Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Happy November

Hello

How are you guys doing? We didn't do much for Halloween this year. I only hung up a little door decoration to remind the neighbors that Americans live here (*giggle*). Well, I'm not an American but close enough. 

I'm so excited about Christmas approaching. I can't wait to decorate our apartment. It is also so pretty and wintery here in Finland at the moment. I don't like winter because it is cold but I do like how it looks.

Just check out these pics from this morning.










Happy November!

Monday, August 14, 2017

Robbie Williams And The Heavy Entertainment Show Tour In Tampere

Hello, hello!

I'm a one lucky girl because I just had the most fun time last week. I got to travel to Tampere to see Robbie Williams and his Heavy Entertainment Show with my friend. It was so awesome! I'm still on cloud nine from the concert.

All the hotels were totally booked due to 30,000+ people cramming to see Robbie. We were super lucky to get a Superior room with a view of the city from the Original Sokos Hotel Ilves right next to Ratina stadium where the concert was held.

Even though the hotel was booked full, you didn't notice it because all the services worked so well. No lines at the breakfast buffet or elevators. We had really good time getting ready for the concert while sipping some bubbly and enjoying yummy chocolates (* and listening to Robbie of course*).

After getting all dolled up we strolled along the Tammerkoski river to the concert area. Since the gates had just opened we were able to walk right next to the stage with our inner pit tickets. Of course we had to wait for few hours for the show to get started but it was fine because the weather was good and all the people were in a good mood around us. We also got to listen to the opening act of Erasure for a bit. I only knew one of their songs (* I love to hate you*) but it didn't matter since all I wanted was Robbie anyway.

The concert started punctually on time and it was full on H E A V Y  E N T E R T A I N M E N T for the whole time! We got to hear some old and new songs with some silly jokes in between as well as to see his tiger decorated briefs under his kilt (*blush*). It was also nice to see Robbie sing with his dad on the stage. My favorite song would have been Love Supreme but we didn't hear it this time and it is okay because he could literally sing anything (*even Rudebox*) and I would love it because he is charming, funny, witty and because he is Robbie fucking Williams!

As you can imagine it was really hard to fall asleep after a massive concert you had just experienced but eventually our hotel's soft pillows got me dreaming some pretty sweet dreams. The next day the sun was shining and we had time to tour the city of Tampere for a bit before hopping on a bus back to Kuopio. What a perfect little end of the summer trip that will make me smile for months to come. Thanks Sokos hotel and Robbie!!

And here's some pictures for you to check out!

Our room at the hotel.

View from our room. 

I can't wait for the concert to start!

Very basic bathroom.

Complimentary toiletries and a rubber ducky.

 Sorry for a bad pic. I was starving and didn't have the patience to take a better one. We ate burgers at one of the four restaurants on the hotel premises.

 Shower fresh&no makeup. Ready to be dolled up.

My outfit for the night.

Complimentary bubbly and sweets made us really happy!

Cheers!

We have been waiting for this over 6 mths!

Resting my legs a bit before the show. 

 At the lobby and on our way to the stadium.

National radio station Radio Nova handed out red hearts to be waved in the air when Robbie performed his song "Love my life".

I certainly loved my life at this point... I had a full belly, bubbles in my head, a good friend with me, no rain and the concert was about to start. What else could I ask for?

No lines along the way to the stadium.

 I don't know Erasure that well because I was fairly little when they were a hit but that's ok.

We were able to get spots right in front of the stage!

Waiting, waiting and waiting some more for the show to start.

More people were starting to show up. Eventually there was 30 500 people at the stadium.

Huge stage structures.

I love to hate you.

Finally it was time for Robbie Fucking Williams!!

 It was confetti, flames and Robbie's underwear from the very beginning to the end.

I loved to be able to see the show from this close!

That cheeky bastard look on his face.

 Look at that view Robbie got to see. A full stadium of fans just eating from his hand and wanting more and more...

 Yup, that's Robbie sitting on a huge boxing glove.

 I wish this concert would never end.

 Well, hello there!

Sun was setting and the concert was coming to an end.

Time to end the night to the legendary song "Angels".

We love you too!

 Next morning I was super hungry yet adventurous. I actually tried out "blood sausages" (*basically black pudding*) for first time ever. Blood sausages are traditional food around the Tampere region.

Then it was time to have a stroll around the the city before heading back to Kuopio.

It was a glorious morning!

A park near Särkänniemi amusement park.

One happy girl.

Too bad we didn't have enough time for the amusement park.

 My friend Sari enjoying the good weather and a day off from work.

 Näsinlinna - an old mansion.

 Coffee break at the market place by the river.

That was super fun! What have you been up to?

Monday, July 24, 2017

Midsummer Road Trip Sweden Part 4 Ranua Zoo

Hello!

Last day of our road trip took us back home to Kuopio with a pit stop at the Ranua zoo. It is a great place to visit even if you don't have kids. It's a huge wild life park with lots of space for the animals to roam. You really feel like you are just walking in the wilderness and these animals are right there with you. There's no reason to be afraid to be eaten by a bear though. They have easy to walk wooden paths that you walk on through the whole area. A definite must if you are traveling in the Northern Finland. Since it is a pretty long drive from Ranua to Kuopio, we also stretched our legs at the Kajaani castle ruins. It is also a great place to visit because it is the northernmost stone castle in the world! I didn't know that until now.

Anyway I hope you have liked my pictures. We certainly had a good time!

Bye bye Haparanda and Sweden! Hello Finland!

Map of the Ranua zoo. As you can see the park is open all year round.

I wanted to see the polar bears because they are one of my favorite animals.

Otter was sleepy and not in the mood to play in the water.

Easy to walk trails as well as wheel chair accessible.

This owl was posing so nicely.

Wild hogs just laying around.

Monday morning and all the animals were feeling lazy. Even the mom and baby polar bear.

Eventually the mom went for a swim. The baby bear thought that the water was too cold and stayed on the dry land.

Aarne wasn't as convinced about the polar bears being super cute as I was.

And then it was lunch time! What was on the menu? Salmon of course.

Mama bear was asking for dessert. She was served a couple of apples. Poor bear! Little does she know that chocolate cake is so much better dessert than apples (*wink*).

Baby bear posing for me.

Brown bear getting out of his cave.

Baby deer.

I have never seen a wolf before.

Playful dhole.

I have never seen dhole before but these guys were fun to watch.

Mr. Lynx didn't want to look at us.

He had his sight on something else in the woods.

Wolverine was sleeping in his den but decided to pose for a bit.

Our trip is coming near to an end. Time to dream of an even bigger&better trip...

Views along the way in the Northern Finland.

Kajaani castle ruins.

I love castles!

It would be so neat to know more about the history of this castle and its' occupants.

Steep stairs going to the second floor.

There is a road that goes right over the ruins.

One happy traveler.

I just love all the details.

Little windows for shooting the enemies.

The Kajaani castle was built on the Ämmäkoski island of the Kajaani river in the centre of Kajaani in the17th century.

You must be really carefully when walking around the ruins. You could easily slip and fall.

Battle of the sun and the clouds along the way to Kuopio.

How do you know you have arrived home? You see the Puijo tower in the distance.

That's a wrap!