Sailing to Suomenlinna Island and the Frat Boys Club
I was supposed to meet up with an ex-colleague in Helsinki but our schedules never seem to find a match. She was in Sweden when I was in Finland and on my last days I was in Porvoo while she is up north in Tampere. However, she suggested that if it is good weather, I should visit Suomenlinna Island. She said that boats leave for the island at the market harbour which is where the regular outdoor market is held. See my story and pictures about this here: Kauppatori: Market Square
So I followed her advice and bought a ticket to Suomenlinna Island. But, what I will do there? I have no idea, haha. This was not really in the plan, so I will just go along with the flow and see where the stream will lead me. At the ticket counter they handed me a map with information about the island so that is very handy.
This is the boat:
Off to Suomenlinna Island! Ahoy!
Ferries operate all year round from Helsinki Market Square to Suomenlinna so no need to book in advance, you can just buy a ticket at the harbour and hop on the boat. However, during wintertime they have fewer sailing schedules. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.
So we are now sailing to Soumenlinna and I managed to snap some pictures of the harbour views from the boat. The day was not really that cold, it may look like one because of the overcast, but luckily, there were no showers, and no harsh winds as well. This is not the Netherlands after all.
On board were many locals and a few tourists. I noticed that most of the locals were dressed in sharp formal attire and I later found out that this historical and nature preserved island is one of the popular places to hold an event, and even to get married.
Beautiful views of the Helsinki skyline with the pristine Helsinki Cathedral towering above the harbour. You can see the market with the tents right on the harbour as well.
Finnish/Nordic style wooden architecture. Simple, farmhouse and warehouse style yet very elegant.
The Frat Boys Club
Sailing with the ferry is also a group of fraternity boys, sharply dressed in tuxedo black suits. They were somewhat loud, bantering with each other in an orderly and not really annoying way, and then they started singing which I was able to film a bit.
I never joined any fraternity back in my school days. I went to a school where majority of the students in the university floor were male and many of them were members of a fraternity or whatever gang. There were women who joined female fraternity groups as well but I never felt the need to belong. To a society where being together is highly prized in the social community I may sound like a snob, but I realised at a young age that I am a very individualistic person. Having my own identity was very important to me.
Some people just feel good to be in their skin and there is nothing wrong with that as well.
Now here in the below picture you can clearly see who is the leader. Not with his colourful medals but with his face and personality. That face and that personality, if you know what I mean. His face reminds me of those American teenage flicks in the 80s and 90s showing the college, dorm and fraternity life.
Here is a video I took of the sailing just before we docked on Soumenlinna and I managed to record them singing as well.
No harm, just young boys having fun. The world is at their feet so to speak. Hopefully there will be no hazing or some sort of crazy rite of passage happening with this group on the island.
And so we have arrived in Suomenlinna!!!
Of course the boys need to line up while their master calls their attention to the rules of the game in the island. Better listen carefully or suffer the consequence of being deported back to Helsinki in a small paddle boat without a paddle, haha. That is obviously not what you want, so heed up and stick with the group young lad! =)
Now, ready, get set, go! March on, you minions, and keep your mouths shut.
And these are the families attending a wedding ceremony and dinner party in the island. Most came with the commercial public boat from the market harbour while some arrive in style, in a private little boat, an impressive yacht and whatever really that floats =)
Here you can find my Suomenlinna posts:
Part 1: Soumenlinna Sea Fortress
Part 2: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Suomenlinna (Helsinki), Finland
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
So I followed her advice and bought a ticket to Suomenlinna Island. But, what I will do there? I have no idea, haha. This was not really in the plan, so I will just go along with the flow and see where the stream will lead me. At the ticket counter they handed me a map with information about the island so that is very handy.
This is the boat:
Off to Suomenlinna Island! Ahoy!
Ferries operate all year round from Helsinki Market Square to Suomenlinna so no need to book in advance, you can just buy a ticket at the harbour and hop on the boat. However, during wintertime they have fewer sailing schedules. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.
So we are now sailing to Soumenlinna and I managed to snap some pictures of the harbour views from the boat. The day was not really that cold, it may look like one because of the overcast, but luckily, there were no showers, and no harsh winds as well. This is not the Netherlands after all.
On board were many locals and a few tourists. I noticed that most of the locals were dressed in sharp formal attire and I later found out that this historical and nature preserved island is one of the popular places to hold an event, and even to get married.
Beautiful views of the Helsinki skyline with the pristine Helsinki Cathedral towering above the harbour. You can see the market with the tents right on the harbour as well.
Finnish/Nordic style wooden architecture. Simple, farmhouse and warehouse style yet very elegant.
The Frat Boys Club
Sailing with the ferry is also a group of fraternity boys, sharply dressed in tuxedo black suits. They were somewhat loud, bantering with each other in an orderly and not really annoying way, and then they started singing which I was able to film a bit.
I never joined any fraternity back in my school days. I went to a school where majority of the students in the university floor were male and many of them were members of a fraternity or whatever gang. There were women who joined female fraternity groups as well but I never felt the need to belong. To a society where being together is highly prized in the social community I may sound like a snob, but I realised at a young age that I am a very individualistic person. Having my own identity was very important to me.
Some people just feel good to be in their skin and there is nothing wrong with that as well.
Now here in the below picture you can clearly see who is the leader. Not with his colourful medals but with his face and personality. That face and that personality, if you know what I mean. His face reminds me of those American teenage flicks in the 80s and 90s showing the college, dorm and fraternity life.
Here is a video I took of the sailing just before we docked on Soumenlinna and I managed to record them singing as well.
No harm, just young boys having fun. The world is at their feet so to speak. Hopefully there will be no hazing or some sort of crazy rite of passage happening with this group on the island.
And so we have arrived in Suomenlinna!!!
Of course the boys need to line up while their master calls their attention to the rules of the game in the island. Better listen carefully or suffer the consequence of being deported back to Helsinki in a small paddle boat without a paddle, haha. That is obviously not what you want, so heed up and stick with the group young lad! =)
Now, ready, get set, go! March on, you minions, and keep your mouths shut.
And these are the families attending a wedding ceremony and dinner party in the island. Most came with the commercial public boat from the market harbour while some arrive in style, in a private little boat, an impressive yacht and whatever really that floats =)
Here you can find my Suomenlinna posts:
Part 1: Soumenlinna Sea Fortress
Part 2: Suomenlinna Sea Fortress
Travel Period: May 2013
Destination: Suomenlinna (Helsinki), Finland
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
Comments
Post a Comment
Hi, thank you for taking time.