The custom of meeting under the Stockmann clock is not only true, but it is a practice efficiently used by the Finns. (As a matter of fact, from conversations with Jarno - he utilized the clock for a couple of dates back in his day!) As are group of FUSYE friends detoured around, a simple planned time and one place made everything easy. What was amazing was that when I actually did get to the clock it was full of people, some chatting, some anxiously waiting ( Finns ARE prompt... and there is a clock over your head ready to instigate any form impatience!). Initially I met my friend Kim under the clock, and since we were so excited for doing things "The Finnish Way", a picture was in order.
Throughout the afternoon I met up with people all over the city getting to exhibit areas all around. From the many floors of the Stockmann department store, to the the market square, to modern streets with bright lights still dotted with historical motifs and churches. Venturing around was thrilling and something was able to catch our attention at every stop.
In connection to our means of assemblage, Anna and I actually planned ourselves to also meet under the clock once she was off work to hang out for the evening. Strolling down the street to meet at the Stockmann clock was another nostalgic moment ; " I AM in Finland!". At the entrance to the bustling store I stood content being part of the great mix of the brisk Helsinki streets around me. While daydreaming, Anna came crossing the street at a hurried pace and then greeted me apologetically. I took a quick glimpse at the clock overhead ; 5:02. An apology? I knew the Finns were keen on time but it still deserved a smile. Our conversations while heading down the streets together involved a little introspect on America, or in the least teenagers in America, and the great philosophy of being 'fashionably late' - Anna was a little taken aback or culture shocked to say the least. In and out of different shops Anna was once again in her element and was able to show me all around Helsinki, through the shortcuts and all. Some interesting sites included an American overseas food mart ( which was entertaining since the prices were outrageously marked. After currency rates - $4 for a regular Reese's cups anyone?) as well as the largest H&M I have ever seen ( being close to Sweden, IKEA and H&M come standard in every city!).
-Don't blink... those are the real prices you see there ( In Euros to say the least! {and the exchange rate all summer was 1.4x!! painful!}) . I think this is the "American" cake that my host family was referring to... now I know why most Finns haven't tried it!-
After a great evening of webbing in all different paths through the downtown streets, Anna and I stopped for something really unique and special which was a Helsinki classic. Fazer chocolate has largely gone under the radar here on my blog but is a favorite endeared by foreigners to Finland and Finns alike. Fazer is a chocolate brand ( as well as baked goods) based in Finland and truly makes excellent products. Many Finns I spoke to over the summer that had traveled abroad said that one of their most missed Finnish foods was the Fazer blue ( the classic milk chocolate bar in a metallic blue wrapper). Right in Helsinki was the one and only Fazer cafe and that was where Anna and I were going to stop for some special Fazer chocolate ice cream sundaes.
The inside was almost fictional like a movie with a oldstyle vintage factory candy parlor, and with the terraces outside, a perfect European experience.
Sitting outside, Anna and I enjoyed the great environment, as we socialized with streetside musicians fiddling in the background noise.
Eavesdropping around I heard broken English being spoken at a number of tables. This exemplified the notion of broken English really being the European second language ( a joke I have heard from various Finns and Europeans) and it also proved that not only was English the connection of foreigners from all around - this Fazer cafe seemed the place to be ( and show off) to your guests to Finland. Anna had taken me to a great place and I felt that it was the perfect was to start slowing down our evening for the night. But to my misjudgment, the cafe was not the planned ending to our day's activities - Anna had one more Helsinki must-see to fit in while the night was still young.
Linnanmäki is Helsinki's answer to large amusement parks and that was where Anna had planned to take me.
Linnanmäki allows you to pay per ride instead of admissions and both of us were going for one ride in particular before the park closed: the Vuoristorata.
Of all the rides in the park - this was the one to ride. It wasn't the biggest or the fastest, but it was definitely the most unique. The ride itself is the oldest in all of Europe, being built in 1951! Being an old fashioned coaster the ride relies entirely on physics to ride - Once the chain pulls the cart up, it technically is a free-for-all drop. To make this more exciting, there are no automatic brakes. This is what made the ride wild. There were actually manual workers that rode the ride countless times over the park's season manhandling the brake-stick ( As shown below).
This technically provided a guarantee that no two rides were ever alike in breaking or in speed. These little history specs made the ride sound so daring and I was so glad that Anna had taken me to just see this ride - It was so worth it. Up the rickety ride I wasn't sure what to expect but what ever it was, I had my camera ready ( I had become pretty infamous about that with everyone! ) and had it strapped around my wrist.
Before even going down our first hill, at the highest point of the ride you were able to catch a magnificent view of Helsinki downtown in the distance - but the beauty was only for a blinding second since ride around the turn was the reckless tracks ahead!
The ride was bumpy and so much fun- tunneling inside and out of itself like a winding, wooden knot. Laughing and screaming while coming off, Anna and I both were smiling and full of energy. During that last minutes before the park closed we walked around to check some other stuff out. The park was really cool mixing old style carnival with some reincarnations of famous Helsinki sightseeing spots.
The park was so much fun and I couldn't have asked for a better evening. I had experienced some of the best parts of Helsinki with my friends and especially my host sister, who always had great ideas of where to show me around, all of which had little ties back to that keystone of Helsinki: The Stockmann Clock.
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