A postcard from Helsinki!

Helsinki had always been a mystical place of wonder since the powdery white photos of National Geographic breathed life into a dream of a 10-year-old Brad, wondering if he would ever escape the the realities of working-class Frankston.  So, off  to Helsinki, Finland's southern capital we went.

Expectations can blur the reality and unfortunately the mystical town that weaved itself deep into the psyche of that young boy, quickly evaporated into a sense of sterility.  Sure, the boulevards and backstreets are flush with magnificent architecture such as: the Helsinki Cathedral built as a tribute to the Grand Duke of Finland, Tsar Nicholas 1 of Russia and its surrounding Senate steps,  the Uspenski Cathedral which leads down to the appealing harbour, where markets line the wharf and food stalls are in abundance; selling everything local from fried whitebait to reindeer burgers; however, the city itself lacks atmosphere and charisma.

Definitely, the highlight of our stopover was our visit by ferry to Suomenlinna. 'The fortress of Finland'.  The fortification of this island began in 1748 under Swedish rule.  The Russians besieged the fortress in 1808 during the Russo-Swedish war; incorporating the fort as a part of the Russian empire until 1917, when Finland gained independence. Abandoned armouries, walled battlements, tunnels and archways provide you with an opportunity to explore the island in depth and to discover its secrets.

Helsinki, where expectations and reality failed to meet!