Stockmann

Stockmann's is the main department store in downtown Helsinki.  The goods are nice, but the prices are usually very high.  The pricing structure did not seem to bother the Russians.  The place was packed with bargain hunters.

Russians at Helsinki market (tori) square.

It was cold, but the weather did not stop all these Russians from trying to find a deal at the market (tori).  January 7 is the Eastern Orthodox day of Christmas. 

Wayne's first transfer!

The harsh surroundings matched my feelings as I watched him walk off.  (Ha! Ha! Now I can do my Sudoku without repeating the numbers first in Finnish!)

 

Christmas Eve in Espoo, Finland.

The blueberry smoothies.

Above is the assortment of fish.  Below is the ham and sauteed reindeer.

The temple missionaries were invited to  the home of Ilkka and Paula Aura to enjoy a true Finnish Christmas Eve celebration, there were nine of us.  We arrived at noon and soon thereafter started eating.  We began with Finnish rice porridge (riisi puuro).  This is prepared by cooking the rice in milk for about four to five hours, then eaten with either butter, cinnamon, sugar, cream, or fruit syrup or all put together.  Then we played games, sat around and talked.  Sauna was then offered.  All that wanted to go went.  The rest did some more talking and game playing.  After sauna was complete, the fresh salmon was place on the smoker and smoked.  While the salmon was smoking we all sang songs and shared memories of Finland long ago.  The climax was the Christmas story in Luke.  About six o'clock pm dinner was served and served and served.  We had a large variety of foods.  The fish included:  smoked salmon,  salmon, white fish, fried muikku (with eyes and heads still attached) and marinated muikku, heads removed, raw herring, cured reindeer, sauteed reindeer, fresh kinkku (ham), and fresh lingonberries (everything was thus far served cold).  The hot  foods were:  carrot casserole, rutabaga casserole, mashed potatoes, boiled Lapland potatoes, and an American green salad with avocados.  We drank water, fizzie water (carbonated water), mehu (fruit drink) and fresh frozen blueberry smoothies (without sugar).  Deserts were provided by missionaries so they were not so Finnish.  Raw apple cake, apple pudding with sauce, tapioca pudding, and some gluten free pasteries.  It took us a while to eat!  After dinner had settled we visited two graveyards, one in Espoo and one in Helsinki.  The Finns really honor their dead, especially war dead.  Candles are lit and placed on the graves.  It is a beautiful sight to behold to see a dark graveyard shimmering in the night.  The weather was normal for this time of year.  It was warmer here than in our home state of Utah.  It was rainy and dark outside, but really warm and fun inside.  We arrived back  home at 10:30 pm.  We were all tired out.  It was a very special Christmas Eve that will always be remembered because of two wonderful unselfish people, Ilkka and Paula Arua.  Thank you.

Table set for riisi puuroa. Rice porridge.

Game playing.

Our hosts, Ilkka and Paula Aura, in the kitchen.

Candles at the cemetery.

Old Espoo Lutheran Church, built 400 years ago.

Sauna, Finnish style!

This is the entrance to the sauna.  You enter through the shower room.

 

 

This is the sauna stove.  It is strategically placed in the corner of the sauna.  It is a wood burning stove, this makes the steam smell good.

Once inside the sauna you sit on these wooden benches, fortunately for us they were covered with towels to keep us from blistering our rears.  You either wrap a towel around you or go bare naked.  Finns go naked, so we all went bare a-- naked.  It was fun.  When the wood heats up it smells very good inside the sauna.  The sauna took two steps:  first you go in and sit down and sweat and sweat as someone throws water onto the rocks.  The first step lasted about 30 to 40 minutes.  We showered, went into a lounge area, sat down, drank water or pop and cooled down.  The last step was we reentered the sauna, threw more water on the rocks and really steamed up this time.  We didn't leave until all the water was gone from the sauna bucket.  We then reshowered, dressed  and rejoined the party upstairs.

Notice the little wooden bucket and wooden ladle.  Water is taken from the bucket and thrown onto the hot rocks on the sauna stove, this produces really hot steam. 

Hyvää Joulua!

We wish you a Merry Christmas from Helsinki, Finland!  We love you.

Alexsanterinkatu (Street) and the National Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko)

Alexsanterinkatu is a busy shopping street in downtown Helsinki.  It is the only street with Christmas decorations draped across the street.  Between the strings of lights are large "A's" which stand for Alexsanterinkatu.  The street was named for Alexander II from Russia.  This street runs past the national cathedral where there is a large statue of Alexander II in the middle of the church square.  This street is home to some very pricey real estate.

This picture shows the national cathedral.  It is really rather white.  It sets upon a hill and can readily be seen throughout Helsinki.  It is shaped like a huge fat cross.  The inside is not lavishly decorated like many European cathedrals.  It is Lutheran.  The Twelve Apostles adorn the four porticos.  There are three apostles on each entrance.  Climbing the stairs to the cathedral is much like climbing a pyramid in Mexico.  The small red huts are Christmas booths.  Like the street upon which they set, the prices are high.  We have visited it many times and it is time to let others spend their money!