Helsinki, Finland [4]

After the pottery class ended, I rushed to the Sibelius garden, where I promised to meet Valter. This is our last day in Helsinki prior to Germany, we are planning to enjoy a day out in Helsinki.

Helsinki still drizzled a little at the end of March, even though it was entering the spring but the weather hasn't changed much. The ground was still damp and wet, the light snow still covered most of the area in the garden.

I saw Valter sitting near a fireplace in front of a cafe outside the park, a simple red wooden booth cafe with a Recatta sign, very unique and Finnish nuance on the edge of the lake near the bridge before entering the Sibelius park.

I took the time to taste a typical Finnish dish called Lohileivat which was on the menu at the cafe. Lohileivat is bread topped with spicy lettuce, potato cream, salmon, and fennel leaves.

Inside the park there is a monument which is quite popular because of its unusual shape.

"The Sibelius Monument is a monument dedicated to Jean Sibelius, a great Finnish composer, "Valter said.

I nodded my head looking at the unique monument,

It consisted of 600 short pipes each weighing more than 24 metric tons of perforated steel welded in a vertically arranged wave-like pattern. As if moving our soul of musicality, the pipes seem to move up and down like music.

"Apart from music, Jean Sibelius is well known as a smoker, according to his history he changes various musical compositions while not stopping smoking, this is what inspired the monument designer Eila Hiltunen, imitating a line of cigarettes in the form of a monument." continued Valter again.

Beside the monument there is a statue of the head of Jean Sibelius, on a rock that is staring intently, complete with his signature mustache.

I feel at home in Finland, even though I don't speak Finnish, but most of the Finnish population can speak English, maybe because Finland's education is ranked no.1 in the world. Finnish people are very kind and friendly, they really appreciate privacy, a nice social environment, safe, clean air, nature, and easily accessible, transportation. Being happy in Finland is not complicated.

"You are so thirsty for adventure and history," said Valter, sipping olut.

"Yes, I really appreciate history," I said watching Valter, my mind was busy observing who knows how many bottles of beer he had drunk today.

I cast my gaze out of the window while waiting for our dinner to be served, I gave our dinner location 80 points this time, its strategic location, with views overlooking Senate Square and the Helsinki cathedral.

"Are we going back to this city?" I asked, staring at the Helsinki cathedral, this Lutheran church is very iconic in Finland.

"I'm not sure yet, Jade. I hope we'll be back soon," added Valter also saw the atmosphere outside through the window.

"At the end of the year this place is usually very crowded, there is Crystal Market Helsinki, there are many wooden booths selling a variety of food, decorations, cakes, and attractions, all residents and tourists will come, enjoy the lights, Christmas trees, music, Christmas karaoke, decorations, plus falling snow adds to the serene atmosphere in this market, added Valter.

"I can imagine how fun it would be," I said cheerfully.

Dinner at Savota deserves a 90 point rating, we enjoyed salmon soup arranged beautifully in wooden bowls, grilled venison as well as super-delicious bear meat, reflecting local Finnish culinary philosophy.

The interior decoration is very thick with traditional Finnish nuances, using simple wooden chairs that are given a cushion to sit on, all food utensils are made of wood, there are colorful candles to make the room atmosphere dim and romantic and there is a square pattern kitchen towel I used as a napkin.

I chose Leipajuusto as a dessert, this dessert is one of the Finnish specialties in the form of a pie made of fresh cow's milk and cheese bread drizzled with cloudberries. The combination of Leipajuusto and cloudberry provided an unexpectedly unique taste. The combination of sweet and sour flavors danced on my tongue. It is said that this dessert is one of the best and most valuable in ancient times, many farmworkers are willing to be paid in Leipajuusto while working in the harvest season instead of wages.

Hmmm...

"I'm glad to see you seem to live here. It was different when I met you in Russia," said Valter, his face seemed calm watching me.

"Well, Teriberka's extreme weather gave my body a little shock, not to mention the terror of the stalker triggered my anxiety," I said again.

"I understand. Have you been to Germany before?" Asked Valter.

"I have been to Eutope as a child, but this is the first time as a adult. I haven't been to Germany. I've been to America, China, Japan, and other cities in Asia. My late father was so busy, and I have no friends from Europe." I said grimly staring at Leipajuusto.

"I will gladly show you around. As a journalist, I know almost all of mainland Europe." Like understanding my pain when it comes to talking about my past.

I looked up at the end of the statue of Alexander II who stood in the middle of the Senate Square, my gaze traced the statue to the bottom, there was someone staring intently at me, he was standing at the bottom of the statue, his face was faintly visible, his body covered the light coming from behind. I was stunned for a moment and realizing that the man was still the same man who was stalking me while in Russia, I grabbed Valter's hand tightly and gripped tightly without making much movement.

"Vaaaa ... lteeerr ... that person is there again, he is there, right under the statue of Alexander, I know the hat and coat he is wearing. It's the same person."

Valter looked out and hurried to his feet, left his credit card, and ran down the restaurant steps and out to the Senate Square.

I rushed after Valter from behind, I was a little anxious and at the same time scared, that man really haunted me, Valter turned around...

"He's ran away," he said with irregular breathing. "I can admit now that he has been following you." He moved closer to me and hugged me.

I stood frozen, my mind busy calming my fears.

"Come on, let's go home, it's already night, I'm here, don't worry too much." Valter tried to calm me down.

I don't know what the stalker wanted from me, which obviously had nothing to do with Valter, I met the stalker long before I met Valter. I have never met or communicated with anyone before, that meeting took place the first night I was at St. Petersburg. Petersburg. He could of just killed me right away if he wanted something from me.

It seems for now he is just following me, with no intention of doing anything bad... Yet...

From the way he works and steals my images, he's like a spy sending info about me to someone.

But who?

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