This evening I visited the opening of TRE Christmas Market at Aleksanterinkatu 17 in Helsinki, close to Stockmann department store.


TRE is a design and lifestyle store on Mikonkatu 6, but have now opened a lovely Christmas market in the beautiful, former bank hall of the World Trade Center. The Christmas market contains a wide selection of different Finnish design products, and you'll definitely make beautiful finds for the whole family.  They also have a pop-up café, with a lovely window towards the busy Aleksanterinkatu. The Christmas market will be open until Christmas Eve.

TRE in Facebook

Here are some photos from the opening night!

XMAS IN HELSINKI PART 1

Christmas season has started also now started in Helsinki. Unfortunately we have lost the snow which already covered the southern Finland, and are back to our normal November weather.


Helsinki will have it's official Christmas market at Senate Square opening on 3rd of December until 22nd of December. But in addition to that, there are several smaller Christmas markets or fairs organized in different places across the town, open for only couple of days. Here are some of my recommendations:

• Ateneum, an art museum near Helsinki Railway Station, has a small and intimate Christmas market open 19 - 20 November
  Ateneum Chistmas market in Facebook

• Great opportunity to find gems of Finnish design at the Vanha Ylioppilastalo on Mannerheimintie 3, right in the center of Helsinki on 20 November
  Design Destrict Christmas Market in Facebook

• Opening of the Helsinki Christmas street and parade on 20 November at Senate Square 3 -5 pm
  Opening of Helsinki Christmas Street and parade in Facebook

The first week of December will be very busy, a lot of interesting markets around the city. More on me next blog post!

FEW DAYS IN KATHMANDU

During our days in Kathmandu, we stayed in a lovely Dalai-La boutique hotel in the heart of the bustling tourist area Thamel. The hotel was very nice and staff friendly and welcoming. We really enjoyed our stay there. The breakfast and evening drinks were served in the hotel courtyard.

The streets of Kathmandu were filled with colours, especially when people were preparing for the upcoming Diwali celebration.

Here are some photos I took in Kathmandu.

KEEPING PROMISES

Around 15 years ago, our group of dear colleagues agreed,  that when our Nepalese member turns 50, his party is going be held in Kathmandu. As years past, we always kept referring to this promise and wondered, whether it will ever happen.

This spring, that email came, where our friend reminded of our promise. He said this celebration has been 15 years in planning and now we need to make it happen. I did not hesitate a second, but immediately accepted the invitation. Between the two big festivals in Nepal and India, we found ourselves in Kathmandu in October.

Here are few pictures from our trip showing the lovely colours of Kathmandu.
In my next post I will tell more of our lovely experience.