Here is a hand drawn summary map of Helsinki, with everything you need to know. Just give up on finding a bathroom anywhere. Probably to be expanded westwards tomorrow.
Day in a Nutshell:
My luggage has yet to show up, they havent found it yet, so I figured I’d just walk around Helsinki today. I started at around 9 am, and got back around 3, with a few breaks to people watch and have lunch. Checked world orienteering Championships, psychological results (way to go Damian!) and then had a nap before supper.
Helsinki is decent sized, old buildings at the middle, and younger further out. Surprisingly large number of smokers, and cigarette butts everywhere. The waterfront is quite nice, public access is kept well, very little private access.
Land use: A few Greenspan especially, but most everything is 5-9 stories tall and made of brick. No skyscrers beyond 15 stories anywhere. Bottom floor almost always used for commercial purposes, with remaining higher floors residential or office space in downtown core. Business signage is understated, small which keeps the character of the town, but makes it a tad difficult to find things. One exception was a Mercedes Benz logo way up in the air above all the rooftops.
Statues/monuments: all over the place. Especially naked copper turned green statues are a dime a dozen. Some monuments are only Finnish, others have 5 languages on them.
- In Salmon Arm: cyclists<pedestrians<smart cars<normal cars<pickup trucks
- In Helsinki: cars<pedestrians<cyclists<busses<trams
