Porvoo, Finland - 3rd August 2009
By: Delenna
Today's sightseeing tour ended here, at the sightseeing tower. You can see the cathedral roof on the left and the city center on the right. So, it's not all lovely wooden buildings only
The story tells that the sightseeing tower was made by a giant: he heard that they were building a church in Porvoo and got angry (apparently giants don't like churches) and threw a stone all the way from Sipoo (where he lived, a place not too far from Porvoo). He didn't either aim it too well or his arm wasn't in good enough condition as he missed the church.
The stone has been a place to gather for festives a hundred years ago. Kids were told that babies were picked up from under the stone. Around 1880 they made the stairs and it became a sightseeing tower. Nowadays kids are told that a stork brings the babies - which is weird because you very rarely see storks in Finland...
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Posted Aug 5, 2009, 3:07 pm Last edited Aug 5, 2009, 3:19 pm by Delenna
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Porvoo, Finland - 8th August 2009
By: Delenna
It's very very hot in here today. I wanted to sleep in the shadow but my host and the other tv's had a "great" idea - they wanted to go swimming! Apparently they have forgotten the very nature of cats; we don't like to get wet. I was a sport anyway and followed them to the beach. I explored the dry side of the beach while the others splashed around.
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Posted Aug 8, 2009, 5:48 pm
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Porvoo, Finland - 9th August 2009
By: Delenna
My host wanted to show me the riverbank of River Porvoo. It's a popular place on a hot & sunny day like this. People walk along the shore and have drinks/ice cream in the cafés. The bridge I first saw and which we walked over is the newest. It took them 30 years of debate and arguing to finally get it done My host doesn't understand why it was so negative to many people, now that it finally is there the traffic is smoother and it doesn't look bad either.
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Posted Aug 9, 2009, 6:20 pm
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Fire-fighting vehicles in Porvoo, Finland - 9th August 2009
By: Delenna
On the riverbank was several fire-fighting vehicles today! They (the more and less local volunteer fire-brigades) had an event, so there wasn't any crisis going on. But they did honk their horns and put the sirens on! That was one big cacophony! There were both old and new fire engines - and even a small ATV (aka quadbike, buggy, all-terrain vehicle)! A marching band played music - although they sitting in the shadow
On our way back to the car we saw a wedding ceremony! It was held on M/aux Marita, a galley built in 1947. The boat docking behind her is M/S J.L. Runeberg.
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Posted Aug 9, 2009, 6:34 pm Last edited Aug 9, 2009, 7:13 pm by Delenna
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Playing Moomin Memory in Porvoo, Finland - 18th August 2009
By: Delenna
It's been raining again. Sometimes the sun shines. But then it rains again.
We've decided to stay indoors untill it is more predictable. Although my host isn't sure if that's such a good idea, she says we might never get out...
Anyway, we've spent our time by playing games. Here's our favorite: Moomin memory! As you can see I won! Ok, Mumble won too, we sghared 1st place. But I won anyway. I could smell the pairs
On the way to victory I learnt the names of the characters in Finnish:
Little My - Pikku Myy
Moomin(troll) - Muumi(peikko)
Moominpappa - Muumipappa
Moominmamma - Muumimamma
Snufkin - Nuuskamuikkunen (boy, that's one long name in Finnish!)
Snif - Nipsu
Hemulen - Hemuli
Snorkmaiden - Niiskuneiti
Snork - Niisku
Stinky - Haisuli
Mrs Fillyjonk - Rouva Vilijonkka
The Hattenfatteners - Hattivatit
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Posted Aug 19, 2009, 4:30 pm Last edited Aug 19, 2009, 4:32 pm by Delenna
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Tampere, Finland - 22nd August 2009
By: Delenna
Moeww! I'm in Tampre! A city about 2h drive from Porvoo. Tampere is the third largest city in Finland and the largest inland centre in the Nordic countries. Currently there are over 200,000 inhabitants in Tampere, and almost 300,000 inhabitants in Tampere Sub-Region, which comprises Tampere and its neighbouring municipalities. Tampere’s population density is 390 per square kilometre. Tampere is one of the three most rapidly developing regions in Finland. Tampere’s city centre is surrounded by lake and ridge scenery, sited on an isthmus between lakes Pyhäjärvi and Näsijärvi. The Tammerkoski rapids run through the city.
In 2004, the City of Tampere came first in an image survey comparing the largest cities in Finland. It was also the most attractive city among Finns who plan on moving.
In the photos you can see me looking at the Railway Station, the Cathedral, walking down the main street thru the city center, having a look at the Moomin museum, checking out the Alexander's Church...
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Posted Aug 24, 2009, 8:38 am Last edited Aug 24, 2009, 8:39 am by Delenna
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Tampere, Finland - 22nd August 2009
By: Delenna
We continued our walk towards a sightseeing tower. Pyynikki, which was formed by the action of ice and sea more than 10,000 years ago, is the world’s highest gravel ridge. At its highest it rises 80 metres above Lake Pyhäjärvi and 160 metres above sea level. 24 per cent of Tampere’s surface area is water and 76 per cent land. 18.5 per cent of the land has a town plan. There are 200 lakes and ponds in Tampere, and a total of 450 in the entire region.
All that I could see from up the tower - the views were quite marvellous! Afterwards my host signed the guestbook on our behalf too. Then we got to taste the famous donuts It was yummy!
Then it was time to walk back to the center. Naturally we walked a different path to see new views
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Posted Aug 24, 2009, 8:48 am
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on the way to Sastamala, Finland - 23rd August 2009
By: Delenna
Early Sunday morning we started to drive towards Sastamala a small town west from Tampere. Sastamla town was formerly known as Vammala. The municipality has 24 600 inhabitants in 1388 squarekilometers. It consists of 7 formerly independent municipalities.
As you can see, the views on the way were mostly forest and field.
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Posted Aug 24, 2009, 8:56 am Last edited Aug 24, 2009, 9:06 am by Delenna
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Sastamala, Finland - 23rd August 2009
By: Delenna
Finally we arrived at Tyrvää Church. We were there for the confirmation of my host's goddaughter. The church was build 150 years ago on a market ground "between two waters". It looks nice and suprisingly new.
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Posted Aug 24, 2009, 9:05 am
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Porvoo, Finland - 24th August 2009
By: Delenna
I just got back to Porvoo and right away I'm scheduled to leave Thank you Delenna and friends, I had a great time! I wish I could've stayed for a while longer, but Germany is calling me
Meow!
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Posted Aug 24, 2009, 2:08 pm
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Essen, Germany - 28th August 2009
By: BlackCat
Hello !
I arrived right in time for a nice day in the zoo.
Tomorrow we will drive to the Netherlands for visiting a zoo. I am so excited !
Penny
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Posted Sep 12, 2009, 1:04 pm
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