nekala community garden (two weeks ago)

If you can find me a more idyllic place, I don't want to hear about it. 

to pyhäjärvi (two weeks ago)

Bit of a fragmented post this one. This afternoon (Saturday 24/8) was my big chance to walk around Pyhäjärvi, a trip I'd done almost exactly 8 years ago (but really, 7 years 11 months) or perhaps this is the actual trip I'm confused now. Things are all different in the 2020s because they have a tram that takes you to a significant point near the lake, so I got on that, but guess what - the new building at the tram terminus (presumably, inspired/enabled by the tram terminus) means mapsonmyphone doesn't know where to take you anymore as certain thoroughfares are blocked off. So it was a bit of a meander until I decided, very uncertain, to go up this laneway. 

This proved to be the correct choice, as it transpired as there was a walkway through to the other side of this wall (atop which runs a railway line). 

This tunnel is so gnarly and yet I couldn't say no. 

Actually, I'd been in it before. As the post I linked to above shows, because I had seen this shot tower before. 

In this instance the building below the shot tower was being used for a wedding event. 

I don't think you need my commentary on anything else do you? Just enjoy the immense beauty of this place. I think Tampere is the best. 

oulu (two weeks ago)

So the train trip to Oulu, the last leg of my journey insofar as it's the furthest I'm going, was long (6 hours) but uneventful. The most eventful thing was the two women who sat next to me, and they weren't eventful, but the first one slept like a demon all the way to Tampere (the ticket checker saw the depth of her sleep, winked at me (!?) and then nudged her shoulder with his checking implement to wake her up and check her ticket) after which she went back to sleep immediately then at Tampere she leapt up like a professional sleep/waker and vanished. Her replacement from Tampere to Oulu was even less interesting but wow, was just on her phone solid for four hours, it was impressive. 

I was kind of annoyed they were there because charging my phone/laptop meant stringing cables across the window seat to the outlet above that seat, but my copassenger (the second one, phone lady) didn't even acknowledge, though I felt it was a little precarious. 

Got in at 8pm. 

My airbnb apartment is a gem, my host Leena is a recently retired literary researcher (that was the best translation she could give me of what she did) and poetry teacher, Finnish poetry is her passion, the books are everywhere, she has LPs and CDs all over the place, I was amazed to see sticking out of her LPs the one Kumma Heppu & Lopunajan Voidellut album I own and I said 'I have this album' and she said 'my ex-boyfriend played bass on that album.'

This morning I went to the S-market (it's open 24 hours, thank you jesus) and bought some coffee to make coffee, as Leena has a stovetop coffee maker, and I saw this bird. 

More soon everyone!

trip to europe (a month ago)

Sometimes when I upload a bunch of images they upload in the reverse order, I have no idea why. But this is how we ended our day in Jyskävylä, by playing this game, which has a special name in Finland which I can't remember offhand but which means 'swaying tower', and which Laura knows as Jenga. I'd never played it, or at least I don't remember doing so. I was so tired by the end of this day (in fact, I am virtually comatose at the end of every day) that it was a special effort on her part I think to make me stay awake long enough to not be in danger of waking up at 4am (which I do most days anyway). 

The activities room at the craft museum. We didn't do any activities. 

I just enjoyed someone's way of signing the guest book, that's all. Maybe when Nanna Känninen is accused of a crime and says but I was in Jyväskylä and I can prove it, I signed the guest book at the craft museum, and they say well that page has been torn out so there is no proof, this picture can be proof. 

This is earlier in the day, of course, in Tampere, a big intersection and a weird rocket or ventilation tower or something. 

Waterfront property. 

Laura looked up this story. The first air fatality in Finland I think. A Swedish noble donated a plane and be careful of Swedish nobles bearing gifts is all I can say. 

We are too scared to walk on the ice. 

Closed amusement park, unless you're a bird in which case you find your amusement where you can. 

Tampere is full of amazing apparently unpolluting industry just sitting around in-between the apartments and the shops, I love it. 

Goodbye Tampere until next time.