Helsinki is nice. No more, no less. A city on the water in the land of the thousand lakes. No spectacular sites, but clean, safe, and organized. The senator's square I find the most impressing, with the very tall stairs leading up to the big white building with the green roof. The university library is also cool. My buddy and local guide refers to it as an "Indiana Jones" library. This is a very illustrative description. The setting would be ideal for a shot of any Indy-movie, at least the research part. The problem starts when I get thirsty. Happens every [View Full Entry]

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Warsaw is really not a ghetto. They used to have one, maybe was it here the expression was introduced during WWII. In fact, Warsaw fulfils most of the requirements for a modern European city. A well-functioning, punctual public transportation system. A clean, safe city center, where McDonalds’s and KFC's are mixed with the more traditional stores. A nice old town, castles, parks, etc. Friendly people everywhere, willing to help the lost foreigner. A huge building in the middle of the center with a scenic view over the city, a gift from uncle Stalin. The city has however missed out on [View Full Entry]

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Brussels is a quite nice city. Nice buildings, lots of sights, lots of institutions. Some famous monuments and statues scattered over the city for tourists. Grand Place with surrounding buildings is quite impressive. The Pole Star is not very impressive. Our party has decided to visit this Finnish establishment to have a northern drink and sing a song. It's Sunday. The Pole Star is not opened on Sundays. Our Finnish representative is disappointed, to the extent that a double "Ahhh" echoes in the night upon realizing this offence. Maybe Monday the Finns want to drink. Our party, this time l [View Full Entry]

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It's ball time in Antwerp. Many, many university students have dressed up for the occasion. With some exceptions, e.g. the freak who thinks that wearing a pink t-shirt with a tie is rebelish. Hilton Hotel in Antwerp is a very nice venue. The ball room holds millions of people, this evening a rough equal mix of ladies and gentlemen. Beer is good. Atmosphere is good. Company is good. The band is not bad. They should have continued all night. The DJ(s) must be drunk. Their idea of a great mix of ball music is rather peculiar and confusing. The songs chosen [View Full Entry]

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Stabroek is a tiny town north of Antwerp, Belgium, not at all far from the Dutch border. A tiny town where probably everybody knows everybody. By coincidence, this is where I ended up celebrating my 30th birthday. Fair enough, I drag my course mates/friends to the local pub, in order to make the occasion count. Pub number one is a nice enough place. Not used to late night celebrations however, the staff very politely but also very obviously let us know that they want to go home. Finally we decide to take the hint and move on. Being such a small [View Full Entry]

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Don't know much of the history of Brugge, this small but very charming city in northwestern Belgium. The Spanish name makes one wonder however. Brujas - witches. What the heck was going on back in the days when the Spaniards ravaged the region? And are there still ladies in the streets we should look upon with suspicious eyes? Nothing witchy happens, our group enjoy the city to the fullest. It is indeed a city to be enjoyed to the fullest with its medieval architecture and narrow canals, and other cool stuff. The group of to-be-Masters disintegrates rather quickly, and I'm left [View Full Entry]

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Things in Luxembourg happen with a certain style. The city delivers beautiful scenery and the people know it. The little dog sitting outside the fashionable clothes store also has a certain style. If it wasn't for the tag around the neck it could easily be taken for a stray dog. But it's just sitting there. Staring at the door, as if it is waiting for someone to come out and move on. But nobody does come out of the store, and nobody shows any interest in him. The store is in fact empty, not even sales persons are in sight. Yet [View Full Entry]

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The night ferry between Rostock, Germany, and Trelleborg, Sweden is by no possible means designed to carry regular passengers. A crappy cafeteria, a small shop, a reception that does not strike me as being the most informative ever, and two very small couches outside the shop. Since I have no cabin, I have to settle for the couches. The only other passenger stupid enough not to take a cabin is the young Swedish girl. She has no intention of letting me get any sleep this night. And her means of keeping me awake is by providing tons of information. Some of [View Full Entry]

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Staying in a youth hostel is sometimes the most wonderful way of travelling, mostly because of the people you meet. Schwedenhaus (The Swedish House!) in Innsbruck is of the nicer kind. Right on the river Inn, at the foot of the mountains. Wonderful. I'm stuffed in to a room with one Italian guy and one German dude. The Italian speaks very little English. With a mix of Italian/Spanish/English I am able to establish that he's on his way back to Italy from a little Alp vacation. The German speaks very little English. Slightly easier for him to get around in German-speaking [View Full Entry]

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The bar is not bad. Standard interior, not overly fancy, but certainly not shabby. The crowd is mature - in the sense that the average person graduated high school long time ago - and trendy/artsy, if that is a legitimate combination. We get a corner table. A perfect spot, we're able to overlook the whole field. Complete control. The beer is good, German/Austrian or something. Works for me... The company is good, brains and beauty. Still, there's something in the air. Not tension, hate, love, or anything to that effect. Something more tangible. Smoke. Not cigarette smoke. This substance irr [View Full Entry]

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