Blogs from Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, Europe

I’ve traveled the width of Finland from west to east into Russia and now back east to west. One thing I’ve learned is that Finland is a snooze outside of Helsinki. The entire country is forest and farmland. Farmhouses are painted the requisite rust red, a holdover from when that was the only color available. Woods. Lakes. More woods, right up to the Helsinki city limits. Our hotel, the Scandic Continental (not the Inter-Continental) is quite luxurious. I more or less love the heated marble bathroom floor, the elegant hallways, the comfy lobby, the first class restaurant, Olivo, off the main lobby, serving Mediterranean cuisine, unique for Helsinki. Yes, they have a sauna and swimming pool on the top floor. The sauna is free until 2:30pm, after which it is 100FIM. They offer body scrubs and ... read more

Niin kauan kuin olen tuntenut Matiaksen (eli n.11 vuotta), hän on halunnut matkustaa Japaniin. Haave on vihdoin toteutumassa parin päivän päästä, kun lähdemme toukokuuksi reppureissulle Japaniin. Japani vaikuttaa todella kiehtovalta maalta, eikä vähiten siksi, että tähän mennessä kaikki tapaamani ihmiset, jotka ovat käyneet tai asuneet Japanissa, ovat pitäneet Japanista. Luulen, että moni innostuu Japanista juuri harrastusten - itsepuolustuslajien, sarjakuvien, ruuan, cosplayn tms. - kautta. Itse tutustuin Japanin kulttuuriin paremmin harrastaessani aikidoa nelisen vuotta yläaste- ja lukioaikoina. Matias on puolestaan harrastanut judoa ja pelannut japanilaisia konsolipelejä. Matias on haaveillut Japanin matkasta sen verran pitkään, että hän jännittää hieman, vastaako maa odotuksia. Työkaverit ovat kyselleet: Miksi juuri Japani? Matiasta kiehtoo se, että Jap... read more

So I have stopped blogging but I guess I am being given a sign that I am supposed to keep writing because today my teacher assigned us to make a blog and post a video to it. So I decided to post a video of Tallinn, since it is where I planning to celebrate my 21rst birthday.... read more

Day 2 having started a little later than expected, as I was awoken by a constant cough from someone near at 3:30am. Jet lag set in, you know the one it’s the middle of the night and your wide-awake!!!! Finely around 5 I got back to sleep then back up to my alarm at 9 which was short lived as the other jet lag set in and I fell back to sleep till 10:30am. A little annoyed I had missed breakfast I got and got out as soon as possible. Last night I had done some research as to where things where around me and I’ve found that almost everything is. The Old market, and the rest of down town is only a mere 5-10 min walk. Having rushed with everything ready to go, when I ... read more

September 24th Ouch!!!! Last night jet lag hit me like a tone of bricks. Yes that last espresso probably didn’t help but hey it was worth spending time Mina and Eemeli. I ended up actually falling a sleep at 5:30am and woke up at 11:15am. Not too bad, but it did mean that a good part of the day was all ready gone. I quickly got ready and ‘the big walk’ was on first heading north out of the clutches of the downtown core, over the bridge ad towards the market in Hakanieme. Unlike the one in the market square, this one was packed with locals, the prices where Euro or so cheaper, and the stacks of Chanterelle and black trumpet’s where a good two feet higher. Dam if the hostel had a better kitchen I ... read more

After a goodbye from Mom and Dad I was off through US customs, but first security!!! I forgot how ruthless they where, with more more people manning the security machines and gadgets than there where people going through I listened to the signs and got caught. Going through the medal detectors they tell you can take your wallet with you, that is unless you have a credit card bottle opener wedged in with all the notes oups!!! I got BEEPED!!! First I took out my wallet just having realized what I had done, I told the security guy where it was so he took it out had a peak put it aside, and continued with a full body scan with the mobile metal detector. After which I was given and ultimatum, step into the machine for ... read more

Today I sat waiting to set up a bank account surrounded by other people. The bank teller came over to say a couple things and I felt like the least intelligent person in the room. I did not understand one word that came out of her mouth. I think I am going to start studying an hour of Finnish every night or I will just continue to look like the confused/lost tourist. The last thing I want to be like are the immigrants in Canada that refuse to adapt to our culture. You know the ones where you dial to order a pizza from, and it goes something like this: "Hi I would like to order a large pizza." "ya ya." "Can I get a pepperoni pizza?" "So you want a hawaiin pizza with pop." "No ... read more