Berlin shines in a festive blaze of lights every year in the period before Christmas. There are over sixty Christmas markets to wander round and enjoy. Berlin’s most attractive Christmas market is the traditional Christmas market in Spandau’s old town. Some 250 traders sell food and handicrafts from four continents on the historic roads.

credit: Glyn Lowe Photoworks

City of Helsinki is the capital of Finland since 1812. The city was founded in 1550, by King Gustav I of Sweden. The original name of the city is Helsingfors, which is still used as its official name. It is largest city in Finland located in southern Finland, 400 kilometres (250 mi) east of Stockholm, Sweden. The city spans over an agglomeration of more than 300 islands. Helsinki is a major urban center, inhabited by around 1.3 million people. Helsinki host the 2012 Ice Hockey World Championships together with Stockholm (Sweden) 4.-20.5.2012.

credit: timo_w2s