Photos from the conference

The organizers of the conference in Finland have posted oodles of photos:
http://www.helsinki.fi/jarj/iiaa/Messila2008/thumb.html

Home again

I flew home on Monday. What a trip! An 8-hour flight from Helsinki to JFK and another 5-hour flight to LAX. We got in half an hour early to LAX - but then waited almost an hour for a gate. Air travel is living up to all the worst publicity nowadays. Every seat is full. I swear the seats have been pushed closer together. I don't know how really big and/or tall people can tolerate coach anymore. Meals were free on the Helsinki flight, but not on the flight to LAX.

Here's the final waiting lounge for my flight in Helsinki. We went through no less than four passport checks before getting onto the plane. I suppose any flight, especially going into JFK, is subject to serious security - another sign of the times.

For the JFK-LAX flight, my checked bag was opened, as I discovered later from the little TSA inspection label they left behind. But any jumbo jet leaving JFK with a full supply of fuel must also be suspect in this day and age.

Here is my plane, a big MD-11, waiting at the Helsinki airport. Light rain, but we took off on time.

I wonder how Europeans feel when they arrive at JFK. At the Helsinki airport, free luggage carts were outside the airport to lug your checked baggage to the ticket counter. Inside security, there were more free carts, a bit smaller, to drag your carry-ons to the gate. But when you arrive at JFK, no carts are available when you get off the plane and stand in line for passport checks. Then you get your checked bag (even if you are continuing on) to stand in line for customs, then drag it to another counter to re-check for your next flight. Carts are available -- for $3! Welcome to America!

My visits to Finland and Estonia were great, but it's always nice to be home.

NOTE: Click on any image in this blog to see it full-size.

Helsinki landmarks

Today is my last full day in Helsinki before returning home, so I wanted to get a good look at a few more landmarks.

The University Library just north of Senate Square is a beautiful building, opened in 1840, designed by the city architect, Carl Engel.

Engel also designed this building for what is now the University of Helsinki, on the west side of Senate Square.

This 1890 building, called the House of Estates, is located just northeast of Senate Square.

This is the Palace of the Council of State, first opened in 1822, located on the east side of Senate Square. I'm told that this square was used for location sites to evoke St. Petersburg for Warren Beatty's film "Reds."

A few blocks south on Market Square is the famous Kappeli Cafe, which opened in 1867. I stopped for cappuccino.

The Swedish Theatre a few blocks west of Market Square was built in 1866.

I liked these temporary construction fences portraying a French village street.

I'm not crazy about these commercial signs plastered all over office buildings. This one is across the street from the Swedish Theatre. I'm not sure what to think about that statue, which reminds me of the Soviet Realism I saw in Bratislava last fall.

NOTE: Click on any image in this blog to see it full-size.