Good news: I got to go on a business trip, the third business trip of my entire life, to Helsinki.
Bad news: As I was working during both days I was there, I didn't get to see much of the city.
Good news: I got to stay in a luxurious hotel which offered a breakfast buffet and in-room broadband wireless internet.
Bad news: My room was about the size of the bathroom in my apartment, and I didn't have time in the mornings to take much advantage of the buffet.
Good news: Finland is an hour ahead of Denmark. So, when I went to bed at 11pm, it was really only 10. Which was cool.
Bad news: Finland is an hour ahead of Denmark. So, when I got up at 6am, it was really only 5. Which was definitely not cool.
Good news: From what I could tell from my one evening look round, Helsinki has a lot of beautiful buildings, especially churches.
Bad news: I still haven't figured out how to take digital photos in low light, so all my pictures except one came out blurry.
Good news: The above picture came out. It's the view from the meeting room I was working from on the first day.
Bad news: None actually. But I only later realized that this was not just forest, but the edge of an employee parking lot.
Good news: I have now been to Finland.
Bad news: I will have to go back (this is not the bad news), as there was so little time to really get a feel for the place (which is the bad news).
Bonus news: In answer to this question, I have it on authority from a real Finn that trains run pretty much on time in Finland on the first day(s) of snowy weather.
6 kommentarer:
Over all sounds fun.
Hi Hank, yep, it was really fun. Actually, even the work was fun!
Mr. American, I must confess I know nothing about Finnish mythology. However, I am quite fascinated by the Finnish language, as it is so odd in so many ways, and supposed to be so difficult, and my trip there has got me looking at other Finnish things as well. I looked up your guy, and found a Vainamoinen (I think). Here is a humorous link on him.
Finland! that seems so forgeign and exotic in a snowy way. Are you sure you were not lied to about the trains?
Are you glad to be home? I am getting ready to travel to DC this weekend. I am glad the snow decided to dump on the city this past weekend instead of when Little Man and I will be there. But I will try taking a train or two if they have some.
Findland just sounds so snowy and intriguing--have always wanted to go. Where were your other two business trips to?
what do people eat in Finland? i'd love to go to Scandinavia, all of it.
happy V day if you do celebrate it. xx
Hi Daphnewood, I believe the person who told me about the trains, just because she didn't have any reason to not tell me the truth. Have fun in DC!
Etchen, Finland was definitely snowing, and pretty exotic in some ways. My previous trips were one to a suburb of Chicago (before I moved to Europe), and a trip to Stockholm the week before Christmas. I saw none of Chicago, and a bit of Stockholm, but mainly I spent a day in meetings and a day shopping.
Chloe, I asked some people what would be considered traditional Finnish food, and I didn't get a very clear answer. A lot of potatoes, and beets. And some Russian and some Swedish influence. I'd recommend it as a destination,...but remember, Finland isn't part of Scandinavia...Finland and Scandinavia together make up the Nordic region.
Sangroncito, let's both try and figure the problem out, and then we can tell the other. Because I'm often ready to take pictures in the twilight evening, and it's getting frustrating that they never turn out!
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