by Dariusz Hareza and Lauren Ceckowski
As much as
we enjoy learning about the history and culture of Scandinavia in the classroom, we knew that experiencing it first-hand would be far more enriching. So part of
the group from U of I studying at KTH this summer decided to immerse its
weekend in Finnish culture by traveling to Helsinki on a cruise ship. The
moment we stepped off the ship the contrasts of the city caught our eyes. Old
red-brick industrial buildings housed the latest exhibits on innovative
designs. Trams rumbled through streets lined with sleek new
department stores. We were immediately taken in by the open air markets housing
stalls filled with various trinkets dear to the Finnish identity. With a little
bargaining, one could buy a well-groomed mink hat to face the terrors of a
Scandinavian winter. After a long night of sailing through the Baltic, we were
absolutely ravenous. Luckily, with great Finnish hospitality a buffet was able
to accommodate us. We were thrilled with the choices that included salmon,
trout, and assortments of breads, salads, cheeses, and jams. Needless to say,
we took full advantage of the opportunity to satisfy our hungry appetites. Now
we could slowly take in the sights and sounds around us.
In front of the great Helsinki Cathedral, we noticed that
there was a lot of commotion stirring. Apparently, we struck gold with our
timing of the trip as various dance groups from the city were preparing to put
on a parade. The colors of the costumes were absolutely stunning, as were the
themed floats. Peacock feathers, sparkling wings, and theatrical masks are just
a few words to describe the breadth of different styles we saw. As preparations
for the parade were made, we decided to visit the inside of Helsinki Cathedral.
The cathedral’s simplicity on the outside directly matched it on the inside. It
was very much less ornate than the Uspenski Cathedral we had visited earlier in
the day. Yet Helsinki Cathedral’s simplicity does not take away from its
majesty. Clean curves and high ceilings give it a very light feel and exemplify
the boldness of the architecture. Later we learned that the seats in the pews
were all made using horse hairs. Not having noticed that the first time we entered,
we returned to the Cathedral to marvel at the lustrous black seats that filled
the Cathedral’s hall.
After taking
in the architecture, we decided to do a bit of shopping in the fashion district
where the city truly burst with life. Street vendors and musicians added to the
unique atmosphere we had not yet experienced anywhere else. Once we had taken a
few turns we quite accidently ran into the parade we had seen being prepared. We
looked at each other in awe at how loud and flamboyant the whole spectacle was.
As we returned to the ship, we were truly disappointed that we could only spend
a day in Helsinki; the city still had so much to offer us.
Dariusz Hareza is a junior studying Molecular with a Cellular Biology Honors Concentration, minoring in Chemistry, and is Pre-Med. He is from Oak Lawn, IL.
Lauren Ceckowski is a senior studying Earth, Society, and Environment with a concentration on Society and the Environment. She is from Gurnee, IL.
As much as
we enjoy learning about the history and culture of Scandinavia in the classroom, we knew that experiencing it first-hand would be far more enriching. So part of
the group from U of I studying at KTH this summer decided to immerse its
weekend in Finnish culture by traveling to Helsinki on a cruise ship. The
moment we stepped off the ship the contrasts of the city caught our eyes. Old
red-brick industrial buildings housed the latest exhibits on innovative
designs. Trams rumbled through streets lined with sleek new
department stores. We were immediately taken in by the open air markets housing
stalls filled with various trinkets dear to the Finnish identity. With a little
bargaining, one could buy a well-groomed mink hat to face the terrors of a
Scandinavian winter. After a long night of sailing through the Baltic, we were
absolutely ravenous. Luckily, with great Finnish hospitality a buffet was able
to accommodate us. We were thrilled with the choices that included salmon,
trout, and assortments of breads, salads, cheeses, and jams. Needless to say,
we took full advantage of the opportunity to satisfy our hungry appetites. Now
we could slowly take in the sights and sounds around us.
In front of the great Helsinki Cathedral, we noticed that
there was a lot of commotion stirring. Apparently, we struck gold with our
timing of the trip as various dance groups from the city were preparing to put
on a parade. The colors of the costumes were absolutely stunning, as were the
themed floats. Peacock feathers, sparkling wings, and theatrical masks are just
a few words to describe the breadth of different styles we saw. As preparations
for the parade were made, we decided to visit the inside of Helsinki Cathedral.
The cathedral’s simplicity on the outside directly matched it on the inside. It
was very much less ornate than the Uspenski Cathedral we had visited earlier in
the day. Yet Helsinki Cathedral’s simplicity does not take away from its
majesty. Clean curves and high ceilings give it a very light feel and exemplify
the boldness of the architecture. Later we learned that the seats in the pews
were all made using horse hairs. Not having noticed that the first time we entered,
we returned to the Cathedral to marvel at the lustrous black seats that filled
the Cathedral’s hall.
Dariusz Hareza is a junior studying Molecular with a Cellular Biology Honors Concentration, minoring in Chemistry, and is Pre-Med. He is from Oak Lawn, IL.
Lauren Ceckowski is a senior studying Earth, Society, and Environment with a concentration on Society and the Environment. She is from Gurnee, IL.
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