Hi from Rick: Choirs on Barstools
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| Singers give praise to Finland...then head for the bars. |
Dear Traveler,
Tell an American you're going out on a Wednesday night in Scandinavia, and they'll stifle a yawn. But they're not in Helsinki. There's a definite energy in the streets. My guide, Hanne, explains, "We call Wednesday our little Friday." Our mission: to visit the restaurants I recommend in my guidebook and find new, better ones. For travelers, Helsinki is the least expensive of the Scandinavia capitals. The restaurant scene is affordable and fun — and there are always a few surprises.
As we head up the main "boulevardi" we're engulfed by a huge demonstration. Then I realize they're not demonstrators...but dozens of choral groups. From all corners they converge on the massive steps of the Lutheran Cathedral, overlooking Europe's finest neo-classical square. Tonight these steps overlook thousands of locals, dropping by to hear this massing of the choirs. Five hundred singers crowd together (with the adrenaline of performers who've never practiced together before) to sing a rousing set of anthems. While I can't understand a word, the songs are sung with such passion that must tell of a hard-fought history and a thankfulness for who they are — the people of Finland. Suddenly, with the release of hundreds of balloons, the groups disperse, kicking off a festive week called "Art Goes to the Pubs." That's right, each choir sets off to an appointed bar...and the city's taverns overflow with tipsy harmonies and impromptu dancing.
This month's Travel News is a celebration of European living, from Gothic Bruges to the White Villages of Spain, to the French Riviera, to Versailles, to Copenhagen, to Warsaw and beyond. Places with lots to offer travelers...and locals.
Good travel is more than sightseeing. It connects us with people who waltz, tango, or boogie through their lives to a surprisingly different beat. While we're in their neighborhoods let's take the time to dance with them...and return home with a little of their rhythm tucked inside of us.
Happy Travels!
Rick