I see that Putin and Trump met in Helsinki at the Presidential Palace (the Presidentinlinna) a week or so ago. Trump was in Europe at a NATO summit /UK visit and Putin was at the FIFA in Moscow which is only an hour away, so it was convenient for both.
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| Kauppatori Building |
I was wondering if maybe we went by it when we were there, but I don't think so. Maybe the kids did. However, it is very close to the Market Square (Kauppatori), where we spent our time in Helsinki. I wasn't all that fond of the square because it sold a lot of westernized things at high prices, but maybe I just went at the wrong time. Apparently its a real hoppin place in October when the slakkamakkinat (herring market) begins. That might have been more interesting. And we didn't go quite far enough to get to the Kauppatori market place where they sell lihapiirakka, (meat pie), munkki (like doughnut), not to be confused with muikku (fried smelt), plus an assortment of salmon dishes.
Finland
was once a part of Russian territory, becoming an autonomous grand duchy in
1809. It did not gain full independence until more than 100 years later, in 1917. So its not unusual for Russians to pop over there.
The Palace is one of the three official residences of the President of the Republic of Finland. At the beginning of the 19th century, a salt storehouse
stood on the site. Johan Henrik Heidenstrauch, then one of the elite of
Helsinki's merchants, purchased the entire lot and erected a
stately residence, which resembled a palace moreso than a merchants house. In 1837 Heidenstrauch House actually became a
palace when it was purchased to be converted
into a residence for the Governor-General of Finland. However, Nicholas I decided that it would become the official residence in Helsinki of the Tsar of Russia.
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| Presidential Palace, Helsinki |
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| Inside the Palace |
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| Inside the Palace |
