Helsinki in Winter
In mid-February, I had the chance to spend nearly a week in Helsinki with my parents. For the past 27 years, they lived most of their time in Spain, returning to Finland only for the summer. Consequently, I have rarely visited Finland during the colder months; the last time must have been a decade ago. It was always far more tempting to seek out the southern sunshine during the winter.
I had held onto a rather unflattering impression of the season: no daylight, biting cold, and endless grey, a time better suited for visiting elsewhere. However, I was pleasantly surprised; my experience was quite the opposite. Since it was already February, the sun stayed out reasonably long, the air was crisp and dry, and the city was blanketed in snow. My only disappointment was the snowstorm that never arrived on Saturday, despite how long I had been dreaming of one. Never mind, there is always next winter.
It was fascinating to revisit some of my favorite landmarks: Lasipalatsi Square, Kauppatori, the Helsinki Cathedral, Senate Square, and the Central Railway Station; and, of course, Ruoholahti, where we live.
Looking back at the photos, the blue and white of the Finnish flag make perfect sense. That palette truly defines Finland, no matter the season.
