Rally!

August 1-4th marks the Neste Oil Rally happening in Jyv�skyl�.  This happens every summer and I still have not gone to see it.
Race cars or bikes are not my thing - sorry.

But if you're thinking of visiting Finland for the Rally - you may want to consider or note some things!

• Hotels are expensive so if you are able to find someone renting out their flat - try that!  There are TONNES of posts on the University "Tori" site - however, you now have to be a student in order to sign in.  This is due to the recent flood of spammers - thanks a lot jerks.
• You don't tip at restaurants here.  Nope - not even at caf�s.
• Taxes are included in the price you see.
• An individual bus fare is now 3,20�.  Cabs are super pricey too.
• Most restaurants are downtown - or if you're renting a flat or a room, perhaps you can hit up the local grocery store and cook your own food.
• When shopping at the grocery store - you require ID (like a Passport) if you use a credit card to make a purchase.
• You bring your own bags or pay for plastic bags here...ranging from 18 Euro Cents to 1� for the sturdy re-usable ones.
• You weigh most of the fruits and vegetables on a scale, print the label and stick it onto the food or onto the plastic bag so it can be scanned.
• There is a Forex Exchange Shop (to get local currency) located downtown.
• If you use your Visa card (and probably any other credit card) from your home country while visiting here - you will be charged an extra 2-3% (depends on your bank's conditions and terms) for the conversion to be printed out onto your bill.  
• If you intend to rent a car while in Finland - please note that MOST vehicles here (as in about 95% or more) are manual/standard driven.  NOT automatic.
• If you are in the downtown area and are looking for some places to eat that is "not a burger joint" - I'll list some recommendations and the approximate prices you'd be spending.  
• (� = Dirt Cheap, �� = Average Pricing, ���= Expensive)
• Harald's Restaurant ��� - a Viking Restaurant with huge portions of food and a wide range to suit almost any appetite!  (i.e. boar, reindeer, vegetarian, etc.)  This is located downtown across from Sokos Department store and up the hill a bit. 
• Lunch is quite nice and much more affordable than dinner.  You should probably call and book a reservation for any evening dining.
• Subway �� - Instead of 6 inches or a "Foot Long" - it's 15 centimeters or 30 centimeters.
• Shalimar Indian Restaurant ��-��� - the ONLY Indian-based cuisine in JKL is located in the train station with 2 separate entrances.  One through the train station and one outside leading directly into the restaurant.  Lunch is served from 11am-3pm and is quite reasonable in prices and just as delicious. (I linked their Facebook page for you).  They also offer 10% discount if you order take out (often known as "take away" here).
• Grilli 21 � -  There are 2 located downtown and serve typically greasy food.  One is by the market square downtown near V�in�katu and the other is closer to the University campus (and Sowhi bar).
• Sowhi �-�� (about 10-20�) - it's a bar and located near the University and they have seasonal items on their menu.  They also offer an English menu.
• Ban Thai Deli �-�� - This is located downtown and there IS an elevator inside the Forum mall that goes to that floor if you have a stroller or require an elevator.  Their lunch buffet is great and very spicy.
• Muang Thai �-�� - This is another Thai restaurant and they are located behind Antilla.  They also have a lunch buffet but theirs includes sushi!  
• Pizzeria Maria �-�� - Located on Kauppakatu and apparently outside of pizza their other foods are pretty good (got this information from someone else).
• Lounge � - This is a fairly new coffee shop and some packaged snacks are also available for sale.  The owner of this caf� also runs the tattoo parlour next door, Simply Tattoo.

There are many more restaurants in the downtown area - but I have not eaten at all of them - so I also cannot list them all!  But by all means, enjoy yourself and try to stay out of trouble :D.