Jolla Phone Day1 celebration event - global topic

General
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I didn’t want to spam the forum with multiple threads that won’t be relevant in a few weeks, so I bundled them up here.

Who is going?

I was wondering who is planning on going? In general, or specifically from The Netherlands? For how many days? I’ll be there 7-10 July.

Back cover colors

I will only need 1 back cover. I don’t expect to change them often. I was torn between orange and white. I could buy both, but there will be an additional exclusive cover, and I will not get 3 covers where I only need 1. Will there be additional hardware during the celebration event? Just in case, would it be possible to change my mind about the cover color?

Event goal, BYOD?

Of course, it would be an option to just wait for the postal service to deliver my phone to my home, but I am pretty much set on going to Helsinki already. It will be fun to make the trip, and to see and meet other sailors (I have never seen another sailor in real life) during the event. To make the most out of it, I’d like to know a bit more what to expect. Do people bring laptops? I’d like for a chance to get some pointers on app development, but I do not like to be the only person with a laptop at a party if we just talk and share a beer.

City trip

Does anyone who lives or visited the area have specific tips on what places to visit? A friend of mine whom has lived in Helsinki will be joining me on this city trip, so I’ll post his suggestions once we’ve done our planning.
What would be the recommended mode of transportation? Public transport? Car rental?

Recommendations for stays would be very welcome as well. We will be staying at Scandic Paasi.

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I will stay there for 1 week at least. Public transport seems to be good in Helsinki, so I won’t spent money for a car and parking, but for cultural things.

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I would probably go but the chance for a bottom of the barrel batch 3 order to get a ticket is probably close to zero.

I have been to Helsinki though. Unless you want to go to some remote rural place or plan to transport something heavy or bulky I would not get a car, in the centre, which is well served by tram and fairly compact.

With my odd preferences I would have a look at the former Nokia HQ, now that one can get there easily by metro and also to the Aalto university campus nearby, just because. :wink:
A bit less odd would be probably a ferry trip to Suomenlinna, the fortress island off the shore. Rather relaxed but a nice walk, view of the city and the sea and old cannons and fortification.

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It is. Cycling paths, too. And you can rent yellow bicycles.

It still saddens me to see the Microsoft logo on it. I used to pass it every day.

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And also a name sake for a sailfish version on the 4 series

Edit: https://blog.jolla.com/suomenlinna/

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I’m also going there for a few days (6 or 7 to 10) I’m also from the Netherlands and planning on flying from amsterdam. Currently I do not have anything booked and will wait until the schedule is announced. If people are interested in traveling together send a dm!

As for your question about what to expect for the event, my guess is that the majority of people going to a specialty phone event are also the people who like to tinker with it. I’m bringing a laptop for shure tough I’m not that good at app development.

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I live nearby in Espoo, so I’ll be coming.

I’ve been to this event twice before. It’s usually quite casual, so mostly just talking and drinking. I also joined the team for an after-party once.

Public transportation is highly recommended in the metropolitan area. Ironically, it’s often faster than driving, at least in the downtown parts of Helsinki. More information about public transport and tickets: https://www.hsl.fi/en/travelling/visitors

Since Helsinki is quite expensive, I recommend checking better accommodation options in Vantaa or Espoo. You can often find cheaper places there especially if you stay close to a train or metro station.

As for things to do in the area: there are tons of festivals during the summer so it’s worth checking current events.

A classic tourist activity is taking the ferry to Suomenlinna (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). For shopping and food, the Old Market Hall near the Market Square is a must-visit.

Other basic attractions include:
Senate Square & Helsinki Cathedral, Sibelius Monument, Ateneum Art Museum, Uspenski Cathedral

And if you’re an aviation fan as well, there is the Finnish Aviation Museum near the Airport.

if interested in the arts then: The Gallen-Kallela Museum in Espoo (easy access with a tram from Aalto/Keilaniemi), Ateneum Art Museum in Helsinki, Architecture and Design Museum, HAM Helsinki Art Museum, Espoo Museum of Modern Art - EMMA …Sadly the National Museum of Finland is closed for renovation until 2027

This is ideal for a quick “escape” near Helsinki.
In Espoo, I also recommend visiting the old Nokia HQ area. It’s a really nice place and located near Westend (where many wealthy people live), Keilaniemi(where all the major corporate HQs are), Otaniemi (where Aalto University is), and Tapiola in the middle (a rich cultural living area). I recommend visiting those areas as it’s easy and fast with the metro. Things to do in Tapiola district

if you have time/energy for nature, I recommend Nuuksio National Park in Espoo.

PS. Most Finns are usually away in the summer at their summer cottages/cabins, so the metropolitan area is really peaceful.

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Thanks a bunch for this.

Any recommendations for someone interested in older history, especially the “Viking” and Vendel era? Also, Sami culture?

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I’d say “muinais…” is the keyword here. Some results:

According to @ahjolinna Kansallismuseo is closed, which would be the perfect recommendation.

This map should prove helpful:

I’d concentrate on the archipelago aspect, small islands etc. Because that’s what people back then did.

There’s also Seurasaari which has some old to very old stuff:

I think most of it is made or brought though. Right before you walk onto it there’s Pukkisaari which, afaiu, was an iron age village.

…more…

If you have time to go to Turku/Åbo you might find more interesting stuff, e.g. the site of the first church, and Aboa Vetus.

And the “new” cathedral is quite impressive too (completed in 1300).

There’s also a highly recommended open air museum built around a historical part of town.

I know most of my recommendations are newer than the Vendel era, sorry. From that time most of what you can see nowadays are loose stones.

Also the Iron Age you’re refering to extended into the middle ages in Finland (-1300).

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In Kiasma, the Helsinki museum of contemporary art, there is an exhibition presenting contemporary art by and about the Sámi community. The Helsinki City Museum is also planning an exhibition about Sámi people living in the city, but sadly that will not be open until November.

Should you want to visit the actual Sápmi territories in northern Finland, you should plan at least a couple of days for that. Of course, doing it in early July would allow you to experience the full midnight sun as the sun does not set at all in those parts of the country that close to the summer solstice.

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Yeah I assumed they’d stay in/around Helsinki. The Sámi Museum is in Lapland :person_shrugging:

But one can always listen to some Mari Boine or Niko Valkeapää etc.

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If somebody is interested I could lead a walk around the centre of the town (and Suomenlinna) talking about Finnish history and society. Free of charge of course. I’m a MA in history working in tourism. Would the afternoon of the 7th of July be a good time?

Please answer here if you’re interested.

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Free of charge, excluding a beer and a tip of course.
Sailors only, or travel party included? We are with 2.
I am very much interested. But it seems my friend and I only arrive at 15.15 at the airport. We wont be able to attend the 7th of July.
I think everyone (at least those travelling abroad) will be available to join on the 8th. If you are available at that date, that would be excellent.

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On top of local recommendations, also take the 2h ferry to Tallinn and swing by Old Town here :estonia:

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ahjolinna

Thank you for the infomation. It is very useful!

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Hello Thijs,
We are going from NL to Finland, by car via Stockholm (Viking museum!, then with ferry to Helsinki and back by boat to Germany. Taking our bicycles with us. For us seniors it’s a ‘now or never holiday’. I haven’t been in a Skandinavian country before.

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Wow. Sounds like a great plan. Unfortunately that’s not possible for me. And we just booked flights. I’m looking forward to meeting you there Wednesday evening. How many days will you be in Helsinki?

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Hi Thank you for your gracious offer! I’d rather join your sight seeing tour :+1::smiley: I hope there will be lots of people

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