Turku

CountryFinland

Reading: 3 min
Words: 737
Images: 14

After the emotional weight of the previous day, November 17 was much lighter and slower. Siru and I slept in until 1:00 in the afternoon, then headed into Turku to explore. We visited Turku Cathedral, the oldest church in Finland, which has stood for over 700 years. It was impressive to walk through such an old and historic building.

We spent the rest of the day in a relaxed way — looking through Siru’s old photos, having a traditional Finnish fish dinner, and calling Katrine, another exchange student friend from Australia. Later that evening, since nothing good was on TV, we decided to watch a movie together. We ended up watching Foul Play, which turned out to be a lot of fun.

It was a quiet, easy day — the kind that didn’t have any big moments, but still felt meaningful because I got to spend it with an old friend.

Turku Cathedral, a 700-year-old wonder that is the oldest church in Finland.

My Photographs from today in Turku, Finland

6 photographs

Turku Cathedral
We visited Turku Cathedral, the oldest church in Finland, which has stood for over 700 years. Construction began in the late 13th century, and it has served as the main church of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland and the seat of the Bishop of Turku ever since. Over the centuries, the cathedral has survived multiple fires and undergone several major renovations, with much of its current appearance dating back to restorations in the 1800s. It remains one of Finland’s most important historical and religious landmarks.
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Drawn to Churches
A recurring theme throughout this trip was how often I found myself drawn to churches. It wasn’t just the architecture or the stained glass that pulled me in. I was quietly having my own awakening and discovery of God during these travels, and stepping inside these ancient places seemed to open something up in me. This towering view of Turku Cathedral felt especially powerful that day at the water’s edge.
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Side View of Turku Cathedral
This side view shows the long, solid structure of Turku Cathedral and its tall, commanding tower. Even from this angle, the age and strength of the building are clear.
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Ship Canal in Turku
This is one of the canals in Turku where ships can dock right in the city. The calm water reflects the boats and buildings along the shore, and the channel continues out toward the open sea. It was interesting to see how the city is so closely connected to the water — ships, industry, and everyday life all sharing the same space.
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Frosty Mailboxes
We stopped to get the mail, and I loved this quiet scene. The frost covered the mailboxes, the grass, and the bare branches, giving everything a soft, cold sparkle. It felt like a very Finnish moment — simple, peaceful, and beautiful in its own way.
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Last Picture of the Day
This was the same quiet stretch of countryside as the frosty mailboxes, just without them in the frame. I took this as our final photo of the day before heading back to Siru’s house. The mix of birch and pine trees, open fields, and soft light felt very peaceful.
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1994From my journal

DAY 72 / 11-17-94Turku, Finland

After sleeping in until 1:00, Siru & I drove into town to look around. We visited Turku Cathedral, a 700-year-old wonder that is the oldest church in Finland.

We looked at Siru’s pictures when we returned, and after a Finnish dinner of fish I called Katrine.

Since nothing good was on TV we decided to watch a movie – what a great one too: “Foul Play”.

After that I went to bed but I didn’t fall asleep until 2 [am].

JournalMy handwritten journal pages · 1 page