[ Aug.2015 ] The most important place to look at in Helsinki is Suomenlinna, which is about 15 minutes away from the market square by boat.
This is a fortress made up of 6 small islands and it is listed in the Unesco World Heritage.
It was built by the Swedish in the mid 18th century, as they were worried about a Russian invasion.
It was called Sveaborg at that time.
I did not realise until then that there has not always been a country called Finland, and this area had actually been a part of Sweden for a long time.
When the Russians really invaded in 1808, the commander of Suomenlinna surrendered easily in order to protect his soldiers and their family.
He must have been a very good person.
After the Russian occupation, this fortress was not looked after.
During the Crimean war in the 1850s, they hurried to try to service the cannons, but the shells did not reach the British warships, apparently.
By the way, it was during the Russian revolution in 1917 that Finland became an independent country.
So, it was a military base in the past, but now it is a holiday resort for people in Helsinki.
Many people were enjoying a picnic.
Some were bathing in the sea.
It was interesting to see the big cruise ship go through between the islands.
