Hello! I decided to take the plunge and start a blog about our travels in Helsinki, Finland this semester. After all, if I can jump into a hole in the ice and go swimming, I can probably manage this. With some help from my roommates. I’m hoping that there will be some guest posts as we chronicle our journeys in this frozen city.
First of all, it’s not really that cold. But it is also not warm. There was about a 3 day stretch where it was very very very cold and another 3 day stretch where it did nothing but snow, but overall it is not that much different than temperatures at home. The amount of snow is really amazing though…it’s really too bad I didn’t have this much snow when I skipped off to Colorado a month ago! The city functions pretty well with the snow. Streets and sidewalks are plowed, but they don’t use salt. There are a few cars still on the street and I am very happy that I do not own them.
My roommates and I definitely lucked out with the location. We are pretty much right in the center of the city. We are around the corner from several cafes, restaurants, bars and shops. If we need to either get our hair cut or buy a wedding dress we can probably stop twice on every block near our place to do so. Today I walked to the Cafe Ekberg, where Marjo-Kaisa told me lots of famous Finnish philosophers hang out to buy some traditional pastries for my roommate’s birthday. There are trams and buses that stop right outside our apartment and the bus that takes us to school everyday is right up the street.
The best night I had so far was our big Sauna night. We went to the Uunisaari Island and used the sauna for two hours. When it got too hot, we ran outside barefoot down a snowy path to some steps which led to the bay and jumped into a hole in the ice. Now that was cold!!! But there was something really beautiful/terrifying about jumping in by yourself and glancing (very quickly!) back at the city in the snowy darkness. Then the moment ends and you run as fast as possible back to the sauna. Quite an unforgettable experience. We lucked out because our apartment has a sauna too, so we get to use that every Thursday night at 9pm. There won’t be an ice hole to run into, but there are plenty of snow banks!
Alright, time to head off to the first official day of class!
Moi Moi!
MLS
February 1, 2010 at 2:19 pm |
paivva paivva to you also! what kind of blog would this be if your mom didn’t comment asap. who knew that dark and very, very cold and snowy could be so intoxicating? good luck in classes. xoxo, me
February 1, 2010 at 6:07 pm |
See look Maggie, it all worked out. You were SOOO stressed about finding a good wedding dress store while over there and wha-la…. it turns out you live close to several options. Can you say Yahtzee? Let this be a lesson for you, no need to sweat the small stuff.
February 1, 2010 at 9:18 pm |
I sure don’t know if we are doing this right, having never even read a blog. But what a thrill to be included and to get a feeling of your wonderful experiences. Just don’t overheat in the sauna! Doesn’t that sound like a grandma’s comment?
Thank you for including us.
Hope your classes go well and that you enjoy them – but you seem to enjoy everything and that is wonderful.
We love you!
G and G
February 1, 2010 at 9:45 pm |
Me again.
My first note is waiting to be “accommodated” or something like that so I hope you get this one. I just went back to see your photos and saw the additional one. My goodness, it looks so cold and so much snow but no snowmen! I want to know if one of those buildings is where you are living. Send us some pictures of your “celll” and the other parts of where you are.
Love, Grandma
February 1, 2010 at 11:03 pm |
This is so great. I’m happy your going to journal your adventures. Good luck! Dad
February 8, 2010 at 4:20 am |
kiitos, looking forward to hearing about Helsinki! Miss it!
February 9, 2010 at 1:11 am |
Hi Heather,
Sounds like your having a blast! Guess what, we just got 32” of snow and another 20” on the way and I din’t even have to leave MD. Wow I am very familiar with the phrase” to buttery” Hey stop picking on Mr. Hershey, I love our chocolate and especially the theme park. Oh by the way I plan on signing you up for the Polar Bear Plunge next year. Maybe I will try it with you. Party on but be safe.
February 14, 2010 at 5:01 pm |
Hello Guest Findlanders!!
Sounds like you are all having a great time and would love to join you in the sauna!! Your blog is very funny so look forward to more!! Keep writing! Have you found the best meatball yet?? or chocolate??
We are finally out from the snow but only to expect some more.
Miss you!! Have fun and Be safe!!
XXOO Love Mom