Art is a reflection of the world around us, how we live in different environments and interact with many kinds of people. If you live in a busy city, perhaps you know how what I’m talking about. It’s hard enough to stop and smell the roses, let alone stop … Read more
Caution: the out of the box creativity infused in Finland’s design aesthetic may lead to an inferiority complex. Side effects could include gasping in awe followed by sudden, uncontrollable curiosity. Lucky for you, Finland’s renowned design superstar, Alvar Aalto, was used to designing with medical criteria in mind. After his … Read more
A lilting riff on a grand piano greets the lucky guests that enter the temple of design and culinary excellence that is Savoy. Clearly a place where deals are made and hearts are won, Savoy is one of those experiences that’s talked about. Perched on the 8th floor of … Read more
Experience a cultural melting pot of European, Maori, Pacific and Asian influences, and breathtakingly beautiful landscapes
When it was announced in 2009 that Helsinki was a finalist in the third Design Capital of the World competition, the only surprise was that it hadn’t been selected to receive this distinction sooner. The honor, bestowed on a city committed to design as a tool for social, cultural and … Read more
Stepping into Sky Ounasvaara, it was crystal clear that the International Style had an impact on Finland. Even a Lapland hotel set deep within the woods, high on a hill overlooking Rovaniemi, Lapland’s capital, had bought into the architectural movement which epitomizes Modernism in a big way. It was … Read more
Finnish Lapland If someone had told me that a diehard sun worshipper like me would participate in a winter adventure trip to Finnish Lapland not once but twice, I would have told him he was out of his mind. But there’s a reason I returned a second time: I was … Read more
You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen … actually, you probably don’t, but the Sami people do, since their livelihood is reindeer herding. The Sami are the Arctic indigenes of Lapland in northern Finland. You can be immersed in the culture of these fascinating people with a tour … Read more
World Village Festival Hearing the words “world” and “festival” together, I immediately think of people joining hands around a massive bonfire and singing songs about world peace. Finland’s World Village Festival, however, is way more than that (minus the bonfire). If Memorial Day comes around and you have no plans … Read more
Granted, the terms love and anarchy don’t usually go together. In fact, we tend to think of them as polar opposites (unless you love anarchy, in which case, sorry for the assumption). But when there’s a festival that screens such a wide variety of films as the Helsinki International … Read more
It’s that time of year again where love and romance reign supreme. Valentine’s Day is the ideal day for a struggling couple to put aside their differences, or for a happy twosome to fall even more deeply in love. It’s almost impossible for anyone to argue – celebrity or … Read more
Restaurant Spis From restaurateurs Antero Aurivuo, Jaakko Kinnunen and Jani Kinanen and the Swedish word for ‘fireplace’ comes Spis, a grand Helsinki bow to its Nordic roots. Blending design, music, and fashion with traditional cuisine, Spis invites more than just foodies to its tables. The tiny 18-seat café, which … Read more
Only one travel experience includes the phrases “Santa Claus” and “snowmobiling” in the same sentence. On the Arctic Circle Impressions tour offered by Scantours, tourists can first revel in Lapland’s wintry wonderland, then head to Helsinki where they can treat themselves to fine dining and city sightseeing. First stop … Read more
It was June and we were celebrating Midnight Sun, so spirits were high as we boarded the Helsinki flight. I’d already been won over by the boarding passes with all over background images of nature scenes and the Finns in their natural environment, a key element in a trip … Read more
With all of the natural beauty of Northern Europe and none of the ravaging or pillaging, Borton Overseas’ Viking Line offers the grandeur of a cruise ship and the excitement of a Scandinavian vacation. The Viking Line sails daily between Finland, Sweden and Estonia and functions either as a … Read more