Helsinki: A really "cool" city

It is well know that Finnish architecture has left its mark in the 20th century with famous names as Alvar Aalto or Eliel Sarinen.
Although politically Finland has been a close ally of the Soviet-Union, Helsinki is a Western city. Finnish buildings are signed by a simplicity of expression with great functionality. They don't look beautiful to a tourist's eyes; just too grey and geometrical.That's why Helsinki seemed too cold to me, and this reaction has not so much to do with the winter weather.

Nevertheless, Finnish contemporary design is amazingly innovative. From home stylish stuff to cool Marimekko fabrics, you want to buy everything you see. Just a piece of advice: bring a very thick wallet, please!

Kamppi Shopping Mall before Christmas and Marimekko fabrics

Tallinn, Estonia: Like a fairy tale

It is very fast and easy to get to Tallinn, Estonia's capital, from Helsinki. It takes just an hour and a half's ferryboat journey across the Baltic sea.Tallinn is one of the best retained medieval European towns, with its winding cobblestone streets and properties from the 11th to 15th centuries, preserved nearly in its entirety.

At my arrival, it had been snowing for the whole previous night, which made the sights look even greater. Visiting Tallinn is like being taken aback in time, like experiencing the feelings of a fairy tale heroine.

The Christmas Market is a wonderland where time stands still. It is a performance which begins early in the morning and finishes in the evening.The market takes place on Town Hall Square around the huge Christmas tree. Craftsmen display and sell their handicrafts in lit-up stalls, creating a picturesque town . A warm Christmas drink and a steaming bowl of Christmas soup fortify hungry visitors.When darkness arrives (quite early in the afternoon), lights everywhere and Christmas music add to the Christmas cheer.

Riga, Latvia: Old castles and Soviet influence

Riga is the capital of Latvia, the central Baltic country, and in the past it was the biggest Hanseatic town in Eastern Baltics. The Hanseatic League (Hansa) was a mercantile league of medieval German towns and it was formed around the middle of the 12th century by German and Scandinavian seafaring merchants.

The building of the Blackheads' Organization was one of the most impressive architectural monuments in the city. This building of Gothic style, first mentioned in 1344, was seat of single merchants belonging to the Merchants' Guild. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during WWII but rebuilt in 1999.The great replica is shown below.

Riga Castle served as the seat of the secular power for a long time. The place on the banks of the Daugava was chosen on purpose to oversee all the ships that came into the port.
Now the President of Latvia has his residence in one wing of the castle.

Before the Soviet occupation Riga was an important economical centre. However, during the years immediately after WWII, Latvia lost great part of the population and was annexed to the USSR. The country was under Soviet dominance for about 50 years and some of the buildings from that time can still be observed near the Daugava river.

Sweden & the Swedish

After Latvia, I had some more steps to take. I flew from Riga to Stockholm, Sweden, with the plan of having my first Scandinavian Christmas at a Swedish home and, honestly, the experience was unforgettable. Some passport trouble at my arrival deserves a chapter on its own, but my being so absent minded so as to forget my hand bag in the plane, is something not common to most people. Yes, belive it! And Swedish policemen (and policewomen) became my most admired guys since then. Amazingly helpful and supportive!
I travelled the same night to Eskilstuna,a town about 100 kilometres west of Stockholm. A friend of mine, Peter, lives there and I had one of my best Christmas times with his parents, his brother's family and friends.

Peter, a real viking

Eskilstuna was well-known as a flourishing industrial town as early as the 17th century. King Karl X Gustav founded the Rademacher Forges in 1650 when he asked Reinhold Rademacher, a master smith, to manage the forges. It is the place where the famous Swedish steel industry was probably born.The buildings are well preserved and various craftsmen are still working there.

Rademacher forges

While in Eskilstuna, we visited Torshälla, only a short distance from Eskilstuna, nestled into the countryside by the shores of lake Mälaren. It is one of the oldest cities in Sweden and received city rights as early as 1317 . There are proofs that the city already existed in the year 700 as an old heathen gathering place where the god Thor was worshipped. The name Torshälla origins from "Tors harg" which means place for sacrificing to Thor. The town is placed on an ancient trade route and it was a natural stop-over place where travelers made sacrifice to the gods.

In Torshälla

Lake Mälaren

Near Eskilstuna and Torshälla, by lake Mälaren, several monoliths with genuine viking carvings can be appreciated. It is just a question of stopping by the road while driving.

STOCKHOLM

Fortunate enough, I visited Stockholm twice. Built on 14 islands, where the lake Mälaren opens up into the Baltic Sea, the city offeres urivalled views.

The modern city is built surrounding an old, prefectly preserved mediaeval centre, known as Gamla Stan. Gamla Stan is also where the Royal Palace is situated.

Stockholm offers a wealth of museums and attractions. With Peter and Alberto, two Swedish friends, we visited Stockholm city museum, where a spooky exhibition about death was on. The man in the pictures was a famous executioner, who after killing a bunch of criminals, was executed himself. Food at museums is also great; if you have any doubt, just have a look at the creamy berry pie we devoured after the visit.

England and Scotland once more

My Christmas tour 2006-07, included my third visit to the British Isles. Always attractive, English or Scotish towns keep that rich historical charm not easy to find in other locations of the world. Of course, I stayed at my cousin Alicia's and enjoyed good food with my family. Natalie and Sophie, her daughters, were in Hexham for the holidays.

Natalie & Sophie

Hexham, where my cousins live, is a town overlooking the Tyne valley with imposing medieval buildings . At the centre of these is Hexham Abbey, dating from 674AD. The town's market is also very famous because its been held for hundreds of years around the church. Hexham is situated at only half an hour from Newcastle in the very north of England.

Once again, I could not resist the temptation of making a day trip to Edimburgh, the capital of Scotland. Just less than hour's journey from my cousins', it is impossible not to go when you are so near. I enjoyed all the magic of the Royal mile, so typically "Scottish", with kilts, whisky and great shop windows with superb local fudge.

And also once more, I have been in York. York is one of my favourite cities, full of medieaval charm and fully preserved from those times. I walked in the Shambles, its historic core, and crossed the bridge on the river Ouse.

In my previous visits to the UK, I had always wanted to visit Liverpool. However, cross-country rail lines are not so efficient as the coast lines and it was hard to get there from Newcastle. This year, pushed by Sonia's comments on her beloved city (Sonia was one of the interns from England living with me in California and a proud Liverpool citizen), I decided the effort was worthwhile.
Liverpool has a startling range of attractions . From its port, which has opened Britain to the world, to Beatlemania, Liverpool is a "buzzy" and cultural city.
Its harbor on the Mersey river provided the gateway the British Empire needed to conquer the seas of the world and an exit for hordes of immigrants who left the country years ago as well as an entrance for the ones that have been coming in searching for new horizons.

The Albert Dock was opened by Prince Albert in 1846. It includes a range of stylish bars and restaurants and the The Merseyside Maritime Museum.

But, unduobtely, Liverpool would not be Liverpool without The Beatles.The Beatles seem to transcend the topic of music, settled as they are in the popular culture and imagery of their time. From the Cavern Club where they started to play in the early 60's to the whole extension of Matthew street at which the club is, all the Cavern neighborhood is invaded by Beatle merchandising and curious tourists.

I stopped by London for a few hours at dawn. I moved from Heathrow airport to Embankment. The views at that time of the day were stunning. The London eye and Trafalgar square looked amazing under the first beams of light and I love these pictures.