May 6, 2008: Finland, the complete report

Finland. The end. Or rather, just the beginning since I’m pretty sure I’m coming back to hit up Nokia for a job and tiny hip cottage in the country. The Finnish way of life works perfectly for me and their attitude towards life is refreshingly pleasant. Its amazing how new the country is too; for hundreds of years Finland was occupied either by the Swedes or the Russians (for which I apologized for to our friend Antero, on behalf of the Russians for being such bullies for so many years) and only since around 1917 have they been an independent nation with its own unique identity. From what I gathered, if you’re Finnish you don’t worry, you help your neighbors, you don’t bother other people and if you get a parking ticket you say “oh, looks like we have a visitor on our window.” (this actually happened to us when our friend Antero drove us to a national park and we returned to the car with a parking ticket on it. My mom proceeded to throw her hands up in the air and whisper a few loud “Oh no’s!” but I think thats because she’s Russian. Now it all makes sense…). Here’s a few photos from my stay in Helsinki. I’m writing this report on the train from Helsinki to St. Petersburg and am anxious to see what awaits at the end of our journey. Chill attitudes and pragmatism will likely be at a minimum in ostentatious Russia and I’m interested to experience all the extremes it has to offer. More from Russia when I get there! (if I can find a wi-fi signal that is…)


If you’re ever in Finland, stay at the Hotel Scandic Simonkentta. You get to experience a complimentary breakfast buffet that engulfs the entire restaurant floor. Here i’ve sampled bacon, eggs, cold cuts, pickled herring, veggies, beans, salmon, patЋ, baby sausages (my fave!), potato dumplings, fresh bread and jam.


In Helsinki we met up with my dad’s good friend Antero from waaay back when who is basically a Finnish MacGyver/James Bond but way cooler. He showed us all over the countryside in his four wheel drive with his dog Sissi in the back.


This is Antero’s house in the country that overlooks a beautiful lake. Amazing no?


Good ol’ Antero is holding a bear spear that he made. Thats right, a bear spear. That he made. That includes the handle and the actual cast-iron  bits; everything. Oh and you remember how I said bear spear? Yeah. Its for that off-chance that a bear stumbles upon him. No biggie. Just a bear spear. Good times.


Hello, can I please live in this tiny child’s cottage? Why don’t we have these on our properties in the states? C’mon people…


Our dinner at Antero’s house. We all helped make lamb skewers that he cooked in his fireplace.


Breakfast, day 2. The Finns love their yogurt and berries in the morning. I decided that I love it too.


How many of you knew that the iconic Fiskars orange-handled scissors came from Finland? They do! And the town they’re made is called? Fiskars, of course.


Me in Helsinki.


The rest of the gang in front of the Russian Uspensky Cathedral in downtown Helsinki. Those Ruskis definitely wanted to make their presence known while they occupied Finland.


Super awesome Sibelius monument sculpture. (see his face in the back?) Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer. Just 3 minutes after taking this photo, the grounds were invaded by a busfull of Japanese tourists. It was the most hilarious thing I’ve ever seen.


Coco Pops Straws; they’re for fun.