Good old Monty Python mocked poor Finland in that old ditty saying of one of the lesser known Scandinavian countries:
You’re so sadly neglected
And often ignored,
A poor second to Belgium,
When going abroad.
Second to Belgium? I doubt that’s the case anymore. I’ve had several fiends return from Helsinki to tell me that it is a bustling, fascinating city with a rich, varied culture of music, design and, well, cell phones. The Finns, I am told, are a reserved lot, That may be an overall Scandinavian trait, but I’m told that even Norwegians think the Finns hold back when it comes to emoting. But that may be a good thing. Good for them, I say. But aside from all this stereotyping, which I already got into today, I should mention that something else is brewing in Helsinki that you may be interested in. According to this piece in the International Herald Tribune, a particularly stylish part of Helsinki was recently designated as the Design District, offering acres of new stores, restaurants and galleries that show off a particular brand of Finnish sensibilities…sensibilities that are all about Finland’s modern identity in Europe. The Finns are known for their stripped down art, and the design of home furnishings and nowhere is this more apparent in the new design district. But it ain’t cheap. What is in Scandinavia? According to the piece, a simple three-legged Aalto stool will set you back over several hundred bones. Ikea it isn’t.
But I have to say that my curiosity is piqued, and I’d very much like to make the pilgrimage someday soon to Finland, perhaps with a stopover in Norway just to say hi to some old relatives.