Turku - 8 Oct

I travelled from Helsinki to Turku for a couple of days to give a keynote address at a conference at Turku University. Turku is on the south coast of Finland and a two hour train ride west of Helsinki. Turku was the capital of Finland until the early 19th century.

Turku Cathedral. A Lutheran cathedral consecrated in 1300.

Inside Turku Cathedral

Vanha Suurtori near Turku Cathedral. This was once the main town square.

The Aurajoki river which runs through Turku

A park on the south side of the river.

Day care centre on the edge of the park.

The conference dinner held in a restaurant in the centre of Turku. The restaurant was originally a school building - a great setting with its high ceilings.

Entertainment at the conference dinner was a band made up of some academic staff and professional musicians. They played musi from the 1930's.

A market in the centre of Turku.

Turku Castle - the largest castle in Finland founded in 1280 at the mouth of the Aurajoki river.

A courtyard in Turku Castle

Inside Turku Castle

Wall paintings in Turku castle

Statue of Paavo Nurmi who won 12 olympic track and field medals for Finland and broke 22 world records.

View from outside the Turku Art Museum

Apartments near the Turku Art Museum

View from the train on the way back to Helsinki. Pine trees and birch trees with autumn leaves.