Celebrity's "City of Helsinki" tour, described in the cruise brochure as lasting for three hours, is over in less than 2 1/2 hours. En route from the pier, we pass by icebreakers in the shipyard, Upenski Cathedral and the colorful open-air market before stopping at Senate Square for a visit to the elegant Lutheran Cathedral.
From there we follow Mannerheim Street, the main street through the city, to see Parliament House, the National Museum and Finlandia Hall. We stop briefly at Olympic Stadium, venue for the Helsinki games of 1952, then it's off to visit Sibelius Park to see a monument of approximately 500 steel pipes honoring the great Finnish composer John Sibelius. After this, it's on to visit the unique Temppeliaukio Rock Church, blasted into solid rock.
Our tour guide warns that a storm will soon to be blowing into Helsinki from the sea. Rhonda stays on the bus to return to the ship. All other family members remain downtown to shop and eat, then take the shuttle bus back to the pier. Yes, the storm materializes but runs its choppy course by 9:30 p.m.
