Home of the architects Eliel Saarinen, son Eero Saarinen, Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren

Hvitträsk was designed to be a studio home for the members of Gesellius, Lindgren, and Saarinen. It later became the private residence of Eliel Saarinen. It is located about 18 miles from Helsinki in Kirkkonummi, Finland. The design was developed and construction began during the year of 1902. The house was named after Lake Vitträsk, on which it was built. The word Hvitträsk means White Pond.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliel_Saarinen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eero_Saarinen

A paradise close to my home!

http://typo.kiasma.fi/index.php?id=11&L=1&FL=1

February and July 2006 so far..

This National Park has inspired Jean Sibelius to write his famous work Finlandia. He was born in Hämeenlinna.

Meeting photographers of Catalonia

The old wooden part of Porvoo is larger than I realized. We found many new streets..

during the few sunny hours we have lately had :-)

A walk with Elvi Nov. 5, 2008

Plant shop Plantagen sells all kinds of Xmas things...

By the Gulf of Finland at 2:40 pm

A visit to my favourite city during the big week of celebrating the patron saint La Mercè 17...25 Sept.

http://www.bcn.cat/english/ihome.htm

Iugoslàvia, Dubrovnik i altres

Pernå in Swedish or Pernaja in Finnish is a municipality of Finland.

It is located in the province of Southern Finland and is part of the Eastern Uusimaa region. The municipality has a population of 3,925 (2005-12-31) and covers an area of 425.39 km² of which 7.04 km² is water. The population density is 9.3 inhabitants per km².

Pernaja is the oldest municipality in the Eastern Uusimaa region. Current municipalities Lapinjärvi, Liljendal and Loviisa were originally part of it.

Mikael Agricola, the founder of the written Finnish language, was born in Pernaja in the early 16th century. He is also considered to be the Reformator of Finland in the transfer from Catholicism into Lutheranism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikael_Agricola

Situated conveniently by the coast, and engulfing also a small river, the lands of Pernaja were attractiv at a time when waterways rather than proper roads provided the means of transport. Pernaja houses numerous manors dating back to the times when Finland was a part of Sweden. The origin of the name "Pernå" is still being discussed. Some think it links with the Finnish-Ugrian word "Pern" meaning lime- or lindentree. "Å" is Swedish for a small river, i.e. the name then being Lindenriver if translated. (Wikipedia)

A cloudy day but a nice drive

Finally a sunny day:-)

Helsinki at the loveliest

a small Finnish town by the sea

60 is a good number

My favourite Sunday pastime, taking pics from a moving car:-)

Summer cottage grounds

Häme Castle is one of Finland’s medieval royal castles. It is believed to have been built at the end of the 13th century, following the crusade by Swedish Earl Birger to Häme region. During the Middle Ages the original fortified camp was built into a residential castle for its commandant. In the 18th century a third storey was built and curtain wall buildings partly replaced the original outer walls. The castle and its surroundings were in prison use from 1837 to 1972. The main castle is now presented as a historical monument.

The Häme Castle and its redbrick barracks are on the shore of Lake Vanajavesi. The promontary has been a meeting place for centuries, and the walls almost echo the voices from the Middle Ages.

The 200-year medieval construction history of the castle is plainly visible in the façade. The medieval curtain wall and mid-16th century gun tower that formed part of the bailey defences have been well preserved on the side facing Lake Vanajavesi.

Description: National Board Of Antiquities

From 2004 till 2007

2 b continued..

Lucky Ferrari owners met each other in front of the Olympic Stadium and drove around the historic Eläintarha race track..
http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/?s=s&g=3&ag=19&t=29&a=723

http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/El%C3%A4intarhanajot

Uspenski Cathedral is an Eastern Orthodox cathedral in Helsinki, Finland, dedicated to the Dormition. Designed by Russian architect Alexey Gornostaev (1808-1862), the cathedral was built after his death in 1862-1868. The name of the Cathedral derives from the Slavic word "uspenie" which means dying, and the Cathedral has been dedicated to Virgin Mary's death which is commemorated on August 15th.

Barnacle geese and sparrows

Visiting the castle given to his wife and muse Gala by the great surrealistic artist Salvador Dalí

Salvador Dalí Museum of his surrealistic art

http://www.amosanderson.fi/english/index.html

Photographing here was prohibited for some reason during this exhibition. I did not notice it until they told me...

Manor hotel, Xmas Party

http://www.vanajanlinna.fi/portal/

It is difficult to cook dinner and rotate, sharpen and enhance and write titles at the same time:-) Right after taking the pics..

ALL SAINTS' DAY

Winter for Yair:-)

Stormy day

An unsolved triple murder happpened here in 1960
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Bodom_murders

Helsinki

http://www.gallen-kallela.fi/english.html