Architecture – Page 2

Day 162: Porvoo-Loviisa

July 29, 2026July 29, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, Sport, Stuart, Stuart, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Finland, Nature, Outdoors, Scenery, Sport, Stuart, Summer, TravelLeave a comment

A few days before the weekend, the forecast was still predicting massive rainfall – as much rain in two days as we normally get in the whole of July. With that in mind, partly cloudy Saturday felt like a win.

The cycle path from Porvoo to Loviisa meanderered through fields and forests. A few small villages and the occassional grand manor house dotted the route.

Stuart and I have developed a tradition of betting on which animal we see first on our cycling trips (cats, dogs and birds don’t count). I played it safe and put my money on a cow. Stuart guessed a horse. He won – although technically that was only the second one. The first animal we saw was a donkey. Maybe I should have known.

We did not see a single cow during the entire trip. Not one.

Loviisa is another lovely seaside town with a wooden old town and very popular harbor district with cafes and restaurants. Fortunately, the rain gave us a good excuse to call it a night early.

Day 157: Inkoo

July 24, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Activities, Architecture, Family, Finland, OutdoorsTagged 365 Project, Activities, Architecture, family, Finland, History, Scenery, SummerLeave a comment

It has been the first summer that Alanna and Kiara haven’t spent in kindergarten. Despite a few camps and some time at the summer cottage, six weeks of holiday while Stuart and I are still working is a long time to kill.

The girls aren’t, strictly speaking, home alone. Stuart and I have both been working remotely. But they are in charge of their own snacks, lunch and – most importantly – their entertainment. And many of their frieds are out of town.

So whenever we can, we go somewhere. Even if it’s just a dinner and a short walk in Inkoo.

Day 150: With Just One

July 16, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Espoo, Kiara, NatureTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Espoo, Kiara, Nature, SummerLeave a comment

Alanna started a week-long Animal Camp today so I got to spend a whole day with Kiara, just the two of us.

It is true that twins rarely get enough individual attention. We try, but…

Many parents of singletons admire how nice it is that the girls always have someone to play with – a home-bestie, as the girls call it. But it is also obvious how excited they are when they get äiti all to themselves. And I keep admiring how easy it is when you just have one wish to fulfill at any given time.

We had a good day: we sewed, did the groceries, read, and before picking Alanna from her museum farm camp, we popped into an old tavern (now a coffee shop) with a beautifully preserved courtyard and garden.

Just the two of us.

Day 120: Cool Side of Tallinn

June 17, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Europe, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Architecture, TravelLeave a comment

I returned to Tallinn, Estonia, today for a conference. As I had the evening to myself, I popped over for dinner in the newer part of the city center. It has several industrial buildings renovated into restaurants, little shops and galleries. What makes it cool, though, are the murals.

Day 117: More Rail

June 12, 2026June 12, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, HelsinkiTagged 365 Project, Architecture, HelsinkiLeave a comment

Another day, more trains. Again to Kokkola.

So, I continue my series of images from Helsinki railway station. The Lantern Carriers outside the front entrance are often dressed and decorated to reflect whatever is happening in the city. For now they are back on their basic clothing.

Day 99: The Gods of Photography

May 19, 2026May 19, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, HelsinkiTagged 365 Project, Architecture, HelsinkiLeave a comment

There are moments when everything lines up – the building facade, the old green Beetle, the surfboard… The gods of photography have given you their blessing.

There is also truth to the idea that the more you practice, the luckier you get. In photography, it can be changed to: the more you walk around frustrated, the less lucky you feel. But you do learn to appreciate the rare lucky shot.

Day 87: Railway

May 5, 2026May 4, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Helsinki, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Helsinki, History, TravelLeave a comment

Train travel in Finland is incredibly comfortable and, in many instances, very convenient. But as it feels awkward to start taking photos in a train carriage, you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Instead, I took a few shots at the Helsinki railway station. At a first glance, it is a quite a modest building. In fact, as I never eat at the station, I passed through the building a hundred times before properly looking around. Especially the restaurants in the old section are gorgeous Art Nouveau. Not something you expect from such a small railway station.

The metro tunnel underneath, less so.

Day 86: Old Kokkola

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Finland, Travelling, WorkTagged 365 Project, Architecture, Finland, History, TravelLeave a comment

I travelled to Kokkola for work today. It’s a small town on the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. In spring, before the nature awakens, there isn’t all that much to see. In summer, it can be nice (so I hear).

The old town of Kokkola has some beautiful wooden houses from the 18th and 19th centuries, with a few dating back to the 17th. They were definitely worth a walk.

Day 85: Small Bites

May 3, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Europe, Outdoors, TravellingTagged 365 Project, Outdoors, Scenery, TravelLeave a comment

With my siblings, good food, good drinks, and escape rooms tend to go hand in hand. That didn’t leave much time for any other sightseeing. With stormy, rainy weather, it hardly felt like a loss.

In between showers, I managed a few quick pictures around town and a short visit to Fotografiska – still my favourite photo museum in the city.

Day 83: Tallinn

May 1, 2026May 2, 2026Posted in 365 Project, Architecture, Europe, Family, Stuart, TravellingTagged 365 Project, family, Outdoors, Scenery, Stuart, TravelLeave a comment

Tallinn is just a 2 hour ferry ride from Helsinki, which makes it a perfect weekend get-away with Stuart, my brother, sister, and brother-in-law.

Tallinn is an old Hansa city and the old town is just beautiful. As a tourist, one rarely wonders outside of the old town. However, one purpose for the trip was to solve a number of escape rooms – none of which are in the old town.

One down, three to go. And we got to see some of the modern Tallinn too.