Part 1: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress Island in Finland

So I have arrived in the island of Soumenlinna. To read my crossing from Helsinki to this island, please go here: Sailing to Suomenlinna Island and the Frat Boys Club

Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Website: Soumenlinna Sea Fortress

The sea fortress has seen many pivotal moments of the history of Finland starting with the Swedish era, marching on to the Russian era and then taking its independence from Russia and becoming the Finland of what it is today. The network of ancient bastions have doubtlessly delivered its primary purpose during the different crossroads of yesteryears, but today this place is home to about 850 individuals, is a historical treasure the Finnish can only  be proud of, a lovely tourist attraction and an event and recreation location as well that many enjoy and have cherished memories.

Here is an excerpt from the website:

‘Suomenlinna is a maritime fortress located off the coast of Helsinki. It is also a garrison town and a base for archipelago navy. The construction of the fortress began in 1748.

In 1991, the fortress was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as a unique monument of military architecture.’

Enterprising kids selling home-made food. They even have a menu. 

When you arrive in the island and you follow the main road, these lovely and colourful wooden houses with a narrow balcony terrace will greet you. Some of them are converted into cafes.

These blueberries I bought at the Kauppatori market at the harbour. Good thing I have them for snack.

Newly weds. This bride has blue shoes!

Weddings are quite popular in this island and they are held at the Soumenlinna Church while receptions are usually catered by some of the restaurants in the island. These restaurants are thematic in appeal, dungeon fort-like settings with a little bit of nature and sea views. On the day I was there I saw three newly weds ergo three weddings and parties. 

There are suggested trails to follow in the map, however, my first goal was to find a cafe with a beautiful view. Am I just so predictable? Haha. Of course, I want my cafe with a view! And I need my coffee provision for the day so bad as well, somewhere where I can enjoy the charm of this island.

Now I figured the cafe located in a park in the annexed island would be my best bet (you will see this as you scroll down, and boy was I spot right on!) so I used these directional signs (see above) as my additional help aside from the map I have. There is no way for you to get lost here unless you are snatched away by a Viking pirate or you have successfully stuck yourself under a bunker.

Some of the wedding guests arriving in a private chartered boat on Soumenlinna centre quay.

The bridge connected the two islands.

Coffee Time at Cafe Piper 
Information: Cafe Piper

Serving since 1928, this dainty wooden cafe used to be a Roman Catholic chapel and a summer house of a Russian official in the late 1874. The cafe is located on a hill in Piper’s Park commanding great views of the surrounding areas. Please take note though that they are only open between 11:00 and 16:00 hours.

So as you can see, my intuition was right and my patience paid off because this is the best situated cafe in the fortress island with marvelous views in an equally fantastic setting. Love it here!

And so I settled for a Paulig double espresso (it is the same company as Robert’s Coffee) and this was when I discovered my favourite chocolate, Geisha from Fazer. The Finnish practice in serving coffee at cafes and restaurant is with a chocolate. In the Netherlands we normally serve them with a cookie. I know in Belgium, they either serve the coffee or tea with a cookie or a chocolate.

Now, I am not the sweet-toothed type and I tend to shy away from chocolates but this particular chocolate has made me see the light of dawn. So how to get these yummy Finnish little things? At the airports. Not all airports I think sell the Fazer chocolate brands but I saw them for example in Dubai and bought a few boxes for presents.

The cafe may need some repair and maintenance soon, but it still looks pretty.

An ongoing outdoor wedding party nearby.

This is the outdoor seating of Cafe Piper on top of a little hill. It is perfect here to sit down and relax for lunch. snack or a drink after a little hike around the fortress.

The sea fortress is also home to about 850 inhabitants, which is the reason why the island and the ferry is open all year round.

I sat on this huge rock for a while and just sat there absorbing the silence and the occassional tweeting of the birds and the noisy tourists passing by.

Click here for Part 2: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress Island in Finland

Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Suomenlinna Island (Helsinki), Finland

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