Last Updated on October 8, 2024
What do they say? Time flies when you’re having fun? Well then I must have had a blast these past seven days, because I don’t even know where the past week went, that’s how fast it went by! After returning to Helsinki from my quick visit to Stockholm, it was time to get to know Helsinki. When I had arrived in Helsinki the first time, it was a grey and cold. When I got there the second time, the place was completely transformed! Helsinki was covered in a fresh layer of snow.
The main purpose of my visit was the MATKA Nordic Travel Fair and my schedule was packed with workshops and networking events, and that combined with not so great weather during my free time, I didn’t get to see as much of Helsinki as I would’ve liked, but I still got a good feel for the city – and I get to return! Next time I am planning a summer visit though. While the temperatures weren’t too cold – around 32F/ 0C instead of the expected 5F/-15C – I have to admit that I prefer exploring cities in warmer weather. The reason I get to return is that I won a 2-night stay in the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, where I was staying this past week, during a photo competition! And the best part: The hotel is giving away a 2-night stay to one of my lucky readers, too, so stay tuned for the competition, especially if you’re already planning a trip to Finland.
While I didn’t have a lot of time to explore Helsinki, I still got to see the city in two fun ways: a Helsinki Food Tour with Heather’s Helsinki and an Amazing Race through Helsinki, which I did with two fellow bloggers, and which brought me to Helsinki’s impressive cathedral, pictured above. You will soon hear more about all the fun things I did in Helsinki, and I will also share some thoughts on yet another amazing travel blogging event (after TBC Asia in Sri Lanka a couple of months ago). This industry is growing, developing and changing so quickly that I am glad there are events like NBE Finland where industry professionals and bloggers can get together and discuss these changes and developments. Once again, I left excited and inspired, and when I boarded the plane today, I had a smile on my face because I knew it wasn’t ‘Goodbye Helsinki’, but ‘See you later!’.
(And maybe because I am officially en route to summer, sun and beaches now! 😉 )
De'Jav
Monday 19th of January 2015
The weather was on your side more like spring weather ;)
Dany
Friday 30th of January 2015
Well it was still pretty winter-y but not as bad (read: cold!) as I thought it'd be :D And blue skies always help ;-)