So today was a packed day for us. I met up with a friend at the huge playground where there were tonnes of other parents and loads of children. There was a cotton candy maker, waffles being sold, vegetable soup with bread/crackers for 1 Euro....and a man selling foil/helium-filled balloons for 10 Euros (supposedly half price).
The theme for this year's "Spring festival" (I don't know the proper term) - was FOOD. YES! My kind of party!
When we made it downtown there were various exhibitions and many of the museums were free today - so we cruised around and saw the "Is�"(Father) displays of photographs...portraying the life style of the past and present Father figure.
The most interesting part of the exhibition I noted was "The Good Father". There were photos of a father and his son - smoking in various photos while having in-depth conversations or fishing together. I thought "Why would he let his teenage son smoke?" But I guess one couldn't call the kettle black eh?
There was an exhibition where you had to pay 2 Euros and you got 20 pieces of candy and a rice cake and some sort of "edible glue" (I'm sure it was just vanilla sauce or something) - and tooth picks and you could build a construction of sorts. But you couldn't eat it in the room where you built your bridge/shape/house. You had to show it to the people supervising then leave to eat it. My friend's husband referred to the room as a torture chamber - I agree.
Near the university some of the kiosks that were at the playground (from 10am-3pm) had moved to the university parking lot near Tim's office, along with some tasty other bits! Like a candy kiosk...some local restaurants cooking in ginormous woks....unfortunately we ate at a Kebab house downtown. The couple we were with each got a pizza - which was ridiculously huge and such a great price....and Tim and I opted for kebab plates (like donair meat) with a small side salad. Both very tasty!
Tonight a different friend is dancing, however I don't think I will be able to make it as the real estate lady is doing a viewing tomorrow afternoon - and after 10 hours of walking and all this cleaning I have to do - I don't think I have the energy.
Maybe next year. Oh and everything is closed tomorrow...
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Sunday, May 9, 2010
A Finnish Mother's Day
So this year I'm a mom and able to celebrate my first Mother's Day.
I managed to sleep in until 8:40am before the punches in the face occurred and now I'm preparing myself for the husband-free week. Should be fun.
I didn't have anything planned as Tim is leaving for Canada late tonight/early tomorrow morning - so we figured we'd go out for supper when he returned.
We didn't have much in groceries and figured a stop at the university library and the grocery store would do before getting cotton candy at the fair down the road would be our "Mother's Day adventure".
Well it turns out that Mother's Day in Finland means all the shops are closed. I think for the most part until summer time, Sunday shopping is pretty non-existent with the exception of grocery stores...typically from 12pm-9pm. Today - even the grocery stores were closed.
We are running fairly low on groceries and while I do have frozen meat balls in the freezer for "don't feel like going to the store" occasions - I wasn't quite in the mood for meat balls.
So we went to Rosso for pizza and opted to try a different kind of pizza with onions (1/2 off for Tim), beef strips and bacon. The sauce was a little sweet but otherwise a great pizza. The waitress mis-understood us and removed all onions - ah well.
As well, she offered V�in� a childrens menu...I nearly died trying not to laugh - because the kid can barely sit up for 5 seconds let alone chew anything properly. Oh well - maybe next time. She was probably thinking after "Holy smokes he's a big kid".
It was misting out and cloudy all day - so that was a bit of a bummer as we walked back and stopped at the fair grounds just down the road from our flat. We got huge sticks wrapped in cotton candy for 2,50E each! I've never had cotton candy on a wooden stick before - so I took lots of pictures.
There were many grown-up rides and several kiddy rides which really impressed me...as little ones usually get the shaft and get maybe a ride or two that's suitable for their size. Unfortunately they're all inappropiate for V�in� right now as he isn't very good at sitting on his own.
All in all - a lovely Mother's Day. I hope yours was pleasant as well, whether it be with your kids or grandkids or someone else's....
I managed to sleep in until 8:40am before the punches in the face occurred and now I'm preparing myself for the husband-free week. Should be fun.
I didn't have anything planned as Tim is leaving for Canada late tonight/early tomorrow morning - so we figured we'd go out for supper when he returned.
We didn't have much in groceries and figured a stop at the university library and the grocery store would do before getting cotton candy at the fair down the road would be our "Mother's Day adventure".
Well it turns out that Mother's Day in Finland means all the shops are closed. I think for the most part until summer time, Sunday shopping is pretty non-existent with the exception of grocery stores...typically from 12pm-9pm. Today - even the grocery stores were closed.
We are running fairly low on groceries and while I do have frozen meat balls in the freezer for "don't feel like going to the store" occasions - I wasn't quite in the mood for meat balls.
So we went to Rosso for pizza and opted to try a different kind of pizza with onions (1/2 off for Tim), beef strips and bacon. The sauce was a little sweet but otherwise a great pizza. The waitress mis-understood us and removed all onions - ah well.
As well, she offered V�in� a childrens menu...I nearly died trying not to laugh - because the kid can barely sit up for 5 seconds let alone chew anything properly. Oh well - maybe next time. She was probably thinking after "Holy smokes he's a big kid".
It was misting out and cloudy all day - so that was a bit of a bummer as we walked back and stopped at the fair grounds just down the road from our flat. We got huge sticks wrapped in cotton candy for 2,50E each! I've never had cotton candy on a wooden stick before - so I took lots of pictures.
There were many grown-up rides and several kiddy rides which really impressed me...as little ones usually get the shaft and get maybe a ride or two that's suitable for their size. Unfortunately they're all inappropiate for V�in� right now as he isn't very good at sitting on his own.
All in all - a lovely Mother's Day. I hope yours was pleasant as well, whether it be with your kids or grandkids or someone else's....
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