So, all I can say today is...Tack så mycket, mamma och pappa Fridén :) and...
Grattis på födelsedagen! ♥
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Monday, March 25, 2013
40 years of Awesomeness
I found it really hard to imagine what my life would be like if forty years ago my beloved Göteborg hadn't seen the birth of this man, for all that his soul - both put black on white and expressed through his amazing voice - has meant and means to me.
So, all I can say today is...Tack så mycket, mamma och pappa Fridén :) and...
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So, all I can say today is...Tack så mycket, mamma och pappa Fridén :) and...
Saturday, March 16, 2013
"Vi va di ballare con noi?" ♥
I will never forget.
I will never forget the moment when, while performing "The Cave", You stopped playing to listen to us all singing out loud.
I will never forget the sensation of not simply being at a concert, where You are the ones supposed to play and sing and we are the ones who listen and dance and jump and scream and plause. That sensation that it is us actually singing with You and You singing with us, not to us or for us. With us. Like one. Thousands of people and all is one. Feeling, not just listening. Almost forgetting to have a body which moves by itself, one with the rhythm of the drum...or was it our heart? It doesn't matter. Everything was pure Energy.
I will never forget Winston's infinite sweetness in trying to speak Italian all the time. I will never forget his "Vi va di ballare con noi?" ("Do you wanna dance with us?")
And I will never forget Marcus and Ben's tries too.
I will never forget that warmth that prevented me from stop smiling, even when some tears came out.
I will never forget the smile that came up to my lips when, entering the toilet of a motorway service station and singing the vocalism from "The Holland Road", I heard another voice from behind the wall singing the same.
But this, all of this, it's not something you can easily describe in mortal words.
So all I can say is...
And today, I just woke up to this new day as after a long, bright and shiny dream, my eyes smiling to the sun outside the window and to the one inside my heart.
It is still hard to realize what I experienced last night, to believe it has really happened to me, to us.
But a tired voice that still cannot stop singing even while sleeping, purple hematomas on my hands that clapped so hard all the time and a torn ticket with "Mumford and Sons" written on it in black letters say it all.
But I will keep on spending my day in this dreamy mood, and it is okay this way :)
And a big "Thank you" also goes to my journey and life fellows: my ebony-haired girl (soul sister with checked shirt and shiny eyes) and my bearded man (the guy behind good shots even without an appropriate camera). You are beautiful. ♥
I will never forget the moment when, while performing "The Cave", You stopped playing to listen to us all singing out loud.
I will never forget the sensation of not simply being at a concert, where You are the ones supposed to play and sing and we are the ones who listen and dance and jump and scream and plause. That sensation that it is us actually singing with You and You singing with us, not to us or for us. With us. Like one. Thousands of people and all is one. Feeling, not just listening. Almost forgetting to have a body which moves by itself, one with the rhythm of the drum...or was it our heart? It doesn't matter. Everything was pure Energy.
I will never forget Winston's infinite sweetness in trying to speak Italian all the time. I will never forget his "Vi va di ballare con noi?" ("Do you wanna dance with us?")
And I will never forget Marcus and Ben's tries too.
I will never forget that warmth that prevented me from stop smiling, even when some tears came out.
I will never forget the smile that came up to my lips when, entering the toilet of a motorway service station and singing the vocalism from "The Holland Road", I heard another voice from behind the wall singing the same.
But this, all of this, it's not something you can easily describe in mortal words.
So all I can say is...
Thank You, Sirs!
It is still hard to realize what I experienced last night, to believe it has really happened to me, to us.
But a tired voice that still cannot stop singing even while sleeping, purple hematomas on my hands that clapped so hard all the time and a torn ticket with "Mumford and Sons" written on it in black letters say it all.
But I will keep on spending my day in this dreamy mood, and it is okay this way :)
And a big "Thank you" also goes to my journey and life fellows: my ebony-haired girl (soul sister with checked shirt and shiny eyes) and my bearded man (the guy behind good shots even without an appropriate camera). You are beautiful. ♥
"We will run and scream
You will dance with me
We'll fullfill our dreams
And we'll be free
We will be who we are
And they'll heal our scars
Sadness will be far away"
(Mumford and Sons, "Not with haste")
You will dance with me
We'll fullfill our dreams
And we'll be free
We will be who we are
And they'll heal our scars
Sadness will be far away"
(Mumford and Sons, "Not with haste")
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Finland Diaries - episode IV; epilogue
Silver sky, rain, hot beverages, soft and warm sweaters, the flight of lonely seagulls...it all always makes me feel kinda nostalgic.
Ah, here we go.
September 3rd 2012, Tuesday
On our way to the city centre, we stopped at RKioski for a coffee. Here we met an unpleasant young drunkard who we tried to avoid once out of the shop but always seemed to come across our way :/ I do declare I was kinda scared, but the streets were so full of people, so full of life, so we went on and spent a very pleasant evening, strolling around among the Finns and enjoying the city life for the last time.
Ah, here we go.
September 3rd 2012, Tuesday
After our last breakfast at Hermanni’s, we went out to take the 8.12
train to Helsinki Kuopio
However, a couple of weird dudes came across and dissolved my melancholic and nostalgic thoughts.
However, a couple of weird dudes came across and dissolved my melancholic and nostalgic thoughts.
The first one was a young man askin’ us to follow him into the
restaurant car for he wanted to talk to us. We kindly refused, for the whole
matter seemed quite suspicious, he said it was okay and went back to his seat.
But before getting off, he returned to us, passionately saying that “Jesus loved us
both” and blessing us.
The second one was an old man who passed near us and
when we looked at him, he just mumbled something in Finnish that we obviously couldn’t understand.
When we asked him “Sorry?” he burst out laughing and said “HOHO, it’s all okay,
DON’T PANIC! DON’T PANIC!” and went away.
At 12.48 we arrived in Helsinki
We were happily walking the city center streets, on our way to the Market Place, already tasting the delicious food from our dear stand from Rovaniemi when my bearded fellow realized...he had lost his wallet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While he managed to maintain a rational calm, I completely got into panic and despair, for the next day we would have had to take the plane back. He kept on saying he may have had to stay another couple of days to fix things while I should have taken the plane home. I kept on refusing. And panicking, panicking, panicking. He called the embassy and they told him the address, but he couldn’t understand it clearly so we had to go to the tourist information office at the station. The guy has been very kind and helpful and after a wrong tram and endless searching with our suitcases and heavy bags…we finally saw the three-coloured flag! But it wasn’t over: once at the embassy, we found the gate closed. While we didn’t know what to do for it seemed offices were closed even though they must have been opened for at least another couple of hours, we saw a sign tellin’ us to search for another gate. Finally we were admitted in. The man at the embassy has been very kind and helped us. Maybe he had some pity for my miserable figure sitting in the armchair, with my torn jeans and my face wasted by the long crying and a bottle of Muumin drink in my hands (maybe he must have felt pity mostly for the latter...Gee, that stuff is horrible!)
Well, at 3.30 pm we were outside the embassy, the bf holding a temporary travel document :D …I just threw my arms round his neck and…felt so relieved!
Even my appetite came back (my bf’s one never went away, of course!) so we went to the Market Place and had our reindeer meatballs with roasted vegetables and garlic sauce. So nice of the girl to remember us :)
Tired as hell we went to the hostel to do the check-in and leave the heavy burdens in our room, then again out to enjoy the city for the last time. We explored a new portual area which was very relaxing and wonderfully coloured under the almost-sunset lights :) we took a lot of pics and laughed and smiled…and I couldn’t but feel happy, even if we were about to leave. Happy ‘cause for the moment we were there. Happy ‘cause those laughs will forever echo on those shores and in our hearts.
We were happily walking the city center streets, on our way to the Market Place, already tasting the delicious food from our dear stand from Rovaniemi when my bearded fellow realized...he had lost his wallet!!!!!!!!!!!!!! While he managed to maintain a rational calm, I completely got into panic and despair, for the next day we would have had to take the plane back. He kept on saying he may have had to stay another couple of days to fix things while I should have taken the plane home. I kept on refusing. And panicking, panicking, panicking. He called the embassy and they told him the address, but he couldn’t understand it clearly so we had to go to the tourist information office at the station. The guy has been very kind and helpful and after a wrong tram and endless searching with our suitcases and heavy bags…we finally saw the three-coloured flag! But it wasn’t over: once at the embassy, we found the gate closed. While we didn’t know what to do for it seemed offices were closed even though they must have been opened for at least another couple of hours, we saw a sign tellin’ us to search for another gate. Finally we were admitted in. The man at the embassy has been very kind and helped us. Maybe he had some pity for my miserable figure sitting in the armchair, with my torn jeans and my face wasted by the long crying and a bottle of Muumin drink in my hands (maybe he must have felt pity mostly for the latter...Gee, that stuff is horrible!)
Well, at 3.30 pm we were outside the embassy, the bf holding a temporary travel document :D …I just threw my arms round his neck and…felt so relieved!
Even my appetite came back (my bf’s one never went away, of course!) so we went to the Market Place and had our reindeer meatballs with roasted vegetables and garlic sauce. So nice of the girl to remember us :)
Tired as hell we went to the hostel to do the check-in and leave the heavy burdens in our room, then again out to enjoy the city for the last time. We explored a new portual area which was very relaxing and wonderfully coloured under the almost-sunset lights :) we took a lot of pics and laughed and smiled…and I couldn’t but feel happy, even if we were about to leave. Happy ‘cause for the moment we were there. Happy ‘cause those laughs will forever echo on those shores and in our hearts.
On our way to the city centre, we stopped at RKioski for a coffee. Here we met an unpleasant young drunkard who we tried to avoid once out of the shop but always seemed to come across our way :/ I do declare I was kinda scared, but the streets were so full of people, so full of life, so we went on and spent a very pleasant evening, strolling around among the Finns and enjoying the city life for the last time.
Before returning to the hostel, we stopped at a KMarket to buy two yoghurts
(blackberry for me, strawberry for the bf) and here we met a really cool shop
assistant :D she asked us if we liked Finland ‘cause “they have Metal music”
and told us she was neighbour with Ville Valo and, noticing my Nightwish t-shirt, that her family name is Turunen, even though she has nothing to do with Nightwish’ former
lead singer. Awesome girl! :D
Once in our room, we ate our yoghurts (yummiii :9), showered and then…to bed, for the alarm would have rung at 4 the next morning!
September 5th 2012, Wednesday
I was dreaming about a bakery selling all sorts of cakes and muffins at
extra-low prices (I’m incorrigible, I know) when the alarm rang at 4 am.
Outside it was still dark and it was quite hard to get up and face the way to
the station, walking the desert streets, avoiding the eyes of everyone who came
across (especially when they were four loud men, probably drunk), trying not
to attire attention (very difficult when you have to drag trolley
suitcases behind you on a stony pavement) and finding comfort in the
presence of the merchants settling their stands down at the Market Place.
Few people were at the station when we arrived, but at least someone was
there. We would have had to wait our bus to the airport just outside the
station. Luckily, other people were waiting for the 5.45 am
bus, for…the young short drunkard (the one of the previous evening, remember?) was there!!! At the hostel,
looking down from the window at the empty dark street we told each other,
joking: “Guess if we go down and meet the drunkard again!”.
At 6.30 circa we were at the airport and could finally have some breakfast.
After breakfast, time for check-in and then…the 8.30 am flight.
While a melancholic sun had finally, harshly risen among the clouds, I said Goodbye to beautifulFinland
At 6.30 circa we were at the airport and could finally have some breakfast.
After breakfast, time for check-in and then…the 8.30 am flight.
While a melancholic sun had finally, harshly risen among the clouds, I said Goodbye to beautiful
After some waiting we finally got on the car to the airport parking just to discover
that…it was not starting!!!!!!!!! D: We couldn’t believe it. Not after
what had happened the previous day. Stuck with a car not starting, under the
rain, trying to push it with no results. Luckily the guys from the parking staff
have been very very kind and helped us recharging the battery, so we could
leave :)
We stopped at the Autogrill to have some luncheon. Here the guy serving the sandwiches believed us foreigners and tried to speak to us in an improvised English (“Ticket…ticket.”). Of course we stood his game.
We stopped at the Autogrill to have some luncheon. Here the guy serving the sandwiches believed us foreigners and tried to speak to us in an improvised English (“Ticket…ticket.”). Of course we stood his game.
The rest of the journey back went on relaxing, tender and funny,
accompanied by lots of coffee, music and
chocolate wafers, among the green of our enchanting mountains . At least some more
Mother Nature’s beauty before coming back to town.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
"I read to see in the mirror of stories my own transformation"
There's nothing to do. It's something only books can give you. And it reflects on everything around you, and makes it shine with a new light. Everytime.
The book I'm talking about is this novel by Danish writer Torben Guldberg. He's a new entry in my library, my new little precious jewel. God, he's so talented. He lefts me totally amazed in front of his pages, stunned yet perfectly at ease inside the worlds he created.
And I'm also glad it finds a particularly fertile ground here in this little red head, at the moment. These days I'm feeling so over-sensible, receptive and hyper-active and still relaxed that I cannot but feel blessed and say "Thank you".
The book I'm talking about is this novel by Danish writer Torben Guldberg. He's a new entry in my library, my new little precious jewel. God, he's so talented. He lefts me totally amazed in front of his pages, stunned yet perfectly at ease inside the worlds he created.
And this book is...Oh. ♥ So inspiring. So exciting. So moving. So nourishing.
It's like being totally absorbed in a world you've always been into and yet supping up from it little juicy drops of new consciousness.
And as Torben (yes, I call him by name 'cause I use to feel artists that touch me so much as close friends) writes, I love to read "to see in the mirror of stories my own transformation".
It's like being totally absorbed in a world you've always been into and yet supping up from it little juicy drops of new consciousness.
And as Torben (yes, I call him by name 'cause I use to feel artists that touch me so much as close friends) writes, I love to read "to see in the mirror of stories my own transformation".
And I'm also glad it finds a particularly fertile ground here in this little red head, at the moment. These days I'm feeling so over-sensible, receptive and hyper-active and still relaxed that I cannot but feel blessed and say "Thank you".
Maybe this is because I finally got relaxed for the Ancient Philosophy exam I had been preparing for months has gone and went well. Maybe it is because this exam session is over and now it is time to rationalize and prepare the ground for the last shots. Maybe it is because I spent the last days of study burning with a growing love for knowledge. And maybe this is because of the nice talk I had the other Saturday with two wise people, in front of a cup of Guinness and to the sound of the Lumineers and Mumford & Sons; it made me wake up so inspired and motivated, the next morning. I don't know. I think I'll just enjoy it. But keep on asking.
And even more wonderful is to have such a partner in life. It may sound simple but I really like our relationship. And there's an aspect I particularly like. The way between us love is not only made with hearts and bodies, but also with the mind. The mind. Under the rain, walking endlessly and talking about philosophic perspectives, science, religion, universal and human history, geography and everything, sharing opinions, ideas and points of view, actually making philosophy and actually exercising scientific attitude in our small way, growing up together. ♥
And even more wonderful is to have such a partner in life. It may sound simple but I really like our relationship. And there's an aspect I particularly like. The way between us love is not only made with hearts and bodies, but also with the mind. The mind. Under the rain, walking endlessly and talking about philosophic perspectives, science, religion, universal and human history, geography and everything, sharing opinions, ideas and points of view, actually making philosophy and actually exercising scientific attitude in our small way, growing up together. ♥
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The Finland Diaries - episode III
Sometimes it may happen that you begin to feel a little nostalgic about some place and times now so far.
That's why, once in a while, I come back here to continue writing down my Finland Diaries.
(You can find the previous episodes in the label at the right -->)
September 1st 2012, Saturday
Our last moments in Tampere started at 6 a.m., when we woke up, had breakfast as the first weak morning light entered from the big window, packed the last things and went out in an unusually empty Hämeenkatu. We arrived at the station just in time to know that...we couldn't take the train to Kuopio we had chosen. 'Cause there's no train to Kuopio on Saturdays and Sundays. But no fear, 'cause there's always a train to Helsinki. And from Helsinki, there must be a train to anywhere.So we got on the 8.07 train to Helsinki, where we arrived at about ten minutes to 10. Having nearly an hour to wait until the next train to Kuopio, we took the chance to have a coffee and to do a fast pilgrimage to...
After that, another walk in the city centre and then…time to do the
shopping at the KMarket Kalakukko.
We had dinner at our hostel: meatballs with mashed potatoes, peas and cranberries and apples were served ;) We actually had some problems with the coffee machine…such a strange thing it was! O.o but finally I came to understand how to make it work and let us have some delicious coffee :3
We spent the rest of the evening just relaxing on the sofa, enjoying the coziness of our place, reading Finnish magazines and… yes, I have to admit it: trying to discover where to find Mr Marco Hietala! :°D Of course we didn’t succed. After a restoring shower…time to sleep!
To go back to the city centre, we took a path passing through the forest…the smell of trees and musks, the amazing green, the sound of silence… once again, I felt blessed to be admitted to all the magic of Finnish wilderness. And so we went on, only us two in the Nature, holding hands and eating berries :) ♥
When we returned to the “civility”, our Kalakukko-haunting began! Our plane was to buy it from Hanna Partanen’s original bakery and to bring it to the hostel. The cart outside the shop said it would have closed at 8.30 pm and it was 6.30 pm when we arrived there. But the door was closed. Closed. After a short desperation during which we attempted to buy it at the Market Place but all stands were already gone or closed, we went back to Hanna Partanen’s. Here I saw a woman with a uniform and a cap outside the bakery, smoking a cigarette. I asked if the bakery was opened and she let us in by the kitchen’s door…yeppppp!!! :D We had our 1kg Kalakukko (it’s kinda funny the uneasy sensation of using Finnish words whose pronounce you’re not sure of in front of the Finns… :P) and went happily back. On our way, we stopped at the KMarket to buy some fruit and apple juice.
The rest of the evening was spent at the hostel, washing the dishes (I love the way my man comes over and kisses me while I’m doing it :3), having showers and packing for the next day’s transfer toHelsinki .
That's why, once in a while, I come back here to continue writing down my Finland Diaries.
(You can find the previous episodes in the label at the right -->)
September 1st 2012, Saturday
Our last moments in Tampere started at 6 a.m., when we woke up, had breakfast as the first weak morning light entered from the big window, packed the last things and went out in an unusually empty Hämeenkatu. We arrived at the station just in time to know that...we couldn't take the train to Kuopio we had chosen. 'Cause there's no train to Kuopio on Saturdays and Sundays. But no fear, 'cause there's always a train to Helsinki. And from Helsinki, there must be a train to anywhere.So we got on the 8.07 train to Helsinki, where we arrived at about ten minutes to 10. Having nearly an hour to wait until the next train to Kuopio, we took the chance to have a coffee and to do a fast pilgrimage to...
...Tavastia club! :D
At 11.12 our train started engines and we were on our way to Kuopio!
The
journey was long enough to let us enjoy Finnish landscapes as in a “land-sighting”
tour. And I just could not avoid sheding some tears in front of all that Beauty.
When we arrived it was 3.37 pm of a sunny Saturday afternoon. Kuopio looked like a tranquil, vintage scented town of wooden buildings, placed somewhere undefined in the past. Few people were in the silent streets, even if the weather was so good and it was the weekend. And we spent more time than it was necessary to find our hostel, watching the space around us change from residential quarters to a sort of industrial area dominated by the big chimney of the powerhouse. Yeah, we got lost.
But luckily, the hostel was right round the corner, in a really pleasant and quiet neighborhood...and it was just super-nice *-* so home-like, so cozy, so tender! Ah!
After settling down, time to go on an exploration. It was near twilight and the town looked like a ghost town. Again few people around and when we reached the city center, we discovered it was covered with scaffolding and the whole central square was a construction site, only populated by sinister kids speaking loud in front of a café. But we kept calm and went to RKioski for a coffee, instead. Another short exploration, then time to have dinner. And even in such a situation, Harald never leaves you alone! :)
When we arrived it was 3.37 pm of a sunny Saturday afternoon. Kuopio looked like a tranquil, vintage scented town of wooden buildings, placed somewhere undefined in the past. Few people were in the silent streets, even if the weather was so good and it was the weekend. And we spent more time than it was necessary to find our hostel, watching the space around us change from residential quarters to a sort of industrial area dominated by the big chimney of the powerhouse. Yeah, we got lost.
But luckily, the hostel was right round the corner, in a really pleasant and quiet neighborhood...and it was just super-nice *-* so home-like, so cozy, so tender! Ah!
After settling down, time to go on an exploration. It was near twilight and the town looked like a ghost town. Again few people around and when we reached the city center, we discovered it was covered with scaffolding and the whole central square was a construction site, only populated by sinister kids speaking loud in front of a café. But we kept calm and went to RKioski for a coffee, instead. Another short exploration, then time to have dinner. And even in such a situation, Harald never leaves you alone! :)
We had a viking-size appetite and our viking dinner was just super: as a starter offered by them, flat crispy wholemeal bread with a strange sauce made with eggs and probably butter; then elk and reindeer stew with soy sprouts, mashed potatoes, pumpkin, carrots, cranberries; to that, we drank the house beer (the waitress looked just sooo happy when we asked for it :D) and coffee. And God, they're just so nice ♥ don't forget to go and pay a visit to Harald Viikiinkiravintola, if you go to Kuopio! ;)
After dinner, we went took a short walk to the sea shore right behind our hostel then returned to it to shower, to organize the trips for the following days and then, to sleep :)
September 2nd 2012, Sunday
We woke up and went out in a even more desert city than it was the previous evening, under a gray sky heavy with clouds.
We had to wait a bit for our breakfast, since all RKioski were still closed, but we could finally have caffelatte plus muffins (blackberries for me, chocolate for the bearded fellow)in the warm indoor, looking at the gray cold square outside. Our bellies satisfied, we went out to explore the town. The weather was not the best, with its endless thin snow-like rain and its cool wind, but we were inKuopio
When we found a photographic exhibition, we thought it could have been interesting, so we entered and paid our entree. Never made a bigger mistake. Expecting old pictures ofKuopio or something similar, we
found an exhibition about Mexico
Well, at least we got soon “revenged” by the really nice Museum of Kuopio, comprehensive of an exhibition about bears :3, a natural science museum where we could see several reproductions of various animals (wolves, bears, foxes, birds and even… a huge mammoth! :D) and an historical-cultural museum…really really really nice, indeed! :3
After dinner, we went took a short walk to the sea shore right behind our hostel then returned to it to shower, to organize the trips for the following days and then, to sleep :)
September 2nd 2012, Sunday
We woke up and went out in a even more desert city than it was the previous evening, under a gray sky heavy with clouds.
We had to wait a bit for our breakfast, since all RKioski were still closed, but we could finally have caffelatte plus muffins (blackberries for me, chocolate for the bearded fellow)in the warm indoor, looking at the gray cold square outside. Our bellies satisfied, we went out to explore the town. The weather was not the best, with its endless thin snow-like rain and its cool wind, but we were in
When we found a photographic exhibition, we thought it could have been interesting, so we entered and paid our entree. Never made a bigger mistake. Expecting old pictures of
Well, at least we got soon “revenged” by the really nice Museum of Kuopio, comprehensive of an exhibition about bears :3, a natural science museum where we could see several reproductions of various animals (wolves, bears, foxes, birds and even… a huge mammoth! :D) and an historical-cultural museum…really really really nice, indeed! :3
Out again under the rain, we stopped at Subway in order to have some
luncheon. If the weather wasn’t so nice, the girl who welcomed us was even
less. She seemed annoyed by every client’s presence and request :/ but we had
our meal and also our beloved cookies so it’s okay :°D
In the afternoon, a wonderful tour of the lakeshore… everything looked
just so inspiring, with the flat dark water under the big cloudy sky, and the
grass still so amazingly green, and the tender and relaxing atmosphere of a
rainy Sunday afternoon. We took a lot of pics and enjoyed the sight and magic
of the place very much and just had fun :) ♥
We had dinner at our hostel: meatballs with mashed potatoes, peas and cranberries and apples were served ;) We actually had some problems with the coffee machine…such a strange thing it was! O.o but finally I came to understand how to make it work and let us have some delicious coffee :3
We spent the rest of the evening just relaxing on the sofa, enjoying the coziness of our place, reading Finnish magazines and… yes, I have to admit it: trying to discover where to find Mr Marco Hietala! :°D Of course we didn’t succed. After a restoring shower…time to sleep!
September 3rd 2012, Monday
When
we woke up, it was still rainy in Kuopio
After
a nice breakfast on muffins, black-and-red berries and chocolate biscuits,
coffee and apple juice, we went out to spend another day in the city.
First of all, we went to visit the Market Hall; it looked kinda like Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, but with cafés and bakery stands instead of wands and bookshops :) of course magic didn’t lack.
First of all, we went to visit the Market Hall; it looked kinda like Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley, but with cafés and bakery stands instead of wands and bookshops :) of course magic didn’t lack.
Once
out of the Market Hall we found ourselves on the Market Place, that’s to say
the market square, with stands selling Kuopio
And when it comes to viking-size appetite again…what could be better
than good old Harald? :D
This time the viking Chief prepared us: cheese soup with
root vegetables and bread; wild boar with mashed potatoes and cranberries and,
to end, strawberry and some-kind-of-strange-but-delicious-orangecoloured-taste
ice cream and coffee. The waitress, who had already come and placed a little
candle on our table while we were drinking coffee, simply saying “A candle, for
you! ^^”, also gifted us with two chocolates :3 <3 I was about to cry when
she waved at us and said: “Welcome back again!”
Our
schedule for the afternoon said: "visit Puijontorni" (Puijo Tower 1
km left when we realized that...we had taken the wrong way! So back on our steps and after
a long, tiring uphill that made us sweaty and painting, we were on top, right
under the high tower.
The weather was still cloudy, rainy and a bit foggy but we thought we might have seen something once on top of the tower. Mistake! We got
on the lift, we arrived on top and from the window all we saw was… WHITE! White
white white everywhere! We tried the same to go on the sighting platform but we
were submerged in the great white and all we saw was...yes, white. Such a disappointment! Descending the tower, we stopped at the window and… wait! Is that a lake? Are
those little islands? The fog was slowly moving. We waited a bit but the fog
returned, so we went back down. We decided to take a look at the area
surrounding the tower and at the ramps from where skiers launch themselves
(fools!). Just a
turn around the tower and…the Lakeland
To go back to the city centre, we took a path passing through the forest…the smell of trees and musks, the amazing green, the sound of silence… once again, I felt blessed to be admitted to all the magic of Finnish wilderness. And so we went on, only us two in the Nature, holding hands and eating berries :) ♥
When we returned to the “civility”, our Kalakukko-haunting began! Our plane was to buy it from Hanna Partanen’s original bakery and to bring it to the hostel. The cart outside the shop said it would have closed at 8.30 pm and it was 6.30 pm when we arrived there. But the door was closed. Closed. After a short desperation during which we attempted to buy it at the Market Place but all stands were already gone or closed, we went back to Hanna Partanen’s. Here I saw a woman with a uniform and a cap outside the bakery, smoking a cigarette. I asked if the bakery was opened and she let us in by the kitchen’s door…yeppppp!!! :D We had our 1kg Kalakukko (it’s kinda funny the uneasy sensation of using Finnish words whose pronounce you’re not sure of in front of the Finns… :P) and went happily back. On our way, we stopped at the KMarket to buy some fruit and apple juice.
We had
dinner at our place and the atmosphere of that evening, oh, I will never forget.
Everything was so just perfect, so cuddly, so comfortable, so homelike! I had a feeling I was living in a big family together with the other guests of the hostel and I can't find the words to describe it. The door next to the table where we were eating we found to be inhabited by a happy
group of big Finnish men in orange uniforms… don’t know what they were
actually doing, but they looked and behaved just so nice :D D I
crossed one of them on my way back to the dining room from our bedroom, he was
a big very very very blonde guy with happy features and he smiled at me letting
me pass in such a cheerful way that it struck me particularly. Nice people the
Finns, indeed.
 |
| Kalakukko is served! :D |
 |
| It is meat
and fish pasty baked inside black bread and it tastes…just YUMMYYY! :D |
The rest of the evening was spent at the hostel, washing the dishes (I love the way my man comes over and kisses me while I’m doing it :3), having showers and packing for the next day’s transfer to
Thursday, December 27, 2012
"No one is as lucky as us" ♥
Last night, while I was driving home from my bf's house after another wonderful evening with my second family, Hayley's voice from the stereo sang "No one is as lucky as us". I stopped and thought for a while: "Well, at least, no one is as lucky as me". And yeah, I know I can say it. I can say it loud.
And after such an evening, this little redhead girl just couldn't avoid falling asleep with a big smile on her lips and a huge "THANK YOU" in her heart, shouting out loud :) ♥
And after such an evening, this little redhead girl just couldn't avoid falling asleep with a big smile on her lips and a huge "THANK YOU" in her heart, shouting out loud :) ♥
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Cinnamon scent and quality family time
And so, Christmas day has passed. I could barely feel Christmas air until Friday, spent the last days before Christmas breathing fast as much Magic as possible, reached the maximum of Christmas inspiration on Christmas Eve and then just realized Christmas day was over! But well, that's how Magic works, I guess :)
At least I spent my Christmas days enjoying my families and relaxing a bit even if not too much (January exams are right round the corner!).
On Saturday, we celebrated "Granny Mary's Super Fabolous 90", as I named it, and it's been a nice occasion to stay together with people you don't see very often and to talk a little with those you see daily but always in a hurry, due to individual everyday duties and time schedules. And in a while, in front of a dish of good fish and a glass of bubbly wine, you find yourself smiling and feeling relaxed.
The afternoon went on on a mission for my bearded fellow and me: finding the last Christmas gifts!
The mission completed, time to package them and then to have some chicken nuggets & chips with Guinness at our favorite place. Friendly staff, wooden half-light and a piano in the corner of the room right under a Jeff Buckley poster. Lovely way to end our day :)
Christmas lights and a photographic afternoon made our Sunday bright and inspiring.
Christmas Eve has been lovely just as it should be. Just...perfect. Tea and a long walk with my boyfriend in the cold late afternoon, while the city all around prepared for Christmas and people walked fast and smiled and wished Merry Christmas though a thick fog was embracing almost everything and making bones shiver.
Then, at my bearded fellow's house for dinner. Such an enjoyable evening with my second family, among talks, laughs, smiles, gifts, card games, cinnamon scent, biscuits and tea/tisanes, and again talks talks talks. And when I tucked myself undercover, my spirit felt something I don't know how to name but that for sure was needed. I felt blessed. And lucky. And I just couldn't avoid closing my eyes with a smile on my lips :) ♥
Yesterday I lighted up Christmas candles on the table, put a red and white shining Christmas ribbon in my hair and divided my day into enjoying both my families. A nice day that also brought us to some reflections which may not be so merry but that sometimes are just necessary.
Hope you're enjoying your Christmas days and how you're celebrating or even how you're not :)
At least I spent my Christmas days enjoying my families and relaxing a bit even if not too much (January exams are right round the corner!).
On Saturday, we celebrated "Granny Mary's Super Fabolous 90", as I named it, and it's been a nice occasion to stay together with people you don't see very often and to talk a little with those you see daily but always in a hurry, due to individual everyday duties and time schedules. And in a while, in front of a dish of good fish and a glass of bubbly wine, you find yourself smiling and feeling relaxed.
 |
| ...with my birthday girl! :) |
The afternoon went on on a mission for my bearded fellow and me: finding the last Christmas gifts!
The mission completed, time to package them and then to have some chicken nuggets & chips with Guinness at our favorite place. Friendly staff, wooden half-light and a piano in the corner of the room right under a Jeff Buckley poster. Lovely way to end our day :)
Christmas lights and a photographic afternoon made our Sunday bright and inspiring.
Christmas Eve has been lovely just as it should be. Just...perfect. Tea and a long walk with my boyfriend in the cold late afternoon, while the city all around prepared for Christmas and people walked fast and smiled and wished Merry Christmas though a thick fog was embracing almost everything and making bones shiver.
Then, at my bearded fellow's house for dinner. Such an enjoyable evening with my second family, among talks, laughs, smiles, gifts, card games, cinnamon scent, biscuits and tea/tisanes, and again talks talks talks. And when I tucked myself undercover, my spirit felt something I don't know how to name but that for sure was needed. I felt blessed. And lucky. And I just couldn't avoid closing my eyes with a smile on my lips :) ♥
Yesterday I lighted up Christmas candles on the table, put a red and white shining Christmas ribbon in my hair and divided my day into enjoying both my families. A nice day that also brought us to some reflections which may not be so merry but that sometimes are just necessary.
Hope you're enjoying your Christmas days and how you're celebrating or even how you're not :)
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Apocalypse vs steamed dumplings
It should have been the End of the World, a great Hollywood style Apocalypse.
Instead, to this little redhead girl it has been one of the most pleasant days of the past week.
On the other hand, the Mayas spoke about the end of an era.
And maybe, the big rainbow I saw on Thursday, while driving home, under a half-golden/half-dark grey sky and thin snow, the biggest and most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen, was a sign :)
The fact is sometimes you just need it. Sometimes you just need to see how amazing can a normal day, filled with daily business, be. More than you use to, I mean.
We survived the Apocalypse hour together at the radio, the studios filled with a bright, colorful, joyful and merry atmosphere. Laughs, smiles, casual talking and...sweet unexpected gifts!
Then home for a quick lunch before piano and singing lesson with my super teacher, in the warm, golden, Christmas atmosphere of a room only enlighted by the glowing of a stove in the corner of the room.
Then time for some studying and the dentist. And then for coziness and hot coffee with honey. And more studying, of course.
Tired as hell, but the world hadn't already ended, so why not going out at dinner time for some steamed dumplings and other Chinese dainties? :)
A really enjoyable and lovely evening with my Bearded Fellow ♥
ended in coziness and in the company of our friends Sheldon, Leonard, Rajesh, Howard and Penny :D
Old and new acquaintances, Christmas wishes and greetings, the help of a stranger that holds you umbrella when you're having some difficulties, the kiss of children and apple pie flavor, the warmth of home, the cuddles and the pleasure of being with the people you love, that peace of the heart even under pouring rain. And that feeling that you should not worry for anything, at least for that magic moment.
Yeah, in this crazy period, when my hamster wheel is spinning faster and faster, I can definitely say yesterday was the first day I could finally breathe some Christmas air.
Instead, to this little redhead girl it has been one of the most pleasant days of the past week.
On the other hand, the Mayas spoke about the end of an era.
And maybe, the big rainbow I saw on Thursday, while driving home, under a half-golden/half-dark grey sky and thin snow, the biggest and most beautiful rainbow I had ever seen, was a sign :)
The fact is sometimes you just need it. Sometimes you just need to see how amazing can a normal day, filled with daily business, be. More than you use to, I mean.
We survived the Apocalypse hour together at the radio, the studios filled with a bright, colorful, joyful and merry atmosphere. Laughs, smiles, casual talking and...sweet unexpected gifts!
Then home for a quick lunch before piano and singing lesson with my super teacher, in the warm, golden, Christmas atmosphere of a room only enlighted by the glowing of a stove in the corner of the room.
Then time for some studying and the dentist. And then for coziness and hot coffee with honey. And more studying, of course.
Tired as hell, but the world hadn't already ended, so why not going out at dinner time for some steamed dumplings and other Chinese dainties? :)
A really enjoyable and lovely evening with my Bearded Fellow ♥
ended in coziness and in the company of our friends Sheldon, Leonard, Rajesh, Howard and Penny :D
Old and new acquaintances, Christmas wishes and greetings, the help of a stranger that holds you umbrella when you're having some difficulties, the kiss of children and apple pie flavor, the warmth of home, the cuddles and the pleasure of being with the people you love, that peace of the heart even under pouring rain. And that feeling that you should not worry for anything, at least for that magic moment.
Yeah, in this crazy period, when my hamster wheel is spinning faster and faster, I can definitely say yesterday was the first day I could finally breathe some Christmas air.
*Blessed Winter Solstice/Yule everyone!*
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Flowers against a dark gray sky
"There's some music, in my opinion, that adds a meaning to worldly things and makes you think about everyone and everything one does love."
How could I not love her? :°)
Simple, clear, direct words that contain everything I tried to explain and symbolizes how our minds and souls are so deeply connected.
I feel blessed every single day for having chosen to sit next to her that day. I'll never get tired of repeating it.
My darling ebony-haired girl. The one who always gives me something good for my soul to eat. The one who finishes my sentences. The one who "was born vintage". The one who "hates technology. Loves vinyl record-players." ♥
Simple, clear, direct words that contain everything I tried to explain and symbolizes how our minds and souls are so deeply connected.
I feel blessed every single day for having chosen to sit next to her that day. I'll never get tired of repeating it.
My darling ebony-haired girl. The one who always gives me something good for my soul to eat. The one who finishes my sentences. The one who "was born vintage". The one who "hates technology. Loves vinyl record-players." ♥
And today is December 16th. This means that in less than three months we'll be singing and dancing to Mumford & Sons' music. Less than three months and I'll see them. Oh God. Butterflies in the stomach and breath missing, I'm ready. And I cannot wait.
Friday I just woke up and put my floral leggings on despite the dark gray and crying sky outside.
Then went to the radio, for a working morning in the lovely company of my colleague. I've known her for barely two weeks, but I do have a positive feeling we're pretty fast making friends :) and that's natural, when you do have such evident affinities and one seems such a transparent and clean person.
Then singing and piano lesson and a warmth that doesn't come only from the electric heater.
Smiles and the flavor of soft pineapple pie.
And on Friday night, time for some good music and photo-practicing :)
Last night, such a wet'n'windy night. So good to enjoy some cheerfulness in the half-light :)
And this morning, the sudden singing of a seagull, so unexpected, abducted me and brought me far away, homewards. It lasted no longer than a while but it made my heart feel like home as I turned my head and eyes to the silver sky above. It brought me back to that quayside where we were sitting, torn jeans and shining eyes, eating salmon and watching the coming and going of people all around.
Enjoy your Sunday! ♥
Then went to the radio, for a working morning in the lovely company of my colleague. I've known her for barely two weeks, but I do have a positive feeling we're pretty fast making friends :) and that's natural, when you do have such evident affinities and one seems such a transparent and clean person.
Then singing and piano lesson and a warmth that doesn't come only from the electric heater.
Smiles and the flavor of soft pineapple pie.
And on Friday night, time for some good music and photo-practicing :)
Last night, such a wet'n'windy night. So good to enjoy some cheerfulness in the half-light :)
And this morning, the sudden singing of a seagull, so unexpected, abducted me and brought me far away, homewards. It lasted no longer than a while but it made my heart feel like home as I turned my head and eyes to the silver sky above. It brought me back to that quayside where we were sitting, torn jeans and shining eyes, eating salmon and watching the coming and going of people all around.
Enjoy your Sunday! ♥
Monday, December 10, 2012
Winter winds and highlights
It feels so better. Woke up with a little too cloudy mind even if it was sunny outside.
Now it's raining outside, but my mind is sunny again.
It always feels better after swimming and drowning every thought and negative energy in those waters. And when you pop out the pool, it feels kinda like rebithing :)
Then hot soup, some singing warm up exercises and singing that song that makes me always wanna stroll around hopping and jumping :) The song is "Il Cielo d'Irlanda", by the amazing Italian singer Fiorella Mannoia
Now it's raining outside, but my mind is sunny again.
It always feels better after swimming and drowning every thought and negative energy in those waters. And when you pop out the pool, it feels kinda like rebithing :)
Then hot soup, some singing warm up exercises and singing that song that makes me always wanna stroll around hopping and jumping :) The song is "Il Cielo d'Irlanda", by the amazing Italian singer Fiorella Mannoia
It feels good, oh it feels soooo good :)
Now,ready for some evening studying!
Now,ready for some evening studying!
 |
| "Out on the wiley, windy moor" Picture from a cold wintry morning |
I'm going!!!!!!!!! I'm going and see Mumford & Sons live! Can't believe it yet, I almost cried when I got the tickets in my hands and my heart stumbles everytime I think about it, but it is real. I am going and see Mumford & Sons. And what's more I'll be there with two of my most favorite people in the world :)
I'll be counting my days until March 15th ♥
Goodnight! ♥
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