🇫🇮 Finland

Hej! I share an extract of my experience of visiting stately Finland. I was there in the autumn of 2021. Below are some notes on what I tasted, saw and listened to. I also visited Åland Islands (an autonomous and demilitarised region of Finland).
Important: I only share my own experience and recommend the things I personally tried and liked. Therefore, everything written below is extremely subjective, and also does not cover all the wonderful local attributes and places ☺️.

🗺 Places: Helsinki, Vaasa.

🏛 Top sights visited:

1. Helsinki
   • Temppeliaukio Church (Temppeliaukion Kirkko)
   • Sea Fortress Suomenlinna (Suomenlinna)
   • Helsinki Cathedral & Senate Square (Suurkirkko)
   • Old Market Hall (Hietalahti)
   • Uspenskin Cathedral (Uspenskin Katedraali)
   • Kamppi Chapel of Silence (Kampin Lappeli)
   • The Sibelius Monument & Sibelius Park (Sibelius-Monumentti)
   • Helsinki Winter Garden (Helsingin Kasvitieteellinen Puutarha)
2. Vaasa
   • City Hall (Kaupungintalo)
   • Vaasa Holy Trinity Church (Vaasan Kirkko)
   • Vaasa Market Square (Vaasan Tori)

🎧 Local musicians:

• 🇫🇮 Portion Boys (band). Genre: pop
• 🇫🇮 Jenni & Juho (duo). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 H.I.M. (band). Genre: gothic metal
• 🇺🇳 The Rasmus (band). Genre: alternative rock
• 🇺🇳 Sunrise Avenue (band). Genre: rock
• 🇺🇳 Darude (DJ). Genre: speed house
• 🇺🇳 Alma (singer). Genre: pop
• 🇺🇳 Bomfunk MC’s (band). Genre: hip-hop

🎚️ Contribution to EDM:

• Suomisaundi. Originated: mid-1990s

🥘 Local food & drinks:

• Salmon Soup (Lohikeitto)
• Fish Soup (Kalakeitto)
• Karelian Pastry (Karjalanpiirakka)
• Peas Soup (Hernekeitto)
• Christmas Pastry (Joulutorttu)
• Lent buns (Laskiaispulla)
• Finnish Beer (Brand: “Lapin Kulta”)
• Finnish Liqueur (Brand: “Minttu”)

🎬 Local movies:

• Heavy Trip (Hevi Reissu). Year: 2018. Genre: comedy

🪔 Authentic artifacts:

• Authentic Principle: Sisu (Sisu)
• The Culture of Sami (Saamelaiset / Sámit)
• Finnish Sauna (Saunakulttuuri)
• Shrove Sunday (Laskiainen)
• The Moomins (Muumi)
• Authentic Garb: Kansallispuku (Kansallispuku)

🦉 Local wisdom: “Better a little given than a lot promised” / “Parempi vähän annettu kuin paljon luvattu” — Finnish proverb

👨‍🎓The oldest university: The University of Helsinki (Helsingin Yliopisto), Helsinki, est. 1640.