Date
Helsinki
CountryFinland
- Reading
- 10 min
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- 2,195
- Images
- 27
After the wild ride it took to finally get to Helsinki, Day 69 felt like a much-needed reset. It was one of those rare days where everything just felt right.
I spent a few hours walking around the city on my own, camera in hand, and it was exactly what I needed. Helsinki was beautiful — so clean, colorful, and alive compared to Kearney, Nebraska. I wandered through the harbor, visited the cathedral, and soaked in how different everything looked and felt. After everything I’d been through just to get here, it was genuinely therapeutic to slow down and do what I came to do in the first place: take pictures.
Of course, the day wasn’t without a little excitement. Siru and I tried to ride the trams without buying tickets (she swore we wouldn’t get caught). We almost made it… until the inspectors boarded two stops before our destination. I had to pull off my best “dumb American tourist” routine to talk my way out of a fine. It got the adrenaline going, that’s for sure.
But the real highlight of the day came later, when Siru and I met up with Annele — another Finnish exchange student I’d become close with in Australia. It had been six years, but the moment I saw her in the crowd, it felt like no time had passed at all. The three of us spent the evening at Annele’s apartment talking, laughing, looking at old pictures, and making pizza while reminiscing about our year Down Under.
Reunited in Helsinki
This was the moment Siru, Annele, and I were finally back together again — six years after our year as exchange students in Australia. Standing in Annele’s apartment that night, it felt like no time had passed at all. We spent the whole evening talking, laughing, looking at old photos, and remembering the crazy adventures we had Down Under.
The Trams That Almost Got Me Busted
These are the trams Siru and I were riding when I tried to get away without buying a ticket. She had sworn that inspectors never checked… until they did. I had to do my best “dumb American tourist” act to talk my way out of a fine. It was a little too close for comfort, but we got away with it.
My Photographs from today in Helsinki, FInland
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Senate Square, Helsinki Get this as a printThis is Senate Square, one of the most iconic spots in Helsinki. The grand building in the background is the Helsinki Cathedral. I spent part of the day wandering around here with my camera, enjoying how open and majestic the city felt compared to what I was used to back home.
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Helsinki Cathedral Get this as a printThis is the Helsinki Cathedral, one of the most recognizable landmarks in the city. I spent part of the afternoon walking around Senate Square and taking photos of this impressive building. Standing at the bottom of the wide stone steps looking up at it felt very grand — especially compared to anything back home in Nebraska.
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Creative Angle at Senate Square Get this as a printI was trying to get a more interesting composition, so I framed the Helsinki Cathedral with the statue of Tsar Alexander II and the ornate street lamps in the foreground. I liked how the different elements worked together in this shot.
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Tsar Alexander II Get this as a printThis is the statue of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, located in Senate Square directly in front of the Helsinki Cathedral. The monument was erected in 1894 to honor the tsar who had granted Finland greater autonomy during his reign.
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Tram Life in Helsinki Get this as a printI really loved Helsinki’s tram system — it was so convenient and charming. But after almost getting caught riding without a ticket earlier that day, I had finally learned my lesson: just because it’s public transportation doesn’t mean it’s free. I made sure to buy a ticket after that!
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Setting Up the Market Get this as a printThis was the harbor market in Helsinki, where vendors were getting ready for the day. I loved scenes like this — fresh fish, wooden boats, and people working right on the waterfront. It was such a contrast to anything I was used to back in Kearney, Nebraska. We definitely didn’t have fish markets or old sailing ships like this at home.
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Harbor Market Produce Get this as a printThis was part of the lively outdoor market near the harbor in Helsinki. I loved walking through and seeing all the fresh produce and local vendors setting up their stalls. Scenes like this felt so alive and completely different from anything back home.
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Fresh Fish at the Harbor Market Get this as a printThis was the fish section of the outdoor market near the harbor. The vendors had everything laid out on ice with handwritten price signs.
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Feeding the Ducks Get this as a printWhile walking along the harbor, I saw this woman feeding a big group of ducks from the stone steps. It struck me how people all around the world seem to love feeding birds — whether it’s ducks in Helsinki, pigeons in a city square, or seagulls at the beach. It’s one of those small, simple pleasures that feels universal.
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The Size of the Silja Ferry Get this as a printThis photo gives a great sense of scale. The large white Silja Line ferry in the background is massive compared to the smaller boats in front of it. These ferries are truly enormous — basically floating hotels that carry hundreds of passengers and vehicles across the Baltic Sea.
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Historic Sailing Ship Get this as a printThis beautiful old sailing ship was docked right in the heart of Helsinki’s harbor. I loved the contrast between the traditional wooden vessel with its tall masts and rigging, and the modern city buildings behind it. It was a nice reminder of Helsinki’s long maritime history.
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Choosing a Fish Get this as a printAt the harbor fish market, this vendor was showing a large fish to a customer. The man in the dark jacket was carefully looking it over while the vendor held it up for him to inspect. It was interesting to watch how seriously people took selecting their fish here.
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So Many Choices Get this as a printThe fish market had an impressive variety laid out on ice. There were so many different types of fish to choose from, each with its own handwritten price sign. I stood there for a while just watching people shop and vendors working. It was a lively, authentic scene.
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The Fishmonger at Work Get this as a printThis vendor was busy cleaning and cutting up a fish right in front of the customer who was buying it. I loved watching how skilled and efficient the fishmongers were at the harbor market — everything was done by hand and right there on the spot.
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Unexpected Advertising Get this as a printWhile walking around Helsinki, I came across these two condom ads on a pole. One was for a Finnish brand, and the other proudly advertised “Condom Made in USA.” Seeing this kind of advertising out in the open took me by surprise — it definitely wasn’t something I was used to seeing back home in Nebraska.
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Harbor Market Scene Get this as a printThis was taken while walking through the outdoor market near the harbor. I liked how the scene felt so alive — vendors setting up, people walking around, seagulls flying overhead, and that big sailing ship with all the signal flags in the background.
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More Condom Advertising Get this as a printI couldn’t believe how much condom advertising was out in the open in Helsinki. This pole had two large billboards, one promoting colored “Euro Condoms” with the EU flag design. It was pretty shocking to see this kind of advertising right on the street.
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Helsinki Cathedral Get this as a printThis is the Helsinki Cathedral, one of the city’s most famous landmarks. I spent some time walking around Senate Square and climbed these wide stone steps to get a better look. The scale of the building and the grand staircase made it feel very impressive, especially from this low angle.
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Helsinki Cathedral from Below Get this as a printThis is another view of the Helsinki Cathedral, this time looking up from a lower angle. I liked how the columns, statues, and dome created such a strong, grand impression. The classical architecture felt very impressive up close, especially with the overcast sky behind it.
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Helsinki Cathedral Get this as a printThis is the classic straight-on view of the Helsinki Cathedral from Senate Square. I spent quite a bit of time around this area taking photos — it was one of the most impressive buildings I saw in Helsinki.
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Pizza Night with Friends Get this as a printAfter a long day of walking around Helsinki and taking pictures, Siru and I met up with Annele at her apartment. The three of us made pizza together for dinner, along with a few of their friends. It was a relaxed, fun evening — exactly the kind of night I needed after the stress of getting to Finland. We ate, drank, talked, and laughed while looking at old photos from our year in Australia.
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10-Second Scramble Get this as a printI set the camera up on the couch, hit the self-timer, and had about 10 seconds to run back and grab my beer before the shutter clicked. We were all hanging out at Annele’s apartment after a long day, eating, drinking, and catching up. These kinds of casual, slightly chaotic group photos always ended up being some of my favorites.
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The Three Amigos Get this as a printSiru, Annele, and I — reunited in Helsinki six years after our year as exchange students in Australia. We had such a special bond from that time, and it was incredible how easily we fell back into the same friendship. Standing here together in Annele’s apartment felt amazing! I couldn’t believe we were all together again, in Finland of all places!!
1994From my journal
DAY 69 / 11-14-94Helsinki, Finland - Day 3
Siru & I got up at noon & left shortly after for her university. We rode on the trams, and I didn’t buy a ticket because Siru GUARANTEED me that inspectors never check.
Make that never except today. Two stops from our destination they boarded, and began checking everyone’s ticket. Siru had a month-long student pass, so she was OK. But I wasn’t.
I quickly sized up the situation & decided to play the innocent, dumb, naive tourist.
“Ticket please.”
“Oh? What? You need a ticket?” I acted shocked.
“Of course. Do you have one?”
“Well, no.”
“Then you need to pay the fine – 250 marks.” (About $50).
“Well, I thought this was PUBLIC transportation.”
“Oh come on, NO country has free transportation. Where are you from?”
“Nebraska.”
“And you have free public transportation there?”
“Well, yes, we sure do.”
“Let me see your passport.”
“Oh, I don’t have it with me.”
“Well, I’ll let you off if you buy a ticket right now – 9 marks.”
“Well, I don’t have any money – I haven’t been to the bank yet.” (This was the truth.)
“Look,” I continued, “I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. I’ll just get off at the next stop, OK?”
“OK, but next time, buy a ticket from the driver.”
So I got up & left, and so did Siru, who had remained silent – so she & I wouldn’t get into trouble. If they had known I was with a Finnish person, who knew I needed a ticket, I’d have surely had to pay the fine.
So we walked to her university, which wasn’t too bad. While Siru was in class, I visited Helsinki Cathedral & the harbor and then found the library and a current TIME magazine.
After Siru got done with class, we walked to a big store to wait for Annele.
It’s amazing, after six years, I was able to spot her in a crowd of people immediately. It’s been that way with everyone.
We took the subway towards her house, but then had to walk through this TERRIBLE wind and snowstorm to get to her apartment.
But we made it & it was worth it.
We had some coffee & talked & laughed & looked at pictures & made pizza for dinner & looked at more pictures & talked & laughed.
It was wonderful.
JournalMy handwritten journal pages · 4 pages
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2026Looking Back
This was one of the best days of the entire trip.
After the stress and chaos of getting to Finland, spending time with Siru and Annele felt like coming up for air. These were two of the people I had grown closest to during my year in Australia, and being back together with both of them in the same room — six years later — was genuinely special.
We didn’t do anything particularly exciting. We made pizza, drank beer, looked at old photos, and talked for hours. But that was exactly what made it so good. There was no pressure, no performance, and no need to explain myself. They already knew me. We could just pick up where we left off, like the years in between hadn’t happened.
Looking back, I think these kinds of days were some of the most important parts of the whole journey. The travel, the pictures, and the new experiences were incredible, but it was moments like this — reconnecting with people who had known me during a very formative time in my life — that gave the trip real meaning.
Siru and Annele reminded me of who I was before everything got so heavy. And for a little while in Helsinki, I got to feel like that version of myself again.