Helsinki Day

Helsinki is a beautiful city and every time you can find new aspects or see something that has not been there before. Keep your eyes open.

Arrival using public transport, leaving possibility to enjoy more the second drink if you feel like it.

We had a sporty entry to the city with a sports event.

 Sports can also exhaust people - can you spot one?

Let's zoom a bit...

Shopping is naturally part of the city day and it can also be a visual experience.

At Helsinki Market Square, Kauppatori, you can find also great packaging or what do you think about these packages?

Don't be scared if it is crowded. There are not many pick pockets, while it is still possible. Overall Helsinki is a safe city!

Remember to have breaks so you don't get exhausted. Good option is the Old Market Hall, Vanha Kauppahalli, and the Finnish local specialty Lonkero. 

Next door the bistro boat Nikolai was serving salmon soup as well as salty and sweet waffles. The salty ones were great, served with a view.

They are open only for 2 weeks for this year so go there. To secure you know how to behave in their toilet, please read the instructions in English.  

I wondered a bit why there was neck-to-neck a war game advertising and blood donation service...

Comedy festival was also in the city with the funny basketball player Sami Hedberg.

If you for some reason need to work in the city, did you know that you can have access to an office with these views with a price of a nice wine bottle?

Keep your eyes open when walking around.

This one I don't get. Why...?

You might also spot interesting boats like the Delta.

Or Lucky Eight which some hockey fans recognize.

Make sure you see the city also from the sea, several options are available no matter what your budget is, you get access with the price of a bus ticket - or if you are lucky with some other means.

Check out also the Hernesaari terraces, shuttle bus goes from the city centre. Next summer.
...they closed yesterday for this year :o(

Make sure that you return to Espoo, Haukilahden Paviljonki is a great option to cool down. They have great burgers, yesterday's snack was a bit unusual as they don't regularly have sushi.

Enjoy life, have a cool one...!

Hyvää Juhannusta - Have a great Midsummer!

It's again the time of the year when particularly Finns and Swedes enjoy the supposed-to-be-summer-festive (it should be summer, seldom is...) of Midsummer, Juhannus. Most of people who have the chance head up towards countryside, a summer cottage at a lakeside or seaside.

Traffic jams (big in Finland scale, only queues in European scale), cold, crowded summer housed, wet, cold swimming, lousy cooking conditions, no shower, no electricity, wet fireplace, small beds if any...

Despite of all that, it is sooooo loveable! Beautiful Finnish countryside, out of your daily routines, outdoor cooking, wooden heated sauna, swim in a lake, talks, games, reading, BBQ, fresh air, bonfires, white nights, good company = summer at countryside - mökki life!

Stay smart particularly when you go swimming, last year at Midsummer only 1 person drowned in Finland, biggest count in the past years being from 1999: 20 people drowned!!! For the ones interested in stats, check it out from here.

Helsinki became a ghost city today at Midsummer eve at noon when all the shops and market place closed. Many restaurants and cafe's are closed, while many remain open to treat the urban Midsummer people as well as the tourists that stop by with the cruise ships.

What beats me is why can't we still let the shop keepers to decide themselves when their business would profit to keep the shop open. We have soooo many rules and limitations also with this and I can tell you the unions are doing their best to keep their position strong. Well, I'd say the unions have been fighting a battle to survive as the world around them has changed while they still try to continue as they have for decades.

In addition to my previous Midsummer posts, I'd like to share with you an article "Enjoying Midsummer the Finnish way" by thisisFinland, (also on Facebook) a news forum produced by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland.

Have a great Midsummer 

- 

Loistavaa Juhannusta!

Worth waiting?

Woops I did it again...! I mean the silence. It has just been again hectic in many areas and I am - just like many follow victims of North - trying to get along with the most depressing season of the year. It is wet, dark, cold and no week day holidays to give an extra break.

Luckily I had a chance for a break in a summer, Costa del Sol in Spain again. Sun, warmth, beach, swimming in the sea, great food, experiences and most important time off from normal routines. I miss it already...

One of the big ones was the basketball game og Malaga team, I can tell you guys that the Finnish fan culture is getting step by step there but we have maaaany steps to take. Dedication, passion and commitments are words that come to mind - and that is definetely what the guy on his bike has got on the clip you can find behind the link below. Worth to watch!!!

http://www.liftable.com/andreadcombs/ridge/

Have a great weekend you all!

PS We both did our parts in the aftermath of the weight project. Now the project has converted into ongoing process with ups & downs in compliance....

Let's Change the World!

"Let's make the world into a better place - and enjoy the ride"

I guess all of us - or at least majority of us who have some sort of order between our ears - agree with the statement above. Any idea where it is from...?

Anyone?

Somebody?

Are you sure you have not seen those words somewhere...?

...if you think you have not, please scroll up the screen and have a look at the left column at the top.
Yes, I have said so some years ago and I agree with my statement still today - and most likely always.

The reason taking this up is the aphorism I came across with in Facebook - the unsocial media. It is along the lines of my own thought above.

Call me naive or stupid, but I trust the good guys will win at the end!
...and at least I have a bit better mind from doing the best I can!

Have a fabulous + fantastic = fabulastic weekend, it is unexpected summer in Finland!!!

It's Snowing in Espoo, Finland!

Some wet snow just came down from the sky in Espoo, Southern Finland. I guess I forgot for a while that we are in Finland. Last night the temp was below 0 celcius, the ski slopes are open up North and they just got 10cm fresh snow so stupid me, this is Finland and it's only early May!

For example at Saariselkä in Lapland they have 11 out of 15 slopes open. This is what it looks like:

Have a great winter, spring or summer you all!!!

Go Blues - In the Quarter Finals!!!

My team the Blues from Espoo made it to the quarter finals in the Finnish ice hockey league. They finished at 6th place and since the Helsinki teams Jokerit, the Jokers, were 7th and HIFK finished behind them, I dare to say we are THE #1 in the capital area!

The first Blues quarter final home game is on Saturday March 22nd at 17:00, be there - if you still can find the tickets...

GO BLUES!!!

PS I personally would have been ok without this not-that-surprising "return of the winter" we have today. It's already more than 5cm and more is coming all the time. 

...well, on the other hand it might help out a bit the ski slopes that try to keep operating even here in southern part of Finland all the way to Eastern late April. Currently it doesn't look so good, but for now they are in fairly good shape. Up north in Lapland the slopes are open until May. 

Have a great weekend you all!!!

Winter Walk - or just a Walk...?

Yesterday I had again the pleasure to go for a walk with Mrs. We headed towards the sea shore and it was great to see that we still have some elements of winter in place, like part of the sea was frozen. That is covered with ice so that you can even walk on it.

For some of you it might be shocking news, but last year you were able to drive on it. If you double-click the picture, it should enlarge and you might see the rescue team a.k.a. firemen apparently practicing in case someone breaks through the ice. The water is pretty cold, even though many people have a habit to swim through the winter.

Pay attention to the cover at the end of the pier: That is for the swimmers and hence there is also a water pump that keeps the water open in a small area big enought for a quick dip.

Naturally the beach cafe was open, though we didn't have a break at this one but the other further down the shore.

I've posted a picture from the cafe terrace earlier at summer time, check it out.

Continuing the theme with birds - if you checked the link above - this is what we had along the way.

That place with the ducks, weather and all reminded us both soooo much about Brussels winter. It's not that ofter I miss it, but having so great memories of several walks in the parks and woods it easily comes back in mind. Not to talk about Brussels winter weather being just like that - similar to spring in Finland.

Well, in Finland we have the dog shit revealing when the snow melts away... Unfortunately the sun was hiding behind the clouds when I took the pictures and the end result being all of them having the shade of spring dog poo all over - expect the ice.

To finish off, let's bring in some color, particularly some blue:
The Finnish ice hockey league is getting close to the play-off season. My team the Blues is about to make it in. Dang, they won the league leader Kärpät - the Weasels - on Friday. Ok, on Saturday they played again and Kärpät won it :o)

If the Blues plays strong in the last games and Jokerit - the Jokers - fail, the Blues might even make it directly to the quarter finals with 6th Place.

 

C'mon Blues!

 

Daycare Show North Korean Style - Pohjois Korealainen Päiväkoti Esitys

Everyone should have a right to express their own opinion. Unfortunately for some people in some countries doing that causes problems, but I hope me telling you guys this doesn't mean I will end up in rehabilitation camp in North Korea.

Finnish tabloid paper's online version Iltasanomat TV posted a video taken in North Korea. It is about daycare children, perhaps 4-6 years old, singing as a choir in a show. Something quite surprising appears at the back during the show. Check it out from this link, wait first for about 10 seconds to view the commercial.

There is in the article also some pictures from the show. The kids also performed a play where brave North Korean soldiers capture evil spies. In the pictures the spies wear helmets, just to clarify to the non-Finnish-speakers.

Talking about brain washing from child age...

...eli lyhyesti sama Suomeksi.

Pohjois Korealla on vakuuttava tyyli muokata jo lasten ajatusmaailmaa ja toimintaa. Näin ainakin on tulkittavissa Iltasanomien jutusta, jossa videolla ja kuvilla, sekä paikan päällä olleen henkilön viestillä värittyy melko vahva valtiojohdon vaikuttamisen tahto.

Päättele itse, juttu löytyy täältä.

PS -17C expected for tomorrow in Southern Finland and -30C up North in Lapland, COOL...!

 

It's Winter, yippikaieeee!

-15 C to start the morning, great!

What made me smile was a post in a great blog by Tsupukka, check this out - it apparently reserves a space for your self, not the others...

Have a great winter - and weekend!

Running out of Dark Days

As many of you know, the sun has been below the horizon in Lapland, northern  part of Finland for some weeks already. Now those dark days are changing into brightness - slowly, but firmly, and by the end of the week, all areas can at least in theory see the light.

Here is an article from Helsingin Sanomat www.hs.fi from last week;

At Utsjoki the sun was last seen on November 25th so no wonder the alcohol and coffee consumption is so high in Finland. Not to talk about the suicide rates...

Have a great, sunny week you all!

PS -10C, yippekaieeeeeee!