Finland's smokers enjoy an abundance of over-turned, flower-pot ash trays at restaurants and bars. What a cheap and nice-looking alternative to seeing butts about. From the sounds of it, there is a growing trend to have more non-smoking options, such as smoke-free apartment buildings.
The air quality in Finland is really high. It's nice to be able to enjoy it.
Huomenna lähdemme Suomesta iltapäivällä. Me olemme olleet täällä noin kaksi viikkoa. On ollut hyvä matka vaikka yksi päivä oli tosi hankala kun avomieheni oli helvetin pahalla tuulella. Ennen kuin sen päivän ja sen jälkeen meidän matka on ollut tosi rentoutuva. Mulla on ikävä Suomea kohta kun saavun kotiin. Tämän matkan jälkeen minä luen jotakin suomeksi joka päivä ja voi olla että luen vain kaksi tai kolme lausetta. Tärkein asia on että luen sännöllisesti. Sama juttu espanjaksi.
On ollut ihana nähdä monta ystävää täällä ja nauraa kovin paljon. Nautin Suomea ja haluan tulla tänne joka kesä harjoitella puhua suomea ja rentoutua. Lomalla on hyvin tärkeä pään tyjäntämiseksi.
During this trip, I have been blog-wise more quiet than during other trips. This is my seventh visit to Finland and most everything is familiar to me. It is a nice feeling to let pieces of my personality out that normally lay dormant. These pieces are indescribable and I will not try to make too much sense out of it all. Inside, small important pieces smile here. My heart and mind house two world cultures, despite being born in one place and not the other. I cannot take away the one, nor the other. It makes me internally restless at times. At the moment, I am at peace.
Offline write-up from a few days ago:
Our trip from Helsinki to Joensuu was via train and bus. Recent storms downed thousands of trees and the tracks still need to be cleared and checked. When we arrived, Virpi had a look of anticipation. It's damn good to see her again!
Offline write-up from a few nights ago at Virpi's parents' place:
Last night's indoor, wood-heated sauna was fantastic:
Sips of beer, sauna with Ben, a view from the edge of the river Pielisjoki, sip of beer, sauna with Ben (he finishes sauna here), a dip in the river, sip of beer, sauna with Virpi and Maarit and Virpi's mother Inkeri, river, sauna with Virpi and Maarit (because we lost Inkeri to the rantasauna, river swim, shower, and final sip of beer.
