Metropolitan Times 1/18

A MAGAZI NE FOR VISITORS

1 / 20 1 8

The faces of Finnish sport

please leave this magazine for the next guest – thank you!

Heureka offers joy of discovery for everybody

DINING WITH DAD

A column by Anna Kortelainen

Into the woods

INTRODUCING PANDORA SHINE A NEW collection of 18k gold-plated sterling silver jewellery

© 2018 Pandora Jewelry Finland OY | c/o Deloitte & Touche Oy | PL 122 | 00181 Helsinki

DO SHINE BRIGHT

pandora.net

PANDORA Concept Store | Jumbo | Vantaa Finngold Airport | Gate Area 30 | Vantaa

Jewelery and watches: Timanttiset FORUM, HELSINKI | Timanttiset JUMBO, VANTAA

Heureka’s exhibition looks to the future Take a seat in Simone’s hairdressing salon, help Laura to repair a hacked food machine, and work with Auvo to design the world’s tallest wooden skyscraper! Heureka’s new exhibition Seven Siblings from the Future focuses on Jukola, an urban utopia.

What will Finland look like in 50 years’ time? Heureka’s new exhibition peeks, among other things, into the professions of the future, a food machine making synthetic food and a hyperloop train which speeds through Jukola at 1000 kilometres per hour.

In Jukola, the city of the future, a farming robot grows food and an artificial intelligence follows the visitors’ moves.

“Seven Siblings from the Future represents a new kind of exhibition narrative.”

The themes of the exhibition, such as wellbeing, mobility, food and housing, are examined through the seven siblings of the future.

Visitors help the siblings to make choices in their everyday lives.

“We want the visitors to experience the themes of the exhibition firsthand. Each of the siblings represents different values and choices, and they also see our future in seven different ways”, says Heureka’s Experience Director Mikko Myllykoski.

The narrator of the exhibition is artificial intelligence Jennifer, who follows the visitors through Jukola. In this interactive exhibition, the visitors’ choices are saved into their wristbands, and at the end of the exhibition tour, each visitor receives a personal value profile. Visitors also find out which of the siblings is closest to their own values.

The exhibition ends with Heureka’s robot Pepper and Jennifer giving an analysis of the future of Finland.

“Seven Siblings from the Future represents a new kind of exhibition narrative. The visitor plays the lead and receives feedback about the choices he or she has made, as well as those of the other visitors”, Myllykoski explains.

The exhibition aims to get people to reflect on the future, the different future scenarios and the impact each of us can have on the future through our own choices.

Seven Siblings from the Future is a joint project between Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. The exhibition is part of the official programme in honour of Finland’s 100 years of independence and of Sitra’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

The exhibition is on display at Heureka until 13 Jan 2019.

heureka.fi

THE TRADITIONAL MODERN CAFÉ Ursula offers you a wide selection of drinks and Finnish specialities: a good breakfast, lunch, coffee, cakes, sandwiches ...you name it.

Hope to see You on our new, big terrace with a beautiful sea view. Ursula is The Place to eat, drink and enjoy.

Ehrenströmintie 3, Helsinki • Tel. +358 9 652 817 • kaivopuisto@ursula.fi •www.ursula.fi

SEE THE MOST ESSENTIAL NORDIC DESIGN EXHIBITION OF THE YEAR

Timo Sarpaneva 23 March–23 September 2018

Visiting address: Korkeavuorenkatu 23, 00130 Helsinki. Opening Hours: Summer time 1 June–31 Aug, Mon–Sun 11–18 Winter time 1 Sep–30 May, Tue 11–20, Wed–Sun 11–18, Mon Closed. www.designmuseum.fi

FINNISH FOO D ART ateljefinne.fi Arkadiankatu 14, Helsinki

+358 10 281 8242 info@ateljefinne.fi

CONTENTS Welcome to the Metropolitan area 8 The faces of Finnish sport 10 Map of metropolitan area 14 Hotels & hostels providing Metropolitan Times 16 Heureka offers joy of discovery for everybody 18 Into the woods 22 Dining with dad – A column by Anna Kortelainen 24

Metropolitan Times – A Magazine for Visitors Issue 1/2018 "Summer" www.metropolitantimes.fi ISSN 2489-2688

Editor Anna Eloaho

Published by Mobile-Kustannus Oy Brahenkatu 14 D 94 FI-20100 Turku, Finland

Sales Manager Raimo Kurki raimo.kurki@mobilekustannus.fi Tel. +358 45 656 7216

Publisher Teemu Jaakonkoski

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Graphic Design & Layout Petteri Mero Mainostoimisto Knok Oy Printed by Newprint Oy

Cover Photos from left to right & up to down: Sailboats in Espoo. Photo: Joonas Vinnari Market Square, Helsinki. Photo: Lauri Rotko Tikkurila Station, Vantaa. Photo: Sakari Manninen Summer evening, Helsinki. Photo: Lauri Rotko River Kerava, Vantaa. Photo: Sakari Manninen Lakeside view, Espoo. Photo: Joonas Vinnari

Metropolitan Times map application for mobile telephones and tablets: m.metropolitantimes.fi.

Metropolitan Times is available in selected hotel and hostel rooms and lobbies in Espoo-Helsinki-Vantaa metropolitan area (see pages 14–15 and 16).

Next Metropolitan Times issue is out in October 2018.

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photo: SkyFoto

ESPOO

HELSINKI

VANTAA

Welcome to the Metropolitan area

photo: Kimmo Brandt

Urban culture and experiences in nature!

The special feature of Espoo is an urban structure that relies on five different centres, all of them along the railway.

Espoo is a vital city, offering each and every one interesting things to see and experience.

Large natural areas are characteristic of Espoo: seashores, the archipelago, the wilderness in nature reserves and the waterways of the lake highlands.

The cultural landscapes, constructed environments and natural areas of Espoo are like Finland in miniature.

Espoo has a lot to offer for those craving culture: visit a fascinating museum in Exhibition Centre WeeGee or participate in one of our city’s many events.

Espoo is growing fast and the growth is focused strongly around the metro stations.

Espoo is financially, ecologically, socially and culturally the most sustainable city in Europe. We are working hard to ensure that our city will grow in a manner that will provide future generations with equal or better living conditions than those enjoyed by us.

Welcome to Espoo!

Jukka Mäkelä Mayor of Espoo

photo: Pertti Nisonen

photo: Sakari Manninen

Dear reader,

Welcome to Vantaa!

You’ve made an excellent decision in coming to Helsinki! Well, I’m the city’s mayor, so I would say that, wouldn’t I? But indeed, I can back up my statements of Helsinki’s excellence with statistics and ratings: Last year was tourismwise a record year for Helsinki, and we saw a 15 % increase in international tourists.

People aren’t visiting just for pleasure, though. Last year Helsinki was the most popular congress city in the Nordics as well. And should you wish to stay longer, you might be pleased to hear that we rank #1 in rankings that measure quality of life, satisfaction with the place people live in, as well as honesty – just to name a few.

Helsinki is a compact, fun city, where modern urban life meets a beautiful, diverse environment.

Helsinki lives and breathes throughout every season of the year. But don’t take just my word for it. We believe that locals are the best guides to a city. While we sadly can’t assign a personal local for each visitor, as the tech-savvy people we are, we have collected all the best local guides into one service: myhelsinki.fi. It’s available in English, Finnish, Swedish, Russian, Japanese and German. Now go and follow in the footsteps of the locals!

The strategy of our city begins with the words ”Helsinki is for a good life”. We don’t mean that just for residents, we mean it also for all visitors and other new friends.

I hope to see you back soon.

Due to its excellent travel connections, Vantaa attracts both participants in conferences and visitors to various events.

The up-to-the-minute, high-tech services right by the Helsinki-Vantaa airport attract business travelers from both Finland and abroad.

In the past few years, Vantaa has become a hub of northern flight routes, and traffic between especially Northern Europe and Asia has experienced strong growth. Vantaa provides a natural framework for seminars of all types— ranging from a meeting between a group of key representatives to a conference with a couple hundred participants.

The city also offers visitors plenty of experiences to enjoy: in addition to tourist sites like the Finnish Science Centre Heureka, the fourth biggest city in Finland has a lively event provision. In summer 2018, Vantaa, among other things, stages the Finnish Championships week that comprises a dizzying number of sports, for example, parachuting, cricket, and life-saving.

The summer of culture presents the Tikkurila Festival with top Finnish artists as well as the international baroque-music festival BRQ Vantaa Festival.

Jan Vapaavuori Mayor of Helsinki 8

Ritva Viljanen Mayor of Vantaa

photo: Giuliano Bevilacqua / SPORTS MUSEUM OF FINLAND

The faces of Finnish sport Lasse Virén winning the men’s 5000m in Montreal 1976. In a dramatic finish, Virén left Dutch-born New Zealand runner Dick Quax (number 091), West German Klaus-Peter Hildenbrand (420) and the rest behind. Virén won four gold medals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics.

Written by Matti Mäkelä Translated by Anna Eloaho

The Finnish history of sports is full of great moments and unforgettable

characters. Let us present a couple of those who have become symbols for the Finnish sports and indeed, for Finnishness itself.

Smiling men

Silence is Golden

An old Finnish proverb “Itku paljon nauramasta” would probably The cornerstone of traditional Finnishness is to understand that it’s translate closest to “It’s all fun and games until somebody loses an eye”. the achievements of a man that speak for him, not the man himself.

Yet, the direct translation gloomily states that after a lot of laugh there The most iconic figure in holding one’s tongue is Paavo Nurmi, whose will be tears. It doesn’t encourage towards emotional emancipation, accomplishments in the 1920’s include nine Olympic golds and so let alone urge to openly express positive little talking that compared to him the Iceman feelings. Hannes Kolehmainen, however, Kimi Räikkönen is a blabbermouth. got his nickname ”The Smiling Finn” from BUT NO, the grin on his face on the last meters of the VIREN TURNS HIS HEAD, men’s 5,000 meters in the 1912 Stockholm Working Class Hero LOOKS QUAX IN THE EYE Olympics, when he realised that Jean Boulin AND SMILES AT HIM. of France started to lag behind. The moment The bloody Civil War of 1918 divided Finnish that turned up the corners of the mouth for people for a very long time. Finland’s only Lasse Viren came 64 years later in Montreal, Olympic medal in the 1948 London Olympics in the beginning of the homestretch of that same distance: Dick Quax was won by the javelin thrower Tapio Rautavaara. In his memoirs of New Zealand rises to his side and many believe him to win the Rautavaara recollects how the leaders of the Finnish Olympic team day. But no, Viren turns his head, looks Quax in the eye and smiles had pondered afterwards in sauna, that no medals at all would at him. The psychological warfare does the trick, Quax is left behind have been a better result from London than a gold medal won by a and the Finn takes home gold. working class athlete.

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THE LIGHTHOUSE OF NOKKALA

photo: Franco Lini / Alamy Stock Photo

CHAMPION OF FORMULA ONE KEKE ROSBERG TOOK TO INTERNATIONAL CIRCLES LIKE DUCK TAKES TO WATER.

manner that there have been times when Finland’s ranking position in FIFA has been behind not just all other Scandinavian countries but the Faroe Islands, too. After all, the total number of inhabitants of the Faroes is barely that of a football team.

The fallen hero

Keke Rosberg (right) with British Nigel Mansell in 1985.

The first cosmopolites The omerta in Finnish sports ended when the code of silence was broken by the representatives of motorsports, who took promoting themselves in the international circles for granted.

When the Finnish rally drivers were still mostly known for their poor command of the English language, the World Championship motorcycle road racer Jarno Saarinen as well as the Champion of Formula One Keke Rosberg took to international circles like ducks take to water. Jarno Saarinen, who died tragically in Monza in 1973 was extremely popular also outside Finland. For example, the Italian racing driver Jarno Trulli who competed in Formula One during 1997–2011, has been named after Saarinen. Keke on his behalf assisted both Mika Häkkinen and his own son Nico Rosberg to become World Champions after his own active career.

The land of team players For a very long time the Finnish sport heroes were all representatives of individual sports. An explanation to this has been suggested to lie in the genes. Of those individuals who some 10,000 years ago thought it to be a good idea to go alone to the cold north, as far from the rest of the humankind as possible. During the last decades the world has, however, pushed its way to Finland, too, and the Finns have become team players, whose success in ice-hockey, basketball and volleyball is due to the disciplined team playing abilities and the ability to work for the common goal. A splendid example of this is the Women’s National Football team, advancing to the European Championships three times in a row between 2005–13, making it at best even to the semi-finals.

The exception to the rule is the Men’s National Football team, that has, one has to admit, produced superstars like Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypiä, but has also managed to underachieve in such a

PIHKALA WOULD TURN IN HIS GRAVE IF HE

KNEW THAT FINLAND’S ONLY MEDAL IN THE

2016 SUMMER OLYMPICS WAS WON BY

MIRA POTKONEN, A WOMAN AND A BOXER.

The history of most nations is encompassed with that coming-of-age moment, when the nation realises that they are not perfect, infallible or indeed any better than others.

In the field of Finnish sports, this moment is crystallized in one iconic photograph: the European champion in Men’s 10,000 meters and Olympic Silver medallist from just few days prior, Martti Vainio stands in front of the press in 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, busted for doping. The tragic story of the fallen hero turns into a farce a bit later, when caretaker Alpo Nyrönen, Vainio’s neighbour is named as the scapegoat for the doping. Proper Aristotelian drama may have many twists and turns, but a caretaker luring an athlete god to the dark side of the track and the field certainly isn’t one of them. #Me Too Especially the history of Finnish summer sports is male-dominated.

The first women participants in the Finnish Olympic team were seen already in 1912, when swimmers Regina Kari and Tyyne Järvi were eliminated in the qualifying rounds (probably because breaststroke didn’t prove to be a winning strategy in freestyle…). The 1920’s were dark times for female athletes: the National Women’s Championships in track and field were suppressed and the decision to have Women’s Track and Field in the Amsterdam Olympics met a lot of criticism in Finland. The inventor of Finnish Baseball and a renowned sports executive Lauri Pihkala even declared Women’s Track and Field to be but un-aesthetic buffoonery.

The situation remained much the same until after the WW2. The first Finnish woman to celebrate her Olympic Gold was paddler Sylvi Saimo in 1952. After that, the Olympic gold was won by Heli Rantanen in javelin in 1996 and

by Satu Mäkelä-Nummela in trap shooting in 2008. Lauri Pihkala would probably turn in his grave if he knew that Finland’s only medal in the Summer Olympics in 2016 was won by Mira Potkonen, a woman and a boxer. s Mira Potkonen.

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City of Charming Moments

Finland

Porvoo 50km

Turku

Helsinki

Gulf of Finland Tallinn

Estonia

Come and experience the charm of Old Porvoo, Finlands second oldest town and the most popular daytrip destination from Helsinki. Restaurants and shopping. Buses from Kamppi bus terminal every 15 min.

VISITPORVOO.FI

A MAP IN YOUR POCKET

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YOU ARE HERE!

Hotels providing Metropolitan Times are marked on the map with numbered blue dots.

The number of your hotel can be found from the list on page 16.

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© Helsingin kaupunkimittausosasto 2018

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THE MAP OF THE METROPOLITAN AREA

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Helsinki

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Helsinki was founded in 1550 by King Gustavus Vasa of Sweden. It became the capital city of Finland (then the Grand Duchy of Finland) in 1812.

Inhabitants: ca. 600,000. More information: www.hel.fi.

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Espoo

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Espoo is the second largest city in Finland.

It gained city rights in 1972, but the first written mention of Espoo is from 1458. Geographically scattered Espoo is divided into seven major areas and instead of one city center Espoo has five rather densly populated city centers. Inhabitants: ca. 275,000. More information: www.visitespoo.fi.

Vantaa Vantaa is the fourth largest city in Finland. It gained city rights in 1974, but the first written mention of Vantaa is from 1352. The Helsinki Airport is situated in Vantaa. Inhabitants: ca. 220,000. More information: www.visitvantaa.fi.

Kauniainen Kauniainen is a small town enclosed by the city of Espoo. It is the smallest commune of Finland with its 6 square kilometres. Inhabitants: ca.

9,400. More information: www.kauniainen.fi.

Capital region The total number of inhabitants in the Capital region (Helsinki, Espoo,Vantaa and Kauniainen) is 1.1 million.

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Greater Helsinki Capital region and the municipalities Hyvinkää, Järvenpää, Kerava, Kirkko­nummi, Nurmijärvi, Sipoo, Tuusula, Mäntsälä, Pornainen and Vihti form the Greater Helsinki area, rising the number of inhabitants to 1.4 million. Together with the cities of Porvoo, Lohja and Riihimäki, the population of the Metropolitan area rises to about 1,550,000.

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Metropolitan Times is available

in these high standard Hotels & Hostels 01 Airport Hotel Bonus Inn

10 Hilton Helsinki Airport

19 Hämeenkylän Manor

Elannontie 9, 01510 Vantaa Tel. +358 9 825 511 www.bonusinn.fi

Lentäjänkuja 1, 01530 Vantaa Tel. +358 9 732 20 www.hiltonhotels.com

Juustenintie 1, 01630 Vantaa Tel. +358 10 540 8350 www.hameenkylankartano.fi

02 Airport Hotel Pilotti

11 Hilton Helsinki Kalastajatorppa

20 Original Sokos Hotel Albert Helsinki

Kalastajatorpantie 1, 00330 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 458 11 www.hiltonhotels.com

Albertinkatu 30, 00120 Helsinki Tel. + 358 20 123 4638 www.sokoshotels.fi

03 Best Western Plus Hotel Haaga Helsinki

12 Hilton Helsinki Strand

Nuijamiestentie 10, 00320 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 580 7877 www.hotelhaaga.fi

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21 Original Sokos Hotel Tapiola Garden

04 Break Sokos Hotel Flamingo

13 Hotel Helka

Tasetie 8, 01510 Vantaa Tel. +358 20 123 4605 www.sokoshotels.fi

Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 23, 00100 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 613 580 www.hotelhelka.com

05 Clarion Hotel Helsinki

14 Hotel Hellsten Espoo

Tyynenmerenkatu 2, 00220 Helsinki Tel. +358 10 850 3820 www.nordicchoicehotels.com

Porarinkatu 3, 02650 Espoo Tel. +358 9 511 051 www.hellstenhotels.fi

06 Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport

15 Hotel Hellsten Helsinki Parliament

24 Scandic Espoo

Museokatu 18, 00100 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 5110 5700 www.hellstenhotels.fi

Nihtisillantie 1, 02630 Espoo Tel. +358 9 435 20 www.scandichotels.fi

07 Forenom Apart Hotel Espoo Leppävaara

16 Hotel Hellsten Helsinki Senate

25 Scandic Grand Marina

Porarinkatu 1, 02650 Espoo Tel. +358 20 198 3420 www.forenom.com

Kauppiaankatu 5, 00160 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 5110 5243 www.hellstenhotels.fi

Katajanokanlaituri 7, 00160 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 16 661 www.scandichotels.fi

08 Forenom Apart Hotel Helsinki City

17 Hotel Korpilampi Espoo

26 Scandic Park Simonkenttä

Korpilammentie 5, 02970 Espoo Tel. +358 9 613 8411 www.korpilampi.fi

Simonkatu 9, 00100 Helsinki Tel. +358 9 68 380 www.scandichotels.fi

18 Hotel Majvik Espoo

27 Solo Sokos Hotel Torni

Majvikintie 1, 02430 Masala Tel. +358 9 295 511 www.majvik.fi

Yrjönkatu 26, 00100 Helsinki Tel. +358 20 123 4604 www.sokoshotels.fi

Tietotie 5, 01530 Vantaa Tel. +358 10 850 3810 www.nordicchoicehotels.com

Eerikinkatu 24, 00180 Helsinki Tel. +358 20 198 3420 www.forenom.com

09 Forenom Hostel Helsinki Pitäjänmäki Kornetintie 10, 00380 Pitäjänmäki Tel. +358 20 198 3420 www.forenom.com

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Tapionaukio 3, 02100 Espoo Tel. + 358 20 123 4616 www.sokoshotels.fi

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23 Radisson Blu Seaside Hotel Ruoholahdenranta 3, 00180 Helsinki Tel. +358 20 123 4707 www.radissonblu.com

photo: Lauri Rotko

Veromäentie 1, 01510 Vantaa Tel. +358 9 329 4800 www.airporthotelpilotti.fi

MUSEUM

SIBELIUS exhibition

#ThrowbackVantaa

INSTRUMENT exhibition

8.2.–30.11.2018

CONCERTS –

– Photos of the home district then and now

spring and autumns season

Visit Turku & The Sib eliu Museum s

Temporary exhibitions 1.2.2018–6.1.2019

 A cantata for doctors  Vantaa City Museum

tue–fri 10–17 and sat–sun 11–16

FREE ENTRANCE

www.vantaa.fi/kaupunginmuseo Vantaa City Museum, Hertaksentie 1, Vantaa

MUSEUM OPEN 1 Feb – 30 Apr, 1 Sep – 30 Nov | Tue – Sun 11 am – 4 pm 2 May – 31 Aug | Tue, Thu – Sun 11 am – 4 pm, Wed 11 – 18 Wed concerts at 7 pm, tickets on sale 6 pm Piispankatu 17 | www.sibeliusmuseum.fi

photo: Wille Nyyssönen

Heureka

offers joy of discovery for everybody Text by Heli Ainoa / Heureka

Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre

Heureka is one of Finland’s most popular recreational centres, attracting an average of 300,000 visitors each year.

There are many exhibitions to explore about different themes. During summer season exhibitions extend outdoors to Science Park Galilei. Heureka also has a digital planetarium with the capacity of 135 seats.

Entrance ticket includes access to all exhibitions and planetarium shows as well as to daily programmes. For example Basketball Rats has been extremely popular programme since it started in 1995. Heureka´s rats play basketball game usually three times each day at the Rat Basketball Stadium. The visitors have also a possibility to buy some science products from Heureka Shop. There is also a brand new Science Restaurant.

offers joy of discovery and fun

experiences for all ages. Heureka

introduces science in an engaging and interactive way. Visitors

can experience science through

hands-on exhibitions, planetarium films, learning programmes and

events. And Heureka’s Basketball Rats are a must-see!

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photos (top row): Anniina Nissinen

Newest temporary exhibition looks to the future What will Finland be like about fifty years from now? Heureka’s latest temporary exhibition, Seven Siblings from the Future, presents Jukola, a city of tomorrow. Among the topics of Heureka’s new exhibition are future professions, a synthetic food machine, and a hyperloop train that shoots through Jukola. In Jukola, food is grown by farming robots, and artificial intelligence keeps up with visitors on their explorations of this utopian city of the future.

The themes of the exhibition – such as wellbeing, movement, food and housing – are presented vividly in more than twenty exhibits by focusing on the lives of seven siblings of the future. Visitors to the exhibition help the siblings make the choices they face in their everyday lives.

“We want visitors to experience the exhibition themes in a personal way. The seven siblings represent different sets of values and different kinds of choices, making it possible to see our future in seven different ways,” says Heureka’s Experience Director Mikko Myllykoski.

“THE SEVEN SIBLINGS REPRESENT DIFFERENT SETS OF VALUES AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF CHOICES, MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO SEE OUR FUTURE IN SEVEN DIFFERENT WAYS”

The exhibition is interactive and game-centred, and at its heart are stories and storytelling. The exhibition is a thought-provoking look at the future, but is also a highly memorable visual experience.

“Visitors to the exhibition get to meet the siblings in their real-life size. The look of the future that’s presented in the cinema-quality videos has been created through animations and 3D effects.”

The exhibition covers an area of 650 m2, and visitors are followed through it by Jennifer, Jukola’s artificially intelligent narrator. All the choices each visitor makes during the visit are recorded in a wristband, so that at the end visitors can learn about their own values. They’ll also find out which of the siblings holds values that are closest to theirs. At the end of the exhibition, Heureka’s friendly

Pepper the robot.

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robot Pepper and the AI narrator Jennifer will examine what Finland of the future will look like.

Although the exhibition is located in a future Finland, it is not set in any specific time. The aim instead is to deal with potential future scenarios. Heureka is responsible for the design and implementation of the exhibition, and Sitra has funded the project and acted as the content consultant.

The exhibition Seven Siblings from the Future is a joint project of the Finnish Science Centre Heureka and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra. The exhibition is part of Sitra’s 50th anniversary celebrations and of the official programme in honour of Finland’s 100 years of independence. The exhibition is on display at Heureka until January 2019.

Viral! – From infections to economic disasters and memes

ALL THE CHOICES EACH VISITOR MAKES DURING THE VISIT ARE RECORDED IN A WRISTBAND, SO

THAT AT THE END VISITORS CAN LEARN ABOUT

Another Heureka´s temporary exhibition at the moment is called Viral! It is an exhibition about viral phenomena, ranging from viral infections to economic disasters, and from public protests to memes.

The exhibition explores biological and social infections, and how they spread. It has never been this easy for infections to spread – even ideas can be viral!

Come and test whether you allow emotions to be infectious and whether you can infect others. You can also think what the world would be like without any infections. In addition, you can catch plushy viruses and inspire an entire stadium to dance.

The Viral! exhibition is a coproduction between Heureka, Pavilhão do Conhecimento in Lisbon, and La Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie in Paris. The exhibition in on display at Heureka until 23 September 2018. s

THEIR OWN VALUES.

“Talk about the future is often so abstract and generalised that it can be difficult to grasp and get a clear sense of it. We wanted to work with Heureka to consider how the megatrends that are shaping the world could be combined with everyday choices in ways that would inspire children and youth,” says Päivi Hirvola, who is senior lead in societal training and development at the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.

“The aim of the exhibition is to get people to reflect on the desirable direction that the future could take, and to think about how each of us can influence the future through our own choices. Our highest hope is that the exhibition will lead visitors to learn something new about themselves,” says Päivi Hirvola.

HEUREKA, THE FINNISH SCIENCE CENTRE Tikkurila, Vantaa Open daily (except Christmas Eve) Tickets: adults 22 €, children 6–15 years 15 € heureka.fi

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woods Into the

W

Written by Anna Eloaho

photo: Harri Mustonen

ith its 1,1 million inhabitants, the Helsinki Metropolitan area is the most densely habited part of Finland. One might think that in order to escape the urban hustle and bustle for pure nature one should travel rather far from the capital region. We let you in on a secret: there is proper Finnish forest within walking distance from the city centre, to be reached in just 15 minutes. In fact, there is no other capital region of over million inhabitants in the world with so much surrounding nature.

The Central Park of Helsinki makes it possible to reach a forest by foot from anywhere from the city centre. Traversing Helsinki from south to north, the Central Park is the green gateway for the commuters as well as an easily reachable outdoor haven for those who enjoy the smell of green forest and birdsong. Founded in 1914, the Central Park offers opportunities for outdoor sports and recreation throughout the year. Central Park begins near the Helsinki Opera House at the Töölönlahti Bay, in the middle of the city.

Central Park ends in the untouched primeval forest of Haltiala by the river Vantaa on the northern border of Helsinki. Other nature protection areas in the northern part of the park include Pitkäkoski deciduous forest, Niskala arboretum and Ruutinkoski deciduous forest.

The green zones of the Metropolitan area form a unique Green Belt, extending from the Sipoonkorpi area to the peninsula of Porkkala.

The Green Belt consists of the archipelago, the coastline, the rivers, the forests, the bogs and the cultural landscapes of the Metropolitan area. The numerous nature conservation areas as well as the more recreational areas all form a pathway and a natural network allowing animals and plant species to transfer from one area to another. The widest forest areas, such as the Nuuksio and Sipoonkorpi National Parks in Espoo and Sipoo and Petikko in Vantaa are situated outside Kehä 3 (Ring 3) road.

Petikko, Sipoonkorpi and Nuuksio National Park all have walking trails to offer. In Nuuksio, for example, it is possible to choose between several trails of different lengths. The shortest one, the Maahisenkierros trail (1,9 kilometres) is accessible for wheelchairs and baby buggies.

There are dozens of recreational forests, walking routes, arboretums and woodland areas within easy reach in the Metropolitan area. By public transportation one can easily reach woodland gems such as the oak forest of Tammisto in Vantaa, the Viikki arboretum at Vanhankaupunginlahti, Uutela nature trail in Vuosaari in eastern Helsinki and Haaga Rhododendron park in western Helsinki. Longer urban walking and hiking routes include the Espoo Rantaraitti by the seaside. The Metropolitan area has plenty of options for bikers, too. Among them are the various themed bike routes such as “the Central Park 100 years” and “the Olympic games of Helsinki in 1952”.

A great choice for a nature enthusiast on a rainy day is Haltia Nature Centre, close to the Nuuksio National Park in Espoo. Along with exhibitions, shop and restaurant it offers more detailed information about the Metropolitan nature network Green Belt. Other interesting options include the Botanic Garden in Kaisaniemi as well as the Botanical Garden (Talvipuutarha) at Töölö Bay. s

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DID YOU KNOW THAT

EVEN 20 MINUTES SPENT

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Dining with dad

In the morning I got some homecoming gifts from the market square and headed back to the station. The conductor’s gaze was thoughtful: didn’t she just arrive yesterday afternoon and now already going back. A restless soul. On the train back home I polished my ideas from day before, adding things and filling up gaps. On arrival to Helsinki I had a road map ready on what kind of book I was about to write and how I should proceed. The book was published two years later.

I visit Tampere often for work. The staff at my favourite hotel never fails to ask how I’m doing, I always bump into friends over breakfast and at Christmas time a gift from the hotel awaits me in my room. As I return tired to the hotel after the workday, I’m as relieved to return there as I would be returning home. After being served my dinner I retire to my room with a good conscience, put on my pyjamas and become the true unsocial me.

I don’t have a TV at home, so in a hotel I hop from one channel to another, usually in awe and wonder. The crime series puzzle me most.

Why do the police in demanding field work run around in so very unpractical clothes, men in suit jackets and women in high heels?

When the officials charge into a suspicious flat, the uniforms all have their helmets on but the detectives lead the forces bareheaded. Inside the flat they never switch on the lights, but fidget about in the dark with their flashlights. The bambi-like female constables always want to go and search the dodgy industrial premises by themselves, they never wait for the upcoming reinforcements. And of course all the police must all the time confront the rules as well as their negligent bosses. I wouldn’t want to be a TV-detective, I muse, reaching out for more chocolate.

This postulant crime consultant rests on her hotel bed and gives advice to the TV-screen. And is thoroughly happy. Suddenly I remember my dad’s trips to the monastery. My dad is no longer with us. Only now do I understand him. s

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Anna Kortelainen (PhD) is an author, scholar and art historian. Her works include both fiction and nonfiction. Many of her works deal with art history as well as women’s history. Her next book is a biography of the patron of arts and businesswoman Sara Hildén and will be published in September 2018. Kortelainen lives in Helsinki.

Photo: Marek Sabogal

When I was young I didn’t quite grasp the point in my father’s annual spring retreat to the New Valamo Monastery in Heinävesi.

He booked a modest room with full board, packed along a few books and stayed at the monastery for the long weekend. He lay on the bed of his cell, read his books in the complete silence and had his meals in the monastery canteen. Why he did that, I didn’t quite understand.

A month ago I booked a hotel room in Riihimäki, rather close to my hometown Helsinki, packed along a nearly finished manuscript and headed for the train station. Upon my arrival to the hotel room I was pleased to see that everything was according to my wishes: there was a sauna and even a whirlpool bathtub. A glance at the room made me think that it would rank high among the newly weds: a pair of swans made of white towels lay at the foot of the bed. I noticed that the tall mirror on the wall made me look slimmer. Now that’s a mirror I’d like to have at home.

All afternoon and evening I went through my manuscript, editing unnecessary fillings and repetition, spicing and spiking up my text. I played my favourite music, enjoyed my packed lunch, made instant coffee using the water boiler of the room. Everything tasted heavenly. Not even the cuddling swans could make me feel lonely, because the characters of my script took over the room, conquered the couch and peeked out into the darkening small town evening from my hotel room window.

Finally, around ten in the evening I turned off my laptop, switched on the sauna and ran myself a bath. Sitting on the bench of the sauna, my feeling of happiness could not have been more complete. No one really knew where I was, only I did.

A few years back I got myself a train ticket from Helsinki all the way to Kainuu, to Kajaani. I sat by my laptop on the train for six hours, accompanied by my packed lunch, ordering more coffee from the mini bar trolley every now and then. I wrote and contemplated, at the same time listening to peaceful music from my headphones. By and by, I was commencing a new book by making charts and diagrams.

The snowy landscapes flickered behind the train window, the speed of the train made the snow dust fly. People came and went, but I was cosy in my own bubble, flying on the back of the wind across Finland.

When the train arrived to Kajaani, the framework for the new script was drafted. I got a room from a cosy little hotel that reminded me of the sports training centres of the 1970’s. I stood by the hotel room window and admired the shimmering ice deck of the river Kajaani and the twinkling stars. I had a sturdy local meal at the hotel restaurant and looked at the numerous talkative parties around me.

I was an outsider and I was pleased.

Written by Anna Kortelainen Translated by Anna Eloaho

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