While researching what to do in Helsinki on Friday afternoon/evening, I discovered the Temppeliaukio church (Church in the Rock) was hosting a free concert with student conductors leading the navy band. So we went along!
This Lutheran church, an architectural marvel built into a rock hill and popular with tourists, costs €8/adult (kids are free) to visit during the daytime... so we saved €16, avoided the tourist crowds AND got a free concert, haha!
The outside of the church on our approach.Turns out we approached it from the wrong side, as we walked over the rocks in the first pic, then clamboured down the ones in this pic...... then had to descend to the actual street level entrance here (whoops) while people watched in amusement/worry!Waiting for the concert to start. Note the copper-lined ceiling dome.Pipe organ.Percussion section.Here they come! Note the bare rock walls with excavation marks intentionally left visible. Apparently the rock walls make for great acoustics, hence its popularity as a concert venue.The navy band and the first of five conductors we saw.French horn soloist.Another one of the student conductors, who was playing percussion before he went up to conduct.
And, because I assume you'd like to know what it actually SOUNDED like... 😊
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/1:09
After 45 minutes and five songs/conductors, there was an intermission, so we decided to leave. It was 7:15pm by then, we hadn't had dinner yet, and the boys were definitely flagging after our all-night flight the night before!
For dinner, we sought out a local fast food chain called Hesburger, which was in the underground station two storeys below Helsinki Central Station (pictured).The food was very similar to Hungry Jack's or McDonald's, except for my chicken and haloumi wrap and Ben's pear milkshake! This meal was €40 ($66 AUD)... we're missing the Singaporean/Malaysian food prices!!
Then it was back to our hostel to finally sleep! 💤
We're loving the trams in Helsinki. Here they are in the daytime...... and at night!
