I made my way over to the
Seurasaari Open Air Museum, this is a very neat and unique museum on an island to the west of Helsinki. Founded in the early 1900's the museum has buildings brought from various regions of the country, representing different times in history which have been reassembled on this island.
Apparently log construction was almost the sole technique of "vernacular" building (techniques native to Finland) throughout documented history until the mid 20th century, dating back to the Iron Age a thousand years ago. Tenant farms, granaries, a windmill, homes showing the spectrum of socio-economic differences, a church, 85 buildings in all. Even the museum shop was well stocked with period pieces of merchandise from the 19th century from when it was built.
The museum only took up a small portion of the island, the rest of which was riddled with hiking trails which I spent the rest of the afternoon hiking. There were these red squirrels clamoring about all over the place just being adorable. Tits looking like chickadees were circling my head, small fluffy ducklings in the ponds, all very Snow White amidst the wild flowers.
I was looking for something different for dinner this evening and found a place that was a few blocks away from the busy center of the city. I was intrigued by some reviews, one in particular saying, "the garlic beer was refreshing." So we headed to the
Garlic Restaurant. Despite having the beginnings of a little cold, I enjoyed a garlic cream soup and a steak wrapped in bacon with a red wine and garlic sauce. Good thing we're garlic lovers.