back to helsinki

i'm staying at this school-turned-summer-youth-hostel place now. n they've got cheap n good internet access here - something u don't find that readily in this part of the world :D this youth hostel's very cute though, with all the children's things. the receptionist is also a(n) (older) student from the school and he really reminds me of someone in m5.

i'm at this little town of kuopio now, n there really isn't much to do (their star attraction, the world's biggest sauna, only opens on tuesdays n fridays, n today's thursday). i don't really feel like going to museums today. i had gone up a tower on a hill that overlooks the entire area (with magnificent views) though. i have had a wonderful morning, but somehow i'm just overwhelmed by an immense sense of sian-ness now. i'll b heading back to helsinki on train in abt an hour's time. then maybe i'll go clubbing/ pubbing later in the night. hey, tonight's midsummer's night - i had better spend it partying n not sleeping.

i actually had quite a few drinks last night already. i tried some of the more traditionally finnish drinks (like vodka with cranberry juice, vodka with licorise, finnish beer koff,etc). n i got a little tipsy. alcohol is expensive here though. 22 % tax.

i had a wonderful breakfast of finnish pancakes with fresh cherries and fresh strawberries from the market. the berries in this part of the world's really good. n i also had this fried fritter stuffed with minced pork n egg - it's a local delicacy and the queue of the stall was really long. they also sell this finnish speciality of fish and pork fat baked IN a loaf of bread. the smallest portion is more than 1kg and i had gotten one (~19€). i'll have to heat it up myself in the microwave b4 i can eat it though. i hope it doesn't disappoint.