Travelog for: Michel

Hey mum,

you can follow my travel on the website of Deutsche Post with the code: RR908502025DE

I hope I will arrive before christmas.

Lots of Love,
Michel

Hi Mom,

I arrived safely to Helsinki today. I spent Christmas in airports, but it was quite interesting and there were some other toys too

I arrived here just in time to celebrate New Year's Eve with my new host Kirsi and her toy friends. Here lives also a handsome black cat called Lauri and Kirsi's boyfriend Ikke.

More later...

Happy New Year Mom

Hi Mom,

Here I am again. I guess you have been worried, because I haven't updated my travelog in a a long time, but everything is OK. My host slipped on ice a few days after New Year's Eve and she hurt her back and neck quite badly - no broken bones though. She had to rest a lot and had some strong painkillers so she couldn't take me any places outside. I played with my new toy friends a lot and we had fun together. Now my host is finally feeling better and I can update this with her

It was really cold here when I arrived and one of my host's teddybears gave me some warm clothes. I can use them as long as I stay here

The New Year's Eve was great. We had some snacks and I got to know my new friends a bit better. Manu is the most famous rubber duck of Finland and K-Bear is soon becoming a TV too. She is a nice and sweet little girl teddy. We watched the fireworks at balcony. My host lives on the 8th floor and the views are just great here. I was at the balcony to get some fresh air a lot when my host was in bed sleeping her pain away.

One day we went to the city by a tram. It was nice We went to a café and there were so many delicious homemade buns there that it was hard to choose which one I'd like to have.

Tomorrow we'll go to a library and after that to the city. I hope we can take some photos there if it isn't snowing again. Here's lots of snow everywhere and more is coming all the time.

Bye for now Mom. I miss you <3

Hi Mom,

Here I am again. Wow, so many great things has happened after I wrote here the last time. Where should I start?

Well, I've been out a lot, even though it has been cold, snowing or raining. I don't mind any of that, because I have warm clothes, but my host's camera doesn't like wet weather at all. There are not so many pictures of me walking outside or playing there with my new friends, but here's one where I am in a park. (Picture no.1)

On special Sundays my host's boyfriend cooks us special breakfasts. Those are not so light meals, but they are perfect for lazy Sundays (Picture no.2)

My host loves latte and reading. She often goes to a café with a book and reads there while having a latte. I've been there with here and I've learned to like latte too. Sometimes her books are not suitable for a small bear like me and I might take a nap on a couch there. (Pictures no. 3-5)

One day in a small shop we met a big yellow guy called M and he asked us had we seen his friend the red M. Unfortunately we couldn't help him, but I hope he has now found his friend. (Picture no. 6)

We have visited the nearest library a few times. It is a beautiful building and I've met some really nice toys and a statue there. (Pictures no. 7-12) We have borrowed a few books and the last time we got a great book me and the other toys. It is called a Small Unicorn and the pictures are beautiful. We have read that book over and over again. The story is wonderful and I like it very much. Picture no.13) If it has been a cold day we cover us with a warm blanket and sometimes we fell asleep there. (Pictures no.14-16)

I tell a bit more about my adventures here in Helsinki now. My host's cat Lauri is a sweet guy who likes to sleep in warm places. Sometimes I have have a nap with him in his basket. (Pictures no.1 and 2)

I've became good friends with my host's teddybears Mille and Milla too. We can sit and chat for hours. (Picture no. 3)

As I said earlier my host Kirsi loves latte and she makes that many times a day at home. Here's how she makes it - and she normally put some flavour syrup there too. (Pictures no. 4-6)

Here are two pictures from the kitchen window, nice view My host collects rubber ducks and you can see them here everywhere. (Pictures no. 7 and 8)

Sometimes we stay at the kitchen and pretend that it is a nice café. Well, mostly when it's too cold to go out... We write lots of postcards and have latte. My host is addicted to postcrossing and she gets many nice postcards almost every day - and she also sends lots of cards. (Pictures no.9 and 10)

It's wintertime, but it's never too cold for ice-cream. My favourite ice-cream here is the 3 chocolate one. There's white, dark and milk chocolate ice-cream in one package and it's delicious (Picture no. 1)

One evening we went to a fine restaurant. My host Kirsi and her boyfriend Ikke had a wonderful dinner there. The reason I got to go there with them was the restaurant's delicious cakes - and I love cakes as you very well know Mom Kirsi had a piece of lemon-lime-cake and Ikke had cheesecake - I got to taste both of those cakes and they were really tasty. I saved small pieces of those cakes to Kirsi and Ikke  too (Pictures no. 2 and 3)

On Monday new stamp were reliesed here in Finland and we went to the main post office to write some postcards and get the special first day cancellations. Two postcrossers MsMoney and Kherya came there too and in the afternoon our table was full of postcards and new stamps. I had great time there with Manu and K-Bear - we got to write some cards too (Pictures no. 4 and 5)

On Tuesday a new ToyVoyager arrived. His name is Blinchick and he came here from Chile. He is originally from Russia, but he has travelled all around the world. We wanted to hear all about his trips, but he was tired after a long flight and we talked only a short time before he went to sleep. Oh, before he went to bed we had a great chocolate dessert and some gingerbreads to make him feel himself welcome. (Pictures no. 6 and 7)

I saved the best news here... Last Saturday Manu and I went to the Travel Fair with my host. It is a huge event and there were lots of people everywhere. Kirsi's friends Tiina and Markus came there too and we had a great afternoon there together. The most important thing was that I got to meet some special Finnish characters. At first I met The Snork Maiden and The Litlle My; they are famous Moomin characters and in Finnish they are Niisku- Neiti ja Pikku Myy. The next person was even more famous than the Moomins. Can you believe Mom that I met the real Santa Claus or Joulupukki as he is called here in Finland. I was sooooo excited and I forgot to tell him what I want for Christmas. I'm glad Manu was there with me. Santa Claus noticed my beautiful pullover and he was very pleased to hear that I had travelled all the way from Germany to Finland. Manu and I told to the other toys about Santa Claus over and over again when we finally got back to home. Wow, that was a fantastic day (Pictures no. 8 and 9)

OK, now it's time for me to go to bed. I miss you Mom. Kisses, Michel

Hi Mom,

Yesterday my host went to a hospital for a few hours. It was a beautiful sunny day, but a way too cold, -17C. My host asked would we like to join her so we could take some pictures, but we all answered "No, thank you!" It was nice to stay inside and we had so much fun there together chatting and getting to know each others a bit better. -17 C and really cold wind, hrrrrrr...

Today it was only -7C and it felt much warmer so we went to the city to see some sights. Manu and K-Bear stayed at home so Blinchic and I got a private tour. We went to the city by tram. It's the easiest and fastest way to travel here. The tram stop is in front of my host's outdoor. We waited for a tram and Blinchick was out here for the first time. (Picture 1)

At first we went to the main railway station of Helsinki. (Picture 2) It was designed by architect Eliel Saarinen and it has been there since 1919. Right next to the railway station is the most important building of Helsinki - the main post office. Oh, my host is addicted to Postcrossing
( www.postcrossing. com ) and that's her oppinion. The post office is the yellow building behind me. (Picture 3) We went in to the post office again and it looked as impressive as I remembered. (Picture 4) There's also the nice café where I was at my first Finnish postcrossing meetings. Mailboxes are here bright orange and in the 1st of February there are also going to be blue mailboxes for the 1st class mail. I like the colour of those boxes. (Picture 5)

We walked about 200 meters and saw three interesting buildings. The first one was Kiasma, the contemporary art museum. (Picture 6) It's a modern building in the middle of the city and all the old buildings. Kiasma was opened in 1998. The next building was the Parliament House of Finland and it's Eduskuntatalo in Finnish. (Picture 7) It was built between 1926 and 1931. It is a huge building and I think it would be interesting to go inside of it too. My host told us that there are arranged guided tours sometimes and she promised to find out when the next ones are. She hasn't ever been inside of the Parliament House either... The last of these buildings was the National Museum of Finland. (Picture 8) The tower is 58 meters high. I wasn't so interested in the history of the building anymore after I noticed a big bear statue in the front of the museum. My host just had to take a photo of me and Blinchick with the statue. (Picture 9) Kirsi told us that there's also another bear statue in a place which is called the bear park, Karhupuisto in Finnish. That statue is now covered with snow, but we can go to see it someday.

We jumped to a tram again and went to the Senate Square. There is a big white church and it is the Lutherean Cathedral of Helsinki. THe Cathedral looked beautiful. (Pictures 10 and 11) There was a lot of snow at the Senate Square and I wanted to have my photo taken with snow. (Picture 12) I was really brave and sat on the snow. Blinchick wouldn't dare to do the same and so he got to sit on my lap. (Picture 13) Wind was freezing and we were almost frozen so we stopped our tour of archoitecture and went quickly back to home by tram. We had lots of hot tea there. It was a cold, but nice day and I saw and learned a lot about Helsinki.

Today our host asked us what would we like to do. I said I'd like to visit in the town hall if that's possible. My host said that it is a good idea and there are always interesting exhibitions there. So once again we took a tram to the city and went to the town hall of Helsinki. This time there was a photo exhibition and the photos were all wonderful black and white pictures from 1940 to 1998. My host called to her boyfriend and invited him to the exhibition too. The town hall was a very intersting place and the others liked it too. (Pictures 1-4)

Kirsi's boyfriend was still at work so we walked around while we waited for him. At first we saw the Orhodox Cathedral of Helsinki. (Picture 5) It was only -2 C, but we noticed soon that it's always windy by the sea - and the wind was strong and cold. I'm not going to tell you any history of the places we saw, because we had just a quick tour there and wanted to go inside to a warm place soon. The next building was the Presidential Palace. (Picture 6) Did you know Mom that the President of Finland is woman? Her name is Tarja Halonen. My host told me that The President was not in the Palace, because the flag of Finland wasn't fluttering on a flagpole.

There was a big ferry going to Suomenlinna, which is the UNESCO site of Helsinki. (Pictures 7 and 8) My host told us that it is a beautiful island and there's an old fortress. The island is a popular place especially in the summertime and people go there for a picnic or for a walk. The huge boat behind me (Picture 9) is Silja Line's ship and it travels from Helsinki to Stockholm, Sweden and back to Helsinki. Those boats are really popular for cruises and there's also red ones which are Viking Line's boats. The blue building behind me (Picture 10) is the town hall of Helsinki where we already visited. There was a smaller boat too and it was a café, but we wanted to go to a warmer place. (Picture 11)

We went to the Old Market Hall and my host told us that it is the oldest market hall of Finland. (Picture 12) We walked straight to the café and Kirsi ordered a big latte. The mug was warm and we all warmed up slowly. (Picture 13) The latte was really good also. Kirsi's boyfriend called and we didn't have time to see everything in the hall, but we can go there back later. We walked to the town hall again and watched the photo exhibition with Ikke. Then we went to a grocery shop and back to home. No more photos, because the battery of Kirsi's camera run out of power - or maybe it was just frozen...

Hi again Mom,

One more update and then I'll go to bed. This morning we woke up early and went to the city for breakfast. There's a nice and peaceful little café called Salt & Pepper. We had a great breakfast there and it was fun to go out for a breakfast. (Picture 1)

We came back home by tram and it was still so early that the tram was almost empty. Finally we had a good chance to take some photos inside of a tram. (Pictures 2-6) Too bad the windows were so dirty...

We all slept in the afternoon for a few hours. We had a lazy Saturday evening and we just watched TV and chatted. We won't have a lazy Sunday, because we'll go to a birthday party. It's so exciting I can hardly wait for tomorrow, but I'm sure we'll have fun there

Bye for now! Yours, Michel

Hi Mom,

We had fun in the birthday party last Sunday and we all ate lots of cake. There were so many guests and children that my host couldn't take any pictures, she didn't want us to get lost there.

After the party we drove by the sea near a café to see some snow sculptures. It's amazing what they can make of snow. It was already dark, but my host got a few photos of us there playing there. (Pictures 1-3)

One day my host took us to the Bear Park to see the big bear statue. Wow, it was a great statue and it felt like the bear was actually alive. (Pictures 4 and 5)

You can see icicles here everywhere and you have to watch around, because they can fell down and hit you. Here are a few big icicles. (Pictures 6 and 7) They look beautiful, but they are quite dangerous though.

On our way to the main post office we saw the National Theater of Finland. It is a beatiful building and my host told us there are many interesting details on the walls of the theater. Too bad we didn't have time to go there and see those details. The statue in front of the theter is made to honor the national writer of Finland and his name is Aleksis Kivi. It was funny to see that statue and hear his name, because the address of our host is Aleksis Kivi's Street  (Picture 8)

There was a big happening in the city a few days ago where they celebrated the Chinese New Year. We saw dragon dancers and acrobats there, but unfortunately we were standing too far from the stage so no pictures of them. The area was decoreted with beautiful red lanterns and you can see some of them behind me. (Picture 9)

Yesterday my host went to the city to meet her friend. She had surprise for us when she came back home. We all were sitting and waiting on a couch and then she introduced us to Kerttu. She is a tiny moose girl and she wants to become a TV too. Kerttu is very sweet and we all liked her right away. (Picture 10)

Today we all went to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate the Chinese New Year, better late than never. We had a delicious meal there and it was also a welcoming party for Kerttu. (Pictures 11 and 12)

Today it was also J.L. Runeberg's day. He was the national poet of Finland. We celebrated his day by eating small cakes named after him, in Finnish they are called Runebergin torttu. (Picture 13)

OK, now I'll go to bed. We have to wake up early tomorrow, because were are going to the movies with our host to watch a new animation movie by Disney. I'm looking forward to it already.

Bye Mom! I miss you <3 Michel

Hi Mom,

Here I am again

The Disney's movie was great and we had special glasses, because it was a 3D movie. We ate a lot of popcorn there too, yammy! Unfortunatelly it was not allowed to take any pictures at the movie theatre so you can't see any parts of the movie.

On Monday we all went to the main post office - it was time for K-Bear to start her trip to Germany. It was the first time she was travelling alone and she was a bit nervous, but also excited. We had a big latte there together and wrote a few postcards. (Picture 1) Too soon it was time for a group hug (Picture 2) and after the goodbyes K-Bear jumped to an envelope and started her own adventure.

On Tuesday my host had a bad headache and we stayed inside reading and playing. There was a snow storm and we didn't want to out so it was a good day to stay at home.

On Wednesday a mailman brought a big box to my host and we were all curious to see what was inside of it. At first we saw a blue towel and soon we noticed that someone was looking at us. (Picture 3) My host picked the towel on the couch and the eyes inside of it watched us carefully. (Picture 4) After a while we saw a bread coming out of the towel and my host told us that he is Bernd the Bread, a ToyVoyager from Germany. Bernd gave us some chocolates and a nice postcard of Hamburg. (Picture 5) I was thrilled - he is also from Hamburg. I spoke a little German to Bernd and he was happily surpised. Now we can tell all about our beautiful hometown together. (Picture 6) It was also great to see that postcard, sometimes I feel myself a little homesick... We wanted to know all about Bernd and his afventures, but he was a bit grumpy and really hungry after his long trip - just like I was when I arrived here.

In the afternoon my host told us that she was going to the TV (means television, not ToyVoyager this time) studios for a few hours and we could come there with her, but we would have to stay in her bag and be quiet. We all thought that sounded really interesting and so we jumped in to her bag. My host worked at the studios as an assistant for a TV serie and we could hear everything what happened. Kirsi didn't have her camera with her, because it's forbidden to take cameras there in the studio area. She has been an assistant in four movies and 3 TV series and she said it's fun and interesting to see all that behind the scenes.

At home we were all a bit tired and Bernd went to sleep right away. We got a big muffin and some cookies for a snack (Picture 7) and then we went to bed too. I got a new experience again today and I feel almost like I'm a movie star

Yesterday we went to a small tea room, there were only four tables, but over 300 different teas. My host met two of her best friends there and they chatted and chatted a long time there. They also laughed a lot and that sounded nice. It was really difficult to choose what tea we'd like to drink, but finally we decided to have wild cherry tea with croissant and jam. It was a perfect choice, the tea was warm and delicious. (Picture 8)

Today it was freezing, -12C and terrible wind. We wanted to go outside to get some fresh air though and we played in snow for a short time. (Pictures 9 and 10) I found a small cave and it was actually warm there. (Picture 11) Well, it wasn't warm there for long and soon we wanted to go back home. Bernd liked the "cool" weather, as he said, so my host went to the city with him to see some sights. We stayed at home reading and watching TV until they came home. It's getting colder here and I think I don't want to go out anymore...

Until later Mom. Yours, Michel <3

Happy Valentine's Day Mom <3<3<3

Today it was Valentines Day or Friend's day (Ystävänpäivä) as they call it here in Finland. We had a special photo shooting by our host and it was fun. We also had chocolates and a big doghnut - all heart shaped of course

Btw, it was -22C here this morning so it was really nice to spend a day inside playing.

Oh, my host just told me that I'm going to travel somewhere tomorrow, but she said that the destination will be a secret until tomorrow. Now I'm really excited and I just hope there will be much warmer than here... Hmmm, where I am going? How can I go sleep without knowing where I'll be travelling? Is this fair? OK, maybe I can wait until tomorrow...

Hugs and kisses, Michel <3

Hi Mom,

Here's my last update from Finland. I'm already travelling to the sunny California when you read this, but before I left I told my host what she should write here.

After our photo shooting of Valentine's Day my host finally told me where I'm going next - to California, USA Wow, I guess there's much warmer than here now. Oh, I'm so excited and ready to go - but I know I'll miss my new friends a lot...

Here's what we did in my last days in Helsinki. It was really cold outside (-24C or even -27C) so we mostly stayed inside. We read a lot (picture 1) and I lerned to like Moomin stories very much. We watched movies like Shrek 3 and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I really liked them both and the other movies too. You can't just watch Charlie and Chocolate Factory without any chocolate (picture 2) and we had some hot chocolate with chocolate biscuits

Sometimes we played hide and seek. There were many great hiding places at Kirsi's place and I always found the best ones. Here you can see me going inside of Lauri the cat's tunnel (picture 3) and behind other teddy bears (picture 4). We also had nice talks with some other toys. Here's Little Hunger and Helppi with us. (picture 5) Helppi was really friendly and cheerful (picture 6) - he always made us smile.

I got to taste some typical Finnish sweets called salmiakki, salty liquorice. Bernd tasted them too, but Manu and Blinchick didn't. (picture 7) I tried to write my name with the salmiakki alphabet, but there were not all the letters. (picture 8) Sometimes I jus looked at all the wonderful postcards my host has - there are lots of empty cards ready to be sent and many boxes of received cards at her place. (picture 9)

I don't want you to think that I didn't eat anything else than chocolate, candies and cakes here Mom, but my host just didn't take any pictures of me eating. Well, for my last dinner here in Finland I had one of my favourites - meatloaf and mashed potatoes (picture 10)

Before we left to the post office I met all the teddybears. They wanted to say goodbye and wish me a safe trip. They were so sweet that I almost cried... (pictures 11 and 12) My closest friends Manu, Blinchick, Kerttu and Bernd came to the main post office with me and my host. It was time to take the last group photo of us. (picture 13) A big group hug (picture 14) and then I said bye to most of my dear friends. I wanted to speak some German before leaving so I talked a little bit about Hamburg with Bernd; oh my beautiful hometown...

I took off my trousers and at first I felt myself a bit naked (picture 15), but Kirsi told me that I wouldn't really need them in California. I jumped to an envelope and I was ready to go towards my new adventures Thank you Kirsi, thank you Finland, thank you my friends!!! I had fun with you

Bye for now Mom, see you later Kisses and hugs, Michel <3

California dreaming... Here I come

Hi Mom,

I'm a bit worried now. I've been travelling for two weeks now and I don't have any idea where I am. All I can see is the envelope... Well, I think I'll have a nap again and maybe I'll wake up with my new host in California

I miss you Mom. Hugs and kisses, Michel <3

Hi Mom!  Just letting you know I arrived safe and sound in San Diego, California!