I went to Helsinki last weekend, but must admit: my Finnish did not improve, but my view on Finland did. Helsinki is a wonderful city to ramble around in.
Helsinki is Finland’s major political, educational, financial, cultural and research centre as well as one of northern Europe’s major cities. The city seem to occupy a large area, larger than strictly necessary for a population of only about 600 000 inhabitants.
Helsinki Market Square is placed right in the heart of the city center. It is to a large degree a floating market, with fishermen and -women selling all kinds of dried and pickled stuff from the sea from their own boats.
The sign here says Old Danish, I believe it must be the name of the vessel, not its content
Young women arranging different kinds of home-made pickled herring and dark brown bread
a bit skeptical – are we?
…
sub rosa 
But where’s the chocolate ???? 🙂
However, I did mean to say, regardless of the overwhelm of pickled sea things, its a gorgeous place ! 🙂
I don’t know!?! And I must admit that after my recent trip to Italy, I didn’t find the Helsinki fruit-market all that tempting …
Pickled fruit I imagine?
herring in sea-fruit???
Ha! My husband loves herring. I will have to direct his attention here. He has never expressed an interest in visiting Helsinki, but who can tell? (Though I know he would avoid the short-day times of year)
Helsinki is a beautiful city – but I agree about the short-days, I would definitively not go there in the dark AND COLD of mid winter.