Oodi - the iconic Helsinki library.

I am more and more impressed with the city of Helsinki. Everywhere is clean and spacious, Art Deco and modern architecture abound and the people seem very laid-back, friendly and helpful. No wonder Finland has been voted for the eighth time in a row, the happiest country in the world. In the morning we visited a church in the European Anglican diocese like our own, had a very friendly welcome and were invited to a small picnic down by the sea afterwards. Then we walked half an hour back to meet up with my sister who has arrived from Australia. She went off on a walking tour she had paid for so we went home, I did some shopping, and then walked back into the city centre to visit the library. It is an amazing building. There are study areas, play areas, areas for the children, chill out spaces, computers everywhere and music studios. It really is a learning social and cultural hub.