Yesterday my host mom and I rode our bikes down to the city center and she showed me where the library was. We checked out some children's and adult books to help me learn Finnish, and then we rode bikes to the square and walked around a bit before getting back on our bikes and heading to Lahti harbor.
On the way to the harbor we rode through a park and had perfect timing, because just a few minutes after arriving, music started to play and the fountain pictured above began to move to the beats of the classical music. We watched for two songs before getting back on our bikes and riding a bit further.
This is just across from the fountain, the body of water is known as the little Vesijärvi, because it is coming in from the big lake.
Jean Sibelius Hall is home to the world famous Lahti Orchestra and houses many performances including many rock concerts. The building is made entirely from wood and glass, with the red brick building in the back being a very old shoe factory that has been preserved and now hosts the entrance for the music hall. Jean Sibelius is Finlands most famous composer, know all over the world. If you ever go to Lahti harbor, you can't miss seeing the music hall because it sits right beside the lake.
If you translate Vesijärvi into English it would be water (vesi) lake (järvi). A bit of a strange name. It is one of the biggest lakes in all of Finland and houses many boats that you can eat lunch on in addition to river cruises as well. And in the winter when the lake is frozen over, it's a good place for cross country skiing and sometimes skating as well.
Lahti (Bay in English) is a beautiful city by Vesijärvi. The wheel on the sign above is the symbol for the city too.
These are some things I bought at the harbor. The I (water drop) Vesijärvi represents a heart to symbolize loving the lake, but also it is to help save the lake from pollution. When industrialization first came to the area, the lake became very bad. It's clean now, but these special things help raise funds to keep the lake clean. I also got a matching pin for my blazer too.
The harbor is so nice and peaceful and very much near to my school as well. I will definately be spending more time there over the course of the year.
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