bit like Hogsmeade

I found an old village in the midst of the modern city of Helsinki.

Narrow streets wind themselves between ancient wooden cottages, lovingly restored or left to decay most charmfully. A corner pub, tiny and packed with people, is spilling light and noise and atmosphere onto the street. 

Image from rakennustieto.fi

A blackbird is singing nearby. Someone is digging in his little patch of garden under the light evening sky. If you look past the cottages into the lovely garden with its twisted apple trees, you can see the stark contrast of graceful, steely construction cranes in the distance - involuntary pieces of art.

In the middle of this picturesque neighbourhood called Vallila, the ancient granite bedrock has pushed its way out of the ground and formed a steep, narrow hill. Climbing up there awkwardly in our city shoes, we find a couple and a small gang of teenagers perched on rocks and talking quietly. Someone is passing a bottle to his friends. We find a rock of our own and sit down.

Looking out over city rooftops in twilight times. It must be the best thing you can ever do with your life.