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...


 

...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! :)

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 in Kuopio and we wanted to see as much as possible, so we took a long walk in the city centre.
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 Kuopio or something similar, we found an exhibition about Mexico. Yeah, Mexico. All right, nothing wrong, we could have stood it if only it was at least...decent. But it was ugly as hell. That kind of photography made with the only purpose of disturbing those who look at it, without any journalistic or social motivation. For the sake of disgust, you know. Portraying the rotten fruits of extreme poverty and ignorance just for the sake of what they dare to call "art". Awful. Simply awful. 
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 :) ♥

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!

September 3rd 2012, Monday

When we woke up, it was still rainy in Kuopio, but at least it was Monday and we would certainly have had more places (…and people!) to see and things to do. 

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. 

Once out of the Market Hall we found ourselves on the Market Place, that’s to say the market square, with stands selling Kuopio’s typical product, kalakukko, which we decided to have for dinner. We visited some shops and then adventured ourselves in the northern area of the city where we found ourselves in a very pleasant neighbourhood, full of lovely wooden houses and cottages with flowers on the windows and green gardens and peaceful atmosphere and the forest so near and… OH. *-*

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), so we took that direction. We had only 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, right before us! Such a wonder! *_* The fog was slowly melting away, letting us enjoy the beautiful sight. It was even poetic, under such a gray sky and with a little fog J I’ll never forget the emotion I experienced that moment, being on top of the world, the land I always dreamed of before my wondering eyes, the man I love by my side <3 and the laughs caused by taking a wonderful picture using…the selfshot!!!!! :°D 

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 Helsinki. 
                       

"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 :) ♥

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. 

...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 :)

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.

*Blessed Winter Solstice/Yule everyone!*

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." ♥

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! ♥

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

It feels good, oh it feels soooo good :)
Now,ready for some evening studying!

"Out on the wiley, windy moor"
Picture from a cold wintry morning

And then...most important-exciting highlight/news from the weekend:
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! ♥

Winter winds

And so, the winter winds have arrived to litter our lands and make us shiver with our faces sunk in our scarves :)
Snow has already covered the mountains all around here and the sky can suddenly turn from blue and gold to purple and gray.
Still so deeply inspiring...åh!

Yesterday I spent half the day with two of the most amazing girls on Earth ♥, and that's just soooo well :)

I just love the way they make a sunny day shine even brighter and a cloudy, rainy or whatever-it-may-be one be painted in the most serene and lively colors :) ♥



And yeah, I finally started my apprentice working at the radio as an intern! Now my hamster wheel spins even faster but that's okay...so it must be well! :D



...Now time to go and dip my muscles and my mind in the positive waters of the swimming pool!
Bye ♥

You spin me high

...Him. Him whom you have barely caught in a glimpse for all the week and whom you finally see, knowing it will last at least for the rest of the day and the following one, and it is already enough to make you happy.
Him who enters the room and tells you: "I've got something for you". A box. With a big red and silver ribbon on it. You open the box and...what you've been saving money for during the last months is right there before your eyes. 

This awesome man of mine ♥

And then, taking long walks, talking all the evening and night long, never getting enough of it, having thousands of things to tell each other.


And last night, in our favorite Irish pub, sitting on that stool, with his smile in front of me, my Guinness on the wooden counter at my right and Mumford & Sons' music playing loud and making my heart jump and hop and dance, surrounded by cheerfulness, I felt like being 

the happiest girl on earth :) ♥