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The downtown

The downtown of Oulu is not any large area, and there are examples of good city planning and, unfortunately, bad city planning. Nevertheless, I like the downtown, it is a place to be among other Oulu citizens. Somebody asked me why majority of the photographs shown here are taken in winter time, even Oulu could be considered as a summer time place with a good reason. I don't know why, maybe there is more moody atmosphere when it's not summer, and that's why I prefer winter and autumn photos.   In this page: City harbor and market area Pikisaari island Other photographs

City harbor and market area

This is the city harbor and market area called Toriranta. The big building on the left is the city theater, which is actually build on the sea.        The block house on the right is the biggest hotel in Oulu (Radison SAS). There used to be a beautiful waterside with large grass areas before the hotel was build in the 70's.       As you can see, it's very winter time, but still looking bright and happy, I think. Hard to believe, that in a summer people sits there enjoying cold drinks under sunny sky...	This photograph has been taken from bridge to Linnansaari in autumn 2000.        The bridge is a part of a walkway, which is very popular route for Sunday walks. The way is many kilometers long and it goes right next to the seashore.        That Sunday morning there was heavy fog on harbor area, and what can be more fun for a photographer!
This Neptunus boat is docked permanently to city harbor. It's actually a great restaurant with delicious fish dishes (and yes, this is just my non-paid opinion!).     The yellow building on the right is one of Rantakatu's street historical and great house. Behind that building you can see the church tower.     In summer time the is Armada boat docked next to Neptutus. Armada makes sightseeing trips around the coast.	Here are some Oulu citizens watching the sea and day- dreaming...     Sorry folks, but I just can't help myself being awfully sentimental with these sea things! The sea just makes the endless dreaming possible.       Indeed, it was magical autumn morning back then. The photograph is taken behind city theater, next to the bridge to Pikisaari.
Believe or not, this is the end side of popular cafe called Kahvila makasiini in city harbor area.     There are several similar old wooden buildings in a row, and I'm very glad that they have been restored and taken to actual use; for cafes, craft shops and so on.    This photograph has been taken at winter time in 1999. This place reminds me about last summer days of summer 2000, that time me and my friend sit there watching the sunset.	I guess back to the '70 concrete was a great choice to build cubic buildings like these city theater and library are, but still I'm wondering what the architect little mind has been thinking while drawing the blueprints...     At least there are plenty of room inside those buildings, and they are both very important cultural places for citizen. Back to page top

Pikisaari island

Pikisaari is a small island right next to the city harbor (the walking bridge in this photo starts from near the theater).       There are several beautiful wooden houses on the island, and it's quite popular place to outdoor in summertime. Through Pikisaari you can go to Nallikari beach for example with rollers or bike.     Pikisaari's history is very interesting, as far as I know, there has been craft shops and things like that from very early times of Oulu history.

This picture has been taken from Linnansaari island, and far behind the snow and ice you can see very same buildings in Pikisaari as in the photograph on left.     The day was very cold, something minus twenty degrees of Celsius. In a winter day darkness comes quite early (if I remember correctly, it was something about 3pm when I took this photo), so there easily lack of light. On the other hand, this darkness gives quite right moody feeling for a real arctic winter day.

This skyline picture is photographed from a bridge near Linnansaari in very early spring. Somehow the season can be seen from the coloring of the sky; it's not the color of winter, but not the color of summer, either.        The very known landmark of Pikisaari can be seen quite well here, the skyline of small tower with a peak on the top.

And another one point of view to Pikisaari. I guess this photograph shows the new buildings of the island. In my opinion they fit quite well to the old craftsman style neighborhood.        And what's also great are the coloring of the building: they are not dull gray or any disturbing garishly [räikyvä] colored. Back to page top

Other photographs

Here you can see a couple of block houses far away in Tuira reflecting last sun rays before sunset. The photograph is taken from a park called Ainolanpuisto near the city center.       It was quite late and I was sitting deep in snowdrift [lumikinos] trying to make camera as stabile as possible. First I dammed myself not taking any tele lenses and tripod with me, but later when I studied the photo, I just stared at the trees. I don't know, but for some reason I just like the composition. How about you?

This is a statue in city cemetery coming visible under melting snow. The mother and the child are somehow protected by snow; it seems to be a peaceful place to be out there.

This is a view from Linnansaari towards city center. On the grass shown here in below there are every year a happening called Champagne matinee on the first of May.       That time the park is then crowed of students of University Oulu, having a drinks, eating packed lunch and enjoying music of Teekkaritorvet student band. Maybe sometimes when I'm not participation that happening I'll provide a photograph.. :)ke

There are some trees without leafs — it's autumn out there.       That was quite a great morning for a photographer, there were frosty ground, foggy weather and the sun was shining... what more could you wait for...

Not like a big metropolitan, or what? :) Back to page top Back to Oulu City Pictures...

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