Tuesday, August 19, 2008
What's Next?
Well, I am officially flying out of this latest adventure today. So, that leaves me, and others around me wondering, what's next. I dont know, but I sure hope that it's as exciting as this looks!
Monday, August 18, 2008
Hemeenlinna Castle
These are some of the pictures I took inside the castle. . . .
A real castle = complete with moat!
On my way over to the castle I stumbled upon a "rock band" performing an outdoor concert to raise awareness about Tibet's situation. . . it was kinda, weird, but cool.
And of course, the rockers van ;) I should have jumped in this picture with a peace sign. . .
A real castle = complete with moat!Since Tampere was boring, I took an afternoon train over to Hameenlinna (a small town, known only for it's castle). . . 
This is the rail station
A view of the castle
This is the rail station
A view of the castle
On my way over to the castle I stumbled upon a "rock band" performing an outdoor concert to raise awareness about Tibet's situation. . . it was kinda, weird, but cool.
And of course, the rockers van ;) I should have jumped in this picture with a peace sign. . .Sunday, August 17, 2008
First Stop, Tampere
These pictures are in all the wrong order, but I'll try to explain (as I write these next couple of enteries keep in mind, I spent one night on a train, one on a ferry, and the next also on a ferry = suffering from no sleep, other people in the room are suffering from no showers!
A Canadian I met at a hostel in Estonia, was talking about how it can get boring looking at cathedrals and castles all day . . . I didn't think it was possible, but it's true, after you have seen a few they all kinda look the same. I'm not much of a museum person, but his advice was to try to find one thing in each city to do. The spy museum in Tampere was that one thing. It looked awesome on the web site, but unfortunately was dissappointing in person.
This was actually from the cathedral in Tampere, which I really enjoyed (outside picture is on here somewhere). Instead of an archangel on the ceiling, there is a picture of a viper, surrounded by mouldings of angel wings. The architect of the cathedral is quite controversial, but he thought it was important to remind people that evil can be found everywhere, even inside of a church. This is the garden of death, a famous painting inside, there is also a painting of a wounded angel but I wasn't able to get a shot of it, since the gallery was closed.
Moomin Valley! The Moomin's are hugely popular in Finland. It's crazy, every coffee mug I saw here had one of the characters on it. For those non-Finns reading this, you can find out about the Moomins here. There is a Moomin theme park a short ways out of Tampere, which I totally would have gone too, if there were some kids around so I wouldn't have looked like such a peodophile. But as it was, I happened to be in Tampere waiting for things to open (I arrived at 5:30 am) and found out there was a Mummin Valley there. So, I swang by the valley (aka the library basement) on my way out. Not much was there, some 3 d drawings, and things, it was kinda cool though. 
This is just one of the views of the river in Tampere, it's actually quite a pretty place to visit, and I would have spent more time there, had it not started raining every time my pants got dry! (I think it rained 5 or 6 times that day!)
Saying goodbye to Heli - sniff!
The church (from the outside) with the crazy viper cathedral! This was one of the first photos I took when I got off the train - around 6 am, note no people in the photo. I went back later and the place was swarming with tourists.
Window shopping (about 7 am, still waiting for stores to open), found some nice clothes, and puma shoes,
and coffins, and headstones oh my!
this is the sight seeing tower and dolphinarium. I was planning to go up the sight seeing tour, but by the time I got there it was raining A LOT, and well, from the look of this shot, I think I made the right decision in saving my money (it only got foggier as the day went on).
A Canadian I met at a hostel in Estonia, was talking about how it can get boring looking at cathedrals and castles all day . . . I didn't think it was possible, but it's true, after you have seen a few they all kinda look the same. I'm not much of a museum person, but his advice was to try to find one thing in each city to do. The spy museum in Tampere was that one thing. It looked awesome on the web site, but unfortunately was dissappointing in person.
This was actually from the cathedral in Tampere, which I really enjoyed (outside picture is on here somewhere). Instead of an archangel on the ceiling, there is a picture of a viper, surrounded by mouldings of angel wings. The architect of the cathedral is quite controversial, but he thought it was important to remind people that evil can be found everywhere, even inside of a church. This is the garden of death, a famous painting inside, there is also a painting of a wounded angel but I wasn't able to get a shot of it, since the gallery was closed.
Moomin Valley! The Moomin's are hugely popular in Finland. It's crazy, every coffee mug I saw here had one of the characters on it. For those non-Finns reading this, you can find out about the Moomins here. There is a Moomin theme park a short ways out of Tampere, which I totally would have gone too, if there were some kids around so I wouldn't have looked like such a peodophile. But as it was, I happened to be in Tampere waiting for things to open (I arrived at 5:30 am) and found out there was a Mummin Valley there. So, I swang by the valley (aka the library basement) on my way out. Not much was there, some 3 d drawings, and things, it was kinda cool though. 
This is just one of the views of the river in Tampere, it's actually quite a pretty place to visit, and I would have spent more time there, had it not started raining every time my pants got dry! (I think it rained 5 or 6 times that day!)
Saying goodbye to Heli - sniff!
The church (from the outside) with the crazy viper cathedral! This was one of the first photos I took when I got off the train - around 6 am, note no people in the photo. I went back later and the place was swarming with tourists.
Window shopping (about 7 am, still waiting for stores to open), found some nice clothes, and puma shoes,
and coffins, and headstones oh my!
this is the sight seeing tower and dolphinarium. I was planning to go up the sight seeing tour, but by the time I got there it was raining A LOT, and well, from the look of this shot, I think I made the right decision in saving my money (it only got foggier as the day went on). So about 1 pm, I had seen and done EVERYTHING in Tampere (that's what happens when you get there so freaking early in the morning!) after consulting my guidebook, I took a journey to visit Hamenlinna! Comign up next. . . .
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Bulgarian Idol
haha! So, I've been meaning to post this for a long time now, it's FREAKING HISTERICAL. We were watching Bulgarian Idol at work one day, this apparently is actually english, it's one of Mariah Carey's songs. . . but trust me, it will be so worth it if you click on this. Bear through the whole minute and 14 seconds, and I'm sure you'll bust out laughing, or at least crack a smile.
Reindeer Pee!
So, the entire time I was away in the forest camping, I kept seeing reindeer, but I was never fast enough to have my camera ready - except for this time when Mamma was peeing! I thought of you when I took this pic Ju ;) 
Ok, maybe that wasn't the only reindeer pic that I got, but these ones aren't even facing the camera.
And this is the one that we almost hit with the bus, but I like this pic, cause buddy has big horns!
Santa intrudes on everything! Even a weekend camping with the kids (in rovaniemi there is a santa sports gymnasium, santa hair care centre, santa hotel, EVERYTHING is santa!). I thought it was cute that these little kids do the same things our kids do, like pull on his beard and cry when he tries to talk to them!
Some beautiful Finnish scenery from the camping trip
Making traditional finish pancakes inside the wooden tee pee thing.
The sauna, which afterwards you were supposed to jump into the freezing cold lake, umm, didn't happen.
Ok, maybe that wasn't the only reindeer pic that I got, but these ones aren't even facing the camera.
And this is the one that we almost hit with the bus, but I like this pic, cause buddy has big horns!
Santa intrudes on everything! Even a weekend camping with the kids (in rovaniemi there is a santa sports gymnasium, santa hair care centre, santa hotel, EVERYTHING is santa!). I thought it was cute that these little kids do the same things our kids do, like pull on his beard and cry when he tries to talk to them!
Some beautiful Finnish scenery from the camping trip
Making traditional finish pancakes inside the wooden tee pee thing.
The sauna, which afterwards you were supposed to jump into the freezing cold lake, umm, didn't happen.Saturday, August 2, 2008
Joulumaan porot
So, if you read my blog yesterday, I was supposed to be biking around Rovaniemi taking photos today. The truth be told I'm too lazy. I wanted to go out to the airport, because I have been there before (but forgot my camera at the time) and saw these astonishing reindeer sculptures. Google maps told me it was 12.5 k there and after a quick camera snap I would have to bike back, plus I wanted to get other pictures today. A quick google search gave me these amazing results and saved me a bike ride! Now I'm off to see if I can get pictures in the other part of town I wanted to (really I am!). 
"Upi Kärri has made numerous public sculptures mainly in Lapland. Perhaps the most notable work is Santa Land’s Reindeers (Joulumaan porot) in the Rovaniemi airport. Eight reindeers in steel and Bohemian crystal are jumping in a curve from the airport’s cliff into the air. Santa Land’s Reindeers have grown to become the emblem of Rovaniemi and it is also used in jewels and pins."
Friday, August 1, 2008
Rovaniemi
As I'm preparing to leave the city that I have been living in, I'm realizing I haven't done too much of the touristy things here, or even taken many of the pictures. So this week I have been scurrying around taking pictures. Hannah and I planned to go to the zoo today, but with the temperature drop to 0 degrees we decided there might be a better time for it. 
Instead, Hannah, her friend Noura and I climbed up the Ounasvaara hill - it's the best place to go to see the whole city. Apparently these rocks that we were climbing were created by the ice age and my wonderful tour guides did their best to explain all of this to me. hmm, is this the Canadian Shield?
Oh and I forgot to mention the other one we were with, Dido ;) Isn't she cute? Hannah has two puppies, Amiee who is 3 1/2 and Dido who is just over a year (I think). She is training them in agility competitions and they are quite adorable and energetic. And they have dreadlocks!
The view of my city from the top of the hill.
After wandering through the forest for about an hour or more, we came to this sign that said we were entering the forest . . . gee, thanks for letting us know!
Hannah, Noura and Dido didn't know I was taking pictures of their bums all afternoon. Through this part of the forest we found cloud berries (not as tasty as everyone seems to think they are, kinda bland) and blueberries.
Back in the city, I took a few pictures, but as you can see there is really nothing to take pictures of. I think this building is the city hall. Most of the buildings in the city are this grey/white colour. The city was burned to the ground during a war, and was rebuilt looking like this (generally not overly appealing and definitly not what you imagine "Europe" to be. Noura was talking about a trip her husband and herself recently took to Italy and when friends ask where they went, they answer "Europe" . . . Finland is not very European.)
This is the "famous" theatre (famous to those locals in Rovaniemi that need to have something famous to cling to) . . . possibly inspired by the Museum of Civilization?
So, I had a crisis. I had 2 flat tires on my bike a few weeks ago (not sure if I mentioned that or not). It cost WAY too much to get them fixed. This is the bike that I borrowed from a friend - Jenni. Note the classy garbage bag on the seat to prevent wet bum syndrom during the rain (which never seems to stop). Within a week of borrowing this, I got another flat tire! How does this happen to someone? Hopefully I will have better luck at home.
And the best part of all . . . made in Finland ;)
Closing off, here is another view of the city. These 3 buildings (yellow, blue, red roofs) are apparently just appartment buildings, but when you see them they really grab your attention cause they look like they are made of lego.
Instead, Hannah, her friend Noura and I climbed up the Ounasvaara hill - it's the best place to go to see the whole city. Apparently these rocks that we were climbing were created by the ice age and my wonderful tour guides did their best to explain all of this to me. hmm, is this the Canadian Shield?
Oh and I forgot to mention the other one we were with, Dido ;) Isn't she cute? Hannah has two puppies, Amiee who is 3 1/2 and Dido who is just over a year (I think). She is training them in agility competitions and they are quite adorable and energetic. And they have dreadlocks!
The view of my city from the top of the hill.
After wandering through the forest for about an hour or more, we came to this sign that said we were entering the forest . . . gee, thanks for letting us know!
Hannah, Noura and Dido didn't know I was taking pictures of their bums all afternoon. Through this part of the forest we found cloud berries (not as tasty as everyone seems to think they are, kinda bland) and blueberries.
Back in the city, I took a few pictures, but as you can see there is really nothing to take pictures of. I think this building is the city hall. Most of the buildings in the city are this grey/white colour. The city was burned to the ground during a war, and was rebuilt looking like this (generally not overly appealing and definitly not what you imagine "Europe" to be. Noura was talking about a trip her husband and herself recently took to Italy and when friends ask where they went, they answer "Europe" . . . Finland is not very European.)
This is the "famous" theatre (famous to those locals in Rovaniemi that need to have something famous to cling to) . . . possibly inspired by the Museum of Civilization?
So, I had a crisis. I had 2 flat tires on my bike a few weeks ago (not sure if I mentioned that or not). It cost WAY too much to get them fixed. This is the bike that I borrowed from a friend - Jenni. Note the classy garbage bag on the seat to prevent wet bum syndrom during the rain (which never seems to stop). Within a week of borrowing this, I got another flat tire! How does this happen to someone? Hopefully I will have better luck at home.
And the best part of all . . . made in Finland ;)
Closing off, here is another view of the city. These 3 buildings (yellow, blue, red roofs) are apparently just appartment buildings, but when you see them they really grab your attention cause they look like they are made of lego. Hopefully tomorrow it will be warmer and I'll get some more pictures. I can't believe I only have a few days left here. 7 nights sleeping in this dorm room to be exact, CRAZYNESS!
Monday, July 28, 2008
Birthday Musings
First of all - HAPPY BIRTHDAY HEATHER AND JOHN (if you are reading this)
Second, sorry that I haven't been updating this as much as I should be. BUT nothing exciting is happening. I finished work on Friday and have spent the weekend hanging out around the house. I am planning to hang in this area for the week, but will try to do some day trips. Next week is camping and the week after I will definitly have cool pics up of travelling and then it's home sweet home. So, I don't have any cool pics now, but hopefully in a few days.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Entertainment
This is one of my fav pics so far, but the truth be told.. . I just put it there to get your attention. Something got my attention and I just can't stop thinking about it and laughing, if you want to know what it was, click here.Sunday, July 20, 2008
Conserve Paper
Ah! I saw something very distressing today. Lapland is known for it's forest - and consequently like Canada, they are also known for their lumber and other tradeable, marketable tree based products. 
So, I guess what I saw today is death row for trees, this area stretches out for kilometers and kilometers, and it looks just like this the whole way. In the middle of the piles of trees (which are huge by the way, probably at least 20 feet) are train tracks, these trees are waiting for the train that will take them to Helsinki, to the pulp factory and will turn them into paper.
See these little matchsticks - they are HUGE trees, they just look tiny cause there are so many of them. This whole area smells like sawdust and you can see stacks of trees, birch, pine and cedar seem to be the most common (that I could identify anyway).
so please, conserve paper! or the reindeers will have no forests to play in and we will have no air to breathe.
So, I guess what I saw today is death row for trees, this area stretches out for kilometers and kilometers, and it looks just like this the whole way. In the middle of the piles of trees (which are huge by the way, probably at least 20 feet) are train tracks, these trees are waiting for the train that will take them to Helsinki, to the pulp factory and will turn them into paper.
See these little matchsticks - they are HUGE trees, they just look tiny cause there are so many of them. This whole area smells like sawdust and you can see stacks of trees, birch, pine and cedar seem to be the most common (that I could identify anyway).
so please, conserve paper! or the reindeers will have no forests to play in and we will have no air to breathe.Saturday, July 19, 2008
Here I go again!
Well, it is coming to the end of this Finland adventure (1 month today and I will be on an airplane back to Kanada). So, I'm doing a bunch of cheesy touristy stuff with Heli, and it's been fun. Today there was some sort of Christmas festival in town . . . and we went to join in the fun!
Heli insisted that I pet the reindeer, touch it's antlers and get my picture taken with it, all of which I did. But somehow, the picture with the kid in it was cuter to put up here. The reindeer was kinda one of the strangest things I'd ever seen. I felt like I should have been on candid camera or something. The antelers looked HUGE and like they were made of fun fur (kinda felt that way too) but apparently this is just the way they grow the reindeer in Lapland.
Heli insisted that I pet the reindeer, touch it's antlers and get my picture taken with it, all of which I did. But somehow, the picture with the kid in it was cuter to put up here. The reindeer was kinda one of the strangest things I'd ever seen. I felt like I should have been on candid camera or something. The antelers looked HUGE and like they were made of fun fur (kinda felt that way too) but apparently this is just the way they grow the reindeer in Lapland. 
Me and Santa! Now this is a picture I couldn't not put up! I had to chase Santa cause he wanted to get out of the sun. Sorry big guy, I needed a picture to show my mom!
So here are Heli and I all bundled up ready for our "boat cruise" - which turned out to be in a long boat, essentially a large a canoe. haha. But it was fun, and interesting to see the city from a different angle.
A picture of the candle light bridge from the water.And that's all folks, I'm not sure what kinda mischief I will get into shortly. But next week is my last week of placement (woo hoo!) and I'm hoping that I will have time to visit, up north to the Finland / Russia / Norway border areas - there's lots of nice hiking there; Tampere, Turku (there's a castle there) and maybe if I can find an english kayaking course I might spend a day on the water around helsinki but that is not definite yet. I'd also like to see Stockholm and Copenhagen, but I have big dreams and a little wallet, so we'll see what becomes of all this.
Until next time . . .
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