The Life and Travels of Mrs Suvi

My week was made of museums in Helsinki, a great movie and lots of yummy food.

Last Friday I decided to have an extempore holiday from work. As my mom and I now both have Museum cards, I asked her to join me for some museum action. First, we visited Ateneum and the two exhibits there – Auguste Rodin and Japanomania in the Nordic Countries 1875–1918.

I totally forgot that you cannot carry a backpack in a museum. Ateneum loans these cute little bags for everyone who makes the same blunder as me. You can ask for them in the cloakroom.

The Rodin exhibit was beautiful – Ateneum has managed to get many interesting pieces by the French sculptor to Helsinki. I was surprised to learn that he even had two Finnish students in Paris.

The Japanomania exhibit showcases art which has been influenced by East-Asian culture. I actually never realised how greatly artist in the Nordics were inspired by this theme. This exhibit was more hands-on. I tried some painting with a calligraphy paintbrush.

There was some dress-up fun as well. My mom didn’t want to dress up but she insisted that I do so. I’m always game. After I tried on this costume, many tourists got excited and wanted to try it too and take their own pictures.

If you are following me on Instagram, these shirts below might look familiar. There’s a similar collection of shirts outside the Ateneum. The artist, Kaarina Kaikkonen, received all these shirts as donations for her work. Kaikkonen says that the shirts are very important to her, as a heart has beat inside each one of them. The below installation is called Falling Light.

Ateneum has a really cool museum shop which you can see in the back. I just realised when admiring all the cute articles they were selling, that museum shops can be the best places to buy unique presents.

My mom and I were quite hungry after Ateneum and decided to go to the Hietalahti Market Hall for lunch. This Market Hall has become a really lively place after they decided to change the concept. These days this particular Market Hall is filled with hip restaurants. On Saturday evenings, you can go there for an event called Music & Tasting and try out small inexpensive tasting plates from the different vendors. I visited the Saturday tasting event last year and still think it’s the coolest happening in Helsinki.

Doesn’t my tofu ramen from Fat Ramen look divine! My mom had the duck ramen and loved it too.

Energised after lunch, we visited the Sinebrychoff Art Museum which is conveniently near the Market Hall. The main reason we wanted to go there was to see the Russian masters – from Aivazovsky to Repin exhibition. It would be a good idea to see this exhibit before seeing Soviet Art exhibit at the Didrichsen. On the second floor you will find the Paul and Fanny Sinebrychoff house museum. The Sinebrychoffs were avid art collectors and left all their treasures including furniture to the Finnish government as inheritance.

My weekend was funfilled as well, as hubby and I had a dinner date with friends at Taqueria el Rey. I love relaxed restaurants like this – I’m really not a fine-dining person. I’ve been there twice now and funnily both times I’ve sat in exactly the same table and chair.

The movie of the week was The Danish Girl. I really did not know what to expect, as I hadn’t really researched it beforehand at all. I went with my colleagues and we all felt so overwhelmed afterwards – the movie was sad, heartbreaking and beautiful. The acting was intense and Alicia Vikander absolutely gorgeous. I was pleasantly surprised by the breathtaking scenery – who doesn’t love the coloured houses of Nyhavn in Copenhagen? One of my very dear friends lives in Copenhagen and I think this year it’s my turn to visit her.. Hmm.. maybe after summer..

On Women’s Day morning I received a rose at the bus station. Okay, it was a marketing gimmick – but a lovely idea anyway – it made me feel very cheery for the whole day. Women’s Day seems to be getting to be a bigger deal each year. This lady statue near the National Archives had received a wooly heart from someone.

After work, my daughter and I had a dinner date to celebrate Women’s Day together. We found what I am sure is the best claypot tofu & vegetables in Helsinki at the Cantonese Golden Leaf Restaurant near Kamppi – perfection.

This week’s best ice cream was Creamy Creme Bruleé by Ingman. Hubby doesn’t like ice cream but the rest of us had seconds.

The best drink was Taittinger cuvée prestige champagne. How can I ever go back to drinking sparkling wine after getting a taste for Taittinger?

I was sure I’d tell you that the best tv show was House of Cards but I won’t. Hubby and I started watching it this week as the fourth season just came out on Netflix in Finland. I really enjoyed the first season but after that the show has gone crazy. The fourth season seems even crazier – maybe even a bit too much. Nevertheless, I’m still going to give it a chance.

How was your week? Do you have any good movie recommendations? Are you a fan of House of Cards?

xx