One way train ride from Jyv�skyl� is about 3-3.5 hours long and costs 48.50 E.
So for a total of almost 100 Euros - I intended on spending the most time possible! I took the 822am train yesterday and arrived a bit before 12pm. It was a great train ride, quiet and cozy. I had a window seat, got a bit of knitting done and continued reading my lovely Bill Bryson novel about European travels (absolutely THE funniest book you'll ever read). I had a much-needed nap, as whenever I prepare to travel anywhere - I get so excited the night before I am convinced I do not need at least 5 hours of sleep.
I was meeting my friend Sari, who has previously lived in Jyv�skyl� and we were going to go shopping. The word "shopping" is very dangerous in woman language to a man. My husband had expressed concern about me going - not safety wise or anything...well, more so the safety of my Visa Electron card (debit).
I planned a budget in advance and stuck to it! I am so proud of myself.
Some of my findings in Helsinki were craft supplies (so much cheaper in Helsinki than in Jyv�skyl�) like paper, ink, card stock and some stamps. I also picked up a wooden craft box that opens up with 2 lids on top, then the 3 sections pull out like a "V" and there are 3 drawers. I've been looking around for one of these for ages that was reasonably priced and this one is just what I needed. It's not big enough to hold my yarn and bigger knitting projects - but I have a feeling I can use it for my card-making supplies just as well. Especially because they are smaller.
My favourite thing about Helsinki is the multiculturalism. I love hearing English a lot, and do not feel as nosy as I do when hearing English from passerby's in Jyv�skyl�.
Sari took me to a bar that also sold salads and sandwiches. I figured I would cheat a bit, and have a smoked salmon toasted sandwich. It was HUGE, very tasty and did not come with anything else (only downfall). Although, it was quite filling on it's own and with a glass of blueberry home-brewed cider.
After she left to meet another friend - I decided to walk around downtown and go to the Stockmann book store. It's so big! There are 4 floors in total...the bottom floor is only stationary...drool.
The second or main floor, has novels and children books, the 3rd floor has psychology and hobby books (including cooking)....wait - I think there are 4. Anyway - it's a lovely book store with cash registers everywhere. So this downsizes the ridiculously huge line ups that often happen in big book shops with one central location for paying.
I didn't take as many photos as my first trip to Helsinki because it was snowing. There really wasn't much to take photos of with it being so dark and snowy. There was a marimba (wooden xylophone) player one one street playing along with his recordings....I got a small video of that and he was fabulous!
I skipped the museums as I think it would be nicer to go to them when I have more time. Like in April when we have some guests coming over.
I also had some (vegetarian) sushi from this little sushi stand run by two Finns in the Forum. I had wanted to go to The Sushi Bar - however I couldn't find it or remember where it was. I was too shy to ask - and figured since The Forum shopping center is so close to the train station - it would be best to stick close by.
I walked down to the train station early and was able to do some reading before boarding my train and the ride home was interesting.
There was this group of people that were travelling together and didn't want to sit together. I guess they worked together or were married. Anyway, they constantly played musical chairs until we got to the second or third stop. Then the person who had the ticket number associated with the seat they were in - kicked them out. They did have tickets (there's a hefty fee if you're caught on the train without one) but for some reason, figured that since the train wasn't quite as full yet - that they'd sit in other people's seats. I thought it was slightly annoying and am glad I wasn't the one to have to wave my ticket in their face....but anyway nobody got hurt or angry.
Oh and something I didn't know before, but you can get your e-train ticket sent to your phone as a text message. In it there will be a blurred scan code and the conductor will scan it and you have to provide ID as well (along with a regular printed-out e-ticket), especially if you are a student. Then the conductor just scans it with this machine and off you go!
So for a total of almost 100 Euros - I intended on spending the most time possible! I took the 822am train yesterday and arrived a bit before 12pm. It was a great train ride, quiet and cozy. I had a window seat, got a bit of knitting done and continued reading my lovely Bill Bryson novel about European travels (absolutely THE funniest book you'll ever read). I had a much-needed nap, as whenever I prepare to travel anywhere - I get so excited the night before I am convinced I do not need at least 5 hours of sleep.
I was meeting my friend Sari, who has previously lived in Jyv�skyl� and we were going to go shopping. The word "shopping" is very dangerous in woman language to a man. My husband had expressed concern about me going - not safety wise or anything...well, more so the safety of my Visa Electron card (debit).
I planned a budget in advance and stuck to it! I am so proud of myself.
Some of my findings in Helsinki were craft supplies (so much cheaper in Helsinki than in Jyv�skyl�) like paper, ink, card stock and some stamps. I also picked up a wooden craft box that opens up with 2 lids on top, then the 3 sections pull out like a "V" and there are 3 drawers. I've been looking around for one of these for ages that was reasonably priced and this one is just what I needed. It's not big enough to hold my yarn and bigger knitting projects - but I have a feeling I can use it for my card-making supplies just as well. Especially because they are smaller.
My favourite thing about Helsinki is the multiculturalism. I love hearing English a lot, and do not feel as nosy as I do when hearing English from passerby's in Jyv�skyl�.
Sari took me to a bar that also sold salads and sandwiches. I figured I would cheat a bit, and have a smoked salmon toasted sandwich. It was HUGE, very tasty and did not come with anything else (only downfall). Although, it was quite filling on it's own and with a glass of blueberry home-brewed cider.
After she left to meet another friend - I decided to walk around downtown and go to the Stockmann book store. It's so big! There are 4 floors in total...the bottom floor is only stationary...drool.
The second or main floor, has novels and children books, the 3rd floor has psychology and hobby books (including cooking)....wait - I think there are 4. Anyway - it's a lovely book store with cash registers everywhere. So this downsizes the ridiculously huge line ups that often happen in big book shops with one central location for paying.
I didn't take as many photos as my first trip to Helsinki because it was snowing. There really wasn't much to take photos of with it being so dark and snowy. There was a marimba (wooden xylophone) player one one street playing along with his recordings....I got a small video of that and he was fabulous!
I skipped the museums as I think it would be nicer to go to them when I have more time. Like in April when we have some guests coming over.
I also had some (vegetarian) sushi from this little sushi stand run by two Finns in the Forum. I had wanted to go to The Sushi Bar - however I couldn't find it or remember where it was. I was too shy to ask - and figured since The Forum shopping center is so close to the train station - it would be best to stick close by.
I walked down to the train station early and was able to do some reading before boarding my train and the ride home was interesting.
There was this group of people that were travelling together and didn't want to sit together. I guess they worked together or were married. Anyway, they constantly played musical chairs until we got to the second or third stop. Then the person who had the ticket number associated with the seat they were in - kicked them out. They did have tickets (there's a hefty fee if you're caught on the train without one) but for some reason, figured that since the train wasn't quite as full yet - that they'd sit in other people's seats. I thought it was slightly annoying and am glad I wasn't the one to have to wave my ticket in their face....but anyway nobody got hurt or angry.
Oh and something I didn't know before, but you can get your e-train ticket sent to your phone as a text message. In it there will be a blurred scan code and the conductor will scan it and you have to provide ID as well (along with a regular printed-out e-ticket), especially if you are a student. Then the conductor just scans it with this machine and off you go!
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