Midsummer cycling through South-Finland

Midsummer - greatest event in Finland and everyone is looking forward to it since weeks, planning their trip to the summer cottage with the family or some friends. And why that? Having a good time, being drunk 5 times a day, the whole weekend, including Friday. Pretty strange, but that's all about it.

Vanajavesi in Hämeenlinna

I had some add ons planned. Taking the bike and leaving Helsinki (It seemed to be a dead city, empty highways and streets, everyone had left already!) on Friday early morning I was heading north. Weather conditions couldn't be any better - nicely hot! I was going as far as Tampere that day, finding a place to sleep  in the middle of nowhere, somewhere on a field close to Suomatka (point B). I set up my air mattress and sleeping bag, but those mosquito beasts have been quicker. I got myself covered completely and put on some insect repellent. That kept them on distance, but they still were so much annoying. I used the ear plugs and that gave me some sleep...

Summer cottage and barbecue at Kiesimenjärvi

On Saturday I was going to Mänttä (point C) before Torsten was picking me up by car. We reached Paajala within one hour, making ourselves at home at the barbecue, tried some fishing in the Kiesimenjärvi and had some beers, just following the (Finnish) midsummer tradition.

Sunsets are taking forever during midsummer days

On the way back we were stopping by in Tampere, for a one hour walk around through the city. Not much to offer, really not, I have to say. Kinda disappointing. At least, we were at home on time :D

Sitting in Näsinpuisto, Tampere

Just taking the ferry to an other country

Right after work on a Friday, I was heading towards the ferry terminal and taking this two hour ride to Tallinn, the Estonian capital. It was pretty busy on the ship, especially the duty free shop was crowded. Prices were still high, but definitely less than on the finnish main land. That means, people were there for either getting back to Estonia (a few) or getting drunk (most of them).

Together with Frenky and Torsten, I stayed at another colleague's place in outter Tallinn - nice and cozy apartment in the right street called Aiandi :D I just have one comment to Friday evening: The Estonians know how to drink, and how to open bottles (it's just not necessary to close them again)!!!

I started with a little hangover, the next day. Breakfast helps! And a little walk around in the old Tallinn city centre. Pretty cool - narrow streets, some churches and kathedrals built in the common Russian-Orthodox style, filled with lots of tourists. We were not the only ones. After a good dinner we spent the night in numerous bars in clubs, excellent stuff.

So guess what - there was not so much happening on Sunday. Just being sunburned on the ferry back to Finland.

EstLink2 Converter Stations

I've got some news from the working point of view as well. As I am living in Helsinki, it takes approx. 40 minutes to get to site, which means having another rest for a while - we have two cars and commonly I am not the driver. Still, it's pretty much a construction site. But work is going well, so far. Additionally, I've found the EstLink2 commercial video on youtube. It explains nicely what the project is all about :)

Getting to know and around

Sooo, a couple of weeks are over now. Time is flying, the apartment is furnished. Basic things needed for normal life, at least. The couch is perfect for having some visitors coming over ;) All in all, it offers plenty of space.

My racing machine is locked, down in the basement - I am well equipped. Sauna is available as well, kind of different to the one I know from back home. I hardly can stay longer than, let's say, 7 minutes. I am not quite sure, might be less :)

The city centre itself offers some attractions. The cathedral with its market place is one of them. There are a few churches, lots of parks and hundreds of islands surrounded by brownish water. Everything is easy to reach, almost in walking distance, and biking pretty common too. The harbour market is perfect for fresh and local delights - unfortunately, I am missing the opening hours all the time, but the smoked fish (siika) is absolutely delicious.



Unexpectedly, it's pretty good weather over here. Sun is shining almost every day. Time to dig out shorts and T-Shirts, unfortunately, I've just brought a few. There was some rains as well - but if I sum it all up, it was definitely less than one day. Instead, I've installed a sauna thermometer in my living room :D It has reached a maximum of 27°C today.

Pääskylänrinne, the street to be in Helsinki

Apartment's window front view with lots of IKEA furniture

The first week is over. I made myself at home in Helsinki, having an apartment in a street called Pääskylänrinne in the 8th floor, i.e. a south side lookout is included. Meanwhile, everything is set up and I've got a first impression of the city.

French Fries and mussels, Belgium beer and plenty of chocolate...

… in f***ing Bruges. Before I had to go to Finland, Antje and me had a little road trip to Belgium. We had a stopover in Lüttich (Liège). The city itself didn’t have so much to offer and we sauntered though it pretty fast. If you like stairways go and explore the Montagne de Bueren with its 374 steps. That was fun. Well, at least for me. Antje was, more or less, just crouching them up, finishing them with a little “yeah”. The Belgium meatballs served with an ice cold Trappistes Rochefort 12 was perfect.

Time to leave this city and the next destination was not far away. A one hour drive, and here we are, in Bruges. And it looks exactly as shown in the movies. Old redbrick houses, askew and crooked. Narrow and tiny streets everywhere, chocolatiers and lots of tourists. The best thing: Belgium mussels boiled in a creamy sauce. Delicious! Unfortunately, we lost crème brûlée out of our sight. But it was cool, somehow. It’s just so much different to what we know from home.

On the way back we stopped and stayed at a friends place in Duisburg, and had a rainy walk around tour in Düsseldorf on Tuesday.

Jump around in Munich

It was time to visit Kathl and Chris in Munich again. After a little shopping tour (K1X shop, yeah), the sight visit and climb of the Sankt Peter Church and a good dinner, we did lot’s of those the following morning :D