Helsinki, today exactly 200 years ago Sweden lost 30% of its territory. Stupidly we backed up Britain when, at that same time, Napoleon dominated Europe and just had signed a pact of friendship with Russia. The Russians attacked in the east and the Danish threatened us from the south. If they had invaded us we probably had been eaten up. Non existent.
Before this date Finland had been part of Sweden for 600 years. The Finnish got independent from Sweden but remained dominated by Russia. Now we are two free and equal neighbours with much in common – both cooperation and competition. So Kippis! and Skål! great, small nations!
The Picture? I usually first choose the picture, than find a story. Today the story was number on. The photo is from Helsinki, looking out over winter gray, icy waters, part of the Baltic Sea, the one uniting us.
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