Natalie From America

Helsinki Top Five After living in Finland for three months, Helsinki has truly has become one of my favorite places in the world. It’s quaintness, for a big city, was  here are the top five things I recommend you do/eat/see while there. #1: Things to See/Do Marimekko The Design District was one of my favorites to explore due to the great variety of boutiques, coffee shops, and museums. I would recommend you check out Marimekko, one of Finland’s uniquely beautiful clothing lines. Their patterns are one of a kind and make unique souvenirs for both yourself and your loved ones. Museums It’s a great area to take some pictures and visit the Helsinki City Museum which is free and open to the public, daily. I also personally enjoyed a latte and overnight oats at El Fant cafe, which is connected to the Helsinki City Museum. If you really love design and fashion, check out the Design Museum in the Design District. Most recently in Kamppi, Amos Rex opened. I ...

I've had a lot of questions about this museum and our experience, so I decided to write a blog to share! Recently, David and I visited a new museum in Helsinki,  Amos Rex . Their instagram and website was enticing enough, that David made me wait until he could come with too. Built underground, this museum has four large exhibit spaces. While outside, the general public may peek through the windows to see the museum-goers below. Above the museum, the public can watch through the windows at the museum underneath. While inside, I caught a kid peeking through the window over head Currently, they are home to Japanese-base digital collection by teamLab - you can read more about it here . Additionally, a collection of post-impressionist paintings by Sigurd Frosterus are housed and enjoyed in a more traditional art museum setting. Sigurd Frosterus drawing at the entrance of the exhibit The digital aspect of the exhibits was one of the most exciting parts of the experie...

Before I dive into this post, I wanted to take a minute to thank those of you who have either reached out to me wishing me well on my move here or taken a minute to open my blog and read it. It has meant a lot to me to feel supported 4,000 miles away. When I started this blog, I started it with the intention of keeping family and friends in the loop with regular updates and include some nice pictures. What I've come to find, is a world of interconnectedness, of people interested in travel, of genuine people who want the best for me and have lended me a helping hand. It has given me so much  reassurance that I have made a great decision coming to Finland, and  I'm truly so grateful. This week I spent time with my mom who visited a country other than Greece, in Europe, for the first time! We explored Helsinki, Tampere, and Valkeakoski together and I was able to navigate surprisingly well.  We walked the piers, caught a boat ride, and enjoyed fresh se...