Tourists in Helsinki, One of the World's "Most Livable" Cities

Yesterday (Saturday) we had a very pleasant 55 mile bike ride into Helsinki, punctuated by a short (20 minute) but violent thunderstorm when we were 4 miles from our destination. We spent Saturday evening and Sunday touring the city, joining the hordes of tourists of all ages from around the world.

Helsinki is not only a great tourist city, but it is apparently a superb city to live in as well. In 2013, the Economist Intelligence Unit's list of the world's most livable cities ranked Helsinki as #7, and Monocle Magazine's list ranked Helsinki as #3.

Ducking for cover beside the front door to an apartment building when a thunderstorm began

Click to play; lightning is visible near the end of the video

About to dine on Saturday evening at Kappeli restaurant, which specializes in classical Finnish dishes, located on Esplanadi Park

Red deer meatballs for dinner

Helsinki train station in the background, under a cloudless sky on Sunday

Lunch at Market Square

Uspenski Cathedral (Eastern Orthodox) in the background

Helsinki Cathedral (Lutheran) in the background

Tower at the 1952 Olympic site

Crowds waiting to get into the Church of the Rock (Temppeliaukio Church)., excavated out of rock and covered with a dome. Natural light floods the interior through 180 vertical glass window panes that connect the dome and granite wall.

Carol trying to beat the crowds into the Church of the Rock :) [Not really; she's getting a closeup look at the dome over the church]

Inside the church. The granite walls, dome, and glass window panes are evident