderful things at my first time in Finland.

The navy blue & white FINNAIR plane like the national flag in Finland. I came back to Japan safely. 

This is a record of 3 nights 5 days trip to Finland in June, 2019. I haven't traveled to any foreign countries since then. 

FIN

  

I recommend you to experience ★HESBURGER★ when you visit Finland♪

Do you know that HESBURGER is more popular and reasonable than Macdonald in Finland?★HESBURGER★ is a casual hamburger shop in Finland. I'd like to experience it by all means while I am in Finland! I came to HESBURGER within the station premises in Helsinki Central Station before heading for Helsinki Airport. 

I ordered a simple set : a burger, fried potatoes, and a hot coffee😊  It seemed to be the best way to know the taste of HESBURGER itself. 

What I liked about the shop is that they provided real whole milk so as to let us pour it into our coffee as we liked. I do like black coffee. The combination of fries as well as a burger, and black coffee is exceptional. And then, I add real milk (not the common portioned cream full of trans fat!) and enjoy it like 'cafe au lait'. It's the way I like as I mentioned it several times in past articles.

The mark ☆ on the coffee cup is cool, isn't it?  My last meal in Helsinki was a cute one, and it became a cute experience.

I got out of Ring Rail Line at Lentoasema station connected to Helsinki Vantaa International Airport. But it was very long until I finally got the boarding gate. The procedure was not smooth for me and what a long way lined with a lot of souvenir shops I walked! Many times I worried, like, "Am I going in the right direction?".  I felt relieved when I reached my boarding gate at last!

Used to American Airpot, it was tough for me because I didn't expect it took so long from check-in to the boarding gate. However, looking back, it's also a good travel experience I learned to help me grow as a person. 

Departure morning! Attractive castle-like buildings in Helsinki, Finland

Europe is filled with beautiful, historical structures. You will find numerous ancient buildings when you visit the place. Here in Finland, you can also find a lot of attractive buildings.

I thought tall vertical windows of the buildings are characteristic and it's one of the reason that those buildings look castle-like. Each fine building painted in its own color took my breath away.

I took last pictures of the street where I'd roamed around before I went back to Hotel St.George soon I had to leave. The citizens in Helsinki live at this condominium, or apartment, I wonder? 

Look at this architecture.  It's majestic! 

Helsinki is a clean and beautiful city. Each design of the building was amazing and seeing different buildings was joy for me. Let's take another souvenir "Kitty cat" photo here. Now 3 years later, I checked online and knew it was"Kitty Cat Beauty Center". Wow!

I came back to my room of Hotel St.George. Only 3 nights, but it was a starting point to go to every spot of Helsinki in my own way. I still got some time until I departed for Helsinki Central Station.

I lied down on the bed for a little while. In my heart, I said thank you to the room. 

  

Big Korvapuusti of KANNISTON LEIPOMO, and my favorite Korvapuusti during my stay in Helsinki is...

My trip to Finland can also be said comparing the tastes of Korvapuusti (Cinnamon Roll). Early in the morning, I could make it to KANNISTON LEIPOMO closest from Hotel St.George. It's Monday and open! How nice to be able to taste Korvapuusti I really hoped to try just before I leave Helsinki!

That was a pretty big one. It is rather a little hard than soft. I accompanied Americano with Korvapuusti like I did at St.George Bakery that blew me away. 

Hotel St.George is the time-honored hotel 10-minute walk from Helsinki Central Station. And it has a fantastic cafe https://www.stgeorgehelsinki.com/food/bakery on the street level of the hotel, which serves hearty freshly baked bread. And the coffee is excellent, too. 

Walking the side road of the Old Church Park, I reached at KANNISTON LEIPOMO I missed once.

There are a lot of sweet pastries...☆

But my heart was fixed.  I ordered Korvapuusti!

It was big!!! The texture is hard and it's not so sweet. I enjoyed my breakfast by the window. I read Finnish people often eat Korvapuusti for breakfast. The woman outside is checking what kind of bread this bakery shop has? How about my big bread? 

Korvapuuski (Cinnamon Roll) I liked most was St.George Bakery's. Looking back, it was a lovely attempt to taste and compare several Finish Cinnamon Rolls. Korvapuusti, added a touch of cardamon, sprayed pearl sugar on top, has another magical charm different from American Cinnamon Roll like 'Cinnabon'.

Satisfactory dinner from K-market at the night before I left Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland. I was on the tram, gazing absently out of the window. That was the evening before I left Finland for Japan.

Since I used trams for sightseeing during this short stay, I remembered there were some Japanese restaurants around here. Here it is! I could successfully take a quick commemorative photo from the tram. It says, IZAKAYA 居酒屋 TOKYO GASTRO LOUNGE, and TOKYO 55 SUSHI ACADEMY.

Then, getting out of the tram, and walk to the building of KANNISTON LEIPOMON, which is a bakery shop I thought cool in a travel guide book. I knew it was closed on Sunday, but just feeling the street vibe and looking at the building with my own eyes was also my quiet sightseeing.

I came back to the place where my hotel was, and tried buying food at K-market. The location is on the Etelaesplanadi Street in front of the Etelaesplanadi Park and there is K-market right across the corner near Svenska Teattery (Swedish Theater).

I chose any food from the counter as much as I wanted, and brought the bowl putted the rid on to the casher to pay. As soon as the casher saw my bowl, he was like, "You have to weigh, number 49!". 

😅😅😅   

I left the casher with my bowl, and like, "number 49, number 49...", started looking for "49" in the shop. Finally, I found the machine to put the bowl on to weight and selected "49". A seal printed the price came out of the machine. Oh, I see, this is how I had to do before going to the casher! 

I went back to the casher with a smile😊  The young guy who seemed a little abrupt at first was giving a full smile to me😄  Finnish guys might look unfriendly, but it doesn't mean they are unkind. They are shy and kind actually. This is what I learned from the guide book and my local experience.

At my room of Hotel St.George. I prepared for my dinner on the small table. A beer from Stockman I'd kept in the fridge went great with food from K-mart💚

Even if it's not at the gorgeous restaurant, it was a quite satisfactory dinner I had on the night before I left charming Helsinki. And the memories of the experience at K-market became a treasure still I miss.

What in the world is this? Kampin Kappeli (Kamppi Chapel), the Chapel of Silence in Helsinki, Finland.

Probably you wouldn't recognize it is a chapel at once, unless you were already provided with some information about it in advance.

Kampin kappeli   Simonkatu 7, Narinkkatori 00100 Helsinki

What in the world is this? You never know it's a chapel at a glance. It is located quietly aside on the Narinkka Square. I wanted to come inside, but I regrettably missed. I found it is available from 10:00 - 18:00 when I was trying to enter. It was about 18:20. 

June 16, 2019. People sitting out must be Helsinki locals. Now we are facing Covid-19 pandemic and can't even think about traveling abroad, for a few years, perhaps? 

The unique chapel is created by stacking layers of bent wood and also known as "Chapel of Silence." It is a place to calm down and have a moment of silence. I think it is a good thing a quiet place like this is being prepared every day for people who need a peaceful time in one of the busiest areas in Finland.  

Photography is not allowed inside Kamppi Chapel, nor a whisper, considering people who visited here with a hope to be covered in silence. 

Kampin kappeli   Simonkatu 7, Narinkkatori 00100 Helsinki

I visited here again next day in the morning and came inside as I wished. Inside the rare creation, gentle light from the sky was shining softly. After spending a while, I left. It was a day I flied back to Japan.  

You can look at the inside and see how the ceiling is at www.kampinkappeli.fi

Kamppi Chapel was opened to the public in June, 2012. You are free to visit the chapel during opening hours 10:00 - 18:00...every day!

Yours sincerely, Rose 

Scenes around Vanha Kauppahalli (Old Market Hall), Finnish specialty salmon, and a black swimsuit of Rose

 It's very bright out!

After the Mass at St.Henry's Cathedral, I got off at Kauppatori of Tram 2. The Elegant white blue building jumped out at me. Wow! There is not a cloud in the sky, but birds. 

I've never seen such a big salmon😲  I'll have this for my lunch😋

I wanted to have a lunch at the market today♪ Store staff was friendly and I was smiling when I

 ordered. How nice it is to be able to relax at the country I've visited for the first time! 

I took my seat inside of the orange tent. My dish looks orange, too. |o| Salmon is dished up on a plate with potatoes & vegetables. And I have a coffee❤︎ At the cashier, a staff said, "coffee is free." with her charming smile. A little kindness can make someone's day brighter. 

This is Vanha Kauppadalli (Old Market Hall) , which has the oldest history in Helsinki, famous as a gourmet spot, including 25 shops, and open all year round 8:00~18:00 (Sun. 10:00〜17:00). The sun is blinding my eyes. I've tried, but couldn't take a clear picture of the hall exterior. 

It was a hot day for June in Finland. It was June 16th, 2019. 

Leaving the Old Market Hall, I walked to Uspenskin Katedraali (Uspenski Orthodox Cathedral), which red brick church is the largest Russian Orthodox Church in Northern Europe. Sometimes I got lost, however, I was not worried. And then...

I got back to my hotel, gorgeous St.George! Oh, I love it. I should take a sauna of this hotel before it gets closed. Today is the last chance to experience it. 

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎

The place was in an annex. To tell you the truth, I struggled a lot with how to use the locker key. And finally I got it. I haven't shown Collie this black swimsuit, so I tried to take a photo of myself with it, using my phone camera. There was no one luckily. I know, you think what I am doing...😑

It looks apparently a plain swimsuit, but actually, the back is... I somehow attempted to take a picture of my back to show Collie how it looked from a back. Again, I know you think what I am doing, I also think what I am doing. (- -)  I'm glad no one came in while I was doing this...

These are 2 pictures I barely took. All others I deleted because I messed up😅  I sent these 2 to him! 

But..

There was no response.（- -）（- -）（- -）

This is one of the memories I secretly tell you about my trip to Finland. 

St. Henry's Cathedral - A small Catholic Church I found in Helsinki, Finland

In Finland, 70% of people belong to The Evangelical Lutheran Church, and 1.1% of people to Finnish Orthodox Church. 

During that time, can I find a Catholic Church to be able to visit in Helsinki? I searched on the internet, and knew St. Henry's Cathedral, which is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland. There is a Mass in English on Sunday!

I took off a tram at Kaivopuisto of Tram 3 Line. Soon, a small church was seen in front of me. 

St. Henry's Cathedral in Helsinki, Finland 

It is the Cathedral Church of the Catholic Diocese of Helsinki, dedicated to St. Henry, a 12th-century Bishop of Finland. 

The statues are Saint Henry, Saint Peter, and Saint Paul. 

St. Henry's Cathedral is built in 1858 - 1860, and one of the oldest Neo-Gothic churches in Finland.

The Mass in English on Sunday starts at 9:30 am. I wished for spending time quietly inside the church before the Mass started. Sit on the bench, see the interior, close my eyes, and be honest with myself in a sacred and mysterious atmosphere... So I came here earlier. 

But! There were already people inside the church and a prayer chorus had begun! Christians - almost of them seemed Filipinos to me - were chanting specific prayers loudly together. Louldy. 

I got upset. For me, the time before the Mass should be, at least I was taught that, quiet. It's different here. Though I couldn't have a quiet time as I hoped, I understood it's helpless. They want to chant passionately to express their faith. They are very devout. Must be looking forward to coming here, a rare Catholic Church in Finland. 

The Mass started after 30 minutes. It was a beautiful Mass by Finnish priest. 

He in Michigan had some doubts whether there was a Mass at Catholic Church in Finland because a Catholic population in Finland is quite small. 

Yes, there was. Later at the hotel, I took a photo of "evidence" and sent it to him. 

Even if I was traveling alone in Finland, my heart was together with him.

A Fabulous Finnish cinnamon roll & an excellent Americano I tasted at St.GEORGE BAKERY, Helsinki

My purpose for traveling in Finland was experiencing Finnish cinnamon rolls. On a trip for 3 days, there were several chances to have cinnamon rolls. It is also called cinnamon buns. In Finland, it is "korvapuusti". 

I want to tell you, I had a beautiful Finnish cinnamon roll at the cafe of the hotel I stayed at. It was not in the guidebook, but it was the best! 

Korvapuusti at St.GEORGE BAKERY

It was served, softly warmed up. It was the most beautiful I korvapuusti I'd ever had. I'd like to say it even if I was not experienced a lot. 

Finnish cinnamon roll is horizontally rolled up, seasoned with cardamon as well as cinnamon, sprinkled crystal sugar instead of icing on top. 

St.GEORGE BAKERY is on the first basement of Hotel St.George. https://www.stgeorgehelsinki.com

I might not have visited here unless I stayed at this hotel. So, I'm thankful that I had an opportunity to stay at an elegant Hotel St.George in Helsinki City Center, which is only 10-minute walk from Helsinki Central Station. 

There were plenty of attractive rolls, muffins, pastries, and cakes...but my choice was Finnish cinnamon roll I was really hoping to try! 

One woman is working at the cafe. She gently speaks. It makes me feel at ease, and it is as if her smile is healing people's mind. I was greeting a crisp, refreshing morning.

I learned how amazingly the power of gentle smiles and words affect people around. It makes us happy!

One of the visitor's coffee looked great. I was interested in it and asked him what he ordered.

"Americano."  This is it! 

Americano at St.GEORGE BAKERY

Tasty! It's my favorite flavor. It is covered with creamy foam, making the coffee excellent even better. It is not milk froth, but coffee froth. I do love it❤︎

A fabulous Finnish cinnamon roll & an excellent Americano I tasted at St.GEORGE BAKERY were the highlight of my trip in Helsinki. 

I asked the Finnish lady which coffee beans was used for this Americano. I thought about bringing the beans back to Japan, but I didn't. There was not an enough space in my suitcase. 

We are in the midst of trying to overcome the Corona Crisis. A shift towards more remote-based work style will remain even after we have overcome COVID-19. "New Normal" will remain as "New Lifestyle". Someday we will be able to travel again, in, perhaps, a little changed way.  

I can't even think about a trip in a current situation. Still, traveling is great. I can travel in my mind by seeing those pictures taken in Finland.

Someday...

If I go to Finland again, I will definitely visit St.GEORGE BAKERY even if I stay at a different hotel. I fell in love with the food here. And when I am asked "Would you like it warmed up?" kindly,  I will say "Yes!" with a happy smile.   

Helsinki Central Station, Finnish National Theatre...and tasteful cider in Finland☆

I told you before here at my blog that I missed shopping and dining area inside of the station because I went out directly from the platform like people around me did. 

It seems like a front entrance of Helsingin Rautatieasema (Helsinki Central Station). I see people going back and forth through the door. OK, I will go inside and check it out.

This is R-kioski I've sought!  I wanted to come here on the first day😂

I went out of the station from the other side. At the station square, I took a shot. I didn't take a bus in Finland, but this is the snap to record the moment😀

And Soumen Kansallisteatteri (Finnish National Theatre) itself without a bus. The style of the architecture is called art nouveau. No matter where you take it, it will make a great picture! 

The Finnish National Theatre is on the northern side of the Helsinki Central Railway Station Square symbolically.

On the way to my hotel, I bought these at the department store, STOCKMAN!  Tasteful cider became a great favorite of mine. Homemade ice box cookies were rich in egg flavor. Gluten free thin crackers were...OK.

 

I really recommend you to buy cider in Finland. Believe me, you can find a wide variety of cider at the store. I'm sure rich cider with a stylish can will be a wonderful gift for your friends. You can introduce Finland to your friends in a slightly different way☆