A native of Finland, I spent my childhood and early teenage years in Helsinki before moving to the United States at age 16. During visits to my childhood home over the past decade, I’ve witnessed the city evolve from a sleepy, Nordic town with an isolated feel into a bustling, European city. Since Finland joined the European Union in 1995, Helsinki’s tourism has grown, its café culture become more vibrant and its entertainment and shopping opportunities multiplied. Scandinavian and Russian  more...