Categories
Organization

Time management and inner values

 

Business tips organization

Does time management have anything to do with your inner values? And whether! You can set wonderful goals, plan the way there exactly and then work very effectively to achieve them – but if there are no inner values ​​behind them, then you only mechanically work through your activity list. The result: listlessness, listlessness and just being annoyed. Logically, because the motivation is in the bucket. You then ask yourself more and more often what the whole thing is actually supposed to do.

 

Time management and inner values

Discover your inner values

Life is fun when you know what’s inside you and what makes you tick. Because time management only works if it is done in accordance with your values. What does that mean for your everyday life?

Determine which values ​​you are guided by and which have priority for you. Is it really the unstoppable climb up the career ladder without regard to your partner or family? Is it the boring job just because it brings in money? Is it such values ​​as success, honesty or credibility? How do your values ​​fit into your personal and professional life?

Don’t chase the wrong targets

Only when you know what is important to you will you stop rushing after the goals of others. Or do you prefer to meet their expectations rather than your own? Can you see it. Write down what you personally want to achieve: A harmonious partnership, money like hay, your own little house in the country? Then you are a giant step further and know what means a lot to you and what means nothing to you and therefore only steals time.

Faster to success with your values

You can only be successful personally and professionally if you compare your goals with your values ​​and thus have a maximum of agreement. Common norms therefore do not have to be yours – pay attention to your own personal values. These steer and guide you in life. Successful people know their values ​​and set their priorities accordingly. And time management supports them in this.

Categories
Travel

Beaches and sights on Bornholm

Beaches and sights on Bornholm

Bornholm, the island kingdom’s easternmost island and municipality, is a unique piece of Denmark and the country’s only rocky island. There are wide, white beaches with the finest sand, rocky coasts, deep quarries, forests and Denmark’s largest waterfalls. 587 square kilometers where the sun shines more than in the rest of Denmark, where it rains less and where summer is longer thanks to the warm Baltic Sea.

The island is far from the rest of Denmark – it is about 150 kilometers to Copenhagen, but only 80 kilometers to Rügen and just 40 kilometers to the south coast of Sweden.

All Scandinavian landscapes in one spot

The uniqueness of this small Baltic Sea island is that it combines all the landscapes of Scandinavia in a very small space: In the north the island is rocky and rugged and offers a spectacular view with cliffs and skerries; in the gentle south the endless, white sandy beaches prevail, and in between you will find deep valleys with lush forests and in the heart of the island “Almindingen”, one of Denmark’s largest forest areas.

Island capital Rønne, gateway to Bornholm

If you come by ship from northern Germany, southern Sweden or Copenhagen, disembark in Rønne, the largest port on Bornholm. One in three of the nearly 43,000 people on Bornholm lives here, there is an airport, albeit a tiny one, and the island’s only theater and high school.

The lively center of the town is the market place Store Torv, where locals and tourists sit around the fountain and in the many outdoor cafes and enjoy the sun. There are also plenty of shops with a wide range of goods around Store Torv.

There is a special atmosphere at Store Torv on market days, when Bornholm artists and traders present their own products. They come from all over the island early in the morning and sell handmade art objects, granite jewelry, candles, clothes, vegetables and much more in stalls.

The sun shines more often here than in the rest of Denmark

Due to the island’s privileged location, the sun shines more often here than in other regions of Denmark. Once summer has really started, the clear waters of the Baltic Sea warm up quickly. And when the water is really warm, it and the rocks help keep the temperature high here for a long time. Bornholm is known for good swimming well into September, weather permitting.

The most beautiful beaches on Bornholm

Beaches come in many forms: from the child-friendly beach of Balka to the endless sandy beaches of Dueodde and the cliff-lined coasts at Sandkås and Sandvig.

  • Balka, Bornholm’s most popular and child-friendly bathing beach, is a long, wide stretch of beach that slopes very gently into the sea. It is very popular with families because of its lukewarm water, where children can spend hours throwing themselves in the gently rolling waves. However, you have to go very far to be able to swim properly.
  • The several kilometers long sandy beach of Dueodde, the southernmost tip of Bornholm, is the most famous beach on the island. Because of the many sandbanks, you will find both shallow and deep places very close to the shore on the coast. On the beach is also the landmark Dueoddes, the 47 meter high lighthouse, from whose platform you have a magnificent view over the southern tip of Bornholm. In good weather, visibility is 35 kilometers.
  • Cliff-rich coasts can be found at Sandkås and Sandvig – and, as the name suggests, there is sand in abundance. The beaches are beautifully situated between rock formations. Sandkås lies between Tejn and Allinge, while Sandvig lies at the foot of Hammerknude at the northern tip and is North Bornholm’s most popular bathing beach.

Bornholm’s sights: Hammerhus, round churches, rune stones

One of Bornholm’s most visited attractions is the ruined Hammerhus Castle, which lies on the northern tip of the island on a 74-metre-high cliff that rises vertically out of the sea. The 12th-century castle, one of the largest connected castle ruin complexes in northern Europe, is surrounded by a 750 meter long circular wall. From here you have a unique view that extends to Sweden on a clear day.

Another attraction of the island are the four round churches in Østerlars, Ols, Nilars and Nyker, of which Saint Lawrence Church in Østerlars is the largest, oldest and best known and is one of the most popular tourist attractions on the island with 120,000 visitors a year. The church, which was built around 1150, served as a fortress like the other round churches in times of military conflicts.

There are also three of the forty rune stones known on Bornholm in the church. The largest rune stone on Bornholm is the Brogård stone, almost three meters high, south of Hasle.

Categories
job

How to find a job while you still have one

How to find a job while you still have one

The atmosphere between employer and employee

In addition to the time pressure, you have to deal with the fact that your current employer will probably not approve of your idea of ​​looking for a new job. So before you confirm a job appointment, you should make sure that your other communication is in order.

For example, through social media like LinkedIn, everyone should be able to see that your profile is up to date and what their current intention is. You can also state clearly that you are open to new career opportunities and would like to listen to new offers. But the current profile shouldn’t be a problem as most employers don’t pay close attention to what individual employees are doing on the professional networks.

You should simply make sure in all communication that you treat and portray your current employer with respect. Then there shouldn’t be any problems.

Careful use of job boards

If you plan to upload your resume to a job board, it can be easily found by any HR department looking for new hires like you. However, before you upload such important documents to a job portal, it is a great idea to get sample cover letters and make a very professional impression.

Since the first impression is also very important on job fairs and plays an important role in the decision-making process of HR departments, the focus should be on giving the most competent impression possible – in every respect.

Job interviews should be planned extensively

If you are actively looking for a job, you should plan your time carefully to avoid any bottlenecks. For example, you can’t have an unlimited number of doctor and sick days without someone becoming suspicious.

So it is best to plan that you will have to conduct some of the interviews during regular working hours. You may be able to ask Human Resources for flexible times so you can fit it into your existing calendar as best as possible.

However, most HR departments prefer lunchtime or possibly early afternoon. Too late in the day, for example after 4:00 p.m. is usually not advisable and should therefore not be asked by you.

You can explain that you are respectful of your time and want to know more about the role and/or company before committing your resources in a formal interview process.

What to do if your employer approaches you?

Of course, in the course of the job search, it can always happen that your own employer comes up with the idea of ​​asking for more details about your efforts. You should then respond diplomatically, praising the current job and using open responses. This means that you do not send the employer any definite statements that he could possibly use against you.

This is because it is much easier to find a new job when you already have a job as this gives you a basis for negotiation. Therefore, you should never risk being fired.

The conclusion

Always use caution throughout your job search and remember that you always present your current employer in the best possible light. If you find a new job in the near future, you will be far less resented for taking that career step and you will also be able to maintain existing business relationships into the future.

Categories
Home Garden

Which fence is right for my garden?

Which fence is right for my garden?

Requirements

A look at the legal requirements can often ensure that the selection of the fence is accelerated somewhat. Some municipalities specify a maximum height that a fence must not exceed, for example so as not to take away the sun from the neighbors. But a minimum height can also be stipulated, for example if the fence is intended to protect against falls. In most cases, the fence must also maintain a minimum distance from the border of the neighboring property. In any case, it makes sense to coordinate with the neighbor beforehand so that future disputes do not arise in the first place.

The type of garden

In addition to the purpose that a fence should serve, you should also include the other elements of the garden in your considerations. For example, if you have or want to set up a more natural garden, a wooden fence will probably work better than a bar mat fence. If the garden is more functional, fillable gamlion can be the right choice.

What is the purpose of the fence?

A key point to consider is the purpose you want to achieve with the fence. This mostly depends on how you want to use your garden. It is often worthwhile to combine individual fence elements. This can make sense especially if you want to use different areas of the garden differently. If you only want to visually mark the border of your garden, a low fence element is often sufficient. This is particularly common in the front yard, as a good view of the house may be desired. Conversely, a privacy screen can also be desired. In this case, using a high fence can achieve the desired result. If the house is on a slope, a fence – especially at the back of the garden – can also serve to prevent any falls. Perhaps you also want to practice a sport in the garden, for example when guests come. Or your children train for the football club, preferably on hybrid grass. Then a high fence can help that balls and other game material do not find their way into the neighbor’s garden so quickly to cause damage there.

What care do you expect?

Of course, the maintenance effort depends on the choice of the appropriate fence and can vary greatly. A metal fence, for example, requires little to no maintenance other than the occasional cleaning, while a wooden fence will need painting every two to three years. So consider beforehand how much effort you want or are able to make, and also think about the future. In the case of a shared fence, maintenance must also be clarified.

Conclusion

When choosing the right fence or different elements, there are a few aspects to consider. If you do this, you have optimally limited your garden for the next few years or decades and you can feel comfortable in it.

Categories
Organization

Self-management: 3 ideas for getting your priorities right

Self-management: 3 ideas for getting your priorities right

1. No more hectic activism

Don’t fool yourself: In hectic phases, your daily routine is almost always determined by urgencies. The result: Although they had their hands full, they still didn’t get anything important done. The question arises why? Because being busy has nothing to do with productive work and you are not getting any closer to your real goals.

Stressful situations in particular are predestined for the fact that the overview is quickly lost and you can only separate the important from the unimportant with great difficulty. If you are approached with new projects at such moments, take a step back and check very carefully whether these tasks actually (now) have to be completed.

Perhaps it makes much more sense to postpone them until later? And if that’s the case, set a specific date for it right away.

2. Always set priorities in writing

Since you are confronted with many tasks every day, it makes sense to write down what has top priority and what the further gradations are. Because once you write something down, your subconscious becomes much more involved than if you were just thinking about it.

Creating a priority list also requires some thought. And it can sometimes happen that a task that appears to be extremely important at first glance falls back to second or even third place on closer inspection. In this way, you can often recognize different approaches to a solution while writing them down. Therefore, purely mental priority planning only works to a limited extent.

Once you have set your priorities, transfer them to your calendar and block the necessary time for them at the same time.

3. Courage to delegate

Do you think that only what you make yourself makes sense? Is that really the case? Or do you sometimes not expect too much? Those who are reluctant to delegate often do not trust others to be able to do this work just as well or just as quickly. But especially when the hectic pace increases and more and more pours in on you, you can lose track of things pretty quickly.

On top of that, you lack the confidence to be able to meet all deadlines. In such moments, jump over your shadow and think about who could help you. And when someone helps you, reciprocate when the time comes, because getting help shouldn’t be a one-way street.

Categories
Travel

The most expensive city in Norway? Oil Boomtown Stavanger!

The most expensive city in Norway? Holiday in the oil boom town of Stavanger!

Stavanger in southern Norway is the fourth largest city in the country with almost 122,000 inhabitants. It was founded in 1125, when the construction of the cathedral church began, which still stands on the shore of the small city lake Breiavatnet and is considered the most important sacred building in Norway next to the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim.

In 1633 two thirds of Stavanger burned down, including the old medieval city. In 1684 another great fire broke out, causing such devastation that it was decided to lay down the city completely. It was rebuilt in 1690, but a series of fires again ravaged the city, the worst of them in 1716, 1766, 1768, 1833 and 1860. This is why the historic old town is “only” around 300 years old.

Old Stavanger

The old town, “Gamle Stavanger” is located on a peninsula and consists of around 170 lovingly restored white wooden houses with old gas lanterns and beautifully decorated windows and doors. The oldest were built in the early 18th century and are listed monuments. The picturesque district is now a tourist attraction with small shops, galleries, pubs, restaurants and cafes.

Oil Boomtown Stavanger

Due to oil discoveries in the North Sea off Stavanger in the early 1970s, the city experienced an enormous boom. With prosperity, the commercial building floors of international and Norwegian corporations grew and soon Stavanger became the most expensive city in the country.

You can find out everything about the oil boom, the formation of oil, how it is extracted and used and how Norway has changed since the oil was discovered in the interactive Oil Museum, which opened in 1999 on the Kjeringholmen quay north of the centre. Children can move the drill themselves on a reconstructed oil rig or get “to safety” using a rescue net.

Excursions around Stavanger

The surroundings of Stavanger offer a variety of unforgettable nature experiences, all within easy reach: fjords, mountains or the open sea. An absolute must is the light green, two kilometer wide Lysefjord east of Stavanger.

With its steep mountains, including the famous Prekestolen, the rock that rises 600 meters vertically out of the Lysefjord, it is one of the most beautiful destinations in southern Norway. Anyone who dreads the tedious, three-hour walk to the platform of the rock and who is not free from giddiness can also marvel at the rock from below on board an excursion boat.

The most beautiful sandy beach in Norway

Not only is there the most majestic fjord, but also Norway’s longest sandy beach, Solastrand, which is just a few kilometers outside of Stavanger. The Sunday Times ranked it among the six most beautiful beaches in the world in its Best Holidays 2004 article. Here you can sunbathe, swim, kite fly or surf. The lighthouses on or near the coast are open to tourists, some even offering accommodation and meals.

The only canning museum in the world

In 1873, Norway’s first canning factory opened in Stavanger. The only canning museum in the world, the “Hermetikkmuseet” in the old town, tells the story of the time when Stavanger, with its fifty canning factories, was the world’s largest location for the canning industry, with a lovingly presented wealth of cans.

In the museum you can learn all about the production of canned sardines, which was Stavanger’s main industry until the Second World War. The last sardine was canned here in the 1950s and the last canning factory closed in 2002. On Tuesdays and Thursdays in the summer you can watch how sprats are smoked in the canning museum.

Categories
job

The crisis as an opportunity – expert tips for the dream job

The crisis as an opportunity – expert tips for the dream job

define ideas precisely

First of all, it is important to be clear about your own ideas and wishes. Even in times of economic recession, these should be precisely defined before the search for the next job can be initiated. The main thing here is to find the right balance between unrealistic ideas and real wishes. The better your own professional qualifications are afterwards, the more likely it is that these ideas can be effectively put into practice.

Anyone who is not under particularly strong financial pressure and actually needs to find the next job immediately can deliberately apply for promising positions. The goal should be to be in a better position after the change than before. If it turns out at the end of the day that your own demands were hopelessly exaggerated, it is still possible to correct this impression downwards and sort yourself out anew in this way.

Start the search properly

If the most important data that the new job should bring with it is clear, the next search can be based on it. The jobs advertised on the World Wide Web are more important than ever. Hardly any company today bothers to place advertisements in a newspaper that cannot also be viewed on the Internet. The larger search radius, which can be used there automatically as a filter, is one of the important advantages. Sites such as Stellenanzeige.de are therefore among the most important contact points across all sectors. This is how everyone can find their dream job – at www.stellenanzeige.de.

In addition to the vacancies that are offered there, unsolicited applications also pay off in many cases. This shows entrepreneurs that applicants have a special courage and a certain willingness to work. Compared to a job advertisement, the chances of actually being invited to an interview are a little worse at first. In some cases, however, there is an opportunity for this that had not been tangible up to this point in time. One more reason to consider these possibilities for yourself.

Write up-to-date applications

Once you have found a list of promising jobs, it is time to start applying. Those employees in particular whose last application process was several years ago should take a look at current practice. In recent years, the way in which applications are written and hopefully accepted has changed significantly. Anyone who is able to adapt to it even in old age immediately gives a positive impression.

As is so often the case, it is worth investing a little more time in writing your first application. After all, it is the first important impression that is made of oneself. Once a suitable template has been created, it can be used again and again with slight modifications. The greater the effect that emanates from this work. If you prefer not to take the time to create a respectable impression here, you can also find suitable templates on the Internet. However, there is usually a small fee for offerings of really high quality.

These were just a few tips on how the path to a new position can look even in times of crisis. Anyone who deals with this early on can set the course for a hopefully successful professional future and thus seamlessly build on past successes.

Categories
Home Garden

House clearance: 11 tips for a successful implementation

House clearance: 11 tips for a successful implementation

Often underestimated, a household liquidation represents a major challenge in most cases, which requires a lot of preparation and organization. In the following article, we give you a few tips that you can use to clear out the clutter as part of an apartment or household liquidation relatively easily.

Everything is much easier with the perfect preparation

The clearing out of a house clearance is a good opportunity to really clear out and get rid of superfluous things. It is not uncommon for objects to be discovered on these occasions that have been hidden in the basement, in the attic or in a storage room for months or years. In addition, you also have the opportunity to flush some money into the household budget by selling on online platforms or in social networks. And there is another possibility:

Here comes our tip 1

Some waste disposal companies buy up the entire household contents when a household is liquidated and in return give the customer the option of offsetting the value when clearing it out afterwards. Here you kill two birds with one stone – you get an uncomplicated, fast and professional clearing out and can also save costs through the purchase. You can find more information about this at Wirentsorgen.de, for example.

Our tip 2

If you would rather organize the sale, sorting and disposal yourself, first create a to-do list with all the important points and work through them one after the other.

  1. planning
  2. sort by
  3. Sell ​​+ give away
  4. storage
  5. organize help
  6. to fix an appointent
  7. Organize containers / vehicles – compare offers
  8. Eliminate damage – organize craftsmen

Sorting is the be-all and end-all in a household liquidation

The best way to tackle a mammoth task like clearing a household is to help small steps and step by step cleans, sorts and clears out one room after the other.

Our tip 3

Even when cleaning up, you can provide boxes in which you sort the things according to:

  • to keep
  • to sell
  • give away

where to sell

According to this scheme, have the first room successfully clearedwhich is mostly a good one motivationin order to go straight to the next room.

Sales platforms (eBay, Vinted) there are quite a few on the internet – even specifically for books and DVDs (Momox) there are online sales opportunities.

Our tip 4

It has been shown that also on Home or yard flea markets bring all sorts of things to the man. Surely the great merit is not to be expected here. However, you should always keep in mind that everything you sell or give away no longer has to be disposed of at great expense in the end.

Our tip 5

Are there things that are still in great shape that you don’t want to keep and the sale doesn’t work out either. Then you have the option of offering them online for free collection. A post on social networks or an ad on eBay classifieds – and you’ll get rid of superfluous household goods and clothes.

decision support

It is not easy for everyone to part with things or to decide what is really important and necessary and what is not.

Our tip 6

Imagine a fire in your apartment or house – what would you want to save? Usually these are:

  • Documents and documents (ID card, passport, birth certificates, insurance documents)
  • disk
  • photos and valuables
  • some clothes

The second thought: “What would not cause you grief if lost?”.

You see – it’s basically not much that we really need. Anything that is useless, damaged, or unusable goes on the discard pile. The rest can be given away and sold.

Make an appointment & plan the clearing out

Give yourself enough time before decluttering day. Also inform your helpers in good time about the exact date and plan the day. Keep the following points in mind:

  1. Do you have enough helpers?
  2. Is there a vehicle ready for disposal?
  3. Do you need a container?

Find helping hands

Most people find help in their family and circle of friends. Isn’t that the case for you? Here is our tip:

Tips 7

Pupils and students are more than willing to earn a few euros with help. You can look for helping hands online or put up notices on the bulletin board at the university, in the supermarket or in your own hallway. And ask your neighborhood.

The right vehicle

You can find a suitable vehicle for clearing out at a hardware store or at a car rental company. Perhaps one of your friends also has a corresponding car. If you want to rent a car, please note the following:

Tip 8

The vehicles are significantly more expensive on Saturdays than on Sundays or during the week. The earlier you book a vehicle, the cheaper it will be for you. At the end of the year, prices are always higher than in the middle of the year. This also applies at the end of each quarter – always at the end of March, the end of June and the end of September. And of course it’s worth comparing prices – in some cases you can save several hundred euros.

Where can I get a container from?

There are plenty of container services both locally and online who will be happy to advise you and provide you with an appropriate container for your needs.

Our tip 9

Do not leave the container open unattended. You would be surprised how quickly this is used as a communal rubbish bin. Lid containers are best – you can simply close them. Or you can cover the container yourself with a tarpaulin or something similar.

What can all be in one Container?

Depending on the container you have ordered, the following items can be disposed of in it:

bulky waste container

  • cupboards, tables chairs
  • shelves
  • sofas, armchairs
  • mattresses and beds
  • Floor coverings (carpet, PVC)
  • Lamps, mirrors, picture frames
  • Interior blinds, slats
  • window

Of course, you can also use the regular municipal bulky waste disposal if the time suits you. These are often free of charge and take place at regular intervals. You can inquire about the dates online, from the local waste disposal company or from the city or municipal administration.

Our tip 10

You don’t have to dispose of anything else that fits in the household waste bin. Anything that is too big for the garbage can or could damage it belongs in the container.

mixing container

In contrast to a container for bulky waste, with a mixed container you have the option of disposing of furniture as well as other items such as:

  • Waste from mixtures of wood, paper and cardboard, plastics, textiles, metals and composites
  • construction waste
  • commercial waste
  • bulky waste

Hazardous waste and electronic scrap must always be disposed of separately. The same applies to paints, varnishes, solvents and the like.

To the final spurt in the household resolution

If the dissolution of your household involves the termination of a rental agreement for an apartment or house or the sale of the property, damage to the living space must usually be repaired. If the repairs are minor, you can do them yourself if necessary. For larger tasks, remember to hire a craftsman in good time so that there are no complaints when the property is handed over.

Some waste disposal companies offer technical services, so that you can do everything through a service provider by commissioning them. This is useful if you lack the time and support to carry out the household liquidation yourself.

How do I recognize a reputable clearing company?

There are a few very specific characteristics that distinguish a reputable waste disposal company from the black sheep of the industry:

  1. Steer clear of cheap offers
  2. Viewing prior to making an offer is carried out free of charge
  3. Company creates transparent fixed price offer
  4. Service provider has liability insurance
  5. Written proof of disposal will be issued

Our tip 11

Compare several offers and look for a service provider from the area – this saves travel costs and the company is available in case of complaints.

Categories
Organization

Self-management: How to skillfully set limits

Self-management: How to skillfully set limits

tip no. 1: Always answer two questions

Before you rush into making a commitment, always answer two simple questions for yourself:

  • Be able you take on the extra task?
  • Want you accept this?

The answer to the first question will show you whether you are technically able and, moreover, whether you have the time to do a colleague or employee a favor. The answer to the second question is related to your goals and priorities.

The professional competence is usually given, because otherwise you would not be asked. When it comes to the second aspect – your time – things get a little more difficult. Because a promise automatically has consequences. You have to put your own work on hold, possibly also postpone appointments. It is therefore always your right to refuse something. It has nothing to do with not wanting to help.

On the contrary: You know your tasks and have to assess very carefully whether any of them can be postponed. And finally, your own priorities can also lead you to reject a request that has been made, which means that you have to draw clear boundaries.

tip no. 2: Being collegial does not mean doing the work for others

Unfortunately, there are quite a number of people who want to cheat their way through life at the expense of others. They are then quick to take advantage of your helpfulness and good nature. This is wrapped up in such harmless requests as “Can you just finish that?” or “Could you do that, I have to go to an important meeting?”

So that there are no misunderstandings: Of course you should help when there is a need. But you should check that carefully. A no, for example, depends on the previous type of cooperation. If your colleague is in trouble through no fault of her own, because an order may depend on it, you should only refuse to help if you yourself have time problems and are definitely unable to help.

If, on the other hand, the bottleneck is your own fault because your colleague has been dawdling for so long that the air is now burning because she always works at the last minute, then you should not help out. And not even if you could. Because your colleague should not develop a habit of relying on your good nature. Conclusion: With misunderstood willingness to help you only burden yourself.

tip no. 3: Rejection made easy

If you often succumb to the helper syndrome, then you have the feeling – often wrongly – of being needed. But not being able to say no and losing sight of your own concerns leads to stress. Therefore, learn to refuse a request with a clear no. Because the work you can handle is limited. So the more you help others, the less you can realize yourself.

Refer other colleagues to your projects, which also cannot be postponed, or offer alternatives: “Unfortunately, that’s not possible at the moment, let’s talk on the phone about it later”. Then, in a friendly but firm manner, explain why you will not take on a task. If you find it difficult to refuse at first, think of a standard answer that will save you time. (“I have to ask my calendar first if that’s possible, I’ll get back to you later”). This will prevent you from falling into the habitual trap of automatically saying yes.

Categories
Travel

Sights in Helsinki

Sights in Helsinki – a pocket-sized metropolis

The most beautiful daughter of the Baltic Sea, as the Finns like to call their capital, is not a world-class metropolis like Stockholm in neighboring Sweden. With its small city center and manageable size, lively and cosmopolitan Helsinki feels more like a pocket-sized metropolis.

Helsinki, the cosmopolitan capital

The city, which is surrounded by the sea on three sides and lies for the most part on a heavily rugged granite peninsula, has developed its identity in the area of ​​tension between eastern and western cultures. Helsinki’s colorful history since the 16th century has left clear traces not only in the architecture, but also in the culture and the culinary, which is reflected in the cosmopolitanism of the residents.

Kauppatori: Helsinki’s bustling harborside marketplace

The lively and colorful “Kauppatori” is the heart of the city. The market is right on the quay walls of the southern harbor, where the ferries from Sweden dock. In addition to vegetables, fruit and fresh fish, Finnish handicrafts, Lapland sweaters and souvenirs are also sold here. In winter, when temperatures are below zero, the market takes place in the opposite market hall “Wanha Kauppahalli”, which dates back to the days of the Tsars.

Uppenski Cathedral: splendor of orthodoxy in Helsinki

To the east of the market, on a hill, is the largest orthodox church in western Europe. With its thirteen gilded domes and foreign architecture, the cathedral, built in 1868, stands out clearly from its surroundings and is one of the most visible manifestations of Russian influence in Finnish history. The walls and the picture wall of the iconostasis, which separates the sanctuary from the sanctuary, show the characteristic hand-painted images of saints of the Russian Orthodox faith.

Helsinki: Senate Square and Cathedral

The Senaatintori (Senate Square) and its surrounding buildings – the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the University and the National Library – form a unique neoclassical whole. The four buildings were designed in the years 1822-1852 by the Berlin architect and master builder Carl Ludwig Engel. The Cathedral (Tuomiokirkko), completed in 1852, is the most famous building in Finland.

Helsinki: Townhouse and Townhouse District

Carl Ludwig Engel redesigned the originally 18th-century quarter on the south side of Senate Square to give it a more unified look. Until the early 20th century, the Stadthausviertel was the center of the city’s trade and social life. The light blue building, which has served as a townhouse since the 1930s, was a hotel in the 19th century.

The shopping streets of Helsinki: Esplanadi and Havis Amanda

Between the magnificent shopping streets Pohjoisesplanadi and Eteläesplanadi (both briefly called Esplanadi), lies the narrow Esplanade Park, in which various events (concerts, theatre, festivals) take place from May to September. In the park there is a bandstand, the Swedish Theater, lots of benches and the bronze fountain Havis Amanda, a sculpture by Ville Vallgren. According to Vallgren, the figure of a maiden emerging from the sea, made in Paris in 1906, symbolizes the city of Helsinki and her birth.

Free travel and free entry with the Helsinki Card

Finland is expensive compared to other countries in the EU, but the Helsinki Card is a cheap way to explore the capital. The card offers an almost two-hour city tour, free travel on all public transport, free access to around sixty museums, discounts and other extras.

The card, which can be purchased at the Tourist Office at Pohjoisesplanadi 19, costs 35 euros for 24 hours, 45 euros for 48 hours and 55 euros for 72 hours. It costs nothing for children under the age of 7, and far less than half that for older children.