Snow

If you walk around in Helsinki, you may realize that Art Nouveau has a great influence on the architecture.

My favourite building in Helsinki is the Pohjola Insurance Building designed by Eliel Saarinen and built in 1901.

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But what is Art Nouveau?
Art Nouveau, also known as Jugendstil (German for 'youth style'), is an international movement and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that peaked in popularity at the turn of the 20th century (1890–1905).

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A reaction to academic art of the 19th century, it is characterized by organic, especially floral and other plant-inspired motifs, as well as highly-stylized, flowing curvilinear forms.

Art Nouveau is an approach to design according to which artists should work on everything from architecture to furniture, making art part of everyday life.

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Click here to read more about Art Nouveau

Uspenski Cathedral (Finnish: Uspenskin katedraali, Swedish: Uspenskij-katedralen, Russian: Успенский собор) is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition of the Theotokos (the Virgin Mary). Its name comes from the Russian word uspenie, which denotes the Dormition. Designed by the Russian architect Alexey Gornostaev (1808-1862), the cathedral was built after his death in 1862-1868.

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The Cathedral is set upon a hillside on the Katajanokka peninsula overlooking the city. On the back of the cathedral, there is a plaque commemorating Russian Emperor Alexander II, who was the sovereign of the Grand Duchy of Finland during the cathedral's construction. Main cathedral of the Finnish Orthodox Church in the diocese of Helsinki, Uspenski Cathedral is claimed to be the largest orthodox church in Western Europe, although Finland is normally included into Northern Europe.

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In 2006, about 516 500 tourists visited the church. Admission to the Cathedral is free of charge. In winter, the Cathedral is closed on Mondays.

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A statue of Emperor Alexander II is located in the center of the square. The statue, erected in 1894, has built to commemorate his re-establishing the Diet of Finland in 1863, and initiating several reforms increasing Finland's autonomy from Russia. The statue comprises Alexander on a pedestal surrounded by figures representing the law (Lex), Light (Lux), Work (Labour), Peace (Pax)

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During the Russification of Finland from 1899 onwards, the statue became a symbol of quiet resistance, with people of Helsinki protesting to the decrees of Nicholas II leaving flowers to at the foot of the statue of his grandfather, then know in Finland as "the good czar".

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After Finland's independence in 1917, demands were made regarding the removal of the statue, and later, a suggestion was made that it should be replaced with the equestrian statue of Mannerheim (currently located along Mannerheimintie, near Eduskuntatalo).

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Nothing came of either of these suggestions, and today the statue is one of the major tourist landmarks on the city, standing as a monument to Finland's relationship with Imperial Russia.

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I am currently in Naantali, which is located about 25 minutes by bus 11 or 110 from the market square in Turku at the Finnish Archipelago.

Naantali ia actually quite small and you may have never heared about it, however it has a really good Spa and Resort Hotel, which has been awarded as the finest spa and conference Hotel in Scandinavia and is part of Royal Spas of Europe.

A part of the Hotel itself is actually a cruise ship, which is called Sunborn Princess. Lucky as I am I got my own room there.

If you consider some relaxing time in Finland I can highly recommend you this Hotel.

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You can find plenty of information about the Hotel here.

Find more images of Naantali in my Album

This was the claiming on ads promoting the Maailma kylässä, the World Village Festival last weekend in Helsinki. In this festival participated over 300 partners, including 200 NGOs as well as educational institutions, museums, public authorities and businesses.

The objective, according to the organisers, is to provide "a meeting point open to all presenting cultural treats and surprises from all over the world: music, dance, organisations and food, as well as a place to encounter new viewpoints on tolerant multiculturalism, development work and globalisation, as well as finding ways to influence things in daily life." Events like this underline the importance of multiculturalism on today’s European societies and how borders and differences now are less noticeable.

The FinlandLive MEET’IN was as usual at the main entrance of Rautiateasema, after an innocent incident, confusing Kaivopuisto with Kaisaniemi (nothing personal Snow!) we took a first glance of the book exposition in Rautatientori and then to Kaisaniemen Puisto to the main event.

It was an interesting experience, listening the most diverse musical bands, getting to know how the different NGO’s develop their work and trying delicacies from such distant countries like Nepal, Mexico, Philippines, Ghana and even something from the former Persia, no matter T-Bag said that wasn’t exactly authentic, but well, good enough to have a nice meal and over all a great time with the FinlandLive’s...