tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2009-11-12:/This is the travel journal of Suvi & Mikko, two friends from Finland travelling around Europe this summer.MokoFeed2009-11-12T21:49:38+01:00tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-08-22:/2006/08/22/kouvola_finland~1060212/suupala2006-08-22T17:29:02+02:002006-08-22T17:29:02+02:00 <p>I arrived safely to Finland, as planned. Due to my Internet service provider's bad customer care I was without a network connection until now, thus the delay in blog updating.</p> <p>Anyway, now I'm back online and will update a great deal of photos to this blog very soon. I also have a new mobile phone (the number is still the same), so I can be contacted in many ways. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/08/22/kouvola_finland~1060212/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-08-12:/2006/08/13/hot_spain~1035149/suupala2006-08-13T00:17:55+02:002006-08-13T00:17:55+02:00 <p>We went to Bilbao and the north coast, and further on to Madrid. There we met with Alvaro and Lucia, who studied in Finland earlier. They took us to all the best places, and we had a great party!</p> <p>We realized we haven't got enough time to go to Gibraltar, we have to do that next year. So, we went to Valencia, visiting Toledo on the way.</p> <p>The most recent turn on our trip changed our plans about London. Ryanair informed, that all UK flights at this time can be postponed due to the presumed terrorist attack. So, we'll go to London only just before the next plane leaves for Finland,</p> <p>I will continue updating this blog in Finland on the 15th when I return home. Great pictures of the missing stages coming up! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/08/13/hot_spain~1035149/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-08-08:/2006/08/08/cold_weather~1024423/suupala2006-08-08T22:06:29+02:002006-08-08T22:06:29+02:00 <p>So we did rent a car and went to <strong>ANDORRA</strong> and further on to <strong>BILBAO</strong> through the mountains. Everything is super as you will understand when I add the pictures here. The only interesting thing is we experienced my first cold weathers ever in Spain, it's freezing in the mountains!</p> <p>Next stop will be Madrid. Stay online! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/08/08/cold_weather~1024423/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-08-03:/2006/08/03/back_online~1011508/suupala2006-08-03T19:47:39+02:002006-08-03T19:47:39+02:00 <p>My primary email <a href="mailto:xmiru@kyamk.fi">xmiru@kyamk.fi</a> is back online, got it sorted out. I don't know how often I'll have a chance to read it, though: our current plan is to rent a car and travel route BILBAO-MADRID-GIBRALTAR-VALENCIA. Let's see how this works out. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/08/03/back_online~1011508/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-08-02:/2006/08/02/salvation_army~1009263/suupala2006-08-02T22:59:54+02:002006-08-02T23:00:42+02:00 <p>So, everything went fine, and my friends came here and saved me <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>New problems arise, though: my email is also not working at the moment, probably because of my computer support personnel has disabled it, because my job contract changed to a new one in the beginning of this month and they were not informed. So, I have not received any messages sent after last Thursday. If you need to contact me, please use my other email <a href="mailto:pala@salaliitto.net">pala@salaliitto.net</a></p> <p>My passport was not stolen, and my friend reserved me a flight back to Finland with them on 15.8. I'm sorry not to be able to participate my parents' 30th wedding anniversary <img src="/img/smilies/icon_sad.gif" alt=":(" class="middle" border="0"> But, I'll come a little late, better that than never!</p> <p>I'll report more as the journey continues to the south of Spain. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/08/02/salvation_army~1009263/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-07-28:/2006/07/28/happy_birthday~994976/suupala2006-07-28T10:02:48+02:002006-07-28T10:02:48+02:00 <p>So it happens that I spent quite nice a birthday in Barcelona. I only made one big mistake: I spent it alone, and was robbed at the end of the evening - like last summer also. My wallet and mobile phone were stolen. This means:</p> <p><strong>I CANNOT BE CONTACTED IN ANY WAY.</strong></p> <p>Please send your mobile phone number to my email <a href="mailto:xmiru@kyamk.fi">xmiru@kyamk.fi</a> for future use, as I also lost all of my phone numbers.</p> <p>It's not that bad, though: I still have a roof above my head and the spanish sun is free for everyone.</p> <p>The moral of the story is: One should never do anything alone. I miss Suvi, and will wait for my Finnish friends on Placa de Catalynia tomorrow. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/07/28/happy_birthday~994976/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-07-19:/2006/07/19/barcelona~972087/suupala2006-07-19T17:11:47+02:002006-07-27T00:52:29+02:00 <p>Viva el España!</p> <p>We arrived in Barcelona on Tuesday evening after intensive hitch-hiking through France from Sunday evening.</p> <p>Everything feels easy here after France, we are very happy <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>By chance we met an ex-barmaid of Rytmi-Katti, a bar in Kouvola, Finland. Her boyfried keeps an illegal hostel in the best possible location in the centre, and we are staying there at the time.</p> <p><strong>IT IS STRONGLY RECOMMENDED TO MAKE RESERVATIONS IN ADVANCE WHEN COMING TO BARCELONA - ALL HOSTELS ARE FULL!</strong></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/perilla.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Finally in Barcelona!! The first evening - tired but so happy! Final destination for Suvi who was dreaming about bcn during the whole last winter in Rovaniemi.</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/mikkosagrada.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Sagrada Familia</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/portaat.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/gaudi.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Casa Batlló</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/gaudi2.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Casa Milà (La Pedrera)</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/guell.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Park Güell</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/pari.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> reading couple in Barri Gòtic</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/reggae.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Downtown reggae - bnc dancehall fest (also with Irie sound from Finland)</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/suklis-1.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_neutral.gif" alt=":|" class="middle" border="0"> Suvi booked her flight back to Finland on Tuesday 25.7. - She want's to participate the Finnish <a href="http://www.faces.fi">Faces-festival</a> the following weekend, and also prepare for her trip to Sweden, Uppsala Reggae Festival on August.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/07/19/barcelona~972087/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-07-15:/2006/07/15/paris~961559/suupala2006-07-15T15:30:28+02:002006-07-27T00:38:49+02:00 <p>We made it to Paris!</p> <p>We left Hildesheim on Wednesday afternoon, and - thanks to the most kind aid of Danish and especially Polish truck drivers - arrived in Paris already at 8:30 on Thursday morning. On the way we visited the Netherlands again, and also made our very first visit to Belgium - stopped on a gas station <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p>Paris is unbelievable and great, but also the most expensive city we have ever been to. The contrast between Berlin and Paris is huge: here you don't know, if it's the love or the money that makes the world go round. Probably one or the other for each person, but at least all the prices are double compared to Berlin - maybe love then too? At least people here are beutiful and trendy, and even try to speak English with us a bit.</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/eiffel.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/smeiffel.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/varjo.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/iltamaisema.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/suvieiffel.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/riemu.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/notre.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/seine.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/amelie.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Following Ameliè´s footsteps.</p> <p>-----------------</p> <p>We said goodbye to Paris on Sunday evening and started travelling towards sud, south.</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/metsa.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Private camping place in a small forest - on the way to Barcelona we slept two nights by to the road. Thank you again for all the sweet people helping us on the way (even without a same language)! </p> <p>It was nice to see the changing scenery while heading the south - Southern France was so beautiful!</p> <p><img src="http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b267/suklismanna/matkalla.jpg" alt="" title=""><br> Last view before the Spanish border. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/07/15/paris~961559/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-07-12:/2006/07/12/hildesheim~953571/suupala2006-07-12T13:11:37+02:002006-07-12T13:11:37+02:00 <p>We escaped the footballfans of Berlin to the peaceful city of Hildesheim. Even though the city is not well known in the world, it was a very important stop for Mikko, who studied there in the year 2000.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=680353"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/353/680353_5883606f39_m.jpeg" align="" alt="hildesheim" title="hildesheim" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Hildesheim is also a medieval city, and all the roofs are red.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=680354"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/354/680354_4b5a6a3fe7_m.jpeg" align="" alt="johanna" title="johanna" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>We met many friends, like Johanna in the picture. She studied one year in Kouvola, Finland.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=680355"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/355/680355_bd37ad1ad9_m.jpeg" align="" alt="mikko" title="mikko" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Mikko very happy in the old hoods.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=680356"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/356/680356_e22ba59026_m.jpeg" align="" alt="sandrine" title="sandrine" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The only friend in Hildesheim from the times Mikko studied here is Sandrine, a French Spaßvogel. She's always kind and happy and took us at her lovely apartment, very near to where Mikko lived before. Before that we enjoyed the hospitality of Kristin, the current flatmate of Katri in Finland. Katri already returned to Finland and Kristin will follow - to study in Mikko's guidance.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=680357"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/357/680357_90e5bcd184_m.jpeg" align="" alt="suvi" title="suvi" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The water in Hildesheim was not warm enough for Suvi, so we decided to head on to Spain. Our following stop will be Paris, France, and we hope to arrive there on Thursday. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/07/12/hildesheim~953571/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-07-07:/2006/07/07/berlin~942477/suupala2006-07-07T23:50:52+02:002006-07-08T00:28:30+02:00 <p>Berlin is without a doubt the coolest city in the world for creative people, who do not want to follow the example of the majority. Living together with like-minded people in a neighbourhood with endless possibilities and constant action does not require money here, just courage - why are we still in Finland?!</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/koti.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>In Fusion we got to know really nice people like Dany, who invited us to stay in her living community. The apartment in earlier East Germany was absolutely the coolest we have ever seen - an old factory renovated for the needs of people who dare to do as they would like to. One could not do this in Finland.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/portti.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>Berlin people are poor, but living in the historically richest environment of all Europe.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/peili.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The German government works in a building built for emperors, but renovated to work with solar energy. A visit is highly recommended, it's free and there's a great view over the city.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/jose.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>Mikko met a dear old friend, José, from the times he was studying in Germany.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/linna.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>We found a really cool electro-record-releasing party in Watergate, a club by the river that was previously the border between the East and the West.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/laajapallo.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The nightly scene seen many times in movies.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/monument.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The monument for the murdered Jewish of Europe worked liked it should - children were playing hide & seek as the adults wandered around in deep, sad thoughts.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/pallo.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The television tower of Berlin is one of its most famous attractions with its height of over 300 meters.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/sisa.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The weather in Berlin was REALLY hot, but also surprising - thunderstorms were best passed smoking a sheesha pipe. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/07/07/berlin~942477/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-07-04:/2006/07/04/fusion~932495/suupala2006-07-04T16:13:30+02:002006-07-08T00:15:07+02:00 <p>The best festival in the universe is over for this year - next year ALL the best people also from Finland MUST be there! Words (and pictures) can never describe the atmoshere of the total dream festival - just use your imagination and that was there, and more. Wonderful! We are happy to live in this time and place in the Universe.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/kaikki.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The Fusion Team: We got enforcements from Finland! In the picture from left: Suvi, Mikko, Katri & Sabine. We went to Fusion already on Tuesday to build up the festival (many thanks to Katja from Wismar) - this was an incredibly good decision, the feeling was like setting up "Sleeping disorder" in Finland, but for 40000 people!</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/raketti.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The Fusion symbol rocket.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/massa.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>40000 people and getting bigger evey year - a bit too much actually, we enjoyed the first days the most.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/sienet.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>All kind of wonderfull installations and art works spiced the atmosphere. I´m sure we couldn´t even find all the hidden mysteries. Becides the music, Fusion also was full of teather, movies, performances, fire joggling and more. It was a gathering of creative people - every was invited, we saw only happy faces.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/tulet.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>Fire is a constantly changing element, and there was a lot of it, like in the first Fusion 10 years ago. The motto of the festival was: "The head is round, so opinions can also change direction". Deep thinking was present, even though the most important aim was to have fun with kindered spirits.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/ilotuli.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The festival was organized in an East-German airport and its hangars, that are nowadays used exclusively for the Fusion-festival.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/visu.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>24 hour techno-stages with world-famous DJ:s and constant dancing. The lighting effects in the whole festival were bigger and better and more amazing than we had ever seen before.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/soma.jpg" alt="" title="">#</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/soma2.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The area we were building was called Neuland, "The new land", and was - of course - the most comfortable place in the festival. A magical forest indeed.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/berlin/pataa.jpg" alt="" title=""></p> <p>The atmoshere got Suvi a bit wild and Mikko had to teach her a lesson.</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/07/04/fusion~932495/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-26:/2006/06/26/wismar~913013/suupala2006-06-26T16:24:42+02:002006-06-26T16:24:42+02:00 <p>We came to the historic hansatown Wismar to meet Sabine and Petra who were exhange students in Kouvola last spring. Hitchiging was again super! We arrived to Wismar harbour really fast: 15 min waiting at Hamburg (auffarht Horn) and one hour of driving, straight to the bar where Sbeen works! Thanks to Wolfgang and Kerstin who made a great road sign for us!! </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=649180"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/180/649180_c5471b9e79_s.jpeg" align="" alt="P6230045p" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Sbeen's apartment is really cool, and her flatmates also - especially Mario because he was away and we could use his room, thanks! They're constantly cooking delicious meals (even though they're vegetarian, says Mikko).</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=649181"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/181/649181_38d5722af3_s.jpeg" align="" alt="P6240160p" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>The St. Nicholaus church has the second highest ceiling of brickstone in the world. The old town and the unique medieval harbor are part of Unesco's world heritage.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=649188"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/188/649188_5bcba7267b_s.jpeg" align="" alt="100_2547p" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>On Saturday Sbeen and her ever-happy friend Ulli took us to a small village, Ilow, outside Wismar. There we celebrated the Finnish midsummerfest - and they even had a bonfire! </p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=649182"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/182/649182_852967ede2_s.jpeg" align="" alt="P6250045p" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Sunday was again a hot day but before going to the beach we went to listen to <a href="http://www.cellolitis.de">Cellolitis (Nikolaus Herdieckerhoff)</a> at Ponton in the harbour. He was also playing at Ilow the day before. Such nice music, like magic! He's a one man orchestra with just his talent and cello. Hope to hear him again, maybe in Finland!</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=649183"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/183/649183_0d2ef88f79_s.jpeg" align="" alt="P6250082p" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>Wismar is by the sea, so they have many nice beaches there. We spend a really nice evening there, again with Sbeen and Ulli. Even though everyone else is vegetarian, Mikko got his wish and could grill lots of proper Thüringer bratwurst (so-called "Makkara").</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=649184"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/184/649184_fe13858aec_s.jpeg" align="" alt="P6250091p" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>At the moment we're having temporary problems with "the internet stuff" so be patient - more pics coming soon!</p> <p>From here we'll continue to a cool festival next weekend: <a href="http://www.fusion-festival.com/cms/">Fusion</a>. After that it's time for Berlin.</p> <p><img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0"> SCROLL DOWN FOR PREVIOUS STOPS OF OUR JOURNEY</p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/26/wismar~913013/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-21:/2006/06/21/hamburg~900389/suupala2006-06-21T19:23:42+02:002006-06-21T23:18:36+02:00 <p>We made it to Germany! After seven hours of hitchhiking from Amsterdam we arrived at our new host Mareike's home door with a fancy car - hitchhiking is definitely as easy in here as in Finland!</p> <p>Hamburg is cool, and we'll probably stay for a couple of nights. Then it's off to Wismar.</p> <p>We might be offline for some days because of "some Internet thing".</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/hamburg/house.jpg" alt="WG" title=""></p> <p>The lovely house where Mareike lives with 3 other nice people. We are really fasinated by the house and the wild garden! It´s such a dream. We had a nice evening teaching Finnish over tortillas & caipirinjas made by our great hosts.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/hamburg/girls.jpg" alt="Suvi & Mareike" title=""></p> <p>Girls over Hamburg, St. Michel churchtower. Mareike was our guide for the day, and we got a good tour of the city.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/hamburg/city.jpg" alt="Hamburg" title=""></p> <p>The view for above. We also went underwater, to the 100 years old tunnel under the river.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/hamburg/miku.jpg" alt="Mikko at Elbe" title=""></p> <p>Mikko at the river writing stupid things to the sand. Not everyone knows there's also a beach in Hamburg, and the water is warm and clean enough to swim in.</p> <p> <img src="/img/smilies/icon_exclaim.gif" alt=":!:" class="middle" border="0"> <strong>SCROLL DOWN FOR PREVIOUS STOPS OF OUR JOURNEY</strong> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/21/hamburg~900389/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-18:/2006/06/18/camping_zeeburg~892265/suupala2006-06-18T21:52:35+02:002006-06-21T23:22:41+02:00 <p>Today we arrived back to Amsterdam for the Roots festival. The atmosphere was almost as nice as in our campingsite Zeeburg - recommended.</p> <p>We leave for Hamburg probably on Tuesday.</p> <p><a href="http://www.blog.co.uk/srv/media/media_item.php?item_ID=630179"><img src="http://data2.blog.de/media/179/630179_29d144c68a_m.jpeg" align="" alt="Suvi at Zeeburg, Amsterdam" vspace="5" hspace="5"></a></p> <p>By an unexpected coincidence we realiyed how small the world is: On Monday we met three friends from Rovaniemi, Finland! We left them where we started from, having fun in Amsterdam. </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/18/camping_zeeburg~892265/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-17:/2006/06/17/sunny_days_in_den_haag~889640/suupala2006-06-17T20:50:34+02:002006-07-26T21:30:13+02:00 <p>On Thursday evening we travelled to Den Haag to meet our Finnish friend Tapio. Haag appears cleaner and more expensive than Amsterdam. Even though the city was more peaceful, we had a lots of fun with Tapio and his friends - one of them, Florian, even invited us to visit him in France when we pass by.</p> <p>We are still planning on going back to Amstedam before Germany.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/100_2375.jpg" alt="In the evening we went to have a sniff of fresh sea air" title=""></p> <p>In the evening we went to have a sniff of fresh sea air</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6160003.jpg" alt="Suvi in a mosque" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6160005.jpg" alt="Suvi in a mosque" title=""></p> <p>We visited a mosque</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6160007.jpg" alt="Old buildings" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6160010.jpg" alt="Old buildings" title=""></p> <p>Old buildings</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170061.jpg" alt="Haag by night" title=""></p> <p>Haag by night</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/100_2429.jpg" alt="Ollappa pallo." title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/100_2425.jpg" alt="Ollappa pallo." title=""></p> <p>Balls. Ollappa pallo.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/100_2431.jpg" alt="Old car" title=""></p> <p>Old car</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/100_2439.jpg" alt="Suvi Happy" title=""></p> <p>Happy</p> <p>The following sunny pictures are from the huge beach of Haag, where we spent Saturday in the sun.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170023.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170015.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170024.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170025.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""><br> Tapio</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170029.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""><br> <img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170039.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170041.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170044.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170049.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170051.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/haag/P6170053.jpg" alt="beach of Haag" title=""></p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/17/sunny_days_in_den_haag~889640/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-14:/2006/06/14/biking_adventure~881107/suupala2006-06-14T22:03:19+02:002006-06-14T22:03:19+02:00 <p>Last night our wonderful hosts kindly lend us bicycles to really get into the A'dam feeling. Wow! They really respect bikers here. Highly recommended for everyone. We biked for example by the river to scout the area for a beach party starting tomorrow (the picture). Part of our adventure was to cycle through the biggest park around, Vondelpark, at night. People were on a candle picnic there and the park is really quite big. Nice! We didn't even drop the bicycle keys to a canal, like many others <img src="/img/smilies/icon_smile.gif" alt=":)" class="middle" border="0"></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/bike.jpg" alt="Riders of the storm" title=""></p> <p>We're still without a place to sleep tomorrow, but we made the decision to stay in the Amsterdam area till next week. We are waiting for example for the <a href="http://www.amsterdamroots.nl">Amsterdam Roots Festival</a> concert on Sunday. Tomorrow we'll either go to a camping area or to den Haag to meet a Finnish friend - that is, of course, if someone doesn't SMS us we could stay in Amsterdam for the weekend... We could postpone all other plans for that <img src="/img/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif" alt=":roll:" class="middle" border="0"> </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/14/biking_adventure~881107/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-12:/2006/06/12/current_plans~875129/suupala2006-06-12T23:07:53+02:002006-06-14T21:14:20+02:00 <p>We are currently staying by two very nice persons in Amsterdam, Agnes and Alex (<a href="http://www.hospitalityclub.org">Hospitalityclub</a> member <strong>djinh</strong>). On Thursday we must find another friendly soul who'll take us.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2294p.jpg" alt="Our hosts" title=""></p> <p>We have had some thoughts about our route from here on. First thing to do would be to travel via Hamburg to Wismar to meet the member <strong>sbeen</strong> and some other old friends. Then maybe even go to Berlin. On the way back we could possibly stop in Hildesheim (to meet friends), but after that the next waypoint will probably be Paris. From France we of course try to get to Spain.</p> <p>These are just preliminary "plans" (so-called) and can change... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/12/current_plans~875129/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-12:/2006/06/12/amsterdam_feelings~875082/suupala2006-06-12T22:49:24+02:002006-06-12T22:49:24+02:00 <p>Someone came to us during the night and asked: "Where can we find not too expensive bier in nice place? Are we in the wrong area perhaps?" Well, we told them to go where we just came from and went on.</p> <p>There's some photos for you, so you can decide if we have been in the wrong area or not.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2056p.jpg" alt="at the airport in Helsinki" title="at the airport"><br> Here we are at the airport in Helsinki, eagerly waiting for our plane to leave.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2080p.jpg" alt="in the plane" title=""><br> loving friends on an airplane <3 </p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2113p.jpg" alt="Mikko at the first night" title=""><br> Mikko the tourist is reading the Visitors guide at the first night</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2116p.jpg" alt="sweet canals" title=""><br> sweet canals</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2125p.jpg" alt="Suvi at the Dam Square" title=""><br> Suvi at the Dam Square, also the first night</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2138p.jpg" alt="Mikko at the Dam Square" title=""><br> the Dam Square in daylight</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2140p.jpg" alt="pace" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2152p.jpg" alt="kissanpasukerholainen" title=""><br> We also met a local member of Kissanpesukerho</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2156p.jpg" alt="by a canal" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2160p.jpg" alt="by a canal" title=""></p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2173p.jpg" alt="resting in a park" title=""><br> Mikko is resting in a park</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2210p.jpg" alt="Amsterdam is full of bicycles" title=""><br> Amsterdam is full of bicycles</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2211p.jpg" alt="Suklismanna at her best" title=""><br> Suklismanna at her best</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2236p.jpg" alt="Mallia Unihairiolle" title=""><br> We found a good party at <a href="http://www.ilove11.nl">11, an old factory (?)</a> overlooking the whole town. Unfortunately the camera was sleeping as we partied.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2259p.jpg" alt="Ladybug" title=""><br> Suvi found an old friend in the red thing district.</p> <p><img src="http://www.kyamk.fi/~xmiru/sm/amsterdam/100_2265p.jpg" alt="Mansion" title=""><br> We bought the Amsterdam Film Museum in Vondelpark for a summer apartment. Everyone's welcome to our mansion! </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/12/amsterdam_feelings~875082/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-10:/2006/06/10/amsterdam~868116/suupala2006-06-10T15:37:55+02:002006-06-10T15:37:55+02:00 <p>Here we are! This is amazing, the best thing ever happened to me! It's boiling hot and the summer is crazy. The nights are black and warm and the atmosphere multicultural.</p> <p>At this point we haven't managed to blog any pictures, but soon... </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/10/amsterdam~868116/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>tag:travellers.blog.co.uk,2006-06-01:/2006/06/01/welcome~847527/suupala2006-06-01T22:33:11+02:002006-06-01T23:18:01+02:00 <p>We are two friends living on the far side of the world, Finland. As Finland is filled with polar bears and penguins in the summer, we decided to travel to Europe. Our aim is to get to know nice people, experience amazing places and have fun.</p> <p><strong>Our adventure begins on Friday evening the 9th of June</strong> with a flight to Amsterdam. Everything after that is yet unplanned, but we’ll probably be travelling about two months.</p> <p>As we are poor media students/workers, we are relying on the goodness of people. We would greatly appreciate accommodation in the company of likeminded souls. In return, we offer our friendship and of course, accommodation in Finland in the future.</p> <p>Our primary way to travel will be hitchhiking, and if everything goes well, we hope to find ourselves in Spain by the end of the summer.</p> <p>Some random info on us:</p> <p>- Our hospitalityclub.org usernames are Suklismanna and Suupala<br> - We live on opposite sides of Finland, Suvi in the north and Mikko in the south<br> - We are well-mannered, honest and open-minded without restrictions<br> - Money has kept us from travelling as much as we would’ve liked to, so we are eager to see all the most famous sights of Europe, as well as the hidden treasures<br> - We are not a dating couple, but best friends</p> <p><img src="http://personal.inet.fi/private/suupala/index_tiedostot/image002.jpg" alt="Suvi, May 2006" title="Suvi, May 2006"><img src="http://personal.inet.fi/private/suupala/index_tiedostot/image004.jpg" alt="Mikko, Berlin 2005" title="Mikko, Berlin 2005"></p> <p>If you would like to meet us, please contact</p> <p>MIKKO<br> Email: <a href="mailto:xmiru@kyamk.fi">xmiru@kyamk.fi</a><br> GSM +358-40-5375457<br> ICQ: 191593262<br> MSN: <a href="mailto:mr_ruostila@hotmail.com">mr_ruostila@hotmail.com</a></p> <p>SUVI<br> Email&MSN: <a href="mailto:sumikkon@ulapland.fi">sumikkon@ulapland.fi</a><br> GSM +358-40-5862634 </p> <p> <small> <a href="http://travellers.blog.co.uk/2006/06/01/welcome~847527/#comments">Comments</a> </small> </p>