Happy Monday, friends!
After a weekend of getting my life together (you guys, it was a mess!), I am back and ready to roll into a brand new week with you. You know how I dole out loads of advice like “make sure you unpack your suitcase as soon as you get home from your trip”, well that’s a bunch of bologna because it took me four days to get mine even out of the garage. You should all take what I say with a big grain of salt because I’m often wrong 🙂 .
Before I get to my first recap of our little trip to Helsinki, Finland, I want to say thank you to all of you reading this who have served this country. There truly are not enough words to describe my gratitude. I know many of you have served and/or are serving and many more of you have husbands, sons, daughters, grandchildren, parents…many you love who are veterans. Truly from the bottom of my heart, thank you. I am so very grateful to our veterans.
There is no great segue into today’s recap from that…so I’m just going to start.
Last Friday evening, November 1st, Andrew and boarded a flight to London overnight and then took another 2½ hour flight from London into Helsinki, Finland because I said it HERE in 2011…
…Finland is fantastic and we wanted to go back. Helsinki is a city we’ve discussed many, many times over the last 13 years and anxiously awaited the right time to visit again.
The two of us…
…landed, arrived at our hotel (the beautiful St. George), checked in, showered and headed right out to walk a bit before dinner.
We were SO excited to be back!
Our first dinner in Helsinki was at Goodwin, and it was just oh so delicious and super charming.
We bundled up and took in a few lights before making our way back to the hotel for the night. We were full, happy and very tired.
Just as a reminder, I now have THIS PAGE for any travel related clothing. On this particular night, I was IN LOVE with…
…my ATHLETA TURTLNECK and MY SEQUIN SHORTS!
Aren’t they fun?! They feel very “holiday season” and they’re shorts underneath and not a skirt. Love!
I topped it with MY COAT and was set for the night.
The next morning, I enjoyed every minute of…
…a little work, a little Christmas music playing and snow out the window!
We had a tour a little later in the day, but we bundled up and got out earlier for a walk around town…
Christmas lights AND Christmas trees?! I was in heaven!
Stockmann’s is a big department store in Helsinki and the holiday window displays were all so magical.
Strolling with some snow…
…and stopping for a cappuccino.
We met our guide and our historical tour of Helsinki began. She was WONDERFUL! We spent four hours walking Helsinki and learning so much about the history and the culture. We love walking tours like this and I must say, she was extra exceptional.
Here are a few pics…
I love the architecture of this building…it looks like a boat.
This is the famous Rock Church. This church is really built into the side of the granite and stone.
Oh so happy to be there! So this is the outside, but when you go in…
…just look how gorgeous! The ceiling is made of copper which I thought was really, really cool.
Another great stop was visiting…
…this crazy cool building. This is the library in Helsinki but inside was so much more than “just books”. This is one of the reasons why we love tours so much. I don’t think we ever would have gone into the library on our own, but this building was really a highlight for me. It’s more of a community center and was filled with rooms, areas, and common places for the people of Finland to learn, play, work and create.
Outside of the library…
…the huge staircase on the inside.
Gorgeous views from the third floor viewing area of Helsinki.
Our guide took us through the newer parts of Helsinki…
…into the older parts.
It was a really full and fun day with my favorite guy.
That evening, we headed back to the hotel to freshen up for dinner…
…which again was so so charming! On this night, we enjoyed a very delicious dinner at Stefan’s.
A bleu cheese steak? Yes, please!
So, that’s our first two days in Finland! I know I say this all the time, but I’m going to say it again…my travel agency would love to send you to Helsinki too! If you have questions about this or any of our other European destinations…or cruises…or Walt Disney World…or Universal Studios…or Mexico, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Australia, Asia, Africa, South America…you get the gist, please contact us today for free quotes and information about our vacation planning.
I hope you all have the BEST Monday!! I’ll see you back here tomorrow! xx
Elspeth says
What an incredible first few days! Thanks for sharing!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Sheaffer says
That church! WOW!!!!! So beautiful!
Kristin says
Oh wow, we just went into the library to get coffee and treats. I wish I’d looked around more!! Can’t wait to see more of Finland!!
Jennibell says
Great recap! Glad it was such a good trip for you. At the end of your post, your site suggested your 2018 trip to Nantucket so I clicked on that and read it again. It was a lot of fun reading it from the point of view that now that place is your “home away from home“. I love blogs and journals for that reason…you get to look back and see things with those fresh eyes that you once had and appreciate where you are and how you got there 🙂
And, how far the influencing world has come…back then I guess we were all interested in earrings?? Haha – still am, just a little more subtle now, huh?
Mix and Match Mama says
Awwwww! Thank you for going back and re-reading that and for this sweet comment. Maybe I should talk about earrings again? 😉
Debbie says
So beautiful! That copper ceiling!
Cindy says
I’ve been to Finland twice, years ago, visiting cousins there. Love it…hoping to get back there someday. I remember the rock church and Stockmans. Also enjoyed taking the Silja overnight ferry to Stockholm… Oh, and the sauna — Sauna, shower, shot of vodka, repeat 😄
Lisa Elliott says
The church looks amazing! What a great tour!!
Jami Romano says
Love the recap! I need to get overseas ASAP!
K.K. says
So fun!! And I’m voting yes for an earring post any time you want… 🙂 (to the above commenter)
Marisa Patel says
I am so jealous of all the traveling y’all get to do!!!! Those pictures are wonderful, Finland wasn’t really on my radar until now!
Lea Ansamaa says
Still I am overwhelmed that you visited my home country. You were welcome and will always be! Next time I recommend Lapland. On the way we will cook you smoked salmon if you stop in Oulu! 🩵🇫🇮🩵
Mix and Match Mama says
It is GORGEOUS and everyone we met was so lovely too. We just had the very very best time. xx
Patty Anderson says
The church…the library…the surfaces you were walking on…all gorgeous! Every time you do a post like this my bucket list gets longer. So many places, so little time! Thanks for taking us along, once again.
Deb says
Wow – we travel a ton and have been to nearly all of the top places to visit, as well as most of the wine regions of the world (top or not). We are now in the phase of finding new places and never thought about Finland as a destination, but It is now on my travel list of new places to study for future travel. Thank you for the idea.
Mix and Match Mama says
Yes, yes! I really think you will love it!
Erika Slaughter says
Looks like a great way to kickoff this trip!
Mary says
I enjoy your blog very much but your patriotic remarks are always special (and sadly rare in the blog world). Thank you for celebrating these events!
~B~ says
OMG that’s bleu cheese on that steak?! Amazing! Finland is somewhere I have never thought of visiting, now I am so intrigued! As always, thanks for sharing, Shay!
Kristin says
Shay – what a wonderful trip! Love learning a little more about Finland 🇫🇮 does your travel agency do New Zealand by chance? We have an upcoming trip and I would love your team’s help if you do!
Mix and Match Mama says
We do!! We would love to help!! info@mixandmatchtravelagency.com to connect with us!
Susan Jeffries says
What a beautiful city! Thanks for sharing!