How Belgish is this?

A right to go on a stike has been considered to be part of worker's rights. This is the case at least in most of the western countries. Some have learnt to use it better than others - or what do you think of the art of striking by the French?

In my mind a strike is never a best solution, since in most cases there are no winners. It is often so that the financial loss to the worker during the strike is bigger than the achieved benefit in for example 2-3 years. Also the rules set for strikes should be honored in order not to chop your own leg. By harming the business of the company you work for, you set your job at risk.

Harm to the business performance --> Harm to the customer --> Less customers & revenue --> Less income --> Cost cutting --> Staff reduction...

I think most of you get this.

Now the Belgium air traffic controllers have decided that a spontaneus strike is the correct action to state their opinion. Apparently some of the staff should move about 50 kilometers from Charleroi Airport to Zaventem Airport at Brussels, but is it the best way to act by a strike that grounds about 700 flights in / out of the Belgium airports?

You tell me...!

Some info from here.

Identical twins

Our local main newspaper has got weekly tabloid type attachment. There is a section introducing so called identical twins. Yesterday on tv Stephen Fry was searching mountain gorillas and the baby monkey image got me to think about certain fantastic musician.

Hesarin Nyt-liitteen "Identtiset Kaksoset" -osaston hengessä haluan esitellä alla olevat kaverit. Eilen TV:ssä oli BBC:n dokumentti jossa Stephen Fry etsi vuorigorilloja. Heidän poikanen toi mieleen erään fantastisen muusikon.

Loistavaa viikkoa - Have a fantastic week!!!

Regards from Africa!

Ladies and Playboys,
May I remind you that you are not allowed to be offended by anything I post on the blog! Or if you do, please let me know and I can strike back by letting you know you are a fool ;o)

Some things are what they are - no matter who presents them and how...

A Joke is a Joke - particularly with a piece of truth!

Walkman

Hot water system

Transportation – 1 – Toyota Co(w)rolla

Transportation – 2 – pick-up truck !!! (Australian 'ute' !!!)

Ambulance

I just love Africa, simple, not complicated. They are just who they are. No stress. This vehicle was seen near Makerere , Zimbabwe

This was photographed in Buru Buru, Nairobi . Kenya .

These guys must have smoked weed! Look at the goat.

Painting the swimming pool.

Must be Zimbabwe ???

Again must be Zimbabwe???

Stop this!!!

It's Sushi Time!

Imagine coming home on Friday evening after a 2-day intensive business trip and finding yourself in the middle of a sushi factory!

Perhaps the outcome is not as polished as in the sushi bars, but I can tell you it works for our family! One can always improve the cooking and learn more, but I was veeeery happy to enjoy this dinner - even without sake (the Japanese version of vodka) that we still have left from one particular sushi night in Brussels.

L&D, yep - that is with you guys!

Also skipping the sake leaves potential dry mouth feeling away from tomorrow morning ;o)

 

Kampai - I liiiike!!!

PS Home team Blues (ice hockey) is playing tomorrow against a team that for some weard reason my son supports. I've got something else scheduled with Mrs, but both kids are going there with their friends. GO BLUES!!!

Again some Spanish food

I wrote earlier about the Spanish food that I very much love. At the Costa del Sol are so many nationalities represented that surely you can get also other food than Spanish.

If you wish to have British breakfast, you can get it with a reasonable price. Also other options from the British gourmet kitchen are available - and since the competition for the customers is tough, ofter the customer gets the benefit. Or what do you say about the offer below?

For the lovers of German sausages, you also have good options available.

There is also fairly big Finnish community, hence the delicious Finnish cinnemon rolls are made there in Thelman Pullapuoti.

I myself find no reason for going there on vacations. Except when I was living outside Finland. When you are living abroad for a longer period - months or years - you kind of miss certain things from your home country and what could be better than to get some delicious familiar food. That's why we visited the Brussels Seamen's Mission - Brysselin Merimieskirkko now and then. There we we also able to use the library so even more reasons for a visit. We didn't go there for any religious purpose, but to get a taste of our home country.

My main food focus at Spain trips is Spanish food in many forms, one more delicious than the other. And again, normally the price is not the issue unless you go for the fancy places in touristic areas...

One of my many favorites - the sardines - are prepared on the fire for me.

The dish doesn't look that fancy but I can tell you it is goooood!!!

Mix it with Tortilla Española and rinse it down with a glass of ice cold beer in one of the chiringuitos, the beach restaurants.

After that you can go back to the beach and dig yourself a hole for the siesta.

 I still have some cheese and chorizo left, I guess tonight could be a good time for them!

Hyvää ruokahalua!!!

Go Blues - Hyvä Siniset!!!

My home town ice hockey team starts their season tonight. I'm not that big fan but since I have many friends who support the other capital area teams - HIFK and Jokerit - I think it is fair to show my colors. I've always been a home town team supporter in all 3 main sports, ice hockey, football (soccer) and basketball.

I don't find any other option, particularly since two of these are the clubs I have represented, FC Honka for football and Honka also for basketball. Ice hockey I have never played - other than with shoes at school lunch breaks - and it was actually during the Brussels years when I learnt ice skating!

I guess I dare to say I am proud that Honka is the only club I have represented in Finland! In Brussels I was with a local b-ball team's practice but unfortunately hurt my foot and had to give up that plan (however it was fun while it lasted, thanks Mark!).

I was also coaching both football and basketball with Brussels Sports Association, a club targeted maily for expats. As a memory I have their jersey with a BIG logo of a competitor's company.

Back to tonight's game;
I hope Blues can step up against the likely outcome and kick some HIFK but ;o)

Hyvä Siniset!!!

http://blues.fi/ 

PS Yes, I am realistic and know that Blues winning the cup is more or less as distant as Finland making it to the EuroCup or WorldCup in football... Particularly after how they started the qualification this time.

Unacceptable rip-off at the Airports

I still have some Spain in my back pocket, but let's first talk about a negative outcome of the increased security rules at the airports.


I am sure you have noticed how brutally the airport shops and cafe's are abusing the increased security regulations to their benefits. Why else would you have to pay about 3 Euros for a small bottle of water or soft drink?

They are fully aware that people come through the check without any liquid and are likely to need some. Heck, you are recommended to drink at least 2 dl of water per hour on a flight and most people also tend to drink a lot of water during the day anyway...

Naturally the airlines are also adding their spice to the soup and - in their tight financial situation - minimizing all extra costs like free drinks onboard.

In Finland you can strike back at least a bit:
Take an empty bottle with you and fill it in a toilet after the check-in. The tap water has been tested to be cleaner than bottled Evian ;o)

1.001

Another round number crossed and the production team of me, myself and I sends a

BIG THANK YOU!!!

Also thank you to the inspiring & sometimes critical producer who sometimes is neglected due to writing stuff in the blog!

A lot has happened since I started this blog and many times I have asked myself why. And then I've come back to the keyboard and off we go - be it good or bad. I still wonder why you come here. And who you guys are. 

...and the story continues in the next episode. Perhaps. Stay tuned ;o)

PS Some people go for a smoking break or to zip coffee at downstairs, I used this as my refreshing break.

Bar Toni in Fuengirola

I can only dream about similar bar set-up in Finland like the Toni's Bar in Fuengirola.

When walking from the marina, beach or certain parts of the city back to the holiday-home, there is a nice corner bar near half way post. Clean bar, nice chairs outside, both shadow and sun available, cool inside, clean spacy toilet, cold drinks, tasty tapas, extremely friendly staff - and very reasonable prices - what else could a man ask for!!!

In addition to the good size 1 Euro tapas plate, you might well get a plate id olives, pieces of Tortilla Española, salted peanuts or some other good stuff to make you feel good - and to enjoy more of the bar. And of course to come back and bring in more revenue...

It is not that difficult to come back for the ice cold 1 Euro beer glasses.

Bar Toni, named after the host.

Avenida de Ramón y Cajal, corner of the Angeles Aspiazu, Fuengirola, Spain.

...on the other hand, there would be a risk for trying to "save" too much money vs. Finland. As you know, both drinks and food are a lot more expensive up here. And that hardly ever comes with service worth mentioning...

The Rock

Earlier I wrote about the rock and monkeys in Gibraltar - that they are worth seeing at least once.

 

Most people have the beautiful image of Gibraltar - an extraordinary piece of rock in a far corner of Europe.

Perhaps even a postcard image.

However...

The real thing is not always like the image. It is quite dirty and busy place that is living from tourism. In some parts many house are in a pretty bad condition.

The flags on the house below represent quite well the overall image of Gibraltar. Unfortunately.

This is from the central square. Nothing to write home about...

All the people in the above - and many more - on the only shopping street made it uncomfortable to move around. But among these people I was not able to find the local guide below.

On the other hand, it seemed the people were not able to find the Gibraltar-branded bins...

Anyways, there are reasons why people go there. But I would not trust the Royal Mail in that corner of Europe; A postcard sent late July was delivered in Finland late August!

 The food in Gibraltar is ok - with quite a lot of English influences, surprise surprise - but prices are in minimum the level of touristic areas in Costa del Sol. And those are clearly more than if you dare to go in areas with more local people. 

And here I am talking only few blocks away from the beach and tourist attractions. Better food with less money.

So food is not a reason to go to Gibraltar for. You can get English b-fast all over the Spanish coast.

Everyone tries to make money but still I must wonder the greedy approach that is quite obvious in many places also in Gibraltar;
While the currency between local Pound and Euro is 1 : 1,1 you see often even 1.5 currency conversion for the prices. Last small example was at the tourist bus terminal where they will drop you off and collect from (that is if you are on organized trip); a 1.5 liter water bottle costs 2.5 Euros while the gas station in 30 meters (obviously not targeted for tourists) has a price of 1 Euro.

Funny, 2.5 vs 1 Euro also for a small can of beer in these two places... 2.5 Euros for a small can in a kiosk. In Finland that would be ok but in the "tax free paradise"...

This pic is from the "I won't rip you off" -place.

 In case  you are not interested in the monkeys - or none of the above - find yourself a better place to go to.

I would recommend for example to drive up the mountains to the town of Rhonda and look down from the bridge where one day people were thrown down as a punishment. It is high enough not to be punished again...

If you happen to stay in Marbella, there is a park with multiple places to set fire and fix your own bbq. I am not sure if it is public, but if it is, it would be a good option for a family or a bunch of guys on a golf trip - end of day fun fixing your meal together.

What ever you do, have fun doing it!

67 countries

You people have visited the blog from 67 different countries.

Click the map to see it enlarged

I must say I am impressed - and I guess I must put the modesty aside for a moment and tap myself on a back. If I would write only crap, you would not be coming here that much.

Of course many people have come here for the first and last time, but c'mon - comparing the page visits per day and nr of new visitors, many of you come back. Thank you for that, I'll try to live up to the expectations!

Still room for improvement with the airport logistics

Malaga has got a brand new, shiny terminal with hopefully latest innovations and solutions. Or...?

There are bins (or trash baskets..) that enable recycling. Separate bin for paper, plastic/cans and mixed trash. Sounds good. The sad thing is someone forgot to take care of the next link in the trash supply chain;

The cleaning lady who emptied the bins one by one put all trash in a same black bag that destroyes all efforts made towards recycling. So sad but so true...!

The same place had however a security guard that gets respect by pure presence - I guess - or how would you react to a 150 cm and max 45 kilos of smiling lady? Handcuffs and all do not make that much of difference if you must tackle someone with more than double the body-weight...

Some of you might remember my earlier story about the security check logic in Madrid Airport. It is interesting to see that while designing a new terminal in Malaga ("new" might be overstated as it seems to be standard style in Spain, very much like Madrid terminal - and good thing is they both have one particular after-shave I had been hunting for), obviously no-one has asked the passangers if the existing systems are working well or not. Neither have they been watching what happens with the security check logistics.

Again you unload your stuff on a table into boxes - and of course this requires multiple boxes as e.g. laptop needs to be in a separate box. Then you should pick up the boxes + bags and walk few meters to the x-ray machine's belt that can fit only one box. Perhaps you do this bare feet, trousers hanging loose since you have taken off your belt and shoes to avoid being touched by strangers - in the name of security. I know I am not the prettiest guy around but I'm not sure if I can be profiled as a threat based on my appearance.

After you have walked through the beeping machine and survived the body-search, you should again pick up the boxes and walk few meters to another table where you put on the belt, shoes and start repacking.

That is one of the few things at Brussels Airport has done better.

While we are on it, let's put some shame over Finnair too;
Why do you arrange flights where you disable online check-in?

Why don't you arrange check-in in Malaga somehow other than 3 very slowly acting people handling close to 200 passangers in only 3 counters - starting about 1:45 hours before the flight? This results to unhappy travellers in a queue like this.

All these people waiting to check in to one flight - while there are 10s of empty counters to enable also other solutions!

I have some positive about Finnair too;
If you fly out from Helsinki before 9 am, you can check-in and drop your luggage the night before. But no on-line activities...

Well, not all problems are the airline's fault;
Our take off from Helsinki was first delayed due to flat tyre. That is all good, since my principle is that they should take all the time needed for fixing a technical problem. Bet it how ever small, it can become a big one while in the air.

Like that would not have been enough; while we were sitting in the plane and waiting for the guys to fix the tyre, the captain announces that a family refused to get onboard the plane. No reason was told to us, but again due to the security reasons the luggage of these passangers were to take out from the belly.

Yep, the whole plane was already loaded and ready to take off but there comes the luggage guys and start searching for these particular bags... No worries, we got to the destination safe and sound but a bit late. However not too late to put the swim trunks on and walk down to the beach for the first swim!

Just a reminder to finish off: Flying is still the safest traveling mode! Most of us know people who have died in a traffic accident on the road, be it with a car, motorcycle, bicycle, or as pedestrian. But do you know anyone who would have died in a plane crash...?