Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
ALEXIS KOUROS, FILMMAKER & FOUNDING EDITOR OF THE HELSINKI
TIMES
Best cafe?
In the wintertime one of my favourite places is Café Ursula, which is by the
sea near Kaivopuisto. In the winter, when the days are short and light, you get the maxim-
um amount of light when you sit there, and it's very nice scenery from the cafe.
What Finnish film would you recommend?
People could watch a couple of the Kaur-
ismäki brothers' movies. Aki hasMan Without a Past,for example, which won a prize at
the Cannes festival. His films are always a bit exaggerated, like a sort of caricature of Fin-
nish society; but specifically through that they will give you a sort of exaggerated view
that gives you an idea about the Finnish people's shyness.
Favourite building in Helsinki?
My favourite building is the Temppeliaukion Kirkko, a
round church built into the environment, which is basically a big hill with stones. It's a
fantastic building and I really am amazed that the church authorities let it happen, be-
cause the roundness is pointing back to the pagan religions before Christianity.
For Finnish food?
In the summertime, there are some tents in the kauppatori which
will give you an assortment of fish, potatoes, these kind of things. Those are really very
typically Finnish. Then there is a restaurant called Juuri, with Finnish tapas: 'sapas'.
Helsinki in one word?
I would say 'fresh'. From the top of my head.
For shopping?
Well, there is a design district, which goes from the centre of the city to-
wards Punavuori. It has evolved all the time, and there are always new shops. Lots of Fin-
nish design.
Immigration is a hot topic in the EU at the moment. How well do Finns relate to
immigrants?
I would say that for the majority of cases, very well. Very well. You know,
Finland has very few immigrants, and there are, as in all countries in Europe, some parts
of society that are uncomfortable with immigrants being here. But I would say that the
people I know, they are fantastic, they relate very well.
Festivals & Events
Vappu
STUDENT
(May Day)
