I'm Still Alive

For those of you who wondered, yes, I'm still alive.  It may not seem like it given the lack of posts lately, but I have been busy and traveling and have not taken the time to write.  So, now I can update you on what's been going on. 

The snow is gone...I think for good this season, but you never know...this is Finland.  The weather has been beautiful and I have been taking walks along the coast.  It is like Helsinki has come alive again.  People are out and active, the cafes and resturants have their tables outside now, and the outdoor market is in full swing.  There are tour busses everywhere...including my neighborhood.  Imagine that;  I live in a tourist area. People pay money to see where I live!  I feel rather special now.

I have also been traveling.  I have been to Italy, Greece, Croatia, and Estonia.  Not bad for a simple housewife.  Everywhere I visited was beautiul.  I saw the Parthanon in Athens and was amazed by its grandure.  I saw the windmills and winding streets of white houses and shops in Mykonos and the old fort of Dubrovnik.  I went to the old town in Tallin and had a meal that was medevil...a little too medevil for my taste, but good none-the-less.  It has been a whirlwind tour and I love it.  In just over a week I am going to the Caribbean with a friend.  Finally my passport is getting a proper workout.

So that has been my life for the past few weeks.  I have been busy and well traveled.  Oh, and I got a delightful compliment while in Mykonos, Greece.  My travel companions and I were at a little bar on the island where it was decided that we should try uzo (not sure of the spelling).  Anyway, I don't like the flavor of anise, so decided to get a shot of Tequilla instead.  The waiter semed suprized by my order, did a double take at me, and asked if I wanted something strong.  I said yes, and he said he would take care of me.  What he brought was indeed strong (it was Raki for those who are interrested) and it was quite good.  But I digress.  The compliment that he gave was in asking if we were all Scandinavian.  He was quite sure that we were from Finland or Sweden.... despite the lack of accent, apparently.  I take that as a compliment.  I like the people of Finland and am proud to be taken for one.  Of course here in Helsinki I am sure that I stick out as an American, but I'll take the compliment just the same.

I will do my best to post more regularly, but will be traveling on and off.  Please be patient and I will try to make it worth your while.  I'm sure there is much more for me to see and do and write about.  Helsinki is an amazing city and I have just begun to explore it. 

Vappu (May Day)

So we went out last night to see what this Vappu Eve thing is all about.  For those who aren't familiar with the word "Vappu," it is the Finnish word for May Day, the first day of May.  It is a big thing here;  most places are closed and people have the day off.  Good thing too, because people surely know how to celebrate Vappu Eve and would probably be loathe to go to work the next morning.

Vappu Eve is basically a celebration of graduation and the coming/start of spring.  Graduates of the current year wear colorful jumpsuits with patches on them all day (and in some cases all week).  The colors and patches indicate where they have graduated from and with what degree. Masters degrees wear large tassles, like the size you'd find on curtain tie-backs.  The patches are also to show "sponsorship" and are used to raise funds for something (didn't catch that detail).  All graduates wear hats that look pretty much like a ship captain's cap.  This includes past graduates, and we could see some very old, yellowing caps on a few of the older population.

They sell all sorts of colorful things to wear on your head as well as candy, food and balloons.  Also available, we were told, were dirty joke books sold by the graduates.  One of my husband's co-workers asked us to pick one up for him...too bad it is in Finnish.

So the big event on Vappu Eve is the washing and capping of the "naked lady statue" in Helsinki.  It has a proper name, but I can never remember it, and if you google "naked lady statue Helsinki" it will come up.  Anyway, a good number of graduate students are dangled over the statue by a crane and are lowered down to give her a good scrub and to place a cap on her head.  The cap reportedly does not stay on long before it is stolen.  Well, we live about two to three blocks from the statue and went to see the festivities and fight the crowds.  There were hoards of people and we were all keen to see the tradition play out.  It seemed to us, though that they only capped the statue and forewent the scrubbing.  The cap stayed on as long as we were there, which was quite a while.  A bit confused, but not dissapointed, we headed off to finish our champaign and get some dinner.

Did I mention there was champaign?  Yes, this is an integral part of the tradition.  Everybody brings champaign and drinks it there on the street as they celebrate.  It is illegal to drink alcohol on the streets of Helsinki, but it is pretty much tolerated by the police on Vappu Eve the same way that public nudity is tolerated in the streets of New Orleans during Mardi Gras ( females lifting their shirts to earn beads).  As long as you don't cause any trouble, the pollisi look the other way.

Well, Vappu Eve is over now and we are having a quiet Vappu day today.  We could have gone to a certain park with a picnic this morning, but decided to sleep in after our late night.  We had a great time and are quite blessed to live where we do.  Helsinki rocks!

Oh, and by the way, the coffee house accross the street finally put out its tables and is open for business.