Midsummer in Finland

Hello dears,

This weekend we gonna celebrate Midsummer in Finland. It's the main national holiday in Finland. Originally a celebration of the summer solstice, it is typically spent with friends and family at a summer cottage away from the city, either partying or relaxing. But some of us spent it in a city. This year there going to be a music festivals in Helsinki so that gonna keep some in a city during the Midsummer.

Lighting bonfires and bathing in saunas are two of the most typical traditions in Midsummer celebrations.If you gonna spend the Midsummer in a summer cottage barbecuing, fishing and boating have later become standard Midsummer pastimes while enjoying cottage life. In the old days, Midsummer spells were cast, many of which had to do with hopes of increasing fertility and finding a future spouse. Personally I have always liked the one where you collect 8 different flowers and put them under your pillow before you go to bed. If you do so you should see your future spouse in your dream. Here is a link about Midsummer love spells 

Midsummer Eve is celebrated most of Nordic countries, Baltic countries and also some countries in Europe. All the countries has a bit different traditions.

Here is the Midsummer bonfire from Espoo

That's all from me now. Till the next time!

Soon it begins

Hello dears,

Day after tomorrow EURO2016 begins. That means I gonna watch a lot of football, or soccer as people call this noble game in the USA.
 To support "my team" I painted flag of Germany on my nails. Today I let you know how I did it. So let's start!

How I to do German flag nails

 

You gonna need yellow, red and black nail polish. To finish you also need top coat. I added 4 golden stars on my thumbs. To add the stars you gonna need a glue. To make stripes you gonna need tape.

 Add yellow nail polish to the nails. Let the nail polish dry well before you gonna make the red stripes. To make red stripes I applied piece of tape to each nail and then painted the nails with red nail polish. Then again, let the nail polish dry well before adding black nail polish to tip of your nails. When you have added black nail polish let the nail polish dry well again. When the nails are dry I added a stripe of glue between red and black stripe, then I added the stars to the nails of the thumbs. After that I added top coat all nails. Voilà your nails are ready!

 

 

Voilà!

 

Till next time!

Safety toys to preemies

Hello dears,

I just wanted to share with you guys what I did today. I took a part to charity event where people crochet octopus safety toys to preemies. Lately in Finland it has been quite popular to crochet safety toys to preemies. I have wanted to crochet safety toy quite a while but I didn't know how to do it so that's why I took part to charity event tonight. So if any of you is interested to crochet safety toys to preemies or just for fun let me know and I will write a blog about how to make one. It's really easy and doesn't take much time.

This is the one I made tonight.

--

Till the next time!

A weekend in Estonia

Hello dears,

Last weekend I went to spring trip of Lääketekniset. Me and my follow union members spend a weekend in Estonian countryside. It was a fun weekend. I met a new people and saw some really nice places.

On Friday afternoon we took a ferry from Helsinki to Tallinn. From Tallin we took a bus to Nelijärve Puhkekeskus. Nelijärve Puhkekeskus was middle of the nowhere, meaning middle of the forest. Which means there was a lot of mosquitos, which means that I'm full of mosquito bites now. For a some reason mosquitos loves my blood. Anyhow, Friday evening we just relaxed and enjoyed the sunny evening.

Saturday morning we had breakfast at the hotel. After the breakfast we started our tour around Estonian countryside. We saw lots of mansions, a little villages, apple trees (lots of them, every garden was at least one apple tree) and Siimusti pottery facotory. I bought Estonian pottery to myself and also for my mother as birthday present.

 

First place we visited was an old train station.

 


Roosna Allikun mansion. I love old buildings like this one. I could live there. Easily.

I saw many herons in Estonia.

 

This building was behind the old mansion.

All churches I saw in Estonia had similar kind of roof as this church.

 On Saturday evening when we were back in Nelijärve Puhkekeskus some of us went to sauna and swimming. I went to rest in my room. Around 20:30 we had dinner and after it we sat outside at the terrance drinking wine and talking. I had to go in bed around midnight. I was so tired ( and full of mosquito bites).

Sunday morning started with breakfast. After breakfast we packed our stuffs and continued our journey to the Albu mansion. From mansion we headed to Tammsaare museum. I liked a lot Tammsaare museum.




Albu mansion

In Finnish this swing is called as "kyläkeinu", very freely translated it means "village swing".

Fence in Tammsaare

Tammsaare village

From Tammsaare we rode back to Tallinn where we had lunch before getting back to Helsinki. I must say I liked a lot this trip. I saw a lot of nice places and met a new people with similar sence of humour.

Till next time!

A day trip to Vallisaari

Hello dears,

Today was the opening weekend of Vallisaari. Vallisaari island and the neighbouring Kuninkaansaari island are being released from military use and will be open to the public. Vallisaari is near to Suomenlinna fortress, and like Suomenlinna it's also one of the Unesco World Heritage Sites. Only the narrow Kustaanmiekka sound separates Vallisaari from Suomenlinna. The milieu of Vallisaari is absolutely beautiful.  In proportion to their surface area, the islands possess the richest biodiversity in Helsinki. What is more, the famous Alexander battery, casemate batteries and garrison buildings that were built during the period of Russian rule all have interesting stories to tell about the history of the area.

The weather wasn't the best one for hiking today. It was rainy almost whole time when I was in Vallisaari. I wore my cagoule, it was a smart move to do. I would looked like wet dog without cagoule.

  I started my tour at the cave with bats. There was a group telling information about the bats. I liked the way how they had decorated the cave.

 

After visiting at bat cave I walked to the Kustaanmiekka. From Kustaanmiekka I walked to Alexander battery.

 

 

 



 

 

 

My favorite spot in Vallisaari is definitely Alexander battery. From there was absolutely fantastic view of Helsinki. Or what do you think?

 

 

 

 I met my friend in Kuninkaansaari, she was doing some volunteer work with WWF. Before I saw her I had a nice talk with the WWF group leader. He looked like a typical hipster with the red hat, very charming person. We had a nice conversation about Vallisaari and it's nature, also the work of WWF in Vallisaari.

 

 

I definitely will go again in Vallisaari in summer. I've planned a little trip to there with my friends. Let's hope then it will be much better weather than today.

Till next time!

Eurovision song contest 2016

Hello dears,

It's that time of the year again, I mean the Eurovision song contest is here again!
I have heard all the entries and here is my top 5 songs.

1. Armenia, Iveta Mukuchyan- LoveWave

Ever since Armenia took part to Eurovision song contest I have liked their songs. This is very powerful song. I like a lot Iveta's voice. I can't wait to see her on stage tonight!

2. Ukraine, Jamala-1944

What can I say, I simply like it.


3. Russia, Sergey Lazarev- You are the only one

This song goes on like a train. It's over produced pop song, which I don't usually like at all but this song has the it factor.

4. Australia, Dami Im- Sound of Silence

I like her voice. I also like the way how she pronounce a word "silence" Another beautiful song. I could listen it again and again.

5. Germany, Jamie-Lee- Ghost

 

 

The song is good. I have actually heard it many times coz I like to listen German radio channels. It's one of those songs which usually get stuck on my mind when I hear it. It's just I don't like the way she dresses. That I am trying to look like a cute anime/manga character is definitely no-no to me.

 

So there was my top 5 songs. Another songs that I do like are "Say Yay" By Spain and of course "Sing it away" By Finland. Problem with these two songs are that they sound so similar. I actually thought I am listening Sandhja when I head "Say Yay".  I do keep my fingers crossed that Finland will get on the final. So people, vote for Finland if you're watching Eurovision song contest semi final 1 tonight. Thank you very much :)

 

Till next time!

 

 



It feels like summer!

Hello dears,

In Finland we have a public holiday today. Since it was sunny and warm, the temperature was around 23 degrees today I decided to go cycling around the city. Or should I say cities. I started my cycling trip from Espoo and went to Helsinki and from there back to Espoo. I cycled about 30 kilometers.
 My original idea was to cycle to the seaside so I could try a couple hacks to take photos with my systems camera. I got some really nice photos. I need to ask my brother if he knows other good hacks to take photos with systems camera. Both of us are interested of photgraphy. Anyhow since it was so warm I decided to cycle a bit longer route. It was worth it! Gotta love the warm spring days.

I had a few stops during my cycling trip. First one I had at the seaside. It was nice to sit on the cliff and enjoy the sunshine and the fresh sea air. I have always loved the smell of sea air. I closed my eyes and lay on the cliff. It was really relaxing to lay on the cliff and just listen the sound of waves against the rocks. Reminded me of the summer.

Another stop I had when I saw lots of wood anemones at the forest. How great that May is finally here!

 

Third stop I had in Helsinki at Sibelius monument. I saw the monument first time from near. You never really go to see any popular sightseeing spots in area where you live at. At least now I can say that I have seen Sibelius monument.

 

Last stop I had in Seurasaari. It's a lovely island in Helsinki. A great stop go for a walk in summer. Tourists like to go there. I totally understand why they want to visit there. I just don't like it that they feed the squirrels and the birds. It's not allowed to do so. When the animals get used of having food from people they become tame. Tame animals in Seurasaari has caused problems. I wish that people who visit there would understand that even how cute the squirrel would look. It's not a pet, it's wild animal.



 

 

The best part is that next couple weeks I can do many this kind cycling trips since the temperature should be around 20 degrees next 2 weeks. I like it! I better start to plan next one!

 

Till next time!