Maze: Helsinki

FINLAND IS CALLED THE LAND OF THOUSAND LAKES, ABOUT 60,000.  All I know about Finland is what my mother told me when I was a young girl - that the first Miss Universe, Armi Kuusela, was from Finland.  The first Miss Universe contest was held in the Philippines in 1950 (?).  She married a Filipino businessman, Virgilio Hilario, who was her escort at the pageant.  Since I came to America, I have never missed (okay, 2 misses) watching the Miss Universe on TV.

I'm very impressed with Finland.  They have a high standard of living and the people are very friendly.  Forests cover two-thirds of their land.  They have built a modern industry of mostly  timber products.  Mountains lie in the north and it extends to the Lapland region.  The United States loaned Finland $8 million to build up the country after World War I.  It is the only European country to make uninterrupted payments on its debts that it so impressed the Americans.  Finland has about 4,500 miles of railroads and the Saimaa Lake System alone is 186 miles long.

This country is very, very clean.  The only place where there is a toilet inside a toilet.  Go there and see what I'm talking about.  The food court at Stockmann department store was the best.  We met Vicky Simon, a Filipina from Canada.  Her husband was doing some kind of software presentation.  The big luggage I bought at Sam's Club was not big enough for all the souvenirs I bought during the trip.  I went home with 2 more hand carries.  No wonder I got held up at Copenhagen Airport due to my stuff of wooden moose and 3-inch pewter Viking ship.  Maybe something else.  Then here we go again at O'Hare International Airport,  my plane just landed from Scandinavia and at the airport custom I was pulled aside again.  Then I was pulled aside again and told to go to another counter.  When I got there they just screened the bags and that's it.  Dragging all that heavy stuff was for nothing.  I was really pissed off.  What a way to end the day.

Video:

Baltic Cruise to Finland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psZAN_TuXNs 00:51

Russian forces attacked Finland in 1939 in violation of non-aggresion agreement between the countries.  The Finns fought two wars with Russia between 1939 and 1944 under the leadership of General Carl von Mannerheim.  Finland lost most of the Karelia Region in the first and more lands in the second war.  Mannerheim was elected president in 1944, but resigned in 1946 because of poor health.

Most Finns belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church

Jan Sibelius Park - Finland's world famous composer of Finlandia


Downtown Helsinki

Olympic Games were held in Helsinki in 1952.  Finland is famous as a country of athletes.  Paavo Nurmi became world famous as long distance runner.

 

 

Published  6/14/10  lib's labyrinth

Blog Page:  Maze: Helsinki

RASPUTIN

MURDER OF RASPUTIN
As a crime observer, I think this is one of the most fascinating events in the annals of most unsuccessful assassination of a notorious person.
During the time of Czar Nicholas II in Imperial Russia, Grigori Rasputin (1872-1916), a  peasant from western Siberia, who later became a charismatic monk, was notably the most hated man in Russia because of his imperial connection.  In his middle thirties, he joined a religious sect and became known as a holy man.  He went to Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), then the capital of Russia.  He gained the reputation of a saint.  In 1907, he was introduced to the czar and czarina in order to help heal their son, who suffered from hemophilia.  His apparent "success" gained the confidence of the royal family, became a harmful influential adviser of the czar's wife, Alexandra, and dominated the affairs of the government such as in ministerial appointments and meddled in political decisions.  He became the Chief of Staff of the imperial couple. Indubitably, the first and the last of royal cult of the time.  Rasputin became selfish and greedy.

A group of high noblemen feared the hatred of Rasputin would turn against the czar himself.  On the night of December 16, 1916, the handsome Prince Felix Yusupov, with Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich of the House of Romanov, invited Rasputin for dinner at the Moika (Yusupov) Palace.  He was served with cakes and red wine laced with cyanide - enough to kill five men.  

But it seemed to have no effect on the guest so the prince got a gun and shot him in the back.  A short time later he found Rasputin to be still alive, and shot him three more times.  But alas, he stood back up and tried to flee! They clubbed him in the head repeatedly with an iron bar, wrapped him in a blanket, and tossed him in the Moika River.  After all these attempts, Rasputin's autopsy revealed he died of hypothermia.

Nevertheless, Rasputin contributed to the downfall of the last of the Romanovs.  Nicholas abdicated and his family were held prisoners for many months. The Bolshevik Revolution broke out within three months.  The imperial family was finally executed in July, 1918.    

Czar Nicholas & Family

Russian Evolution

http://youtu.be/ZIz5y4JC7HY

Internet Publication:

9/2002  ALT  MSN Group

Maze: St. Petersburg

IMPERIAL RUSSIA

PETER THE GREAT FOUNDED AND DESIGNED THE SECOND LARGEST CITY OF ST. PETERSBURG IN 1703 AND MADE IT THE CAPITAL OF RUSSIA.  It ranked as the fifth largest city in  Europe.  Construction began 1703 and the city eventually spread over 100 islands linked by 700 bridges.  It suffered severe damage during the revolution of 1917 and later during World War II, when a cruel 900-day siege claimed more than half a million victims. 

When Russia went to war against Germany in 1914, the name was changed to Petrograd, which means Peter's City.  The Russians did this to get rid of the German ending "burg." When Lenin died in 1924, the Soviet Communist government changed the name for the third time to Leningrad.

Leaving Helsinki behind, glimpses of the magnificent eastern Lake Region on the way to Lappeenranta at the head of the waterways.  Crossing the frontier to Vyborg, the old trading center between the merchants of Novgorod and Karelian hunters.  After a noon lunch in Vyborg, continuing on by traversing the Karelian Isthmus, the land between the Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga reaching St. Petersburg in late afternoon.


Neva River

Russian Battleship Aurora

Most of the city is on the southern bank of the Neva River.  About 120 bridges that cross narrow canals connect the various parts of the city.  The principal avenue is the Nevsky Prospect, 130 feet wide and about 4 miles long of: Imperial Library (renamed Public Library), Alexander Theater (now the Kirov Theater), fashionable stores, nigthclubs and old (Singer Sewing Machine Factory) and new company offices.

We enjoyed our Neva River evening cruise with gypsy dancers and singers entertaining us while sipping or drinking vodka and caviar . 

I bought a lot of Matrioska dolls, some ambers and small imitation of Faberge eggs.

The Winter Palace was the official residence of the Tsars.  It was built in a baroque style between 1754 and 1762 and was the largest royal palace in the world.  It is now the extension of the Hermitage Museum, famed for its masterpieces of Rembrandt, Raphael, Titian, Da Vinci, Picasso, Monet and many classic painters.  Photos are not allowed but for a fee of $6 you can take them.

The last Tsar to occupy it was Nicholas II, Tsarina Alexandra and their 5 children.  They were murdered during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.  Their bodies were entombed at SS Peter and Paul Fortress.

When the Communist government took power, it moved the capital to Moscow and Leningrad declined.  The Russians began to redevelop the city in 1924.  The Red Army defended the city against the Germans during the 900 day siege - from October 1941 to January, 1944.  The Russians held out, another defeat for the Germans.  During the siege, national treasures such as paintings were carefully wrapped and hidden. 

Tsar's Throne

Imperial limousine

Road to Imperial Russia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMUfZ0VwiHg 00:46

Globus-ing in Russia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTnuAe7Lt1w 00:55

Catherine's Palace was being painted and renovated for the city's 300th anniversary celebration

Yusopov Palace: Czarina Alexandra's favorite adviser and diehard dude Rasputin as invited guest

Folk dancers dancing at a Neva River cruise; caviar and vodka, anyone?

900-day seige memorial of St. Petersburg by the Germans in 1941

I almost missed the Swan Lake performance by the Kirov ballet.  I thought I checked the optional tour but I forgot and did not.  Thanks to Tania, our able and capable local guide, I still got a nice seat at the Mariinsky Theatre.  Simply beautiful!

Video: http://youtu.be/9rJoB7y6Ncs

Matrioshka dolls of my all-time favorite President George W. Bush and past American presidents

Internet Publication:

6/14/10  lib's labyrinth
2/1/03    ALT  MSN Group

Helsinki Tour

VIDEO

One third of Finland is north of the arctic circle.  In northernmost part, the Midnight Sun makes daylight last for 24 hours from mid-May to the end of July.  Of every ten persons, nine speak Finnish and one speaks Swedish.  In the 1100s the Swedes conquered the Finns.  The characteristic feature of Finnish life is the sauna.  The capital Helsinki is the center of trade, culture and education.  Turku serves as the shipping point for lumber and agricultural products. 

Overnight Baltic Sea cruise ship, docking in Turku, Finland's oldest city and former capital.  Morning sightseeing including 13th-century Turku Castle, the medieval Cathedral, and the lively market square.  The Handicrafts Museum housed in a cluster of wooden buildings which miraculously survived a devastating fire in 1827.

The First Miss Universe contest was held in the Philippines and the winner was from Finland - Armi Kuusela who later married a Filipino. 

After a Holy Mass at St. Hendrick's Cathedral, Mom Aurelia (mother of Lydia) gave former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo a welcome kiss in the cheek when she visited Helsinki on September 9, 2006 for a two-day Asia-Europe Leader's Meeting.

The Filipino Community of Helsinki

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Independence Day of the Philippines.

There is a tight-knit group of Filipinos in Helsinki, Finland.  My high school classmate Lydia, dance choreographer, lives in Helsinki and is very active socially with the Filipino community - promoting the Philippines through her dancing.

2002 Group Tour of Finland

Enjoying Finland's unique landscape of fertile fields and dark forests while driving towards Hameenlinna, birthplace of Jean Sibelius.

Jean Sibelius Park

City Hall 

 1952 Olympic Games

Lutheran Church

Temppeliaukio Kirkko: The Rock Church

Most visited by tourists in Helsinki, the church was built entirely underground and has a ceiling made of copper wire. The final architectural design was made by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen and completed in 1969.  They chose a rocky outcrop rising about 40 feet above street level, and blasted the wall from the inside.

Farewell Dinner




Internet Publication:
  1/19/13  lib's labyrinth
2/1/03  ALT  MSN Group

Maze: Stockholm

STOCKHOLM
THE LAND OF THE VISIGOTHS.  The Swedes have late Stone Age ancestors.  The Goths lived in Sweden about 300 B.C.  It united when the tribe was conquered by the Svear tribe.  The Viking periods followed from 700's to 900's.  They are Scandinavian warriors and seamen.  The German Hanseatic League founded many cities.  In 1388, Queen Margaret of Denmark became the regent of Sweden.

Sweden is also the land of smorgasbord.  Smorgasbord is served buffet style, each person helping himself to small portions (or big) of the many dishes provided: fish dishes, cold cuts, breads, cheeses and salads.

Sweden remained neutral in WWI and WWII.  Dag Hammarskjold was elected Secretary-General of the UN in 1953.  The city is ultra-modern, kind of sterile.  It's one of the electronic centers of Europe.  The Nobel Prize for achievement in sciences is awarded here.

A glimpse of Nobel

Alfred Nobel was a Swedish industrialist (synthetic rubber) and made his fortunes from businesses from all over the world.  He left a large fortune to provide prizes for outstanding achievements in the fields of science, literature and contribution to world peace.  Nobel Prize winners are announced each year in Stockholm.  What's nice in Sweden is you don't have to go to the library to use a computer.  They have free usage of computers in department stores, but you see long lines and you have to wait.

The Swedish capital owes its beauty to its unique setting of 14 islands between Lake Malar and the Baltic, and to the care with which city authorities control urban develpment and preserve historical treasures.

Click arrow

SOS Sweden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63qyqwNZss 00:45

Vasa Museum
Gustavus Vasa became administrator and led a successful revolt against Denmark.  He became King Gustavus I in 1523.  He was considered the founder of modern Sweden.  He died in 1560.



Sweden is a monarchy.  Written in 1809, Sweden has the oldest written constitution in force in Europe.   Gustaf VI Adolf became king in 1950.  The Swedish Parliament is called the Riksdag.  Most Swedes belong to the Lutheran religion.

Sweden has many famous scientists:

• Anders Celsius (1701-1744)  Invented the centigrade thermometer
• Carolus Linneus (1707-1778) Founder of modern botany
• Jons Berzelius (1779-1848) Originated the system of symbols of chemistry
• John Ericsson (1803-1889) Built the Monitor (one of the first armored ships)
• Alfred Nobel (1833-1896) Inventor of dynamite



Plaque of Peace Activist Sri Chinmoy



Internet Publication:

6/13/10  lib's labyrinth
2/1/03    ALT  MSN Group