Visiting the Consulate General of Finland and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations on October 12, 2023

 

The Consulate General of Finland and the Permanent Mission of Finland to the United Nations

On a sunny Thursday morning, October 12, we took the subway to the Consulate General of Finland located at 605 Third Avenue. We were welcomed by Deputy Consul General, Mr Keijo Karjalainen who introduced himself and the consulate premises. We were amazed by the views that we saw through the window, for example the Empire State Building. He then took us to the meeting room and we started asking him questions about his work and duties. We also asked him about New York and his favorite things to do there and got great tips.

Furthermore, we were joined by the ambassador and Finland’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr Lauri Voionmaa. We also asked him about his work and what his favorite things in New York are. At the end we thanked them for having us over and we surprised them with Munkka-bags filled with Finnish chocolates. It was such a pleasure to hear about the careers and current positions and duties of our hosts and to be welcomed so warmly.

Text and photos by Anton

The Empire State Building

 

 

On October 11th, during the first full day of our adventure in the Big Apple, we set our sights on the iconic Empire State Building. We had purchased sunset tickets, and it was, no doubt, worth the price. 

 

Our way to the observation deck on the 86th floor was an adventure in itself. We walked through captivating exhibits, climbed up stairs and used two elevators to get up to the right floor. When we finally reached the observation deck, we were greeted with a breathtaking view of New York City, I dare say, all of us were eagerly waiting to see. The setting sun painted the sky with beautiful colors, and the skyscrapers arose like majestic sculptures from the heart of the city. It was such a magical moment to walk around the observation deck and to admire the outstanding views of New York City 320 meters above ground.  

Time flew by, and after about 45 minutes of being outside taking pictures, and admiring the scenery, we had to head down, even though we would have wanted to stay a little longer. On our way down to the exit on the first floor, we walked through the Empire State Building’s gift shop, and we definitely didn’t leave empty-handed. 

 

All in all, we had a great visit to the Empire State Building. The views were incredible, and the staff was extremely friendly. One of the workers even asked where we are from and knew how to greet us in Finnish. We had an absolute blast, and the view of the New York City skyline is something to remember for the rest of our lives. 

Text and photos by Elma

  

 

The High Line

 

The High Line 

 

We visited The High Line on Wednesday, October 11th. We were all pretty tired since it was only the first official day, and we just had a six-hour sightseeing. Regardless of that, we walked through the whole pathway, even though that wasn’t even the plan. Everyone just enjoyed nature and the calm atmosphere and environment so much that we kept on going.

Walking the pathway, you could see all kinds of different plants and trees, art, buildings and particularly the impressive skyscrapers, which I enjoyed. It was cool to see how the railroad had been turned into a park and we were walking a few meters off the ground.

Text and photos by Ronja

The best thing about The High Line was that the environment was so different from anywhere else in New York. It was a lot quieter and more peaceful, and after a long day that was great. The High Line was overall an enjoyable experience, and I appreciate the fact that it is completely free to visit for everyone. I would recommend going there if you’re ever in New York.