A day at the opera

Hello dears,

This week has been full of different kind of culture events. Finnish National Opera had open door days today. I went there with my friend. She wanted to visit in flea market, she hoped to find old tutu there. But nope, there wasn't any clothes for sale when we got there. I must say, I love to own a tutu too. I had one when I was kid and went to the ballet lessons. Anyhow, in the end we just explored the building. There was different kind of programme. Some of the events you needed a ticket. So we had to queue tickets for a tour behind the stage.

Before the tour we went to see reheasal of A Little Mermaid ballet. It's ballet for kids. Even so most of the audience were adults, without kids.

 

I know the quality of the photo sucks. But I guess you get the idea what happens on the photo :)

 

 

After the reheasal we walked around the building. It was possible to see outfits of operas and ballets. To see how the stage is build, I mean all the little and also bigger details...and so on.

 

 

 

It was also possible to go to listen arias. I really liked those. The last singer sang a O Sole Mio and I got goose bumps when he sang. He were THAT good. But again, I have always liked that song. Anyhow, it was perfect!

 

Musical programme of the day

 

She sang aria from opera La Rondine.

He sang O Sole Mio

 

 

The tour behind the stage was nice too. We visited in a rooms which the dresses, properties, props etc are made of. I really liked the part when we visited in a room where all the dresses are made. It was great to see drawings of the dresses etc.

 

Old ballet shoes

 

 

When the tour was finised we went to listen some more music. I wanted to hear musical saw. It sounded quite sad, almost melancholic. I liked it. Very much.

 

 

 

It was really great to visit at the opera. Now I love to go to see some preformance this spring or in autumn. I know The Phantm of the opera is on their program now. I really love to see it, but I have heard it's sold out. Such a shame!

 

Now I feel sort of tired, coz lots of walking and also got I really haven't ate anything today. I had busy morning, but now I'm back at home and I think it's a good idea to relax. I gonna warm up the sauna and cook something delicious as dinner. After all it's Saturday, why not to spoil myself a little ;)

 

 

Till next time! Ciao! 









Exhibition day

Hello dears,

Since I'm having my winter vacation I had time to go to the exhibitions in Helsinki. In the end I went two different exhibitions. First I went to Ateneum to see exhibition called as Japanomania I spend over 2 hours in Ateneum. Exhibition was full of absolutely beautiful works. It's so suprising to see how common Japanese and Nordic culture is. My favorite paintings were about nature, I also liked a lot Japanese woodblock pictures. Those who are familiar with Japanese art knows the woodblock pictures as ukiyo-e Some years ago in Ateneum was ukiyo-e exhibition. Most of the woodblock pictures on Japanomania exhibition were same as ukiyo-e exhibition. Which was totally fine. I always find something new on woodblock pictures. Them are so calm and exquisite. Full of layers. I saw on the exhibition a quote of Oscar Wilde. He said about Japan and Japanese. "In fact the whole of Japan is pure invention. There is no such country, there are no such people...The Japanese people are simply a mode of style, an exquisite fancy of art." Well said, Mr. Wilde. I do agree with him.

The front of Ateneum.

On the exhibition was china from Japan, Japanese woodblocks, Nordic paintings, mostly painters from Finland and Norway, there was also a few Japanese rugs. Which were beautiful. It was also possible to take a photo of yourself wearing a yukata. I found there absolutely beautiful yukata. The fabric was so pretty! After seeing the exhibition I went to museum store. There was lots of awesome stuff from Japan. I need to go the museum shop some other day again. Maybe then I actually buy something from there.
 

This artwork was outside of Ateneum. It's made of old shirts.

After Ateneum I went to Cafe Espalandi. Had a cup of coffee while I was checking on web how to get to next exhibition. Which was in Bulevardi street.

We Have Inherited Hope – the Gift of Forgetting

 

The next exhibition that I went today was called as We Have Inherited Hope – the Gift of Forgetting It was quite social, tackled with difficult subjects, like refugee crisis. There was a work called as "Until sea shall him free" which was quite shocking. Made me think what kind of crazy world we are living.

 

And they took selfies as they ate carrots...

 

 

The fun part of this shocking exhibition were the rabbits. There was one work called as "And they took selfies as they ate carrots..." you were able to take a selfie with the rabbit. Or actually the rabbit took the selfie. I found it quite amusing. Or maybe I just have twisted sense of humour.

 

 

I still have a day left my vacation. I was thinking about going in EMMA tomorrow before my German lesson. I'm interested of exhibition called as "Ad Reinhardt / Art vs. History". I like political cartoons and satirical art comics. That's why it would be interesting to see the exhibition. But let's see...

 

 

Till next time! Ciao!



Munich

Hello dears,

I'm back at home! I was in Munich, Germany last weekend. It was my way to start a vacation and also celebrate my 10 year career in a company that I work at. To me it's a big deal to work in a same place that long. Let's face it, I'm still young. But most of all, I wanted to go there coz it's my favorite city in Europe. I just like the atmosphere in there. This time one of my long time dreams came true. I finally went to see Bundesliga match, and what is the most important thing, it was match of FC Bayern München. Pretty awesome to be in Allianz Arena and watch football!


Something really suprising happened. I didn't had actual plans what I going to do in Munich. Usually when I travel I have made lots of plans what to do, where to go, and in what order. This time I only knew that I am going to see football on Saturday evening. And also that I like to visit in Residenz and Alte Pinakothek. That was pretty much all. And I did all of that. I also visited a few churches. Funny how only way to get me in the church is when I travel. I also did a lot of walking around the city. Which was fun! I think walking around is the best way to see the city.

This head of lion was front of Residenz museum. If you touch the head it suppose to bring you a good luck. So let's see how lucky I will be in the near future ;)

 

 

 

On Saturday I started my day with art in Alte Pinakothek. It was very impressive art museum. Such a shame that most of the museum was closed but I was able to see the classics. Most of them were German

classics.

 

Alte Pinakothek

I saw cherry blossoms in Munich. That sure is sign of the spring. Seeing cherry blossoms made me very happy. It's beautiful flower. As some of you know, it's my favorite flower.

 

 

On Saturday evening I went to see football in Allianz Arena. The match was very entertaining if you are fan of FC Bayern. If not, it was suffer to watch the match. The match ended 5-0 and I was kinda suprised of the result coz usually when I go to see sport event the team that I support doesn't win. So it was definitely a positive suprise. O yes, I forgot, it wasn't match of Finnish football team, sorry my bad...

 

Allianz Arena on evening. Looks stunning!

 

 

 

I also did a little shopping when I was in Munich. One things that just HAD to buy was a new shirt of die Mannshaft with four stars. Summer is coming, and so is EURO2016. Now I have something to wear when I go to see the matches with my friends.

 

I didn't got shirt of Schweinsteiger, but I got lady fit shirt.

 

 



Now this football fanatic says bye bye! Till next time! Ciao!



 

 

 

 



 

 





 

The spring is coming...

Hello dears,

One sign of the spring is when I wanna decorate my flat a bit. Around this time of the year I have to decorate a little. I don't know why, but I guess it has something to do with spring and nesting...I wanna make my flat a better place to live at.

 So this weekend I went to Plantagen to buy a new flowers. I should mention, when I go to Plantagen I don't just buy a flower or two, I buy lots of them. Same thing with IKEA, everytime I go in IKEA I want to buy just a one item, but I leave there with lots of stuff and with over 150 euro bill. So that's why I avoid going in IKEA and Plantagen.

This weekend I bought five new flowers and five flowerpots for the flowers. O yes, if anybody needs or wants red, blue or yellow flowerpots, I can give them away for free. Those colors just doens't fit to my decoration. I prefer more close to nature colors, like different shades of brown. I just noticed that my flat is full of different shades of brown, a bit white and green flowers. Who knows what that tells about me...

Anyhow, back to the flowers. I prefer to have flowers that are easy to take care of. I don't like to have flowers which I have to water often coz I simply doens't remember to water them. So, that's basicly the most important thing which I need to remember when I buy a new flowers. And then comes how much light the flowers needs. If them need lots of light I don't really have any place where to put them so I prefer penumbra.
 I quite often like to buy different kind of cactuses coz them are easy to take care of, you don't have to water them often. Same thing is with the succulents, you don't have to water them often.
 My absolutely favorite flower is Zanzibar Gem. It's really easy to take care of, you don't have to water it often. It survives without water over a month so it's quite impossible to kill it. Plus it looks beautiful when it grows. I have two of them now, I bought a new one this weekend.

The flowers on right and left are Zanzibar Gems.

 
 My living room is full of green flowers now. I love it! I still like to have a hanging basket and put there Ivy. But first I need to find brownish hanging basket, and that my dears is a problem at the moment. I have found white and black ones but not brown ones. None.

More lovely green flowers, I have palms, snake plant, different kind radiator plants etc.

I think I going to get a couple flowers before the spring, I like to have a new cactus, and I really like to have some kind of flower to my bedroom too.

 

 

Till next time! Ciao! 

Happy Chinese New Year!

Hello sweeties,

Happy Chinese New Year! 恭禧發財!  (Gong Xi Fai Ca) Today begins a year of the Monkey. In Helsinki was Chinese New Year celebrations. It started with the parade. I have always missed the parade so this year I wanted to see it. It was worth it! In the festival area was different kind of shows, Chinese food, people telling about Chinese culture, competitions and so on. I didn't stayed there for long coz it started to rain + it was very crowded.

I read on the paper that today was 10th year to held this kind of Chinese New Year celebrations in Helsinki. I didn't know that before. I think I've been there pretty much every year, well almost every year. Some of you might know that I am interested of Asian culture. It started with the intrests to Indian culture, after when I found Chinese cinema. I got also interested of Chinese culture. I even learnt a bit Chinese. Then I fell in love to Japanese...umn, culture. Anyhow, going to a Chinese New Year celebrations is a tradition to me. Funny thing is that in Helsinki isn't Chinatown, or area any kind where Chinese people would live. Yet still here is held this kind of event. I think it's pretty nice.

The dragon dance

 

This is how the festival area looked like.

Lots of red lanterns

I absolutely love the colors on the dragon!

 

 

Happy year of the Monkey!

 

 

 

This all this time! Till next time! 

 

 





 

Jugend style in Helsinki

Hello sweeties,

I have always been fascinated of Jugend style, or Art Nouveau styled buildings. There's something beautiful about buildings of that era. In Helsinki you can see it as jugendstil the Finnish romanticism, which was heavily influenced by the German architecture. Unlike the French art nouveau the Finnish architecture was more massive and heavy. Inspiration came from medieval castles and Finnish nature.
In Helsinki is largest concentration of Jugend buildings in Northern Europe. And that my dears, is a fact.

So today I made a little walk in Katajanokka where you can see many Jugend style buildings. That's why I love the area. It sucks that the weather wasn't good one. It snowed heavily and I was soaked wet when I was sitting in a bus. Anyhow, I took some pics so you can see what Finnish romanticims really is.

The central station of Helsinki

 

The National Theatre

 

 

A Building in Katajanokka

 

Another Building in Katajanokka

 

Buildings in Katajanokka

 

 

 

I am going in München in mid-March and this time I gonna take some time to do a walking tour in Schwabing area. There's Jugend style buildings. And I really love to see them. In summer I didn't had time to go there. I'm actually very excited about this walking tour.

 

 

Time to say bye, till next time! 

 

 

 

WÖYH! at Sellosali

Hello sweeties,

On Wednesday I went to see concert of WÖYH!. WÖYH! is Finnish prog band. What made their concert in Sellosali special was the Ulpu Dance Company. It might sound a bit weird combo; progressive rock and dance (ballet/modern dance) but hey the show was absolutely brilliant. The show was very well made and when I left there I was speechless and very very blown away. So was my friend who with I went to see the concert. We both were impressed. I hope they will have this kind of show in the future. I definitely wanna go to see it! But soon, I will go to their concert again. This time it's in legendary rock club Tavastia in Helsinki. Maybe they will play "Lokki" in Tavastia. I really wanted to hear that song. It's one of my favorite songs by WÖYH!

The band, WÖYH!

 

Ulpu Dance Company

 

HIEHO!

 

The band and the dancers.



That's all this time! Till next time!