It was evening when I arrived in Helsinki, Finland. The road from St. Petersburg took 8 hours, so I wanted to relax and check into a hotel faster. The room was booked at the Katajanokka hotel. Looking at the hotel, its appearance struck me with its resemblance to a prison.
It turned out that I was not mistaken.
This is a sophisticated hotel housed in a converted prison building. It has been refurbished according to the needs of the hotel's clients. This is what the windows and bathroom look like.
In the morning, when I left the room, I saw a gallery of stairs going up and down, metal railings and beautiful carpets on the floor.
Some details were reminiscent of the former prison, such as iron railing doors, rooms outside the main corridor, grids on the windows, unknown details on the ceiling between the walls.
I slept really well there, the breakfast was plentiful and tasty, the tea and coffee was of good quality. Now I think I had a good time in the Katajanokka hotel.
Here is my video of the ferry trip to Helsinki:
Thank you for the interesting photos, Nadezda!
ReplyDeleteHappy February! 🌷🤗
You're welcome, Sara. Hugs.
DeleteI guess that going to prison is not so bad after all!
ReplyDeleteDavid, that sounds like black humor.
DeleteIt is beautiful! I'm glad it's not a prison anymore.
ReplyDeleteSo do I Sandi. Greetings.
DeleteI'm glad it's not a prison anymore, Nadezda. The hotel looks very nice with the beautiful carpets on the floor. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteThe hotel looks nice and is comfortable, despite its former purpose, Marit.
DeleteMe encanta que lo pasaras bien, me alegra que ya no sea una prisión. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteSi, Teresa he pasado buen tiempo en este hotel. Abrazo.
DeleteBoa tarde e um excelente domingo com muita paz e saúde. Bom início de semana. Acho que nunca vi nada igual aqui no Brasil, minha querida amiga Nadezda.
ReplyDeleteLuiz, que pases una buena semana, un abrazo.
DeleteKiva, että hotelli miellytti sinua.
ReplyDeleteMukavaa helmikuun jatkoa.
Kiitos, Anemone.
DeleteHi Nadezda,
ReplyDeleteThe hotel looked a little out of the ordinary, after all it had been a prison, but if you slept well and the breakfast was nice, that's what's important. After all, when we go on a trip, we spend so little time inside the hotel, for me the important thing is to have a good location.
All the best
Maria
I think the same as you, Maria. We spend some time inside, relax and have breakfast. But it was a surprise to stay at such an unusual hotel.
DeleteA good job that they didn't serve up prison foo! The zterior certainly looks intimidating.
ReplyDeleteThe exterior looks unusual, Sue. Hugs.
DeleteDear Nadezda!
ReplyDeleteA very interesting place. I was delighted with the beautiful carpets, but the building looks like a prison.
Hugs and greetings.
It looks because it was. Lucja. I think the owners have put in a lot of effort to turn the former prison into a great hotel.
DeleteSi se ve extraño. Ha mantenido su extructura. Me gusta su interior, distinto a los que conocemos. Y se ve que lo pasaste bien . Buen miércoles Nadezda.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Sí, la pasé bien en este hotel, Laura. Abrazos.
DeleteВнутри гостиница немного уютнее за счёт ковров. Но всё равно очень суровое место.
ReplyDeleteВы правы, Лола.
DeleteGenial hotel . Te mando un beso.
ReplyDeleteGracias Alexander.
DeleteQuerida amiga lo mejor es que disfrutaras del hotel que sin duda es genial. Besos
ReplyDeleteEstoy de acuerdo, Lola. El hotel es interesante. Abrazos.
DeleteI don't know if Valentine's Day is celebrated in your country. In Finland, it's the Day of Friendship.
ReplyDeleteHave a happy week ahead, friend Nadezda! 💟
Thank you, Sara. Wish you good friends too.
DeleteWell, I am glad that the food was nice and not like prison food! It still seems a rather strange idea to make a hotel in a prison, because there would be many bad memories there, even though the prisoners had all gone. But perhaps one should think that this grim building is changing its ways and making people happy instead, now! Thank you for this interesting post.
ReplyDeleteJenny, I don't think ex-prisoners would be happy to stay in a hotel right now. Because the building was a prison over 100 years ago :) New clients are interested in the history of Katajanokka.
DeleteLiebe Nadezda,
ReplyDeletees ist bestimmt ein komisches Gefühl, in einem ehemaligen Gefängnis zu übernachten.
Vielen Dank für die interessanten Einblicke und schön zu lesen, dass Du gut geschlafen hast.
Alles Liebe
wünscht Dir
Anke
I agree Anke. It's strange feeling. Hugs.
DeleteI thought you’ve recently in Finland, which is strange in the war time…
ReplyDeleteBut your video says that this trip was in 2018.
There were good times back then….
Irina
Yes, Irina, this video was filmed years ago. Thanks for your comment.
Delete