Skiing

I think I learned to ski when I was approximately three years old. Growing up in Southern Finland, it meant mostly cross-country. No hills to speak of there. Nonetheless, I used to love that too. Quite often I would take of with some hot chocolate and sandwiches in my backpack and make a little solo tours on the frozen lake to the nearby islands.

On one of the early winters

In the mid-nineties I spent some time in Grenoble, France, as an exchange student. Up until then I hadn't really thought much of alpine skiing, since I never had the finances to go find some decent slopes in Lapland. Suddenly the slopes sort of came to me, so I figured it would be a great sin not to use the opportunity that was presented to me. So off and down the slopes I went. And absolutely fell in love with that. Easy curves and smooth ride, wow....

After that I did some downhill skiing also in Finland, but not very often. Now I've been based in Basel, Switzerland for past six winters. You would think that she's surely going for it again since the mountains are right there. Yeah, right. Somehow for past winters I never made it to the slopes. Wanted to, but never got there. Somehow the winters just flew by and there didn't seem to be time for snow-sports. Show-sports being more time consuming =). And my excuse could also be that there is no mountains in Basel region, it's so-called flatlands of Switzerland.

This winter I was determined to set it right and drag my butt to a ski resort. Yesss, I made it. And wanna do it again. It was so much fun again. Took some time to get my bearings on the new (to me) carvers and all, but at least it didn't fall flat on my face. 

Upright, yesss!

I went with couple of my friends to Feldberg at Black Mountains, Schwarzwald, Germany. A nice and mellow day. Foggy, of course, so not much scenery to boast about. But I was totally prepared for this, since the mountains generally don't wanna show themselves to me. I'm starting to think that they are just an urban legend, -just like the giant crocodiles in the sewers of New York.

I don't really know why it is like that, but generally, when ever I'm heading for the higher ground, there is loads of fog or low-hanging clouds. So no chance to see any kind of mountain formations. Like this time also, as you can see:

The Alps on the background, yes?

However, skiing is much fun, even if there is no postcard-pretty "Alpenblick" on the background. And I have really set my goals to reaching the snow more times this season.

And I'm also dying to invest in new gear, but I try to hold my horses until the end of the season and get it cheaper. Difficult, difficult...

Freezing February

I needed to take some time off after my latest theater project. Therefore I didn't really feel like writing about it either. I'm sorry for the silence. 

My boyfriend Mitch was wishing for an experience of  "a real winter in Finland". You should be careful what you wish for because you just might get it. Mitch surely did...

The whole February was steady -25 degrees Celsius. And I got totally fed up with freezing my butt off every single day. But Mitch was having a blast of it and went and bought himself a humongous furry hat.

I was pondering what to show to my alpine guy that would appear to be special in my country. So finally, I chose to drive up to Oulu to visit our dear friends Jari and Eija there. Now I hear all the Finns going lilke "Whaat? Why on earth out of all the possible options?" Bear with me, I'll tell you. -Because it's white and flat there! Little bit different from the mountain region =).

Eija and Mitch and The Big White.

We had very little freetime before starting the rehearsal period of Hilda in Tampere, but couple of days trip to Oulu was well worth it. On the way up there we drove through the thickest and meanest snow blizzard I've seen in decades. Far-out experience... Mitch was thrilled.

We had the nicest time with Jari and Eija and got to see the exhibition Eija put together around Robert Walser (more about that in the next post). Some sightseeing and some sampling of local culinary specialties. Especially cold smoked reindeer was a success. Always yummy.

The Streets of Oulu

Frozen nose hair and sugarfrosting
Couple of days in Parola after Oulu were fast gone, but the weather was breath-takingly beautiful. Literally so, since the air was freezing! You experience this instant tingling feeling inside your nose as soon as you stick it outside =).

Clear skies...

... and long shadows.

I was really admiring the details The Frostman had created on our common landscape. Everything was sugarfrosted and fluffy-furry-looking and covered with billions of tiny stars! Everything looks like you would want to pet or stroke it, but if you do it's gone. So delicate.

Closer nature -

- frozen nature.

Just frozen
About the time we spent in Tampere, I don't have much nice things to say. We worked too hard in too difficult circumstances and did wayyys too long hours with mostly inadequate equipment. So better say nothing then. Frozen.

The only times I managed to see something visually nice, were the short 15-minute walks early in the morning from flat to the theater. Homebound after midnight there is not much to take in...

Central square church in pastel colors.

Smokes of Tako.

One rare Sunday we had off. But even then we coulnd't manage longer than a half an hour walk in the city before the feeling is gone from fingertips and toes. So we went to a shopping mall eventually to defrost =).

Water is exhaling on Sunday afternoon.

"Hyvä ruoka - parempi mieli"
On the off-side of our project the time in Tampere was pretty allright. We catched some cool bands playing live at Telakka and met some of my old friends. Telakka is definitely one of my alltime favorite places in Tampere. Been that for years already and probably continues to be so to unseen future.

We also managed to squeeze in a dinner in the viking restaurant Harald, which has quite deliciuos, albeit prizey menu. Full tummy and happy mind. "Hyvä ruoka - parempi mieli (Good food - better mood)".

Looking from this angle -no regrets.

Sky on fire and other wintry visions

We are rehearsing at Cable Factory in Ruoholahti. Starting in the morning, through the day all the way into the evening. The procession of the day and light behind the windows.

Early  morning and the day outside.

rehearsing

From the windows of the studio we can see over the water to Lauttasaari. Weather has been genuinely wintry and the landscape has shown us many different faces. The sea is finally frozen flat. Mostly it gives you the impression of calmness and space, like everything was sleeping through the cold winter months.

Southern Lauttasaari

Today while watching out of the window, I got the strangest urge to go skiing. This is something that I didn't volunteer to do since I was 13 years old. Somehow the quality of light reminded me of my childhood skiing trips on the frozen lake. I would take hot chocolate and sandwiches with me and ski to an island or somewhere to eat my packed lunch. I usually liked doing this all on my own, the solitude of it was very important to me.

Brrrright light

Yeah, that was something special to me. But then I reached the delicate age of 13 and went to the upper high school. The nazi gym teacher we had killed all the enthusiasm in me. Didn't ski ever since. Strange how the elementary school can kill all the interest in a kid =)

Länsiväylä bridge

Perhaps now, some 23 years later I could consider to take up on my childhood hobby again. The gym teacher is only a vague recollection anymore, so maybe it would be okay?

Sky on fire

Sometimes there is quite spectacular views in the horizon. Sadly the cameras very rarely manage to capture all the splendor of the phenomena. But perhaps you at least get the idea?

Grayish and open daylight

Fiery sky in the evening

Subtlety of coffee

O'joy o'happiness! Tram stop, early morning, temperature app. -10*C, mostly clear skies.

Today

When considering the subtlety of warm latte in a to-go cup in your hand on cold winter morning, I'm seriously lost for words. Pure happiness and definitely worth getting up 20 minutes earlier to prepare it to go.

Mmmmmm.... waiting for number 8

That's all....

Loooooooooots of snow and a cool production

I was reading the online weather forecasts before I came to Finland. I have to say that I was bit worried about it, since the temperature hovered quite steadily somewhere around -25*C, I'd freeze my butt out, brrh. But, luckily the "shit cold" had subsided by the time I got here and it was only somewhat peachy -6*C or so. Lucky me =)

Of snow we have here plenty, though. It's kinda nice, since it is all puffy and fluffy and not wet at all. It started snowing on 6.12, the Independence Day, and by the evening Helsinki region had gained some 50cm thick layer of it, covering everything. Most of it is still around, because nobody bothered / had time to clear it away. Car owners are having major problems because their vehicles are seriously blocked and the city is sending out police to hand out fines for illegal parking instead of shovel teams to help dig the cars out. Fair game...

Pikku-Huopalahti 7.12.2010

The snow kept coming down for the following couple of days. Judging by the visuals, it really is a winter wonderland here now. So pretty, and also comfortable to experience, since it's not so freaking cold just now. I already thought that I don't really care much for winter, but this is nice, I have to admit. Snowflakes are somehow friendly =)

Frosty tree on the inner yard.

I came to Finland to participate on a new dance production. It is called "On the kitchen table" and choreographed by Satu Tuomisto. Live music is by Mariska & Pahat Sudet. The performance will open on January 22nd on the Boiler Plant on Cable Factory, Helsinki, as a part of Zodiak Center for New Dance program.

Our brand new poster! (baaaad quality jpg, will be fixed)

Is this modern dance? -Perhaps, at least until snow covers it.

I'm very thrilled about all of this, since I already did one production for Raatikko with choreographer Tuomisto and greatly enjoyed the experience. This time we get to do something even more rock'n roll. Yeah!

Bicycles by the Cable Factory

I have to say that it is really nice to work with such a team of people that feed your imagination constantly. I cannot ever remember the last time I would have scribbled so many things to my notebook in such a short time. It's just brilliat and I believe the performance will turn out fine too. You should come see! Tickets are available since to day on Lippupavelu. Bring your friends too!!!!

So, it can be stated that I really like being in Finland this time around. Groovy, I even don't mind the winter and wet legwarmers =) And it's so pretty here one can only smile =) =)

Bio waste bin got a new hat on Cable Factory yard.

Even more snow and a castle

It' actually quite amazing -there is more and more snow every day. It really is like I remember the winters of my childhood. And nowadays the kids still seem to have similar interests as quarter of a century ago. (Jeez, that's long ago...)

I was already spying on this snow castle the last time I wrote an entry with some wintery photos. But, I decided to wait and see how grand it would turn out to be =). This is a design by two approximately 10-year old girls, I suppose. Not bad... I remember how me and my best friend used to construct things quite similar to this and the time just flew away. And our parents used to worry since we didn't show up at home after school (nor in the school every day either, for that matter).

The castle, model 2010.

Oh yeah, see those two boys on the background? They were very talkative and wanted to know to which school I go to. I admitted that I used to go to the same school in Hurttala as they (just to the right from where this photo is taken). In their opinion this elementary school is bad, because the stuff they have to do is strange. I confided to them that it was just as strange when I was there =) -Somehow I doubt that I managed to make it any better for the boys, what do you reckon?

Snowy Impressions on a sunny afternoon

Finally the weather agreed with me and produced some sunshine. So I went shooting some snowy photos in the neighborhood. It's so beautiful here right now!

The wintery face of the most important landmark of Hattula:
The Holy Cross Church
the eldest brick church in Finland dates back to 14th century and is famous
because of it's mural paintings in the interior.

Small cottage just nearby the church all covered with white stuff.

New trendy head-piece for a lamp post: turban style?

Yo, Man! More laid back version...

Nobody home.

Helluva lotta snow / lunta / schnee / neige

Is seems to be a record-breaking winter all around in Finland. I was told that there is lots of snow, but I really didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes.

This reminds me of the winters of my childhood, when you could really build humongous snow castles, snow horses, snowmen, basically all imaginable out of snow...

When I came to Finland last week, it was pretty much colder, hovering somewhere around -20*C. Now it's quite agreeable just little bit below zero. So, no more freezing my butt off.

Irjala, Tampere last Sunday afternoon.

Parola.

Parola.

Christmas 2007

In Bordeaux I had some very busy days and lots of difficulties because of all the paperwork I suddenly had to take care of in order to get my visa in order for India. My application with the other member of the group was declined and I had to gather up all the documentation within couple of days. I don't want to do that ever again, it's just too much trouble.

Anyhow, I finally got all the information together and was able to mail my passport with attachments, from Bordeaux to Indian Embassy in Helsinki. It seemed that they'd manage to process it in time to mail it back to me in Basel before 5th January. With this information, my frame of mind got more peaceful and I got my Christmas-spirits lifted up.

We got ourselves very nice christmas tree with all the decorations and I cooked traditional Finnish christmas dinner with kinkku and rosolli etc. Christmas eve we spent just two of us chilling out and eating well. The next days would be for meeting relatives and other stuff. But for the eve, it was just harmony and candlelight for us.






I woke up on Christmas day to the most perfect circumstances. During the night the temperature had dropped below zero and everything was frosted and glistening. So beautiful!! Below you see some examples...

Snowy scapes

I'm back in Finland for a while again. I had to come over for some official stuff. For example, my passport just fell into pieces some time ago and now I had to come to pick up the new one. The schedule is pretty busy, but in a way, I don't mind soooo much. It seems to be quite ok weather now and in two days it's gonna be the independency day of Finland. For that I'm going to Riihimäki to attend a reception held by my very dear friends Pikku-Markku and Kalle. So nice to meet them, it's been really long time! Last time was when we gathered together to watch on tv the Eurovision Song Contest 07 =O

I attach here some pictures I took this afternoon. It was pretty much perfect winterday in Häme, southern Finland. You've seen this same back yard in the very first pic I uploaded here.

Couple of details of snowy pine branches.