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Europe 2010 June Part 2 Vantaa, Helsinki: Finland Finland
Friday June 25 We got up at 4:30. The TV alarm was on, but the volume was set so low that we had slept through it. We hurried, and I took the luggage to the shuttle stop at the back of the hotel. Rita went to knock on Raija and Ken's door. They were already at the stop waiting for the shuttle. Rita finally gave up knocking on their door and arrived just in time to catch the 5:44 shuttle. Checked in, Ken had breakfast, I had an orange juice and coffee, the ladies were shopping in the duty-free. Boarded the plane, took off at 8:05 and arrived in Helsinki at 12:45 Helsinki time 15 minutes early. Merja and Kari, our Finnish hosts, were waiting for us at the airport.
I had arranged for a rental car with Economy car rentals, the cheapest rental company that I had found on the internet. They had not provided very good documentation of where to pick up the car. We went through the whole airport looking for Economy car rentals. Nobody had heard of the company. Started to worry that I had been ripped off. I was ready to give up and just rent another car from another company. Merja and Kari had had the same problems on one of their trips and we started to ask the rental companies if they had heard of me. Went to Hertz, nothing, Sixth, nothing, finally went to Budget which had the last office in the row of car rentals at Vantaa airport. They finally recognized my name.
Kari drove our luggage to the house while the rest of us went to find the car.
It was supposed to be parked in 207 stall in the Budget parking area. Tried the remote on the car parked there, nothing, tried again nothing. Merja who was coming with us, looked at the envelope the contract was in, and said the 7 was a 1. I'm not sure yet, but the Finns must write the number 1 and 7 the same way the Hungarians do. They look the same, but 7 has a stroke through the vertical part. Anyway, the remote worked on the car in 201.
Merja guided us to the house. The Finns celebrate Juhannus (Midsummer) and
Finnish Flag Day
Kari had cured Siika filets the day before, which he cut into thin slices. With the Finnish Rye bread and butter it tasted wonderful.
He also smoked some Nieria.
Merja barbequed pork on the charcoal BBQ. They have a beautiful Weber BBQ, but they prefer the charcoal.
Had a sauna before dinner. Kari had made a couple of Sauna Vihtas. They are birch branches with leaves, that are tied together, and you slap your body all over with it.
Rita and Raija first, and then I went. Ken had taken some insulin too early and he was waiting for the food, so he didn't go. They have a wonderful, authentic, wood burning Finnish Sauna.
Then it was time for Dinner.
Wonderful meal with wonderful people. After dinner we had a shot of Crown Royal and then continued to empty the wine bottles. Kari put some music on and danced with Raija.
He was in a good mood, and a real ladies man.
It was raining, off and on, but it was comfortable sitting outside. At 23:30 it was still light. Because it never really gets dark, at this time of year in Finland, the only way they can tell when it's time to go to bed, is when the wine bottles get empty. At midnight Merja and Kari gave us some instructions on how to run the house, and then called a taxi to drive them to their son's place. Their son is visiting Berlin and Paris, so they are staying at his place, while he is away and we're here. Couldn't believe they hugged us and kissed us. I thought that that was a Hungarian Shtick. I always imagined Finns to be way more reserved. Goes to show ya, you don't know people until you are actually there. We spent Juhannus Eve with a couple of wonderful people. How many people have the opportunity to experience an authentic national holiday with wonderful local people in a foreign country. We are truly lucky to have met them. Saturday June 26 Received an Email from Rick this morning. He found this site on the web about St. Istvαn Basilica in Budapest. We never realized when we were there what was under our feet. Just click on Budapest. Heated up the Sauna first thing this morning. Rita and then Ken went while I was writing this blog. Had lunch and then went looking for a SIM card for the cell phone Merja had lent Raija. Followed the GPS to the nearest stores it could find nearby. Some of the stores didn't exist, and the ones who did were closed for Juhannus. We went to a gas station where the kid behind the counter suggested we go to the store at the train station. Bought a case of beer and some snacks and went looking for the train station. We found the train station, and while Raija was waiting in line at the counter, Rita was looking through the Finish magazines.
Raija bought a SIM card and we decided to head back home.
On the way we went inside a Finnish Pub just to look around but decided not to stay. Programmed the GPS to take us back to the house. Drove and drove, nothing looked familiar. So we pulled off to the side of the road to reprogram the GPS. In Finland, unlike in England, there is no problem parking on the roads, especially on Juhannus. Everything seemed to be deserted. It was a beautiful warm day, and the Finnish beer sure tasted good. Had dinner, watched the Ghana-USA world cup game. Ghana won 2:1 just as they did in the previous world cup against the USA. The game finished at 00:15 (12:15 AM). It was still light outside. Since I don't carry a watch, I looked at my wine glass, to see what time it was. It was empty, so decided to go to bed. Sunday June 27 The ladies decided that we were going to shop at Stockmans (a famous department store in Helsinki) today. So guess what happened, Ken and I ended up going shopping at Stockmans with the ladies.
We separated from the ladies and agreed to meet in two hours at one of the delicatessens in the store. Ken was still wearing his $20 watch that hadn't worked in a couple of weeks. He was determined to get it fixed. He and I went to the jewellery department where he asked whether they could fix it. They sent him to the basement where the battery department was. While waiting, I went to the music department to look at some Finnish CD's. They changed the battery in his watch and he came back about 15 minutes later with a humongous smile on his face and asked if I knew what time it was. It's a good thing he didn't have his hearing aid battery replaced or he would have heard me muttering under my breath, "It's about time you got over getting your stupid $20 watch repaired and enjoy the rest of the holidays". For the rest of the day he was updating me about every 5 minutes on what time it was in Helsinki. Tried to take a picture of him, but even the wide-angle lens wouldn't cover the smile on his face. Now it was time to solve my problem, which is that my all season cargo pants are starting to tear. Went to the men's department to try to find a new pair. There was a big sale going on and the men's department was just buzzing. I have never seen so many men shopping at the same time. Finally managed to find a pair. The price, 75 (approx. $100). Decided to walk around with torn pants for a little while longer. While I was writing this story, a beautiful pheasant cock walked by the front window. Yesterday, a friendly squirrel came within a few feet of us. It looked like a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit with long furry ears. I didn't have my camera handy so I don't have a picture of it.
Back to the pants. I had bought mine at regular price in Canada for $25. No way am I prepared to pay 4 times the price, on sale. Felt like asking them if they knew of a cheap seamstress. Went out to Mannerheimintie the street Stockmans is on and walked around. The gypsies are well represented in Finland also. They beg the same passive way as they do in Budapest, sitting on the sidewalk with a cup in their hand. At least they don't hassle you as they do in Paris.
Went back to the prearranged delicatessen to meet the ladies at 14:30. Rita showed up with a big bag and Raija showed up a little later with a bigger bag. At least the ladies have money. We decided that we were going to go to the Tori (Market place). Everybody wanted to walk, since it's close to Stockmans. I thought we should drive since Stockmans closes at 18:00 on Sundays. Finally convinced my companions, and we went down to the parking lot. We were in the store for approximately two hours, parking was 12 ($15). Not only do they rip you off while your shopping, they rip you off for having had the pleasure of getting ripped off in the store. Parked the car on a side street, for free, and walked to the Tori. Walked by the statue of Havis Amanda and took pictures as in 1998.
Tried to get into the market place, but it was closed.
We had passed by a famous Helsinki restaurant called Capelli which the Russian officers used to frequent when they occupied Finland. It is on a long boulevard type park on Kaartinkaupunki going between Stockmans and the Satama Tori. Decided to have lunch.
I had a tuna sandwich 7.20 ($9.25) and a beer which was only 3/4 full for 5.90 ($7.50). Where is Elaine (my Niece who always brings a case of free beer to the house) when I really need her?
Rita of course, regardless of the price, always orders 2x what she can eat. So I finished off her salad. We then walked (there was no way I was going to park) back to Stockmans to do some grocery shopping.
If you ever decide to go on a diet, Helsinki is the perfect place to do it. The prices are outrageous. Ie. a baguette that cost $.75 in London costs $3 in Helsinki. I am glad they accept Visa everywhere, since the wad of money I would have to carry around to exist here, would certainly do my ripped pants in. When we arrived home, we noticed that Merja and Kari had picked up their car. Too bad we missed them. Watched the second half of the England-Germany game, had dinner and later watched Argentina-Mexico. Finally we are able to watch some of the football (soccer) games. Monday June 28 Went to the Jumbo Flamingo shopping center. Two of the Finish people I had contacted when I first started looking for a house exchange in Finland, mentioned that they live near the Jumbo Flamingo. It is a large shopping center about 8Km from where we are staying. We wanted to shop for groceries and some wine. The ladies handled the groceries while Ken and I bought some wine.
Raija went to buy a new SIM chip. Ken and Rita had some passport photos taken for their Finnish Passports, which they will receive at the Helsinki Police Station. After they Finnish with the process, my traveling companions will all have two passports. A Canadian and a Finnish one. I will be the only one of the crowd with only one passport. But since I don't have a split personality, like the others in our crowd, I only need one. We came home before the ice cream was totally melted. Had a bite to eat, then headed out to the Tori. We parked on a side street and not at the Stockmans underground parking this time. It only cost us 8 ($12) for two hours. Separated at 14:30 and agreed to meet at the Havis Amanda statue at 16:30. Ken and I finished the Tori in about 30-40 seconds. We then walked to the two churches near the Tori.
Went by the Silja line terminal (the ferry that runs between Helsinki and Stockholm). We landed here in 1998 on our trip to Finland.
When we went back to the Tori, we found the ladies in deep contemplation and making some really hard decisions at an accessories venders table.
Raija must have haggled hard because she was quite satisfied with her acquisitions. Even Rita was getting concerned with the prices in Helsinki. She figured she spent over $60. She had some pees, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, chanterelle mushrooms, peppers, dill. That is all. They made a Finnish dinner out of all the groceries they had bought at the Tori.
Tuesday June 29 Went to look at the apartment the Fransilas used to live in. It is on Munkkiniemen Puistotie in Munkkinemi. Met Anne (Raijas childhood friend) at 11:30. She borrowed the key to the apartment building from the hairdresser, who has a shop beside the entrance to the apartment.
The door to their apartment is now a wall. It is not an apartment anymore, it is part of the bank which occupies the bottom floor.
This is where the door used to be.
Rita played in the sandbox for a while, stood beside the rock she used to climb as a child.
They reminisced about old times, and while standing in the backyard of the apartment building went through the names of all the families who used to live there.
This is Rita's elementary school.
Then we went to the park where Rita remembers learning to skate in the winter.
After this the ladies decided to have lunch. Ken and I were told to take off. So not being invited to the ladies luncheon, we drove around Helsinki and ended up at the Tori. We drowned our sorrow of not being invited in a glass of beer. We had agreed to meet at 15:00 at Anne's apartment. Had coffee and pastries.
Stayed for about an hour, and headed home. On the way home, Raija phoned Iris to see if she wanted to come over and visit us. She arrived around 19:30.
Talked about all the family in Finland and Sweden. Ken and I snuck out to watch the Spain-Portugal game at 21:30. Wednesday June 30 First thing in the morning I booked two rooms at the Cumulus Kaisaniemi in downtown Helsinki. We will be having dinner with the relatives near the train station in the middle of the city, and instead of driving back to Vantaa, we decided to stay for the night at the hotel which is within walking distance of the restaurant. I loved the idea, because I can relax and not worry about driving. The legal limit in Finland is .05% which is my normal blood alcohol level when I wake up in the morning. Raija sent some of her belongings back to Canada. Found the nearest Posti (Post Office) and she mailed the parcel.
We decided to try out the street cars in Helsinki instead of paying the parking in the downtown area. We drove to Munkkinemi and caught the #4.
It took us right to Senate Square, where we intended to take a bus tour of the city.
Before we got on the bus Raija and Rita decided that they needed a technical break. So we walked down the street towards the Tori and found a public WC. The Finns don't P_SS around when it comes to money. It cost .50 or 42 English PEES for 1 Canadian one. The exchange rates here are a lot worse than in London. But at least I got a picture of the WC sign for free.
On the way back to the square we decided to look into a museum.
We went back to the square and took the purple bus tour. Cost, 25 ($32.50) each.
The buses start from the square every 30 minutes, so soon we were on our way. We sat on the upper deck of the bus and within a block of the start we realized that it was going to be a rough ride. They take your paper money at the start of the tour, and then they shake the loose change out of your pockets during it. If you have kidney or gallstones this is an inexpensive alternative to a Lithotripsy. We felt every cobblestone the bus went over. It was a jarring experience. Drove by the train station, which as I said, we will be staying near tomorrow night.
Then the tour took us to the Olympic Stadium. Helsinki hosted the Summer Olympics in 1952. I was really interested in seeing it, because as a kid I remember how proud I was that Hungary ended up in third place there behind the US and USSR with 16 Gold Medals. They have a statue of Paavo Nurmi, a very famous Finnish long distance runner, in front of the stadium. They also have a statue of Lasse Viren another famous long distance runner.
When we got back to Senate square we looked around inside Helsinki Cathedral.
After looking around we went back to the bus stop on the square, and took the yellow tour, which was included in the price of the tickets.
After the tour we took the streetcar back to our car in Munkkinemi, and went home.
While we were out, Ken's documents to get his EU passport arrived by FedEx. Raija wanted to made some phone calls, and while she was doing that Rita, Ken and I went shopping. Had dinner and went to bed. This might be the last of my report for a while, since we will be going to the family dinner tomorrow, and then we are off to Varkaus. Well that's the end of the story for June, go
to July to read about our adventures.
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