Vappu 1

Havis Amanda was capped today at 6pm and the May Day celebrations began! People popped their champagne bottles and the drinking started.

May Day celebrations here is a mixture of themes; a day for workers, a day for university students to wear their colourful overalls and get wasted AND a day for the young and old to wear their white graduation caps.
More photos to follow in the next few days ...

Havis Amanda

Havis Amanda is a nude female statue in Helsinki, Finland. It was sculpted by Ville Vallgren (1855-1940) in 1906 in Paris, but was not erected at its present location at the Market Square in Kaartinkaupunki until 1908.

She is a mermaid who stands on seaweed as she rises from the water, with four fish spouting water at her feet and surrounded by four sea lions She is depicted leaning backwards as if to say goodbye to her element.

What's interesting about this statute is that she will be capped tomorrow. Students of the local universities will put a cap on the statue on an elaborate ceremony to start off the May Day celebrations. After which it is time to start drinking and get wasted.

Read more on May Day (Vappu) celebrations in Finland

Photo of the capping ceremony here!

yellow everywhere...

Today in Ullanlinna, Helsinki. :-)

Among the trees

A bus getting passengers and their bags. Took this from the train when it was at Louhela train station. The building seen here is a church and the people were seen loading their bags to the bus.

Budding..

BrOwN bUiLdInG

I've been in school the whole day doing my programming project that I haven't had any time to go places.
This office building is located opposite my school. My friend thinks it is an interesting building so that I'll post it here.

Time to sit outside!

Restaurants and bars have started to have their terraces open for customers. Restaurant RataKivi offers breakfast and lunch buffets at reasonable prices. Lunch buffet is from 1030 to 1400 for 8.20€. It has a good selection of tasty food.

Stop to smell ...

I saw these pretty flowers on my way home today. They were along the forest path that I take when I need to get home from the train station. It's not everyday that I take a slow walk and stop to smell the flowers.. today was such a day. Sunshine makes me smile :-)

It's Spring!

Today was a warm and sunny day. Spring has finally arrived. :)

It's a dog's life!

A lot of Finnish people have dogs. (well.. defintely more than Singaporeans) Dogs are well cared for here. They have their own parks and now their own cakes. BonBone in Ullanlinna for your doggy needs.

Recruitment Fair 2

SOL is a laundry service company. Stationed just outside Kamppi shopping centre for the recruitment fair.
Yup, more balloons.

Recruitment Fair

Adult Education and Recruitment Fair in Kamppi yesterday morning at 10am.

Spring display

Take a trip to Hawaii right here in Tiimari, Helsinki!

stylenotes

Time for Spring fashion at Stockmann's. Another store promotion with balloons!

Spring Designs 2

I prefer this design to the previous one.

Spring Designs 1

Looks like Marimekko is advertising its spring collection. Pretty colours!

Marimekko Corporation is a leading Finnish textile and clothing design company that was established in 1951. The company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality clothing, interior decoration textiles, bags and other accessories under the Marimekko brand, both in Finland and abroad. Official Website

Capped Castle

It's unfortunate that these beer bottle caps were found in the children's playground. But the kids have made something good out of a bad situation. Not to worry, the caps have been cleared.

Wire and Recycle Art 6

Still have one more for the wire and recycle art. You can't see it clearly here but there is a bulb inside. It lights up as well.

Break away

I saw this scene near Martinlaakso bus station yesterday. I was curious why the police van was parked there directing traffic while this piece of 'box' was stuck on the street. I immediately took out my phone and took a shot from the overhead bridge I was standing. Then I looked on the other side of the bridge.

It was too far to take the shot from there and so getting off the bridge and walking ahead, I saw the other part of the 'box'. It had seemed that the rear end of the lorry had somehow broken away from it. Maybe it was too high for the bridge. No idea how it happened but it was a good photo opportunity. ;-)

Wire and Recycle Art 5

This is the last for the wire and recycle art. A pretty sandal keychain.