Tony D'Onofrio
Chi va piano, va sano, e va lontano
Continuing our global virtual tour to learn something new, our next stop is Helsinki, Finland. The words opening this post are Italian and they mean “those who go slow, are healthier, and will go the distance.”
Helsinki is the most northerly of all the continental European capitals. The location was established as a trading town by King Gustav I of Sweden in 1550 and today is the largest city in Finland.
Known as the ‘Daughter of the Baltic’, Helsinki is the world’s coldest capital with a yearly average temperature not exceed 0°C (32°F).
The local government heats the granite slabs from underground during the winter, making the sidewalks in the center of the city completely snow-free. For about six weeks in the year, you also won’t see the sun because it is so close to the arctic.
Helsinki is an unusual capital as not only does it include the mainland located on the Gulf of Finland, but also includes 300 islands that are connected by many bridges. Take an 8 hour and half train ride North from Helsinki and you will meet the real ‘Santa Clause’.
The picture in this post is from one of favorite casual restaurants in Europe that I initially discovered in Zurich Switzerland called ‘VAPIANO’. Literally it means ‘go-slowly’, and they have locations in 25 countries, including Finland.
Favorite memories of Helsinki and Finland include multiple meetings with major retailers and visiting their stores, the great food, the warm hospitality of the locals, and those very warn ‘sauna’ experiences during the cold winter visits.
Paraphrasing those Italian words opening this post, “slow and steady will always win the life race.” Live your dreams and remember it is indeed a small world after all.
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It is a Small World
“Even monkeys can fall from their trees.” – Japanese Proverb
Continuing our global learning journey, our next stop is Tokyo Japan. Founded, in 1603, this city was once a small fishing village called Edo. In 1890, it became Tokyo which means Eastern Capital in English.
In Tokyo, you will find the world’s busiest intersection, the Shibuya crossing where 2,500 people cross the intersection, every time the lights turn green. This city also holds the record for the most Michelin starred restaurants at 212 places to enjoy amazing food.
Tokyo is the most populous city in the world with 37 million people. Uniqueness is everywhere, even in vending machines, where you can buy hot meals, fresh produce, and even umbrellas. There is one vending machine in the city for every two people.
Have lost count on the many times I visited Tokyo to experience their modern retail industry. This picture is from the New Otani Hotel gardens, a favorite during multiple visits.
As the Japanese proverb that opened this summary reminds us, no matter how accomplished we become, you can always make a mistake. Overconfidence can lead to missteps. Life is one sweet ride and Japan provides many reminders on how to enjoy it.
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