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Finland is a country that is located between Sweden and Russia, with both of these countries having taken over Finland at various stages in history and having a significant influence over Finland's largest city.

Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustav 1 of Sweden, the country that had been in control of Finland for 400 years at that stage. But the city didn't seem to expand much until the building of Suomenlina Fortress in 1748.

Instead of taking part in an organised tour I decided to take the tram which travelled right past where the trip docked. The tram route diagram was very helpful and I was able to take a tour of the city on the one tram route. 

Lots of water and some quite astonishing statues could be seen from the tram.

Helsinki 2 of 5

I visited an area called Senate Square that contained a number of buildings for arts, culture, politics and education as well as the landmark Helsinki Cathedral that was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel in the early 19^th Century.

Not far from the square is the impressive Uspenski Cathedral, the largest Orthodox church in Western Europe.  This was built as a tribute to Czar Nicholas 1 during the Russian occupation of Finland.

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In Helsinki there was also the most unusual church that I have ever seen. It is the Temppeliaukio (Rock Church), a Lutheran church that is built into solid rock. They somehow managed to build this church inside a block of solid granite.

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I caught a ferry out to the island that contained the Suomenlina Fortress. This fortress was built in 1748 by Sweden which had control of Finland at the time.  However, the czarist Russian troops were still able to invade the country despite the fortress with its many cannons. This was then the beginning of 100 year occupation of the country.  In fact Finland did not become a republic until 1919.

After leaving the ferry the way onto the island paths was through an archway.  Very thick walls of the fort were all around the island and I was able to walk down through narrow passageways inside one of the walls. As in the case with many old buildings there seems to be the need for regular conservation work.

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On the island there was a garrison church and I was lucky enough to hear a choir practicing for a concert.  Outside the church and surrounding most of the church buildings were a series of cannons planted upright in the ground.

I caught the ferry back into the city and then the tram back to the cruise. But not before noticing some people betting on the old thimble and pea trick.  I suspect that they were going to lose their money!