April 23: Southern Finland tour – Forum Marinum, Turku

We explored along the north bank of the Aurajoki, the river that downtown Turku is built on, near its entrance to the harbor. First stop was the Forum Marinum, a maritime museum occupying a couple of repurposed buildings. We then took a quick look at the Turku Arts Academy, which is housed in a cool old rope factory that stretches for a quarter of a mile along Linnankatu, parallel to the river.

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A glimpse of the ferries in the harbor.

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A quick but adventuresome tunnel.

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The Forum Marinum; this building was originally the Kruununmakasiini (the Crown Granary).

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Suomen Joutsen means "Swan of Finland." According to Wik, it was built in 1902 in France and was acquired by Finland in 1930; now it's a museum ship administered by Forum Marinum.

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One of twin stairwells.

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The open section of the interior of the Kruununmakasiini makes it fun to explore, before even considering the contents.

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Sweet vaults, yo.

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The Hall of Motors.

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All sorts of suspended bridges.

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A working periscope that goes up through the roof.

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Found you, Suomen Joutsen!

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A big steam-looking contraption viewed from above; I don't quite remember what it is.

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The Daphne, permanently interred inside the Makasiini. You can see it peeking out the window in the exterior shot above.

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An impressive balcony structure across the river that looks like a highway, but looking at it on Bing Maps in bird's-eye view reveals it to be something weirder, some sort of industrial platform.

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Turku Electricitywerk, across the street.

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Looking down the length of the rope factory.

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In the lobby of the academy's concert hall is this old suspended car (not sure of the right term) from the factory days.

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A clearer view.

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The whole length of the factory.