Friday, July 3 – Voyage to Helsinki

So, the day started nice and slow because my train didn’t leave until 10.45 (normally I start the day around 8 or 9, so it was pretty luxurious). However, at the train station, I found out that the trains from Kuopio to Pieksämäki (where my first layover was) were not running. After a brief moment of panic, I navigated my way through a ticket counter (all in Finnish) and found out that they were bussing people there. It was cramped, but manageable, and got me where I needed to go.

The train ride was uneventful and I stopped for a few hours in Tampere to see the Floral Festival. The first group I got to see was a group of folk dancers!

They mainly did Greek-looking dances, but there was one Israeli dance (that I have done at Friday night once…maybe twice, not one of the Boston favourites) and something that looked suspiciously Bulgarian. They weren’t amazing dancers, but it was kind of fun seeing familiar dances and styles in a city center in Finland.

Then there was this awkward band/duo that played rock, but very old-school, sounded almost like swing or blues. The guitarist/singer clearly wanted to be a rock star, it was really fun to watch his facial expressions.

The final group was made up of swing dancers. I never actually got to see them perform because I had to leave for the train, but I got to watch them teach a “Lindy Hop” (isn’t Lindy not the 1-2-back step? Because that’s what they taught, then again, I know nothing about swing styles) class to the audience. They also had a super-cool car.

And that was pretty much the excitement for the day. I got back on the train, got to Helsinki (it was pouring by that time), got to the hostel (nearly got lost, but didn’t, yay!), the kitchen at the hostel was disgusting – No One washed their dishes (so I washed a few extra, being a good citizen and all), and then went to sleep (which is always a good thing to do).

Tomorrow, I go on a boat to Germany (which is why this probably why this won’t be posted until Monday) and I’m feeling pretty sad about it. I know Germany is going to be fun and I’ll get to speak German and see the Berlin Wall Museum, and hopefully meet up with Lucia (sister’s friend), but Finland is just so wonderful, and people speak Finnish here! German is cool and all, but not as cool as Finnish. The boat trip also marks a kind of halfway point in the trip…yack! I’ve been here for two weeks! It’s felt so fast and so not-enough. Oh well, I’ll just need to come back.