Traffic Problems in Central Helsinki…

…due to a broken water pipe at central railway station.

Metro can’t reach the city center, some trams have to use an alternative route and cars can’t come here either. The metro is probably affected also during tomorrow.

Or is it the tears of the Swedish ice hockey fans who had just witnessed a 7-0 defeat against Finland here in Helsinki? That’s probably the ugliest score in the history of modern Swedish ice hockey.

EDIT: At the moment it is believed that the metro station will be closed for months…

Dog Park…

…at Tervasaari island.

Reaching for the Stars…

…at the University of Helsinki earlier this week when people had a chance to visit the 175 years old observatory.

You foreigners might now think that Finnish astronomy is very primitive but observations are no longer done from this site. There is too much light pollution to allow scientific work. What used to be at the outskirts of the city is today a very central location.

The exterior of the observatory is one of the most impressive in the city – and not among the easiest to be photographed.

The First Snow of The Winter…

…part 2. Now the snow stays on the ground for a while unlike during part 1.

November would be so much nicer if there would be snow on the ground but unfortunately this will probably disappear in a few days.

Even the Railway Guys Are Wearing Hats…

…now that it has been colder than normally in October/November.

These Helsinki icons at the Central Railway Station were created by Emil Wickström and there are two others just outside of the photo on the left. The statues are called lyhdynkannattajat (carriers of the lanterns).

During the past years VR railway company has used them as animation figures in their advertising. The green hats are also part of their advertising campaign.

November Can be Pretty Miserable…

…and this photo was taken already in October ;(

Halloween Leftovers…

…that I found on the next day.

Some younger Finns have adopted some Halloween traditions through American movies and tv-series but it’s nothing like Halloween in the U.S.

Officially we celebrate pyhäinpäivä (All Saints Day) and people who have died are being remembered. It’s not uncommon to forget the whole day and notice too late that all the shops are closed.

CDP Theme Day 2009 / November: Doorways

Soldiers are marching to a temporary historical military village at Suomenlinna seafortress UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is a CDP theme day post so Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Muskox at Helsinki Zoo…

…enjoying a nice autumn day.

Actually it was a day that I would have called boringly grey only a few years ago. Then I used a camera only when I was travelling.

Gift-Wrapped Apartment Buildings…

…seem to be pretty common these days.

You foreigners might think that these are birthday presents for someone after you read that Finland is the most prosperous nation in the world according to a Brittish study. No, we are not that prosperous.

In the study prosperity was not measured only in euros or dollars but things like health, freedom, security and political governance were also considered.