Not much time for blogging. My time in Stockholm ended nicely, meeting a few very cool Vikings, hanging around the archipelago, a reggae bar, and some nice museums. I boarded the train to Oslo early Thursday morning and since have been staying at a small flat in the center of Oslo. This city is like the peak of Nordic utopia, and has an almost scary image of perfection. Just walking the city is a treat, and it looks like we'll head west to fjord country by the weekend's end.
Not sure if I'll have another chance to write anything. If not, I'll be back in Copenhagen on Tuesday for one last night, then two nights in Iceland, and back in the States on Friday afternoon. Unbelievable.
23 August 2008
17 August 2008
Sailing into Stockholm
The Finnish experience ended somewhere on the Baltic sea early Friday morning, when our the Silia boat crossed some imaginary line on a map. I had a great time in Finland, but the highlight came on a visit to the west coast to see Matias, a Viking arriving this coming year. His family owns a large tract of land on the archipelago, as well as a small island there. It took nearly 2.5 hrs by bus, but once there it was all fun and relaxation. We took a pack of ATVs out on the "farm", which was some of the coolest terrain I'll ever ATV on. All rocks and thick forest, broken occasionally by some narrow prarie fields. It was a bit intense at times, when I thought my ATV might flip over on my head due to some of the angles we were driving at. But it was a great time. Later we piled on to an old wooden boat and sailed through the archipelago. After an hour on the sea, we docked at a small island, which had five cottages usually rented out by Matias' family. We took the free one, and spent the evening with a barbecue, beer, sauna, and the occasional dip in the sea to cool off.
Wednesday night, my last in Finland, we had a night out (surprise) that got a bit out of hand. There was only one bar visited, that being an Aussie Pub, but once the Snakebites were lined up on the bar, it wasn't long before trouble arrived. We slept in Thursday before one last big brunch and a good clean of Sten's empty flat, which had been home for the week. Then we boarded the ferry to Stockholm.
The ferry was interesting. There was an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffett, which we spent the mandatory two hours at. The duty-free store was packed with Swedes and Finns looking for their tax-free alcohol. And the boat, considering how big it is, swayed in the open sea with every big wave. It was pretty stormy and a bit intense at times, and the location of our cabin didn't help. We were on the lowest level, below the car decks, and at the very front of the ship. So we felt every movement of the boat, and it moved quite a bit in the wee hours of the morning.
I woke up in time for one last sauna, from which I could see the islands of Stockholm's archipelago passing by. We arrived in Stockholm in mid-morning, and met Lisa, a Swedish Viking, who found us a hostel for the night and gave us some orientation. In two days here, I've had a chance to walk around this gorgeous city, visit the famous Vasa museum, and try the notorious northern Swedish Surströmming. I'm looking forward to a few more days here, before we board an early morning train due west for Oslo on Thursday.
---
I saw a photo of Favre in a Jets jersey. I leave the country for 10 lousy weeks and look what happens.
Wednesday night, my last in Finland, we had a night out (surprise) that got a bit out of hand. There was only one bar visited, that being an Aussie Pub, but once the Snakebites were lined up on the bar, it wasn't long before trouble arrived. We slept in Thursday before one last big brunch and a good clean of Sten's empty flat, which had been home for the week. Then we boarded the ferry to Stockholm.
The ferry was interesting. There was an all-you-can-eat-and-drink buffett, which we spent the mandatory two hours at. The duty-free store was packed with Swedes and Finns looking for their tax-free alcohol. And the boat, considering how big it is, swayed in the open sea with every big wave. It was pretty stormy and a bit intense at times, and the location of our cabin didn't help. We were on the lowest level, below the car decks, and at the very front of the ship. So we felt every movement of the boat, and it moved quite a bit in the wee hours of the morning.
I woke up in time for one last sauna, from which I could see the islands of Stockholm's archipelago passing by. We arrived in Stockholm in mid-morning, and met Lisa, a Swedish Viking, who found us a hostel for the night and gave us some orientation. In two days here, I've had a chance to walk around this gorgeous city, visit the famous Vasa museum, and try the notorious northern Swedish Surströmming. I'm looking forward to a few more days here, before we board an early morning train due west for Oslo on Thursday.
---
I saw a photo of Favre in a Jets jersey. I leave the country for 10 lousy weeks and look what happens.
12 August 2008
Drinking Wodka...Naked
That's pretty much what the Finns are known for, and I've had the experience in time here, so to speak. My days in Copenhagen ended in fantastic fashion, with a visit to the infamous amusement park Tivoli, frenzied packing (the only way I know how) and closing down the K3 club in the city center. Subsequently, Pete and I missed our first flight to Helsinki. Not to worry, there was another leaving in the afternoon, which we boarded with no problems.
My worries were over when we landed in Helsinki. But my luggage didn't come with me. Mikaela, a stunning Finnish Viking, picked us up at the airport and whisked us away to Sten's empty flat in the center of the city, where we've been sleeping on mattresses this week. Feels a bit like the Godfather. That first night we attended a bar's grand opening, then VIPed our way into this club called Lux, which has a great terrace view over the city, and is easily the most impressive club I've ever seen. Most clubs here are 24+, but it seems to be a mere suggestion.
Since then it's been sleep-in, sightsee, go to the club. Until yesterday, when Otto, the Viking headed to Madison this fall, gave us a tennis lesson and showed us the student like in Helsinki. Last night we had a big Viking dinner at his parent's place on an island outside Helsinki. Every time I meet these people I'm more and more impressed. Today we're taking a bus to the Finnish archipelago for a night at a cottage. Apart from these irritating back spasms, all is well here. My luggage even arrived yesterday, so I can stop borrowing clothes.
I fear this week in Finland will be over soon, and we'll board the overnight ferry to Stockholm on Thursday. I've never taken an overnight boat, and I'm pretty damn excited about it.
I've forgotten a few things. Saturday we visited Helsinki's last remaining public sauna, where for only 7 euros one can sweat out all those club toxins in a 100 degree + (that's celcius) wood paneled room with a bunch of other naked people. An interesting experience to say the least, but it's an institution in Finland, and a must on a visit here.
There was a club we went to on Sunday that had a line around the block, but we were able to skip the line and get in immediately. It's nice to know people who know people. A famous Finnish rapper performed live, and as usual, we failed to leave the place long before close.
Sorry about the brief summary, but I'm not wired in at the empty flat, and spare time is hard to come by. See you in Sweden..
My worries were over when we landed in Helsinki. But my luggage didn't come with me. Mikaela, a stunning Finnish Viking, picked us up at the airport and whisked us away to Sten's empty flat in the center of the city, where we've been sleeping on mattresses this week. Feels a bit like the Godfather. That first night we attended a bar's grand opening, then VIPed our way into this club called Lux, which has a great terrace view over the city, and is easily the most impressive club I've ever seen. Most clubs here are 24+, but it seems to be a mere suggestion.
Since then it's been sleep-in, sightsee, go to the club. Until yesterday, when Otto, the Viking headed to Madison this fall, gave us a tennis lesson and showed us the student like in Helsinki. Last night we had a big Viking dinner at his parent's place on an island outside Helsinki. Every time I meet these people I'm more and more impressed. Today we're taking a bus to the Finnish archipelago for a night at a cottage. Apart from these irritating back spasms, all is well here. My luggage even arrived yesterday, so I can stop borrowing clothes.
I fear this week in Finland will be over soon, and we'll board the overnight ferry to Stockholm on Thursday. I've never taken an overnight boat, and I'm pretty damn excited about it.
I've forgotten a few things. Saturday we visited Helsinki's last remaining public sauna, where for only 7 euros one can sweat out all those club toxins in a 100 degree + (that's celcius) wood paneled room with a bunch of other naked people. An interesting experience to say the least, but it's an institution in Finland, and a must on a visit here.
There was a club we went to on Sunday that had a line around the block, but we were able to skip the line and get in immediately. It's nice to know people who know people. A famous Finnish rapper performed live, and as usual, we failed to leave the place long before close.
Sorry about the brief summary, but I'm not wired in at the empty flat, and spare time is hard to come by. See you in Sweden..
05 August 2008
Rounding third and bringing it on home
So it's Tuesday and the weather has taken a serious turn for the worse, making Copenhagen feel like the coastal city it acts like nine months of the year. The skies dark and the wind is blowing in every possible direction, with occasional rain and chilly temperature. It's good timing for me, as I'm in the midst of writing a business plan that comes due Thursday at high noon, and it was practically impossible with the weather we were having last week.
Thursday was the last day of class, and afterwards Pete and I had some work to do. We had arranged and markets an unoffical going-away party for the ISUP students, because many of us will be on our way home or elsewhere by the time the official one rolls around. We picked up ten crates of beer from Lidl, as well as four bottles of the hard stuff. That's 300 beers and enough Fisk, vodka and akvakvit to give a few hippos a good buzz. The party took place in the basement and "backyard" of Kathrine, and we kicked it off around nine. Of course, that means that most people didn't start rolling in until ten. Even then, we were a little worried there was no way we'd get rid of all that alcohol. We were selling beer for 5 kr, or 5 for 20kr, and shots for 10kr, or 2 for 15kr. And free kisses. All great deals. Before we knew it we were handing out beers by the armful, pouring shots, singing songs and making kroner hand over fist. The place filled up quick, and all-in-all some 100+ students came by. We ran out of booze around 2:30, making the endeavor a wild success.
There was one tiny splotch on the evening. At one point, after downing a Snakebite (the Australian method of skulling a beer) I noticed a man in his sixties drinking a beer on the couch. I thought nothing of it, and moved on. The next time I saw this guy, he was enraged, and throwing monkey punches at Pete outside. All said, it took about two hours and four native Danish speakers to get rid of this guy, and by the time he left, he was torn up and apologetic. No one's entirely sure what was going on there, so I'll throw my theory/hat in the ring. This guys lives nearby to this rowdy student-dorm, and has dealt with the loud parties for years. Some time ago, when he was a younger man, he got fed up and crashed a party, found a meaty international student, and threw a right-hook or two. He enjoyed it so much, he made a tradition of it, and has been back every year since. This year, Pete was the lucky guy.
Friday morning Pete and I awoke and cleaned up all the bottles, because bottles are as good as cash in this country. We used the deposits to buy chips, Fisk, and pear juice. Forgive me this tangent. Pete has been obsesses with this inexpensive carbonated pear cider. He simply calls it "pear juice". He's been drinking it all summer, any time of the day, especially in the thirsty morning. I finally caved and bought a bottle of my own, and one night, I was pouring myself a glass, and I noticed this "pear juice" contains alcohol. Not much, mind you, but enough to guaruntee that alcohol remains in Pete's bloodstream at all times. We might run into some dependancy issues by the end of this trip..
So we made the purchase, I ran off to print off one of my papers, and Pete headed to the library to study. It was another warm day, and Abby, Kara and I made our way to the beach for the afternoon. I've seen many terrible tattoos here, and one of the worst was staring me in the face as I made my way to the sea. It was on this guy's back, and simply said "Like I Care." Obviously, he doesn't. After a relaxing afternoon on the beach, I raced back to shower in time for a barbecue at Michael's place in Charlottenlund. Michael's a Viking with it all. Perfect kids, wife, job, cars, house, etc. Josh and Weldon, the two Vikings in Oslo this summer, arrived that day and were at the barbecue with the rest of the crowd...
---
That was something of a half-post. It's Thursday morning and finished my papers, and am heading to turn them in within the hour. The rest of the day is booked. I'm hoping to have time in Finland to catch-up on this, but it will resemble something of a skeleton with some loose meat hanging from the bones. So tomorrow morning we're leaving for Helsinki. Of course I haven't packed. Boy do I hate packing. Hopefully report back soon.
Thursday was the last day of class, and afterwards Pete and I had some work to do. We had arranged and markets an unoffical going-away party for the ISUP students, because many of us will be on our way home or elsewhere by the time the official one rolls around. We picked up ten crates of beer from Lidl, as well as four bottles of the hard stuff. That's 300 beers and enough Fisk, vodka and akvakvit to give a few hippos a good buzz. The party took place in the basement and "backyard" of Kathrine, and we kicked it off around nine. Of course, that means that most people didn't start rolling in until ten. Even then, we were a little worried there was no way we'd get rid of all that alcohol. We were selling beer for 5 kr, or 5 for 20kr, and shots for 10kr, or 2 for 15kr. And free kisses. All great deals. Before we knew it we were handing out beers by the armful, pouring shots, singing songs and making kroner hand over fist. The place filled up quick, and all-in-all some 100+ students came by. We ran out of booze around 2:30, making the endeavor a wild success.
There was one tiny splotch on the evening. At one point, after downing a Snakebite (the Australian method of skulling a beer) I noticed a man in his sixties drinking a beer on the couch. I thought nothing of it, and moved on. The next time I saw this guy, he was enraged, and throwing monkey punches at Pete outside. All said, it took about two hours and four native Danish speakers to get rid of this guy, and by the time he left, he was torn up and apologetic. No one's entirely sure what was going on there, so I'll throw my theory/hat in the ring. This guys lives nearby to this rowdy student-dorm, and has dealt with the loud parties for years. Some time ago, when he was a younger man, he got fed up and crashed a party, found a meaty international student, and threw a right-hook or two. He enjoyed it so much, he made a tradition of it, and has been back every year since. This year, Pete was the lucky guy.
Friday morning Pete and I awoke and cleaned up all the bottles, because bottles are as good as cash in this country. We used the deposits to buy chips, Fisk, and pear juice. Forgive me this tangent. Pete has been obsesses with this inexpensive carbonated pear cider. He simply calls it "pear juice". He's been drinking it all summer, any time of the day, especially in the thirsty morning. I finally caved and bought a bottle of my own, and one night, I was pouring myself a glass, and I noticed this "pear juice" contains alcohol. Not much, mind you, but enough to guaruntee that alcohol remains in Pete's bloodstream at all times. We might run into some dependancy issues by the end of this trip..
So we made the purchase, I ran off to print off one of my papers, and Pete headed to the library to study. It was another warm day, and Abby, Kara and I made our way to the beach for the afternoon. I've seen many terrible tattoos here, and one of the worst was staring me in the face as I made my way to the sea. It was on this guy's back, and simply said "Like I Care." Obviously, he doesn't. After a relaxing afternoon on the beach, I raced back to shower in time for a barbecue at Michael's place in Charlottenlund. Michael's a Viking with it all. Perfect kids, wife, job, cars, house, etc. Josh and Weldon, the two Vikings in Oslo this summer, arrived that day and were at the barbecue with the rest of the crowd...
---
That was something of a half-post. It's Thursday morning and finished my papers, and am heading to turn them in within the hour. The rest of the day is booked. I'm hoping to have time in Finland to catch-up on this, but it will resemble something of a skeleton with some loose meat hanging from the bones. So tomorrow morning we're leaving for Helsinki. Of course I haven't packed. Boy do I hate packing. Hopefully report back soon.
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