tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-377727932024-03-20T16:29:13.738+09:00Going Around Sweden, Finland, Italy & TurkeyA Japanese girl travelled around above 4 countries from Sep. - Nov., 2006 for 2 months. I am updating my travel log a couple of months behind with my favorite photos. Composition correction feedbacks are welcome!miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-86814153655603266362007-04-13T01:49:00.000+09:002007-04-13T01:54:46.084+09:00The world of silenceSunday, 24 Sep. 2006 Rattvik<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPK2X6dqNSnbM4chebkDe9psCzhWM6fC1zP9HZ0Xl81vRj0FrjTGSY_uvoMGFTisDuQQl1UvZfRXqW8NeZGrMI7EJNpiNqCWBnU4ekfHN1MFnpmMDswuTSYm9lJyrB0aENPw/s1600-h/et329.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPK2X6dqNSnbM4chebkDe9psCzhWM6fC1zP9HZ0Xl81vRj0FrjTGSY_uvoMGFTisDuQQl1UvZfRXqW8NeZGrMI7EJNpiNqCWBnU4ekfHN1MFnpmMDswuTSYm9lJyrB0aENPw/s320/et329.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052585210311522322" /></a><br /><br />The train from Mora arrived at Rattvik. The weather had changed, the sky was all gray. I was going to go back to the hostel straight but maybe it was too early, so I decided to walk to the lake again just to kill some time.<br /><br />The lake was dead calm. Absolutely dead. There was not a single ripple on the surface. The world looked like all black and white. I even didn’t see the border between the lake and sky. What is going on?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDm3lKifL36kZrzwB0qGpaEQNXPA9LuU42SBKIy6lIR2z7K3JtrVsNT2EKYcvo5xoVWkpjoDjMxe1ctg3nCbjfH4XmZok9Bh1P-FATBf8UroKMnEpHY5xD3Lx7Aqes-zPzw/s1600-h/et332.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQDm3lKifL36kZrzwB0qGpaEQNXPA9LuU42SBKIy6lIR2z7K3JtrVsNT2EKYcvo5xoVWkpjoDjMxe1ctg3nCbjfH4XmZok9Bh1P-FATBf8UroKMnEpHY5xD3Lx7Aqes-zPzw/s320/et332.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052585502369298466" /></a><br /><br />I have seen this kind of mirror lakes before, but those lakes were quite small. This one is not. The circumference of the lake is about 140 km. It was amazing that this large lake was perfectly still. This is the world of silence. I felt like I was in another world. Maybe this is the sign that the lake is calling me to make me come back here. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg2-YToHKUAuZUskTUksf0ROGi2QBoElXOgSPhiKSEfJ9NU-5CbyFUL3AgwaDJSiCOIJXjOUzyfogs62DZbfGHyvOllx9JWoq7CYjBC46uDsbe5fURyauUvJS1saZvjaI_Q/s1600-h/et334.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvg2-YToHKUAuZUskTUksf0ROGi2QBoElXOgSPhiKSEfJ9NU-5CbyFUL3AgwaDJSiCOIJXjOUzyfogs62DZbfGHyvOllx9JWoq7CYjBC46uDsbe5fURyauUvJS1saZvjaI_Q/s320/et334.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052585850261649458" /></a><br /><br />The dead silence lasted for 15 minutes or so. The surface began to ruffle again, then the lake got back to normal with regular ripples. Maybe that was just the time of lull. Though, I would never forget that silence. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OemdsBgOOX663jlRV4_f_enq4OqjEThil7W8vDnH9OddutPCtbFaIXSJTUHW4EoSXsgRkSwMO6OPmhrXgIMM8PKTCwZ1p5kejL7eivXnuB-WOJojKe4hvsv0FriKx6Iqng/s1600-h/et335.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OemdsBgOOX663jlRV4_f_enq4OqjEThil7W8vDnH9OddutPCtbFaIXSJTUHW4EoSXsgRkSwMO6OPmhrXgIMM8PKTCwZ1p5kejL7eivXnuB-WOJojKe4hvsv0FriKx6Iqng/s320/et335.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5052586052125112386" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-49391262937209497552007-04-11T00:05:00.000+09:002007-04-11T00:16:47.516+09:00Nils's PathSunday, 24 Sep. Mora <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieINU7jkMnG3tzduY51Dw_grZCY96qR6A9wzVi-zyWv-5Gn-pPAaNZ5e9meJdSB-SFwDmG_Dhh0HwgAlXvNgqUY5-OdByb4W9VJ9VJ2OmCgxgRJwmuDTnfl1U7ry7_Qq6ymg/s1600-h/et318.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieINU7jkMnG3tzduY51Dw_grZCY96qR6A9wzVi-zyWv-5Gn-pPAaNZ5e9meJdSB-SFwDmG_Dhh0HwgAlXvNgqUY5-OdByb4W9VJ9VJ2OmCgxgRJwmuDTnfl1U7ry7_Qq6ymg/s400/et318.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051817948763830226" /></a><br /><br />Ok, Nobody’s there, and all the shops were closed. What shall I do? My friend recommended me to visit Anders Zorn’s museum. I didn’t know about his works at all, but he is actually a very noted Swedish painter who was born in Dalarna. I have heard that many artists love to live in Dalarna. Maybe this place inspires something. I would see. Many of my favorite bands also come from Dalarna such as The Hives, Atomic Swing, Mando Diao, etc. Well maybe they might have been bored here and they didn’t find anything exciting except playing. Anyway, this area dedicates to Swedish arts a lot.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fFAcai2VpDLNWmdjtM4P64Y9bBWTroJxSnAaXxgVI50-wiOyMfAv4nlElg2EZATqDkCNQo8D6pzW0-xIkx5fExw3KzPXqeaDxB7FeiSZ5WcJTgujA_4rXc6xjCrDpKahXg/s1600-h/et319.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-fFAcai2VpDLNWmdjtM4P64Y9bBWTroJxSnAaXxgVI50-wiOyMfAv4nlElg2EZATqDkCNQo8D6pzW0-xIkx5fExw3KzPXqeaDxB7FeiSZ5WcJTgujA_4rXc6xjCrDpKahXg/s400/et319.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051817407597950882" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPEGKdMDMGCNmlOoeZzmsAXxyNLbrg3zwqF2R9iurNMv7hByw7m-UYPNtOW3AJXOs7Pa7K4ctrXFuXYxO4ik3-fsG9zkgnAKWfVs25bErsUNJhF04-MUzLKrKy_Y-zRpg6Q/s1600-h/et320.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxPEGKdMDMGCNmlOoeZzmsAXxyNLbrg3zwqF2R9iurNMv7hByw7m-UYPNtOW3AJXOs7Pa7K4ctrXFuXYxO4ik3-fsG9zkgnAKWfVs25bErsUNJhF04-MUzLKrKy_Y-zRpg6Q/s400/et320.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051817575101675442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRTAS2mWfQctdDGkq5zHVaLxC77_qe5fnS95SYlhiasOyk5NmJ7JXAjTadjM4nx9bXlN6O37ysIvllqCof-uaN9ZxNSy6c5g-4-ebTxGxjzP0ImXp8aQL-798Kffs-topPA/s1600-h/et321.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRTAS2mWfQctdDGkq5zHVaLxC77_qe5fnS95SYlhiasOyk5NmJ7JXAjTadjM4nx9bXlN6O37ysIvllqCof-uaN9ZxNSy6c5g-4-ebTxGxjzP0ImXp8aQL-798Kffs-topPA/s400/et321.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051817716835596226" /></a><br /><br />So what shall I do now? I could have visited the museum, but because the weather was so nice so I didn’t really wanted to go into a house. I preferred to be outside. I just wandered around and happened to find a very pretty path along the river.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipp5maEggG50flKx2blGnS05G4lJz1h3Scgq6sCSJYDn1r_-abHTzfQ8BO_Qu0j8kd5uYYGib6jmmQb-U-u4jSfNW5o_xVcLnoUSLrmHlc7z_aF4zb3iCLTPz5WLUtEF0DIw/s1600-h/et322.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipp5maEggG50flKx2blGnS05G4lJz1h3Scgq6sCSJYDn1r_-abHTzfQ8BO_Qu0j8kd5uYYGib6jmmQb-U-u4jSfNW5o_xVcLnoUSLrmHlc7z_aF4zb3iCLTPz5WLUtEF0DIw/s320/et322.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051818618778728450" /></a><br /><br />Wow, it is so pretty. I would not be surprised if I would see little boy Nils flying on Duck’s back. A Swedish juvenile called Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige was animated in Japan and it was very popular.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5REB1yxH9dtBLrjfFJi5cJ00rb32IOw0wFH25OKnR9FNsZqDwBn0MZgPjGsrq6X4Z4Pqd55d_bUiomSpB_bgWNoiKWDeCHfHUXKXofuzYhDFkGWfrzBWF1h4Pmj3E0AwFg/s1600-h/et323.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV5REB1yxH9dtBLrjfFJi5cJ00rb32IOw0wFH25OKnR9FNsZqDwBn0MZgPjGsrq6X4Z4Pqd55d_bUiomSpB_bgWNoiKWDeCHfHUXKXofuzYhDFkGWfrzBWF1h4Pmj3E0AwFg/s320/et323.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051818189281998818" /></a><br /><br />That was a real pleasant walk. I was just wondering where were all the people in Mora on such a great day. I didn’t see anybody on the path. No one.<br /><br />I missed the museum. It was closed when I got back. Well, It was OK because I had a great time on the path. I walked in a picturesque scenery but the beautiful day was not over yet.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbx5boFhxlR6HB9DmtHrlZ0txHdgSwqU0FDaAMn37hI9M1CMepJ_o6fl1CxJcYAujrYTY3W0WlRyazW9BBcT_aCXhYl9VURqtg4NBNQmcHCJHetmt5fd3tzpdqDJcwL4PXg/s1600-h/et324.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbx5boFhxlR6HB9DmtHrlZ0txHdgSwqU0FDaAMn37hI9M1CMepJ_o6fl1CxJcYAujrYTY3W0WlRyazW9BBcT_aCXhYl9VURqtg4NBNQmcHCJHetmt5fd3tzpdqDJcwL4PXg/s320/et324.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051818352490756082" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-89196350906673031122007-03-27T02:42:00.000+09:002007-03-27T02:48:56.597+09:00Mora on SundaySunday, 24 Sep. Rattvik - Mora <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf6EsVTrxf2CoruVjmk77ec-uQE5I2cm87X5k7F1TUWawPX-cXs2EcgaULlE5_QRafLmfQSLezOYSVYdVFM8A50tywT7StTQ0TpldnU6ypgzJUdQAVAi2OYfoTKQt7xmkAg/s1600-h/et316.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf6EsVTrxf2CoruVjmk77ec-uQE5I2cm87X5k7F1TUWawPX-cXs2EcgaULlE5_QRafLmfQSLezOYSVYdVFM8A50tywT7StTQ0TpldnU6ypgzJUdQAVAi2OYfoTKQt7xmkAg/s400/et316.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046290562144740178" /></a><br /><br />Weather forecast had said that it was going to be gray sky. Yes it was, when I looked up the sky through the window in the morning. But it was getting better and better while I took a walk to the little white church by the lake. I was planning to go to Mora by bus. While walking, I saw a white horse grazing in the meadow with a red wooden barn. That scenery was very Swedish to my eyes.<br /><br />Have you heard of Princess Cake? It is called prinsessbakelse in Swedish. It is a typical Swedish cake covered with green marzipan, whipped cream, jam and almond paste inside. It would be one of the reasons for the large amount of consumption of almond in Sweden. Cake covered by marzipan sounds and actually looks pretty sweet, but less sweet than I thought. I was very interested in this cake so I was not able to stop trying every time I found this. Each bakery had different taste of course. While waiting for the bus to Mora, I dropped in a bakery near the station and had a piece of princess cake again. I had some in Stockholm too but this one had better taste and much cheaper. This is very Swedish photo for me too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYTDK2zmkHsTCFCcwDQb-YTrcowGZL7I0KgHkNkps3JMyUPjqohuXE_BUONR65Spd4_F_q3n0xvpxXOEDGNdEs3W84oRXXxuf5Om_kDYfdroSP1ABQ1CtpFafDdZEWBYTCA/s1600-h/et305.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLYTDK2zmkHsTCFCcwDQb-YTrcowGZL7I0KgHkNkps3JMyUPjqohuXE_BUONR65Spd4_F_q3n0xvpxXOEDGNdEs3W84oRXXxuf5Om_kDYfdroSP1ABQ1CtpFafDdZEWBYTCA/s400/et305.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046290751123301218" /></a><br /><br />Maybe taking a train would be much much faster and it would cost less, but I wanted to go there by bus to see smaller villages on the way. It was right choice. The local bus went through white birch woods stopping at several villages, so I was able to see a bit of every life there. I like going slow. This kind of stuff is my joy of travel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9Z1FgHNKjNeKOnJX5l1ItjA3krkenLz2qVt5TmhbfM5fnMixGpKYut_fY_fLBvXcBTCgzcYmXaw96OFdeHd4FYbA8G1gShVcqiDZlBabE6equpY4J2-OTywspFkH3lrUfg/s1600-h/et327.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9Z1FgHNKjNeKOnJX5l1ItjA3krkenLz2qVt5TmhbfM5fnMixGpKYut_fY_fLBvXcBTCgzcYmXaw96OFdeHd4FYbA8G1gShVcqiDZlBabE6equpY4J2-OTywspFkH3lrUfg/s400/et327.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046290987346502514" /></a><br /><br />After an hour, I arrived at Mora. Mora is rather big town compared to other villages in this region, well, it is still small and quiet, though. The bus driver slightly smiled at me and said ‘welcome to Mora’. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLHKT3JSQLN1QolblZsFPjEnCEgJZO_mKnW6bjAvzecebwwdHEYQvxP9KGfjsI2WONGUCuvOzDwNfiw8InivP0oeU5ypwovlKPXpix6a26Ih8syEsUi7lw4CQr-CVagrtTQ/s1600-h/et312.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLHKT3JSQLN1QolblZsFPjEnCEgJZO_mKnW6bjAvzecebwwdHEYQvxP9KGfjsI2WONGUCuvOzDwNfiw8InivP0oeU5ypwovlKPXpix6a26Ih8syEsUi7lw4CQr-CVagrtTQ/s400/et312.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046291313764017026" /></a><br /><br />I walked down the small main street. There were only few people in town and most of shops were closed. Of course, it was Sunday. There was a camp site and a small canal in town also. Next to the camp site, there was craft shop district. All the shops were closed again. Mmm, nothing to do actually, but just walk around this pretty quiet town was relaxing. I happened to find a nice little path along the river, so I went.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOAdu0HTZj7t4ho1RF8gKrmFx_d4Ac6kQRO63kCJq_f7Q4b05n4vneXIuGHV0YJSPHsmCEQLIKm_1hLrpVkfUHG4JG-A5HtHt3kwZuv5Cnf6-XG2FPN_-sUWYAWyt-o1xhA/s1600-h/et314.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOAdu0HTZj7t4ho1RF8gKrmFx_d4Ac6kQRO63kCJq_f7Q4b05n4vneXIuGHV0YJSPHsmCEQLIKm_1hLrpVkfUHG4JG-A5HtHt3kwZuv5Cnf6-XG2FPN_-sUWYAWyt-o1xhA/s400/et314.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046291571462054802" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-74301293350243985302007-03-16T01:24:00.000+09:002007-03-16T01:29:15.791+09:00Out to DalarnaSaturday, 23 Sep. 2006 Rattvik <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUAI013VvXLkjOfmz7JdfbceHLnULMtea3Q8yFmwRd88OlGYF5gJQGC8WdfKHCwfT9mrYc3NX8zO8lSfsmBd8A_YXSpxUgicqepBIVQ4sQAST_TuDhJMAF5rUvq9oC0zitA/s1600-h/et285.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUAI013VvXLkjOfmz7JdfbceHLnULMtea3Q8yFmwRd88OlGYF5gJQGC8WdfKHCwfT9mrYc3NX8zO8lSfsmBd8A_YXSpxUgicqepBIVQ4sQAST_TuDhJMAF5rUvq9oC0zitA/s400/et285.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042188061262778194" /></a><br />Out to Dalarna for a couple of days. I had a thought that Dalarna would be the most ‘Swedish’ place. I mean my images of Sweden seemed to come from Dalarna such as Dalahest, mid-summer festival, reddish wooden houses in the woods of white birch trees, something like those, although my friend pointed out that Swedish and Dalarna-ish wouldn’t be the same. Maybe. Anyway I love to go to country side. I decided to stay in Rattvik because it is located between Mora and Leksad, which are most popular place in Dalarna region. I wanted to stay around Lake Siljan. <br /><br />I took the bus to Rattvik from Stockholm. As soon as I got out of the city of Stockholm, I just saw plains and little ponds for about 4 hours. That was I had expected maybe boring but peaceful scenery. <br /><br />The bus arrived at Rettvik 4 hours after. In front of the train station, there was big Dalahest. There it is. Now I am in Dalarna. Rattvik looked very small pretty town and I didn’t see people around. It was so quiet.<br /><br />The station was on the lakeshore. Right back of the station, there was a long wooden pier toward the lake whose length was about 6650 meters. It is connected to the man-made small island in the lake. Several white birch trees were planted on that island. You can see beautiful sunset from the bridge. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8SSgcwX6s5wvrouokA0CLyqDj2wAs4nOms7AWScAug4SFNOibbVbgBc7PLKOW8-DYb_IYElcBIbr0rjOyNJXZ_rCF5ZcTScKvRcDVi6mUbe25jzjU0jb5Negt1miZpfQog/s1600-h/et294.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8SSgcwX6s5wvrouokA0CLyqDj2wAs4nOms7AWScAug4SFNOibbVbgBc7PLKOW8-DYb_IYElcBIbr0rjOyNJXZ_rCF5ZcTScKvRcDVi6mUbe25jzjU0jb5Negt1miZpfQog/s400/et294.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042188864421662562" /></a><br /><br />It was already in the evening, so all I would do for the day was just going to YH. Rattvik would be popular tourist town in summer, but the this time of the year, I really didn’t see any tourists. My friend was right. Rattvik YH is located in the park near town center. It looked like a old school from outside, but it was pretty modern and well-equipped inside. I got a whole dormitory room all for myself. I just saw a couple of elderly people in YH.. The tourists’ season was certainly over.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbH4o7_kd1m7Rb79fhdP4ryvq7iYLLyaR419CunbdDSys5YN-tZi3Stk9Q7TBMLC3p2aFUETmvLIOpliBu8sqXbOuzMLiHpHNWm2N-5YSqBaWae-gE5JnoTHSYrXRdzd7cA/s1600-h/et300.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbH4o7_kd1m7Rb79fhdP4ryvq7iYLLyaR419CunbdDSys5YN-tZi3Stk9Q7TBMLC3p2aFUETmvLIOpliBu8sqXbOuzMLiHpHNWm2N-5YSqBaWae-gE5JnoTHSYrXRdzd7cA/s400/et300.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5042189104939831154" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-89736558833805659232007-03-08T01:52:00.000+09:002007-03-08T01:56:14.468+09:00Drottningholms SlottFriday, 22 Sep. Drottningholms Slott<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGHpSRPJSyI5xjlLv-aPcslcgAZhUoCO2QG_v1vOu-FUQkxgI3_pVRKWMbYzGzgkixk7w_F6BpyLzyODtkqsjoTiVNOD_U6H8gptAWjZN_AcRST0pSGGwizw3fuHY6esM0g/s1600-h/et277.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmGHpSRPJSyI5xjlLv-aPcslcgAZhUoCO2QG_v1vOu-FUQkxgI3_pVRKWMbYzGzgkixk7w_F6BpyLzyODtkqsjoTiVNOD_U6H8gptAWjZN_AcRST0pSGGwizw3fuHY6esM0g/s400/et277.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039226962457454658" /></a><br /><br />My friend took me out for Drottning Slott where is the residence of the Royal family. It was like a mid summer day. The sun shined strong and the sky was so blue. The castle was located by Lake Mälaren out of the city center. It was called castle, but for me it looked like a mansion rather than a castle. It had a simpler structure to call it ‘castle’, which was actually nice.<br /><br />I got a sore throat so I bought an ice cream at a kiosk. Don’t you need ice cream when you get a cold? I do. I was just looking at the sky and the lake while eating absent-minded. It was, let’s say, there was nothing special in sight, but it was special for my eyes. The color of the sky, the lake and the trees were vibrant. I can never get tired of looking at, I thought. I can spend for a couple of hours just sitting here doing nothing. All I could say was beautiful, beautiful, so beautiful. My friend smiled a bit. Is it funny? Yes, this might be just normal scenery for you, nothing special…but<br />‘well, yeah. it is nothing special’ my friend goes.<br />Nothing special? Do you mean it? This is the view that the King sees every day! Of course it is special!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfqPBh3q22ayasHfioxQ34lcEW0edvpbrhiayyOwvj-srX1DaNPLuiRjg_02IrggNHt0ZpQndLj-nYaZiVFicM0dGGzdBYnr8KkzfTttL62ZJTqW0FXmlHVLhINeM_p9mjw/s1600-h/et270.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfqPBh3q22ayasHfioxQ34lcEW0edvpbrhiayyOwvj-srX1DaNPLuiRjg_02IrggNHt0ZpQndLj-nYaZiVFicM0dGGzdBYnr8KkzfTttL62ZJTqW0FXmlHVLhINeM_p9mjw/s400/et270.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039227129961179218" /></a><br /><br />There were few people around. It was already late afternoon on weekday. We wondered around the site and came to a lawn garden. The lawn was well trimmed (of course!), velvety, looked very fluffy. We didn’t see anybody else. It was all ours. I felt like screaming and rolling around on the grass like a kid. It should be fun. But I am a grown-up, so I controlled myself. Grown up sucks. I just fall down on the grass for a while. I wish I could have taken a nap for a couple of hours at least. But unfortunately it was too late to take a nap. My cold might get worth. I envy the King. Your highness are living in such a nice place. Really.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddiXzJw4uSUTzA1VPeTLoGU2N0FEWzI4oQ43gixvuT1uTqcnlkhulnsJ0SDWvWE6GY7AXQp8Xddy7GfKQT2OfPmH7YWAO43IxJ6aC0KODM8ToqFnBW3696hA4XNBhIt5AVg/s1600-h/et275.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddiXzJw4uSUTzA1VPeTLoGU2N0FEWzI4oQ43gixvuT1uTqcnlkhulnsJ0SDWvWE6GY7AXQp8Xddy7GfKQT2OfPmH7YWAO43IxJ6aC0KODM8ToqFnBW3696hA4XNBhIt5AVg/s400/et275.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039227306054838370" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-52246674465857547842007-03-08T01:01:00.000+09:002007-03-08T01:09:47.586+09:0040 years love storyThursday, 21 Sep. Stockholm<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRugZcEN4deFFZbL9JLbjOLSaQ8qxoswW87brcmnnsPgTnHfsaP46kFbBs-uUq44WP6LlEnB-QQ5e6ggsiSwUCMwpLoSouWczdIk52i7sRrsHtpOpDZOA2ngsCNmEbX0JNZA/s1600-h/et403.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRugZcEN4deFFZbL9JLbjOLSaQ8qxoswW87brcmnnsPgTnHfsaP46kFbBs-uUq44WP6LlEnB-QQ5e6ggsiSwUCMwpLoSouWczdIk52i7sRrsHtpOpDZOA2ngsCNmEbX0JNZA/s400/et403.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039213995951187986" /></a><br />I visited my Mom’s friends. They are married couple in their 60s and both Japanese. The husband worked for Swedish Post for 40 years and now he is retired. The wife was my mom’s classmate from jr. high school. They met first time in their early 20’s when the husband went back home from Sweden for a vacation. The wife had got already engaged to another man at that time. He went back to Sweden soon. She married her fiancé and had a kid. Several years past, she got divorced. He met her every time he got back to Japan, then they started their long distance relationships between Japan and Sweden. It was like 30 or more years ago. There was no Internet, and overseas travel was not so popular like nowadays. It sounds quite tough. Especially, going to Sweden from Japan was quite rare. She was not able to move to Sweden because of her family and her own shop, and he did not try to move back to Japan. They were on and off, sometimes they didn’t get in touch for several years, they had a big fight a couple of times, but 3 years ago, finally they got married and she moved to Sweden. She was already in her 60s and had never lived abroad. The only language she speaks was Japanese.<br /><br />How romantic that they kept their relationships over 40 years in that tough situation, I thought. It is so sweet they got together at last. The interesting thing is their personalities are totally opposite. The husband is quiet, intelligent, and sophisticated kind of guy, and the wife is chatty, loud, rough kind of person. I have no intention of speaking ill of her. She is kind, happy person and I like her a lot, but objectively she is that sort of person. During my stay of 2 days, they yelled at each other sometimes, but I saw they needed each other and cared of each other so much. That was clear. 40 years romance is alive. Well, of course. They are still newlyweds.<br /><br />‘Well, what a fate’ She goes.<br />‘He had owned a dog which had had the same name of mine before I first met him. So we were fated I guess’<br /><br />The wife had a small diner in Japan so she is a good cook. She fed me lots of good stuff and also the husband made me excellent pasta. Twice a week, they go to a fresh market with a backpack. It takes about over one hour by bus, but they need lots of veggies. They eat 9 kinds of veggies for breakfast every single morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQD80lPILemqqIz2_UVmvD2GVydPyr5V6uXPp116qjRZ4o0fSxpBnr15-wSglq7_jvh6G80X3vYkiVJclJZWpWMG1gFl4ObS6i50xXKx0NyoB5fOPOYQxN5V0of7TxQzPUQ/s1600-h/et269.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQD80lPILemqqIz2_UVmvD2GVydPyr5V6uXPp116qjRZ4o0fSxpBnr15-wSglq7_jvh6G80X3vYkiVJclJZWpWMG1gFl4ObS6i50xXKx0NyoB5fOPOYQxN5V0of7TxQzPUQ/s400/et269.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039214184929749026" /></a><br /><br /><br />The wife took me out to the lake nearby.<br />‘I don’t like living in Sweden. It is too cold for me, food is no good, and winter is too dark…’<br />She murmured a couple of times while I was there. Though, when we were walking through the forest, she told me earnestly;<br />‘The forest is not vivid right now, because it hasn’t been raining. It is so dry. But in spring, maybe in early May, the trees are so beautiful. It is so green. They become so alive suddenly after long cold winter, and it blows me away. She enjoys her life here certainly. I would like to see that beautiful season too. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3i4XcykhLkpC6R5-DgQEwzccWOWdJCoLDJaFpBQIQM88Q-gPnsmvaSIcqRPiT9anyAGgdozqqezZhEfO1U_WYHuCMtTXmUBK8SpV95EpElBkfetmC2MPgsGrdIgNtTh1iQ/s1600-h/et281.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw3i4XcykhLkpC6R5-DgQEwzccWOWdJCoLDJaFpBQIQM88Q-gPnsmvaSIcqRPiT9anyAGgdozqqezZhEfO1U_WYHuCMtTXmUBK8SpV95EpElBkfetmC2MPgsGrdIgNtTh1iQ/s400/et281.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5039214451217721394" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-65041076967939255222006-12-30T17:16:00.000+09:002006-12-30T17:25:04.804+09:00Swedish Thursday LunchThursday, 21 Sep. Stockholm <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9vOeNo7rc2qgKvwB0qD2F9HF1cYfZPaEcxtP8DkjH-zmQmeCNaYl4JIgavWZAslRD_zjENj8-II1ApriBVxzVPzgZy9PJ4BU8-WBb4AMfUWVivQhF1HZzOuUJUNHXdKj-A/s1600-h/et404.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_9vOeNo7rc2qgKvwB0qD2F9HF1cYfZPaEcxtP8DkjH-zmQmeCNaYl4JIgavWZAslRD_zjENj8-II1ApriBVxzVPzgZy9PJ4BU8-WBb4AMfUWVivQhF1HZzOuUJUNHXdKj-A/s400/et404.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014231278356495250" /></a><br /> <br />I went back to Stockholm from Tallinn by ferry. This time I cruised with Tallink. Not many people were on the boat. Still they had a midnight show on the boat, so I went to see. They had Estonian Dance Show at the lounge. About twenty boys and girls danced with 80’s pops. They all were wearing pretty flashy costume and full of smiles, and the choreography looked old-fashioned. Yes, of course, it was 80’s pops dance show. I felt like going back to 20 years ago really.<br /><br />Then I met my friend for lunch in the center of Stockholm. We went to a cafeteria in the Stockholm cultural center which was located by the center square. So we got a good view of the square and a tall glass-made monument through the glass window. They had a selection of daily specials for lunch. My friend told me that Pea soup and pancakes were standard lunch for Thursday. How come?<br />‘I don’t really know why. Anyway, they don’t have to think about the menu on Thursday. So it would be good for them’ my friend goes.<br />Right. So I should try that standard.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD4HUxamuki78htcdHQiTcaNbVK3aOLzjHRCLZnpntzu0g8_jSp8cirbJL_-yXdz5ypXrb4iAF86rHWymtKoyV0s0L9jYqKRARrzpkty8gVebR3kWaQ96JUGB-xXh2P0ubQ/s1600-h/et268.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCD4HUxamuki78htcdHQiTcaNbVK3aOLzjHRCLZnpntzu0g8_jSp8cirbJL_-yXdz5ypXrb4iAF86rHWymtKoyV0s0L9jYqKRARrzpkty8gVebR3kWaQ96JUGB-xXh2P0ubQ/s400/et268.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014231467335056290" /></a><br /><br />It might look so sweet, but actually it was not really. The cream was less sweet so it went good with some jam. Many of the guests were eating this menu indeed. It looked kind of cute to see many middle aged guys were happily eating pancakes with plenty of cream and jam.<br /><br />I was planning to stay in Sweden for 10 days. I had not planned where I would go before I started this travel. I just made up the plan while staying in Tallinn. I had plenty of time to think about it. I decided to visit Dalarna for 3 days, and Oland for 2 days. Other days, I would visit a couple of towns for a day trip from Stockholm. It was already late September, but still temperature was quite high and weather was also good. It was like summer, even it was supposed to be off season in Sweden. <br /><br />‘You would be the only traveler if you go to the other area in Sweden’ my friend said.<br />Really? Youth Hostels in Stockholm are pretty much packed now, and the weather is still so nice. I have seen so many travelers everywhere in Europe even if it was off season. Traveler never stop traveling, so I don’t think so. <br /><br />My friend was right. People don’t travel in off season in Sweden, regardless the weather. I was almost only traveler outside Stockholm.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l9uO7g0mC41uzDBFRSuFKEj4hoX6TcSk_wqSZZ0cbgcBoH2FCGpEicLOJ_zvqB-y0CpmeiUWAXS8X9lSKkH7jmr0AWSq6KzTxwFb7fcaqpvJzr2K7E5wH87hE2rI7f7H4g/s1600-h/et378.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4l9uO7g0mC41uzDBFRSuFKEj4hoX6TcSk_wqSZZ0cbgcBoH2FCGpEicLOJ_zvqB-y0CpmeiUWAXS8X9lSKkH7jmr0AWSq6KzTxwFb7fcaqpvJzr2K7E5wH87hE2rI7f7H4g/s400/et378.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5014231776572701618" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-52361157776275852672006-12-24T01:46:00.000+09:002006-12-24T01:55:24.073+09:00Tallinn Signs Gallery19 Sep. 2006 Tallinn<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwek-7mqjmNxpplL0ot5S4PJY9TDrwiE0JyMqAmvSw4CAQgLziwBIsSVmWH9-QYFol64D2GA0oLH5VnzcpFppOi7Kv3TXWrXlOEh4moIuagsnzrjp7-rrlOGEHY0u_KGuD6g/s1600-h/et210.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwek-7mqjmNxpplL0ot5S4PJY9TDrwiE0JyMqAmvSw4CAQgLziwBIsSVmWH9-QYFol64D2GA0oLH5VnzcpFppOi7Kv3TXWrXlOEh4moIuagsnzrjp7-rrlOGEHY0u_KGuD6g/s400/et210.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011765649301011234" /></a><br /><br />There were so many pretty signs all over the old city.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZiY2ZD1UGhesPAe5d9lMVHzlSkQaSM2Tr-Zs2YjyGNvzP098YIho2a8PhzyT0YY1UePo6nyclKm0zQ4I_gGtNRxi5uDRSLi5FuobOJdi-TmOtf5gcE-lw_U2Gw_J8UznIA/s1600-h/et213.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZiY2ZD1UGhesPAe5d9lMVHzlSkQaSM2Tr-Zs2YjyGNvzP098YIho2a8PhzyT0YY1UePo6nyclKm0zQ4I_gGtNRxi5uDRSLi5FuobOJdi-TmOtf5gcE-lw_U2Gw_J8UznIA/s400/et213.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011765906999049010" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxph2vYoPF4lRY3loFNc5oTnU6810xlbB43oewZHZamBX9XsSvUF8JVFadJfLbp8mtzVVLF20hG-fk_3SFlmYJvsYSbmlVqMxTPcJ6IKLvvp8BDW0TdR3po_yPhSimzzSgYg/s1600-h/et215.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxph2vYoPF4lRY3loFNc5oTnU6810xlbB43oewZHZamBX9XsSvUF8JVFadJfLbp8mtzVVLF20hG-fk_3SFlmYJvsYSbmlVqMxTPcJ6IKLvvp8BDW0TdR3po_yPhSimzzSgYg/s400/et215.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011766121747413826" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FR4xzDSPOgCzxJ6BOc-PVyXFUCGXwef6rxT6ht2GlaMfzkkKy4mhXWhcAw63GJL2Up2Kf_u2F6HjzUA_dcVoFYq1AiFCsPYko0GnXdNBTVblByk5GJ_hnMVcjMISsN6Guw/s1600-h/et216.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6FR4xzDSPOgCzxJ6BOc-PVyXFUCGXwef6rxT6ht2GlaMfzkkKy4mhXWhcAw63GJL2Up2Kf_u2F6HjzUA_dcVoFYq1AiFCsPYko0GnXdNBTVblByk5GJ_hnMVcjMISsN6Guw/s400/et216.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011766289251138386" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUpsopWhHozsKgQEGiqeaqh8a7hI8GJ2db6qkhYGTySt_JPKg7j85O3qpCYxC5gyLwaAsQfVy_P_19GUgwMnXy3gJI_jT7vJJ4f5JfWcore7quJNOHGxXEeRn3eH26ALz0w/s1600-h/et218.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUpsopWhHozsKgQEGiqeaqh8a7hI8GJ2db6qkhYGTySt_JPKg7j85O3qpCYxC5gyLwaAsQfVy_P_19GUgwMnXy3gJI_jT7vJJ4f5JfWcore7quJNOHGxXEeRn3eH26ALz0w/s400/et218.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011766461049830242" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ32X7gyTOWr314TRmkDr9KkorubKarE6oQA6_-g1w1QxPMjaW7ImC_lp6VEhLweuK3bhsuFjhuUKcLiFCGhU7NaBD7qFc96IGzMkZRWAVtLEUIyf-LOi4agPhd8W_FYmomw/s1600-h/et240.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ32X7gyTOWr314TRmkDr9KkorubKarE6oQA6_-g1w1QxPMjaW7ImC_lp6VEhLweuK3bhsuFjhuUKcLiFCGhU7NaBD7qFc96IGzMkZRWAVtLEUIyf-LOi4agPhd8W_FYmomw/s400/et240.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011766632848522098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFehF_BSHt3DZWabZTDK-xDJFvPTkH82MTdSX8KKIscD036oOdcipvNqgtvzjthD-6nKcbpXmBafr32o079ip46Epj3klVFO4ja3VboiGdOebm0Vjngs5xboT2gT291KJNxA/s1600-h/et262.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFehF_BSHt3DZWabZTDK-xDJFvPTkH82MTdSX8KKIscD036oOdcipvNqgtvzjthD-6nKcbpXmBafr32o079ip46Epj3klVFO4ja3VboiGdOebm0Vjngs5xboT2gT291KJNxA/s400/et262.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5011766796057279362" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-6387980507195339102006-12-21T20:34:00.000+09:002006-12-24T01:46:24.794+09:00Pretty Town Tallinn18 Sep. 2006 Tallinn <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoZmRRWYLY5UqpiGUywL3W9TYOI9dmCgi1Yv617mFvqihtzUBPK6PA6AVtEnvNmkLcCG6-dijOKhH4G3V0bFYdXcPDP8V6njDqnG70YzUxfDKpTNod1E2DWYqjbVqCkpClw/s1600-h/et220.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcoZmRRWYLY5UqpiGUywL3W9TYOI9dmCgi1Yv617mFvqihtzUBPK6PA6AVtEnvNmkLcCG6-dijOKhH4G3V0bFYdXcPDP8V6njDqnG70YzUxfDKpTNod1E2DWYqjbVqCkpClw/s400/et220.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010943128704088754" /></a><br /><br />It took about 3 and half hours from Helsinki to Tallinn by ferry. If you take a hydrofoil, it takes about 100 minutes. You will reach the old city from the port in 15 minutes on foot. With pastel colored houses and shops, Old city of Tallinn looks pretty cute. Many signs in the city are even cuter.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30WZHSVvaAQp0QZljByFM0D0fJu3aCVwG8-byzrUcGSwEgVJlkT2hooyPPUBfJQxw0-_Ea2vx9MMK4mHM-ISyJEmQkXO32QDXKDsLbio09pP7SG3KLcmhJZKdfAPeKjgpCw/s1600-h/et238.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30WZHSVvaAQp0QZljByFM0D0fJu3aCVwG8-byzrUcGSwEgVJlkT2hooyPPUBfJQxw0-_Ea2vx9MMK4mHM-ISyJEmQkXO32QDXKDsLbio09pP7SG3KLcmhJZKdfAPeKjgpCw/s400/et238.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010947878937918226" /></a><br /><br />You might see witches flying on the broom.<br /><br />Two hours was enough to walk around the old town. Still I had whole 2 days there. Well, that is OK…I just would stay lazy days here, going nowhere, just wandering around.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OVtfU5KeEIZMVe_Cr6MUleFHfbv8K4Ts_uPz-PJClziIDbe8OnzPd11AVJhEwFClDZqVQsa7PpMwzxXD_ykrJZb2hoFYL8wo9s7OOW_3iKtnTc4iJorO78anZt9TdEaC6Q/s1600-h/et214.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5OVtfU5KeEIZMVe_Cr6MUleFHfbv8K4Ts_uPz-PJClziIDbe8OnzPd11AVJhEwFClDZqVQsa7PpMwzxXD_ykrJZb2hoFYL8wo9s7OOW_3iKtnTc4iJorO78anZt9TdEaC6Q/s400/et214.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010947084368968418" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKm75e-vkkz4E5YqY3Dbm6FwaoQTJdLVMoteJMmc0xJPlHWsOxWSupmAw73Wy3ibn8W03-ZTrI5TGU2wjN6QCPYa3ri_LniC4WO1Z-iMt4eEDLbB9Xp4V6ZuBYaarxAb0rA/s1600-h/et239.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGKm75e-vkkz4E5YqY3Dbm6FwaoQTJdLVMoteJMmc0xJPlHWsOxWSupmAw73Wy3ibn8W03-ZTrI5TGU2wjN6QCPYa3ri_LniC4WO1Z-iMt4eEDLbB9Xp4V6ZuBYaarxAb0rA/s400/et239.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010946672052107986" /></a><br />So I did like that.<br /><br />There was a big modern shopping mall just outside of the old city. There were many European brand fashion shops and restaurants. I felt that Tallinn was bigger city than Helsinki, just seeing around here. There were heaps of people around.<br /><br />I expected that prices here would have been much cheaper than that of Finland. Yes it was, but not quite so cheap. I stayed at Oldhouse Hostel here, for two nights. The dormitory was 19 euro per night. It was actually expensive. You can easily find other cheaper hostels in Tallinn, but I decided to stay there because it looked nice and comfortable. And it was. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB6GllwE_1h1OaMGs8D_dKAAsLbMcCKQa2y3BZHxM9znqVZMXa09xY-zOn16khradV4DY4oqP8weDuJIPKbIXNbSHpfCktDWJ93PsH8d3e-F7_xu4fzjii0LZf4uT9uoSiQ/s1600-h/et224.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMB6GllwE_1h1OaMGs8D_dKAAsLbMcCKQa2y3BZHxM9znqVZMXa09xY-zOn16khradV4DY4oqP8weDuJIPKbIXNbSHpfCktDWJ93PsH8d3e-F7_xu4fzjii0LZf4uT9uoSiQ/s400/et224.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5010947668484520706" /></a><br /><br />When I got back to the old city from the new city, I saw a parade. Trucks went on having people in the box. People were jumping around on the back, so those trucks were really shaking. It looked dangerous but it was fun to watch. I didn’t figure out what that for.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-42442889188933148432006-12-19T01:41:00.000+09:002006-12-19T01:51:10.529+09:00Nuuksio National Park17 Sep. 2006 Nuuksio National Park<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zA8onelHV8j8GnceFkAG8i3yP07FM7i8YUNMyZ7q-Rx5LJx9SCQ26y-V6TCnowuOjow9eP6boLYdrTrOf77Rzn3J6xgi-KEYBBrkkNrlAkV2aoesqdgKzqdFOAnhFyOJEQ/s1600-h/et183.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zA8onelHV8j8GnceFkAG8i3yP07FM7i8YUNMyZ7q-Rx5LJx9SCQ26y-V6TCnowuOjow9eP6boLYdrTrOf77Rzn3J6xgi-KEYBBrkkNrlAkV2aoesqdgKzqdFOAnhFyOJEQ/s400/et183.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009908436722743906" /></a><br /><br />Take a local train to Espoo from Helsinki for about 20 minutes, then get on a local bus to Nuuksiopaa for 30 minutes. From there, you need to walk about 2km to get to the entrance of Nuuksio National Park where you can enjoy 3 hiking courses of 2km, 4km, 8km through the forest and ponds. It was beautiful Sunday, so the parking lot was full of cars. These 3 courses were short and flat, so I would say walking rather than hiking. Families and friends were also BBQing in the park.. It smelled so good!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQdcmg_h9Ka5CgcBKBzIugIKWNdN6Gs_OwUjztoAhTyDzGIYFAYfaeF2QjZbywPBMeiy0kLAktCxVxa5ZyyXgPiiLKS_L3EhKEFjoIofcXWsdld0N7zhwmNEDxBt4TJ9XfA/s1600-h/et192.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKQdcmg_h9Ka5CgcBKBzIugIKWNdN6Gs_OwUjztoAhTyDzGIYFAYfaeF2QjZbywPBMeiy0kLAktCxVxa5ZyyXgPiiLKS_L3EhKEFjoIofcXWsdld0N7zhwmNEDxBt4TJ9XfA/s400/et192.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009908604226468466" /></a><br /><br />We went on 8km walk. Those 3 courses were indicated by different colored –red, yellow and blue- posts so that you wouldn’t get lost. There was no wind at all so the ponds were just like mirrors. The forest was pretty Finnish with all conifer trees, but some section looked like Japanese forests with pine trees rooted on the rocks, I thought. There should have been mushrooms in the forest too. BBQ with those freshly picked mushroom would be great! Unfortunately it hadn’t happened there, but I eventually did this kind of BBQ in Turkey. It was fun!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUqhbIKrJ_rSJzE6kILf3VWpUAvTyezcOC3wVFuSdZ5HEpfo_F1dWeDKdhNFTSKGz6ar7o1TQB9b3o5xO4NroSQ-Kep-xb4vn4FYvmk_IkDGDwAdReb9a9ceUSfGB250fVA/s1600-h/et199.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUqhbIKrJ_rSJzE6kILf3VWpUAvTyezcOC3wVFuSdZ5HEpfo_F1dWeDKdhNFTSKGz6ar7o1TQB9b3o5xO4NroSQ-Kep-xb4vn4FYvmk_IkDGDwAdReb9a9ceUSfGB250fVA/s400/et199.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009908810384898690" /></a><br /><br />Is my friend a tree geek? She took so many pictures of trees, well, I took so many pictures of ponds. Little sunshine trough the leaves were very tender. My friend goes, ‘I wish I happened to see Jyvaskyla guy whom we met in Kiilopaa, here again…’ Hey, it can’t be you know, but it would be super nice! We could go to Kiilopaa next year again to stalk him. Shall we?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcIOLvjyPJPIVsLkzaw2kBjSOanvTrfItByM1VsZVMSOVnoowJfKdSOhzRzBe0K6S-sfgiEKO6XgW4EtRMhA_PBkwE-mrxuYe2TnMWJStMvRXPApF4vq2_ckauFmKxCQ9Ug/s1600-h/et203.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcIOLvjyPJPIVsLkzaw2kBjSOanvTrfItByM1VsZVMSOVnoowJfKdSOhzRzBe0K6S-sfgiEKO6XgW4EtRMhA_PBkwE-mrxuYe2TnMWJStMvRXPApF4vq2_ckauFmKxCQ9Ug/s400/et203.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009909012248361618" /></a><br /><br />It was the last night in Finland. The next day, My friend would go back to Japan, and I would go to Tallinn by ferry. We really had a great time in Finland. It was right choice not to hop around many places. Of course there are still many places I want to go, and also I want to stay in different seasons, like, in summer for the midnight sun or in winter for northern lights. I wish I could live in different countries for at least one year each to experience all seasons.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-44885900191633166482006-12-16T22:41:00.000+09:002006-12-16T22:54:11.623+09:00Back to Helsinki17 Sep. 2006 Helsinki<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vYe_9oKynMUVKIAlTbzRSgoK3FMKKm2BpJhsyCQNsTPQMWvDZCTQYL6pb49qxvR-bttTGxGOHjA_Ou1Hnkz7NmxTZFsnpOSIcPzytyeoTl-W0RSg-jDaHxfM1POPoYzZ8w/s1600-h/et089.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vYe_9oKynMUVKIAlTbzRSgoK3FMKKm2BpJhsyCQNsTPQMWvDZCTQYL6pb49qxvR-bttTGxGOHjA_Ou1Hnkz7NmxTZFsnpOSIcPzytyeoTl-W0RSg-jDaHxfM1POPoYzZ8w/s400/et089.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009119880727198242" /></a><br /><br />The train arrived at Helsinki at 8am. Another beautiful morning for hiking. We were planning to go on hiking at Nuuksio National Park where about 40 km away from Helsinki. Waking again? Yes we will, that is our purpose coming to Finland. Helsinki would be dead on Sunday anyway.<br /><br />We checked in at a fancy hotel called Hotel Kamp. It was super different from the first place we stayed at Helsinki. Well, we enjoyed staying at Hotel Mekka as it was, but it would be nice to stay at gorgeous hotel for the last night, we thought. The room was wide and beautifully decorated, and what we loved was the bathroom. It was made of marble, there was a huge bathtub with glass standing shower, then more than that we found…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNkG0fkDGqtszCFeOrSf4nXo81AReIxmVExe0rlRc3y7e-5foDemhTpAxRsOco3Pknwpz2i41Tm0UmLjunjHLfGQyAUAVKx5SAe6Xh3uCQy035uebR_LRUlazfgdM8d776w/s1600-h/et186.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyNkG0fkDGqtszCFeOrSf4nXo81AReIxmVExe0rlRc3y7e-5foDemhTpAxRsOco3Pknwpz2i41Tm0UmLjunjHLfGQyAUAVKx5SAe6Xh3uCQy035uebR_LRUlazfgdM8d776w/s400/et186.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009120116950399538" /></a><br />A ducky!!<br /><br />I loved that! I had never expected that there would be a toy in the bathroom. Imagine that corporate executives who would stay here might play with a ducky in the bathroom! It would be kind of nice. What hospitality, Hotel Kamp. This hotel is one of the top class hotels in Helsinki, though it was not snobbish at all. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLyZfKtCpbbVtYk_HFHklZJnBitncDu7gIoQq7fQlTnebcCQVi2rei01v7G1KuQiiOj4mk4Osn3c9ADcQtZBcIk8rLAdFW6R-YbcZSxIQ_Iw6SNzkTnJYnbKyTCMWUVxHyg/s1600-h/et187.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLyZfKtCpbbVtYk_HFHklZJnBitncDu7gIoQq7fQlTnebcCQVi2rei01v7G1KuQiiOj4mk4Osn3c9ADcQtZBcIk8rLAdFW6R-YbcZSxIQ_Iw6SNzkTnJYnbKyTCMWUVxHyg/s400/et187.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009120331698764354" /></a><br /><br />Now these excited girls need breakfast. We went down to the restaurant on site. Buffet breakfast looked pretty tempting, but we decided to order English breakfast to get ready to hike. Well, actually it was huge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY79BHyzbTMsy3pyDWAcVv3UDWE5rAhyphenhyphenet-92K6nYZdaJSHh_pfPm55AUGjpQAKihPcN-GUzballfQV_8Oix_NBa-roESowfHKajgbXI090UySThBdaxDXIVzxJjH7Diq0eQ/s1600-h/et190.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY79BHyzbTMsy3pyDWAcVv3UDWE5rAhyphenhyphenet-92K6nYZdaJSHh_pfPm55AUGjpQAKihPcN-GUzballfQV_8Oix_NBa-roESowfHKajgbXI090UySThBdaxDXIVzxJjH7Diq0eQ/s400/et190.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5009120507792423506" /></a><br /><br />That grilled tomato and fried potato were very tasty as well as other stuff. Fresh squeezed orange juice came with the meal. It was a treat for us. Guests around there and waitresses were beautiful people. We had an elegant morning. <br /><br />Now, it is time to excise!miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-30679715844362514642006-12-16T01:30:00.000+09:002006-12-16T01:52:32.867+09:00Santa Clause Village16 Sep. 2006 Rovaniemi<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVr3To_p8HA2QMj03UzTGpYNYwZVap1idlaEBCN_3nVimZk-Q_aNCNDIBhLRqijgt6_7lshc2NpRBjFfk6DV7yHXniQOYBWcSDFiA7AXkpzE4b-Cyx1wkjoo2I8ZgkfggmQ/s1600-h/et175.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUVr3To_p8HA2QMj03UzTGpYNYwZVap1idlaEBCN_3nVimZk-Q_aNCNDIBhLRqijgt6_7lshc2NpRBjFfk6DV7yHXniQOYBWcSDFiA7AXkpzE4b-Cyx1wkjoo2I8ZgkfggmQ/s400/et175.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5008792276197880418" /></a><br /><br />It was about one hour by car from Visatupa to Rovaniemi. It looked quite a ‘city’ after staying at Kiilopaa and Visatupa. We had a half day till getting on the night train leaving at 9pm. Well, what shall we do? We decided to go to the Santa Clause Village located about 8km north of Rovaniemi. Actually I insisted. I just wanted to see the Arctic Circle line there. My friend had visited there before, but she was willing to visit there again for me. Thanks!<br /><br />Before going there, we walked around the town center. Rovaniemi is known as the town designed by the Finnish architect Alvar Aalto. There are several pieces of his architecture in the town. The public library is one of them. To be honest, I hadn’t known anything about his work till I got there. Anyway, the public library building looked very cool. People in Rovaniemi are lucky to have such a nice library.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV6x8zzUHWRFRvpAguN8nN-HvnGSUDQL6Wu2nrw25lmpB0TtwCX3B9WgmAyf8YJsQU6-aHlvYHxtbUYy_zSxu3Adh9BPI6_sNDa1VM93_YLX2fT0g1rhC-sbHdKzFG8v0PQ/s1600-h/et174.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYV6x8zzUHWRFRvpAguN8nN-HvnGSUDQL6Wu2nrw25lmpB0TtwCX3B9WgmAyf8YJsQU6-aHlvYHxtbUYy_zSxu3Adh9BPI6_sNDa1VM93_YLX2fT0g1rhC-sbHdKzFG8v0PQ/s400/et174.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5008792447996572274" /></a><br /><br />Then we headed for the Santa Clause Village. There were few people since it was off season. Frankly, I felt it was cheesy when I got there. Maybe it might have been better if it had snowed, or if there had been more people around. What annoyed me was the cheesy easy-listening type of BGM like you might here somewhere around like in an old shopping mall. Oh please stop that sort of music!<br /><br />The main attraction would be Santa Clause Office. Of course Santa Clause is there. You can take a photo with him if you wish. All you have to do is paying a lot of money. You can talk to Santa without a fee, but taking photo with your camera is not allowed. Oh, well, I don’t need a picture. I even didn’t know about what I should talk with Santa Clause. I didn’t want to have a meaningless small talk with Santa Clause. That is ridiculous thing to do. I didn’t want to talk as a child, like asking him a present for Christmas. That would be even more ridiculous. So I ended up peeking into the room from behind the wall. I was too dreamy to meet and greet to a real Santa Clause. <br /><br />You can order the letters from Santa Clauce at the office as well as at the post office next to the office. Or you can send your own Christmas card to be delivered for Christmas Day. I posted a couple of Christmas cards. I have just recalled about that. I think I sent one to myself…I shouldn’t remember it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCsHBb9F4e7A5fFXqz-NSSx7R3FYr3JY5oAzTNOL1t8klGnBXMT0WgHA3E6MLIk4XSt9QpBVXSjE62cCIH-yiygLMrUU2_va5M6kqm5B9rKnVQaReuw08ZnpAdGVnSbukGg/s1600-h/et176.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCsHBb9F4e7A5fFXqz-NSSx7R3FYr3JY5oAzTNOL1t8klGnBXMT0WgHA3E6MLIk4XSt9QpBVXSjE62cCIH-yiygLMrUU2_va5M6kqm5B9rKnVQaReuw08ZnpAdGVnSbukGg/s400/et176.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5008792611205329538" /></a><br /><br />And here is the Arctic Circle Line. Yay!<br /><br />Now it is time to leave Lapland. The night train to Helsinki was pretty gorgeous, modern clean and comfortable. The compartment was only for two with nice bank beds and a sink. They even provided packets of drinking water and socks. On the corridor there were clean toilets with a shower. We still expected northern lights looking up the dark sky, but soon we ell asleep.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-19296033123354818122006-12-12T00:11:00.000+09:002006-12-12T00:25:21.271+09:00Leaving Visatupa16 Sep. 2006 Visatupa<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVww5wVHY92TQIv-G1g_yQ80vDerQVx-tKCcMhZf2ZkjsltH2jSNC2jPpdyA15WW-xHLaUiwdi4pBTrdjmfhz1drkM-982NHuxzD_qNeOEHRgqm7VOgzNOucnOVUzfasbew/s1600-h/et168.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVww5wVHY92TQIv-G1g_yQ80vDerQVx-tKCcMhZf2ZkjsltH2jSNC2jPpdyA15WW-xHLaUiwdi4pBTrdjmfhz1drkM-982NHuxzD_qNeOEHRgqm7VOgzNOucnOVUzfasbew/s400/et168.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5007287539315563842" /></a><br /><br />Next morning we were going to have breakfast at Janne’s home, so we went out of the room. The lake was misty with evaporated water. Another beautiful day. Pilka found us and ran to us in the back of the house. She was too nice to everybody. Then I saw a white cat. I didn’t know there was also a cat. Actually I am a cat person, so I walked to the cat to play. Then I saw…<br /><br />What a scary face!!!<br /><br />That cat got evil eyes sort of, and wild look. Probably it belonged to the hostel, well, it seemed so violent. I even couldn’t take a photo of it, because if I did, it might crash my camera. The cat howled saying like; Get the hell out of my sight, idiots! The good girl Pilka tried to get closer as if she wanted to say hi, then the cat groaned to her,<br /><br />Wooooooooooooooooooooooo!<br /><br />Pilka just ran way startled. Poor girl…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflfa9kEA6ld568_hdyjvNZl8Ubejl3KxRCwmiqCmzlkV5D6hhWbxMe4ejMysUG4uNXF7egSb-W_fxXa6_dWOn0WY8oiEuXNMhMZllfaFLujAPzdTjd-ST4wJhdcJ4sYfeNA/s1600-h/et170.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflfa9kEA6ld568_hdyjvNZl8Ubejl3KxRCwmiqCmzlkV5D6hhWbxMe4ejMysUG4uNXF7egSb-W_fxXa6_dWOn0WY8oiEuXNMhMZllfaFLujAPzdTjd-ST4wJhdcJ4sYfeNA/s400/et170.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5007287822783405394" /></a><br /><br />Janne and his family spread out heaps of foods all over the table. Breads, spreads, cheeses, hams, cereals…we were busy with eating, then that guy showed up for breakfast and came up to us. We were still curious about this guy. So we started asking about him. We were getting to used to communicate more easily now.<br /><br />He was actually German. We had no idea about that because he always spoke Finnish. We were still not be able to figure out what he was doing there, but he said he had stayed at Visatupa by himself many times. That was why he knew people around there well.<br /><br />We were going to leave for Rovaniemi on that day, to get back to Helsinki by night train from there. Luckily, Jannne was also planning to go to Swedish Lapland via Rovaniemi on vacation, so he gave us a ride sharing a small gas charge. When we were packing our stuff, that German guy knocked on our door. He was holding bunch of Kleenex packets and 2 bars of Snickers for us. Oh, it is very kind of you, but these are too much, I assume that you would need those tissues! We received 2 packets of Kleenex and snickers. Thanks so much, those tissues were very useful after all.<br /><br />We got on the car. As Janne started the car, Pilka bursted running following us. Bye-bye Pilka, we love you! When the car got into the main road, we saw that guy walking along the road looked like heading for nowhere.. Where are you going today? What are you gonna do? Anyway, it was nice meeting you!miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-63832539519697638572006-12-09T23:31:00.000+09:002006-12-09T23:40:23.964+09:00Who is the hell this guy??15 Sep. 2006 Visatupa<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3L75__WEfsO6qb0U5gq_YYVU4a-Rpr_k9rv2wj04xaQivr8ziQZDWZyS9EggExTExrzoB15W-frlhcQ2W1RmZvUVe_OGhDRNk4CWV8pWa5ttuxWtXwgl5e8LhZGSgKTd3w/s1600-h/et144.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3L75__WEfsO6qb0U5gq_YYVU4a-Rpr_k9rv2wj04xaQivr8ziQZDWZyS9EggExTExrzoB15W-frlhcQ2W1RmZvUVe_OGhDRNk4CWV8pWa5ttuxWtXwgl5e8LhZGSgKTd3w/s400/et144.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5006535039570468130" /></a><br /><br />We looked at where he pointed out. There was a skull of a reindeer hanging on the tree. Woo, it is kind of scary! He wanted us to stand there to take a photo with the skull, but we didn’t want that. So we went back to the road together without taking any photos. Sorry, man, we appreciate that you tried to show us a cool stuff, but this is not just right for us. When we walked along the main road, some cars were passing by. That guy always greeted and had a couple of words with them. He seemed to know everyone around there.<br /><br />We arrived at the hostel. Thank you, it was nice talking to you, we said and we were going back to the house. But he wanted to walk further towards the other side of the main road. I asked him what would be there, but again, I really didn’t understand what he was saying. Anyway, we didn’t have anything to do, so we decided to go with him.<br /><br />We went on the main road further and further. We really didn’t see anything and we had no idea where we were heading. Visatupa is in arctic circle, so it was quite chilly at that time. What is going on? Why we are still going?? I kind of wanted to go back, but I was not able to stop for some reason. I didn’t know why. That guy also looked feeling cold. He blew his nose with a Kleenex. My friend had running nose too, so she asked him if she could have a piece.<br />‘Paipar?’<br />‘No, paper!’<br />‘perper??’<br />‘pa-perrrr!’<br />I don’t remember how it went, but our verbal communication was still in disaster.<br />‘oh, paper!’<br />Somehow he got us. He gave her a bunch of tissues.<br />‘ Thank you, I only need a piece’ my friend goes,<br />He just let her grab the bunch.<br /><br />We came quite a distance and still kept on going. I felt like going back thinking about the distance we had to take on the way back. Then, we came to a little pond.<br />That guy stopped us finally. A pond? This is what you wanted to show us?<br />‘janne’<br />I see now. This is the owner, Janne’s pond where they grow fish. Yes, this is what he wanted to show us. Shortly after, Janne and his father showed up by car. It was time for fishing.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7H3Nfdz7jaHOpYrKv_x9hyphenhyphenUsq7gxFBa_lkdoKxxZRBw083wL01_v_SJaL6IBQyIQmSsbwr9iDSh-8VYZr2FfPlMngdr0lEFswZyBbfj3_zkqGtvyzEqEyJzJYTlcoXaDhw/s1600-h/et145.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ7H3Nfdz7jaHOpYrKv_x9hyphenhyphenUsq7gxFBa_lkdoKxxZRBw083wL01_v_SJaL6IBQyIQmSsbwr9iDSh-8VYZr2FfPlMngdr0lEFswZyBbfj3_zkqGtvyzEqEyJzJYTlcoXaDhw/s400/et145.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5006535211369159986" /></a><br /><br />We saw them fishing for a while, then headed back for the hostel. It was too cold to stay longer. The guy seemed a bit tired, he walked slower than before. We tried to have a chat while walking. Sometimes we understood him but most of time, the conversations went funny. He showed us around including a little path in the forest to the weird reindeer skull, he talked to Janne and also to neighbors in Finnish and they seemed to knew each other well, so we assumed that he lived around there. But when we arrived at the hostel, we entered to one of the guest rooms. Are you one of the guests? You didn’t look a guest here, at all!miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-17391064981732568302006-12-08T03:08:00.000+09:002006-12-08T03:19:50.712+09:00Loyal Dog Pilka15 Sep. 2006 Visatupa<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXyiSVk-B-l2C2moZLSsXLpojZnO_U6XUXhnxPEssoiiMAlR77BBoxK1h-6kYTSjULOM9qkZmnd5HPp0mFSqQadGwYx7-kPDjkZ5F38cKQZ_AktZdU_Yd5YTvLN6vReJvew/s1600-h/et149.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXyiSVk-B-l2C2moZLSsXLpojZnO_U6XUXhnxPEssoiiMAlR77BBoxK1h-6kYTSjULOM9qkZmnd5HPp0mFSqQadGwYx7-kPDjkZ5F38cKQZ_AktZdU_Yd5YTvLN6vReJvew/s400/et149.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005848733861338338" /></a><br /><br />Here we are at Visatupa. Oh well, there is nothing around. Forests, lakes, that is it. Only a few houses, no shops. This is a family owned youth hostel and they also have a dairy farm where you can try some farming work such as milking.<br /><br />Visatupa is located about 80 km north of Rovaniemi. The nearest bus stop is 4 km away. If you ask them beforehand, they can pick you up at the bus stop, so you can get there even you don’t travel by car. The owner is living next to the hostel and they offer breakfast and dinner upon request at their house. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk9ofWQHIHtSn7qmXV3oWUbVPGvDfsFXOZqRpsncqgPASogyWulD_8ydVzPw0ngPGZGAqM41Yc4GNDkMz_OopXpObDus7YuErRRbeF-VWLAbMrUocVUFI-OCHrR89dEMgZg/s1600-h/et169.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvk9ofWQHIHtSn7qmXV3oWUbVPGvDfsFXOZqRpsncqgPASogyWulD_8ydVzPw0ngPGZGAqM41Yc4GNDkMz_OopXpObDus7YuErRRbeF-VWLAbMrUocVUFI-OCHrR89dEMgZg/s400/et169.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005848905660030194" /></a><br /><br />This is what we wanted, just to enjoy a lazy day in the beautiful Finnish nature. We asked Janne, the owner, about a nice walking course around.<br />‘Well, there aren’t really “trekking courses”…’ he goes.<br />‘but you can walk to the river through the forest. There, you can see nice autumn colors’<br />‘Sounds good. So You don’t walk around here often?’<br />‘No, no. I am not so interested in walking, because you know, I am here everyday’<br />True. This scenery is exceptional for us, but not for him.<br /><br />So we went. Their dog, Pilka – I actually don’t know how to spell her name, but probably Pilka- followed us. She was a very friendly dog and seemed as if she should have been our guide. Sometimes she had gone too far, then waited for us saying like; ‘are you with me? I’ll be here for you’ . You are so lovely.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zv1UGgzzI1Ydg3aMS6YC73b2kSFUbltuma-hHJ-diqCK5MKbCjnkVmbKA0Arqui3khvmNqGsI-g45kAW46XjkSCQWe7TBvXT6qaUj4jBTBcvjT57CaY2KpH44T7HG1UZzw/s1600-h/et156.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Zv1UGgzzI1Ydg3aMS6YC73b2kSFUbltuma-hHJ-diqCK5MKbCjnkVmbKA0Arqui3khvmNqGsI-g45kAW46XjkSCQWe7TBvXT6qaUj4jBTBcvjT57CaY2KpH44T7HG1UZzw/s400/et156.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005849150473166082" /></a><br /><br />Picking up some berries, we were walking to the river. In winter, snow mobiles can go on this route. <br />‘I love these trees…I could find Moomin somewhere’ <br />My friend took many pictures of trees. She was really fond of Tove Jansson’s The Moomins, which is very popular in Japan, because it was made into an anime television series. After about one our walk, we arrived at the riverside. The autumn colors over the river were so beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacJuBOYrBi9MZqiLwKn54YUByGH0xhzElVIg1UvoZYiBPxD6op-8ArstQtxc2M-8F_TOCTQLDtRR93qH4B7HdSm-wHXitVMUaaedi20COGWcnGfciXwakNEN0_C2rkNSaLA/s1600-h/et165.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjacJuBOYrBi9MZqiLwKn54YUByGH0xhzElVIg1UvoZYiBPxD6op-8ArstQtxc2M-8F_TOCTQLDtRR93qH4B7HdSm-wHXitVMUaaedi20COGWcnGfciXwakNEN0_C2rkNSaLA/s400/et165.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005849494070549778" /></a><br /><br /><br />We didn’t see anybody while walking. The forest refreshed us a lot. When we were about to arrive at the hostel, a middle aged guy spoke to us on the main road. He didn’t speak English well, and we didn’t understood Finnish at all, but somehow we communicated. He tried to say that he was willing to take a picture of us, but not there. He seemed to know a nice place to take a photo, so he wanted to take us there. Well, we had plenty of time, he didn’t look weird and we were two of us, so we thought following him would be OK. He led us to the small path in the forest, and after a short walk, he said we were there. He pointed out something, it was….<br /><br />To be continued.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-30833082750268694942006-12-06T02:53:00.000+09:002006-12-06T03:39:37.912+09:00Sugar Candies and the Arctic Art15 Sep. 2006 Urho Kekkonen National Park to Sodankyla<br /><br />The next morning was beautiful and freezing. We had some time until the time we were supposed to leave, so we again went out for a short hiking for an hour. Well, actually it was frozen. Leaves were covered with frost. They looked like sugar candies.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbSS5biG6YmCFnYd_TagRjtrKYSs7veuUHzVvT3qJNkIZGXORkMVrhuE8grQQoHAdJYTOK1Rkg3-jZsVf11Q8IPch86dgtqh7ad5rbpjb-tn4e5QrAezGTVOfyO4KJUmVhg/s1600-h/et131.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLbSS5biG6YmCFnYd_TagRjtrKYSs7veuUHzVvT3qJNkIZGXORkMVrhuE8grQQoHAdJYTOK1Rkg3-jZsVf11Q8IPch86dgtqh7ad5rbpjb-tn4e5QrAezGTVOfyO4KJUmVhg/s400/et131.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005109954677814818" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNKVcMu_7-CGrKkbgourb8RdFGsdL9j4qH_kj2tdrDrb6y3VCATyVVYUWtB2Kzf7lIchqA9uiLm9_otl5mt5yBapWF7sLa4COSLSlbpcNuppoNZGftfDa-oPAIt4OZgG6SQ/s1600-h/et133.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinNKVcMu_7-CGrKkbgourb8RdFGsdL9j4qH_kj2tdrDrb6y3VCATyVVYUWtB2Kzf7lIchqA9uiLm9_otl5mt5yBapWF7sLa4COSLSlbpcNuppoNZGftfDa-oPAIt4OZgG6SQ/s400/et133.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005110220965787186" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCyRT0XlRz4QqmVbPMP5-iLRXaKGbRwfvOz2ALTRdOT09mSkkIxVQsHjUlP2d3FDC60xV7iO4ZiOC7I7AVVa5VRkGgjDqbGaAKiB_yjh2TXeBaxaJ2eVJMMPGkbYn-fpr6w/s1600-h/et134.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPCyRT0XlRz4QqmVbPMP5-iLRXaKGbRwfvOz2ALTRdOT09mSkkIxVQsHjUlP2d3FDC60xV7iO4ZiOC7I7AVVa5VRkGgjDqbGaAKiB_yjh2TXeBaxaJ2eVJMMPGkbYn-fpr6w/s400/et134.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005110362699707970" /></a><br /><br />We wanted to see other part of Lapland, so we went down south. We booked a youth hostel with the dairy farm called <a href="http://www.visatupa.fi/">Visatupa</a>. We traveled by bus, so we needed to find a place accessible without a car. We happened to find this place on the Net. The pictures on the site looked nice. <br /><br />Going through the forests and lakes, we reached a town called Sodankyla.<br />The owner of the YH said, he could pick us up at the souvenir shop on the main road. So we asked the driver to stop at the souvenir shop shortly after passing Sodankyla. Where is the souvenir shop? Is it easy to find? I was wondering. Well, it must be…that one!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdvkmdksqPGHv_w0HlG_pXtMjVeQDdO8X9xJqrVlBjeyhK-igA4gGjCFC4x5_v0y_Of663erT3QYk2I5gMnFidMqI6mSqMATqIi8UjyFPfc6pkQVGro7M4BfQwVioGAhpcw/s1600-h/et142.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLdvkmdksqPGHv_w0HlG_pXtMjVeQDdO8X9xJqrVlBjeyhK-igA4gGjCFC4x5_v0y_Of663erT3QYk2I5gMnFidMqI6mSqMATqIi8UjyFPfc6pkQVGro7M4BfQwVioGAhpcw/s400/et142.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005110530203432530" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRix8Cen1QAZLYVq6VCtZE0qNlhADY9xDoVFLFZIduqUV2t8Sj61n2Wf9ghc8ede5VQ3LB6KZaLNCpkecIGHaxyQTeDTmzAnx3zqC4C4342cvcs5XWWe66e6IrwmhfUyif8Q/s1600-h/et143.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRix8Cen1QAZLYVq6VCtZE0qNlhADY9xDoVFLFZIduqUV2t8Sj61n2Wf9ghc8ede5VQ3LB6KZaLNCpkecIGHaxyQTeDTmzAnx3zqC4C4342cvcs5XWWe66e6IrwmhfUyif8Q/s400/et143.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005110714887026274" /></a><br /><br />This is what so called… arctic art. Impressive!miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-61478921102809109312006-12-06T01:56:00.000+09:002006-12-08T11:54:27.048+09:00Hiking to Tunturi Kiilopaa14 Sep. 2006 Urho Kekkonen National Park<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhRDdVJqa0g-ie_crqvYSOYivyrElYInGR9niYr8VpG0LdgLDz7V7bRqQO7udY3Ir4IPjtVcOD0COOcHbLPd7qaR4eyZ9L9LyhEYWvLFi5aZVmhRPmJYNrY40Fxjfo7zMGw/s1600-h/et119.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNhRDdVJqa0g-ie_crqvYSOYivyrElYInGR9niYr8VpG0LdgLDz7V7bRqQO7udY3Ir4IPjtVcOD0COOcHbLPd7qaR4eyZ9L9LyhEYWvLFi5aZVmhRPmJYNrY40Fxjfo7zMGw/s400/et119.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005089424734139874" /></a><br />Is it a kind of crop circle??<br /><br />It was raining. We spent lazy morning on the second day. The sun came in the afternoon, so we went out for a short hiking. The clouds were moving pretty fast by the strong wind. The weather wouldn’t be steady.<br /><br />We went up to Mt. Kiilopaa. I don’t know if I could say it as mountain. It is actually a hill, as you can see the in the photo below. The path is straight up to the top of the hill. ‘Mountain’ is called ‘Tunturi’ in Finnish. Sounds cute. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYivv7HJ3gBnRjsxmyl9Ej71OqdRsPQmjCDDlC4a0eVBMfbCxjezV9n4tLnVREDrpgKnhwUGcwJ8MX7Via1E3xk1UVXP1cUT4_YT3J92M8x0ha0JsWfdp1IWCI8UNMMeaqwQ/s1600-h/et117.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYivv7HJ3gBnRjsxmyl9Ej71OqdRsPQmjCDDlC4a0eVBMfbCxjezV9n4tLnVREDrpgKnhwUGcwJ8MX7Via1E3xk1UVXP1cUT4_YT3J92M8x0ha0JsWfdp1IWCI8UNMMeaqwQ/s400/et117.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005089785511392770" /></a><br /><br />As we expected, it started raining as soon as we departed. The weather was very changeable. Raining, shining, here, over there, then a rainbow showed up, raining again, so we could see all weather in the view. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMa_CiZIC_vaynaXIVnsCKAGcxv6k0StTvF7GbF7wYmU08ThFlGc4Dq5CN3bItmeUvN5k20aUmhHiyXWKlFPlTeLtJqWO0m6KNDltfqs1Ok95_pNJbal_hy4QAuD8KAyUfQ/s1600-h/et122.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMa_CiZIC_vaynaXIVnsCKAGcxv6k0StTvF7GbF7wYmU08ThFlGc4Dq5CN3bItmeUvN5k20aUmhHiyXWKlFPlTeLtJqWO0m6KNDltfqs1Ok95_pNJbal_hy4QAuD8KAyUfQ/s400/et122.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005089660957341170" /></a><br /><br />At the top of the hill, we asked a lady to take a picture of us. She had been taking many pictures there, so I assumed that she would be a good photographer. You need to choose the right person to ask to take a photo, you know.<br /><br />She was willing to take a photo, then she started talking to us. Where do you come from? From Japan? I thought so, I am pretty interested in Japan! I am from Ivalo, coming here some time. I am glad to talk to you, because I didn’t have opportunities to speak with Japanese people…<br /><br />So we went down the hill chatting. Rained again, and we saw beautiful rainbow. ‘Hey, stand there together so that I can take your picture!’ she took several pictures of us with her camera. <br />‘You should come to Ivaro next time. We could take you to Norwegian mountains by car. We have just been there. It was beautiful and fun driving. Give me your mail address so that I can send you these pictures.’ That lady was very friendly and nice to talk to. I love to talk with local people.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4p24qnf-gQIRaI-VvGAhHPFaNgXYoSyCJyFMXGMSzYNKEb6FzJnanNZ4DuoGausf9nPozYw-8r54OMhBmfCfJiyrhJpjmaIvjylIp__wnkntWS6OfH8riVPcrpv8pqZCJA/s1600-h/et121.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb4p24qnf-gQIRaI-VvGAhHPFaNgXYoSyCJyFMXGMSzYNKEb6FzJnanNZ4DuoGausf9nPozYw-8r54OMhBmfCfJiyrhJpjmaIvjylIp__wnkntWS6OfH8riVPcrpv8pqZCJA/s400/et121.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005089987374855698" /></a><br /><br />‘ Hey ladies!’<br />When we got back to the accommodation, a cute guy spoke to us. Who is he?<br />‘Did you go up to the mountain?’<br />Oh, he is the guy whom we met yesterday. His face had been covered with sunglasses and a knit cap the day before, so we didn’t recognize him. Oh boy, I didn’t know he is so good looking!<br />‘Yes, we have just been there. The weather was a bit rough, but it was beautiful. We saw the rainbow too.’<br />‘Good for you! Well, I am having dinner now. See you later!’<br />He headed for the restaurant; we headed for the dry sauna. Well, actually we should have gone to the restaurant too. Because we regret a lot that we didn’t ask neither his name nor contact. We didn’t see him since then. Oh well.<br /><br />In early September, the day was still long. It was not completely dark around 10pm. The weather got better in the evening. The sky looked beautiful with clear air. We heard that you might be able to see northern lights even in summer sometimes. In fact, they said that they had seen northern lights about 2 weeks before. So we sometimes came out to look up the sky at night. We were not so lucky to see one, but at least we saw beautiful stars all over the sky.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-34170765280991590262006-12-03T23:43:00.000+09:002006-12-06T01:45:32.398+09:00Smoke Sauna13, Sep. 2006 Fell Centre Kiilopaa<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x0XDWvd1NueJoa-QK9ZtGr6qAYtaWStl0jh09VXHkk8ZfiPxBl-Y-jBo0Rip4NOOCmUqmnNElOw9Iz-c2PqRmOqIHn5nY58gTevLLHyhcC8_j_ew36QO7M-w58k8hxSpng/s1600-h/et116.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8x0XDWvd1NueJoa-QK9ZtGr6qAYtaWStl0jh09VXHkk8ZfiPxBl-Y-jBo0Rip4NOOCmUqmnNElOw9Iz-c2PqRmOqIHn5nY58gTevLLHyhcC8_j_ew36QO7M-w58k8hxSpng/s400/et116.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005084571421095298" /></a><br /><br /><br />The reason you can see autumn colors there in early September is that it is actually chilly. So why don’t you enjoy smoke sauna? Wearing the bathing suits, then we went out of the door. A small pond was in front of us against the sunset. This kind of situation was familiar, because in Japan, there are lots of outdoor hot springs in nature just like this. <br /><br />Entering the sauna shack, we had to wait some time to make our eyes accustomed to the dark. That was called smoke sauna, but there was no smoke in the shack. Just you could feel smoky and woody smell inside, which was relaxing. A wooden ladder would take you up to the loft where you can sit back and relax.<br /><br />A middle aged guy and 2 ladies were there. There was a heated rock and a bucket of water. Take some water with a dipper and pour it on the rock so that the temperature would instantly go up with water vapor. <br /><br />With these natural steam and smell, we were so relaxed. Of course it was hot, but it was tender hotness compared to electric heated sauna. The guy told us how great to have smoke sauna. He said that it was kind of meditation.<br />“Well, but some young generations don’t care about that. The can be noisy everywhere…”<br />He was complaining a bit. Well, he reminded us Japan, too. Complaining middle aged man in the spa resort…<br /><br />We went out to cool our bodies down. We were supposed to go into the pond to soak the body in the cold water. The water was actually ice-cold, so I only was able to soak up to my knees. One of the lady also came out, then she jumped into the ice-cold water without hesitation, then started swimming.<br />“Why don’t you come here? It might be a bit cold at first, but soon you will get used to it. It is better to have cold water rather than sitting there.”<br />My friend tried to soak her whole body, but she just dipped in, the came out.<br />“Oh, you are going to be Ok soon…just try once again”<br />She looked she wanted to have us in the water with her. Sorry, I wish I could, but it is TOO cold!<br />A beautiful black and white bird flew in, the flying around to find some bugs. It was very pretty, so we speak down a bit not to bother the bird.<br /><br />Well, I loved that smoke sauna.<br /><br />Now it is time to eat.<br />We went to the café, and had Reindeer Sauté with Lingonberry Sauce and Cream Salmon Soup. Yes, we have just seen the reindeer, but we just wanted try some local food. Sorry!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHloAjaZvfECCmlmZv8FflNPTt48TSVpOcmHEsWKzdy_NcxtaCVgLe0LIpkkkJvOgLFPtzzqCO1-QNSa9ixcJJFsK5wbnsOqwJFkM_7BDAbAPb5gGHOUsiO3QiXUjMWK8j2g/s1600-h/et109.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHloAjaZvfECCmlmZv8FflNPTt48TSVpOcmHEsWKzdy_NcxtaCVgLe0LIpkkkJvOgLFPtzzqCO1-QNSa9ixcJJFsK5wbnsOqwJFkM_7BDAbAPb5gGHOUsiO3QiXUjMWK8j2g/s400/et109.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5005084747514754450" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-9312275131250058952006-12-01T02:57:00.000+09:002006-12-01T15:58:59.840+09:00Hiking in Urho Kekkonen National Park13 Sep. 2006 Urho Kekkonen National Park<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/617577/et102.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/570297/et102.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Finnish Lapland is pretty flat. There are not many trees in Urho Kekkonen National Park, because it is located beyond the trreeline. So, you might feel like being in the middle of nowhere, standing in yellowish bushes and grass with 360 degrees wide view.<br /><br />My friend and I took 6km hiking path. The map we got showed that path like a little red circle. It was not detailed. We followed poles along the path. The path was through the woods first, but soon we came out to the plain. It was in the late afternoon, so we didn’t see any other hikers. There was a reindeer fence in the path, so we got over it to go further. Walking for about 1 and half hours, we became unsure if we were in the right direction.<br /><br />“I feel like we are still going further, rather than getting closer to our accommodation, don’t you think?”<br />We were on the track, though, we were not sure on WHICH track. There were many courses in this area including overnight courses. If we were following to one of these long courses, we would be completely lost. So we decided to get the path back to the entrance, just in case we had taken the wrong one.<br /><br />When we walked back on the track, someone came towards us in the fast pace. He looked like as if he was familiar with this area.<br />“Excuse us, are we on this 6 km course? We are not sure if we came the right way”, I asked him showing the course map.<br />“Well, I believe so, but actually I am not so sure either.” that guy answered.<br />Oh well, then, we should take the safer way. He said he would go further to see what happens, so we went on the opposite ways.<br /><br />When we got back to the fence, we saw something over it. Is it…<br />A reindeer!<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/680670/et110.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/425095/et110.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It looked a young boy with growing antlers. He wasn’t scared at all even he saw us. On the contrary, he was staring at us curiously.<br />Then other reindeer appeared. A flock of them.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/845754/et112.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/969514/et112.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />My friend expected to see reindeer. Her wish came true. Good for her, and also me!<br /><br />We kept on walking pretty excited, then we saw somebody coming towards us in the fast pace. Eh? He looks pretty familiar. Is that the same guy we have just seen?<br />“Hi again! That was the right way. I got back to the hotel sometime after I saw you two. I was wondering if you guys were OK, so I am coming here again”<br />Do you hear that? He is coming for us! It is so kind of him!<br />He said he came to Kiilopaa ,from Jyvaskyla, twice every year; in this time to hike, and in winter for cross country skiing. We walked back chatting.<br />“I haven’t seen any berries here. Is the season finished? I wanted to pick up some berries”<br />“No, no. They should be here still. Well, let me find them…See, here they are.”<br />I actually had looked for berries in bushes, but they were on the ground. That was why we didn’t notice.<br />“Here you are.”<br />He picked up some eatable berries for us. They were refreshingly sour. <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/884593/et126.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/416571/et126.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-22357655063297083422006-11-27T17:27:00.000+09:002006-11-27T23:36:11.343+09:00Arriving in Lapland13 Sep. 2006 Kiilopaa<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/609682/et124.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/752499/et124.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am not a morning person at all, but I managed to get up at 3am in the morning. Poor my friend, she had arrived in Finland less than 12 hours ago, but she also made it. We packed our stuff, took a cab to the airport, then flew out for Rovaniemi, the capital of Finnish Lapland located on the arctic circle, with <a href="http://www.blue1.com/">Blue1</a>, at 39 Euro.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/109747/et097.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/360652/et097.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />It was worth to get up early. We saw beautiful sunrise out of the window while flying.<br /><br />We got to Rovaniemi city center by mini-shuttle, then headed for Kiilopaa, located at latitude 68 degree north, by bus. It is not really a town. There is a resort center called <a href="http://www.kiilopaa.com/en/">Fell Centre Kiilopaa</a>, which is right by the Urho Kekkonen National Park. So, you can easily go on variety of trekking from very short ones to overnight hikes. We were going to try a couple of day hike for 2 days.<br /><br />While having been waited for the bus to Kiilopaa, a Finnish lady spoke to us. She said she was going to Saariselka this time of every year to enjoy walking in autumn colors. You can see beautiful autumn colors in early September there, so many Finns seem to do the same thing. She was very friendly so we enjoyed talking all the way to Kiilopaa. <br />“Congratulations! Now you have the new prince!”, she goes.<br />New prince? Well, we didn’t know that.<br />“Oh, didn’t you? I have just heard on the news. I think I can find it in the paper too…”<br />She looked over the newspaper, and then found the news. <br />“Here it is. His name is Hisahito”<br />Oh thank you for the information. It was a bit funny that we were told our prince’s name from a Finnish lady.<br /><br />Do Finns love to talk to strangers? Just like this, we were spoken to by many people in Finland, especially in Kiilopaa. They made our stay even more pleasant so we really had good time there.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/659118/et100.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/155859/et100.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The bus took us to right in front of the accommodation. There, you can stay at different types of accommodation including hotel, cabin, dormitory, and mountain hut. We stayed at the mountain hut.<br />When we checked in, the receptionist told us that;<br />“You are lucky people. Today we have smoke sauna at extra 8 Euro. Would you like to have it?”<br />Of course, we would love to!<br />They have a normal electric sauna, and just twice a week, they also offer traditional smoke sauna for the guests. Smoke sauna is heated by wooden fire in the stove made by rocks. So it takes several hours to heat, and also the smoke will go into the shack, so you will feel the smoky smell. Sounds tempting, isn’t it?<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/694638/et137.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/207369/et137.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />We had assumed that there wouldn’t be any shops where we could buy food, and the restaurant would be expensive, so we brought some groceries like pasta. But there was a casual cafeteria at the site. The menu looked good. Anyway, we had light lunch cooking the pasta we brought, then went on the hiking.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-6760537888395193392006-11-26T13:50:00.000+09:002006-11-27T23:43:17.841+09:00Meet an old friend 10 years after12 Sep. 2006 Helsinki<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/984627/et086.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/710901/et086.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It was foggy morning when I went out on the deck, but as the boat got closer to Helsinki, the fog was clearing. The white cathedral was coming into sight. There was an hour time difference, so I set my watch ahead. So we were supposed to be arriving at Helsinki at 10am local time.<br /><br />I was waiting for the tram to the city center, but it didn’t come for a while and there was a long queue. It seemed not too far to the city, so I decided to walk. It was not far at all actually. In 15 minutes, I arrived at the harbor near the city center. There was a square where markets were held. I walked across the main street then soon I got to the hotel for that night. Helsinki was rather small town than I thought. <br /><br />At the hotel room, I was supposed to meet my friend from Japan at 4pm. She is my old friend and we hadn’t met each other for over 10 or more years. We just had been exchanging a couple of e-mails in a year. We were not very close for those 10 years, though, through the e-mails, I knew that she had traveled to Finland a couple of times. So I asked her where I should go. Then I also added:<br />Why don't you come to Finland with me?<br />It was not a serious invitation because I knew it might be hard to take a vacation so sudden (yes, it is hard to take a week vacation in Japanese society…that was why I wanted to travel between jobs), but…she made it! Well-done!<br /><br />Our itinerary was pretty tight in Finland, so I didn’t have enough time to wander around. I ran around marimekko factory shop, Sibelius Park and Tamppeliaukio Church, then got back to the hotel. It was weird to see my friend whom I hadn’t seen for a long time, at a small old hotel room in Helsinki. I was grinning with that funny feeling when I knocked on the door. She opened it. I wouldn’t say ‘ not at all’, but she didn’t look so different. Even after long years and not having been very close, I didn’t feel that we had been apart for such a long time. That is why we tried to keep in touch somehow, even just by exchanging some greetings.<br /><br />There is a Japanese movie called ‘<a href="http://www.kamome-movie.com/english.html">Kamome-Shokudo</a> (Seagull Diner)’ shot in Finland. That is a story about 3 Japanese ladies who opened a Japanese style diner in Helsinki. Actually I haven’t watched it because I was not in Japan, but I really want to watch it as soon as possible. Anyway, that diner in the film is in Helsinki, so we decided to have dinner there. Unfortunately the diner had already closed when we arrived. So we walked around the town, had dinner over everlasting chatting. Oh well, still we had lots of things to talk, but we had to take 5:30am flight to Lapland on the next day – that meant we had to get up at 3am! – so we went to bed early. <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/447176/et094.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/34061/et094.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-37814770063836953522006-11-26T12:41:00.000+09:002006-11-26T21:58:57.521+09:00Viking Line11 Sep. 2006 From Stockholm to Helsinki<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/297459/et076.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/939161/et076.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />In the evening, I took a ferry to get to Helsinki where I was supposed to meet my friend from Japan and we would travel together for a week. 2 Companies, Silja Line and Viking Line, are operating ferries to both ways between Stockholm and Helsinki daily. I chose cruising with Viking Line, because it was a bit cheaper.<br /><br />I thought it was right choice when I left Stockholm for Helsinki. The port of the Viking Line is located in the North Eastern pier of Sodermalm from where you could see the city view of Stockholm. So, once the boat departs, you can see Stockholm fading away in the distance. This is kind of a pleasure of travel, don’t you think? Silja Line departs from the other part of the city so you wouldn’t see it. I only stayed in Stockholm for 4 days and more than that, I was going to come back soon. But this scenery made me a bit sentimental.<br /> <br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/491610/et072.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/337893/et072.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I was out on the deck for about one hour. There are literally thousands of islands in this area, so I still didn’t see open sea. I enjoyed beautiful sunset, then went back inside. The Ferry was quite gorgeous with some restaurants, cafes, dutyfree shops, sauna, night clubs, a pub and discotheque, so you can play all night long if you want. As a matter of fact, Young people party hard during weekend on the boat, I have heard. But it was a weekday night, so it was rather quiet when I was there.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-54112574357565095252006-11-25T14:10:00.000+09:002006-12-07T01:38:47.171+09:00Sigtuna & Viby10 Sep. 2006 Sigtuna & Viby<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/636455/et069.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/186857/et069.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />It is a perfect day for a day out! What a blue sky with no clouds! The breeze was a bit cooler but it was just like a beautiful summer day. I went to Sigtuna where is one of the oldest villages in Sweden located about 1 hour away from Stockholm by train and bus. Out of the window of the local bus to Sigtuna, all I could see was green fields and blue sky.<br /><br />I got so excited when I got off the bus at Sigtuna. Very cute! Sigtuna is a tiny old town with pastel color houses and shops. The scenery there was very colorful with those houses, clear blue of the lake and sky, and vivid green of trees.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/10951/et056.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/624945/et056.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I went around the town, had lunch at a small café. I found Pyttipanna which is popular Swedish snack – stir fried diced potatos, onions, sausages and hams topped with sunny side up. Having Swedish foods as many as possible was my mission. Then I headed for a 1700’s old village Viby. That was a little nice walk for about 30 minutes from Sigtuna. I started with walking along the lake side path. The view from the path was breathtaking.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/829389/et061.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/512102/et061.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/150150/et067.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/46682/et067.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then you will find an unpaved path in the middle of nowhere. <br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/517418/et060.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/811979/et060.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I didn’t see anybody on this path. I became unsure if I had come in the right direction, but suddenly I found wooden fences and reddish old shacks. Over the field, there was a left over May Pole for midsummer festival. Wow, this is very Swedish!<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/714501/et063.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/593093/et063.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/627367/et065.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/227182/et065.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The village is very old and isolated. There are only a few old houses, but some families are still living in those old houses. I saw a family with a little baby busy with farming and washing. Other than them, there was nobody. It was very calm and peaceful afternoon. How lucky I was being in such a peaceful beautiful place in Sweden.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-17606750646885600992006-11-25T13:22:00.000+09:002006-11-25T13:40:59.977+09:00Mando Diao Instore Live09 Sep. 2006 Stockholm<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/476832/et041.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/15546/et041.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Jet lag! Well, it worked kind of in a good way. I am not a morning person at all, but I awoke 5am and I was not able to go back to sleep. I got up around 6:30am then played on the Internet to kill some time. Then suddenly I got sleepy, so I ended up going back to sleep till 11:30am.<br /><br />On the day before, I happened to know that Mando Diao would play a mini gig at a CD store in the main street. They are one of my favorite Swedish bands and I missed their outdoor show the night before, because I had already planned to go to the ballet. So Lucky me! They played 4 new songs, ‘The Band’ and ‘Motown Blood’ with acoustic instruments. The stage was very small and the ceiling was quite low. They played sitting on the stools, so they would bang their head if they wouldn’t mind it when they stand up. Then…of course they hit their heads one after another…Poor guys…<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/550759/et028.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/160963/et028.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/997687/et035.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/202454/et035.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />After the event, I walk to Sodermalm. If you would like to see the beautiful Stockholm skyline view over the lake, this is the place you should go. The view was very pretty and I never got tired of it. I am a view loving person what so-called, so I can spend a couple of hours doing nothing but just seeing the scenery. Fortunately the weather seemed like going back to summer. I just got lazy for the rest of the day, wandering around and having some coffee at a café watching people. Just to enjoy the local atmosphere is my pleasure of the travel. <br /><br />I walked a lot today. Feel like having a sweet! I dropped by a cake shop nearby and bought a Kokosball. It was very sweet so it went well with coffee.miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37772793.post-85833216729900453242006-11-24T23:17:00.000+09:002006-11-25T13:40:37.182+09:00Cullberg Ballet<div>08 Sep. 2006 Stockholm</div><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/153608/et018.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/352640/et018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Maybe a bit windy, but it looked the beautiful weather outside. I went out to buy something for breakfast.<br />Wooooo, it is Freeeeeezing!<br />Stockholm weather was not too kind.<br /><br />My Friend planned a picnic lunch near an old castle outside of the city, but by the time we were supposed to meet, it started raining. So we ended up going to a buffet restaurant near his work place. I didn’t really care about anything as long as I was able to meet my friend and there was some food. The buffet looked pretty yummy actually. I always take too much food when I come to buffet. It is bad habit but I guess most of people would do the same thing, right? I went back to the table with dish-full of food and started eating. Chicken with cream sauce, mmm, it is good, then I took a piece of something which looked like potato. ?? It is too sweet. Is this…banana? Banana in chicken with cream sauce??<br />My friend goes, ‘Why not? It is normal’<br />Well, it was not too bad. The statistics shows that Sweden ranks high up in the list of per-capita banana consumption in the world, now I know why.<br /><br />At night, I went to see modern ballet company, Cullberg Ballet. This is one of the reasons I came to Sweden. I hardly saw ballet stages, but I happened to see their performance at Edinburgh Fringe Festival several years ago and I really loved it. I even hadn’t known which ballet company performed at that time, then I found out the company’s name years later. I wanted to see their performance again sometime, and here they are.<br /><br />Programs at that night were ‘Blanco’ and ‘End’ . Their performances were so unique. They used lots of props, like, heaps of shoes in ‘Blance’, and variety of goods for build a shack in ‘End’. They spoke a lot while dancing, so it actually looked like a play rather than a dance. They even did funny cun-fu performances screaming each other. They made us laugh again. Well, it is hard to explain about performing arts. All I can say is their performance is definitely worth to see!</div><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/1600/975171/et010.jpg"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/x/blogger2/7673/4610/400/331136/et010.jpg" border="0" /></a>miyukihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12134216276391903500noreply@blogger.com0