The Tallinn Zoo...and overall impression of Tallinn

Yesterday we finally made it to the zoo.
We stopped by an R-Kioski to get our day pass for the bus/trolley and it was 4,74� for 24 hours of use.  We also swung by the bakery and got some delicious pastries that looked like 2 triangles put together, a little sticky looking on the outside and drizzled in chocolate.  Can't get any better - right?  Wrong.  Inside it turns out that this flakey pastry contained 2 sticks of chocolate!!!  Yep - every Monday should start off on that note.

So back to the bus/trolley pass...it looks like a little ticket stub and has "24 HOURS" printed on it (they also sell 3 day passes but for our case - we just needed the 1) in Estonian and when you get onto the trolley (not sure if it's the same as the bus) - you insert your pass into a little box and it stamps the date on it.
You only do this once and only need to show it when asked. 
The Estonian transportation system seems to run based on an honour system.  You can board the trolley at any one of it's doors (I believe there are 3 sets of doors) and just sit down or stand.  The trolley beeps loudly, the door shuts, there's an automated voice telling you what the next stop will be (yes "Zoo" sounds the same in Estonian as it does in English!) and you come and go as you like.  But be warned - if you are caught on the trolley without a properly dated ticket there's a fine of 40� (not sure what else is involved as the signs were in Russian and Estonian).

So we get to the Zoo and it's 6� for an all-day family pass.  The lady was confused as to why we wanted a "family pass" because she thought my husband was carrying a back pack...then she saw V�in� and was like "OHHHHH a BABY!"
The pass looks like a few receipts with barcodes on them and then this little old lady comes over and swipes them on the scanner and you get in.  The first thing you see is a big black statue of the word "ZOO" and some wooden trolleys to pull your kids around in.  Oh how handy!  Seeing as we didn't have a stroller - this was very useful and cost only 1� to rent it for the day.
We popped V�in� in a wooden trolley (wagon) and off we went to explore! 
*PLEASE NOTE: WHEN TOURING THE ZOO- ensure you have lots of batteries for your camera or an extra lithium one....mine died after about 150 photos or so....and it turned out there was a lot more to see than I expected!!**  AS WELL the indoor exhibits for the reptiles and fish request you do not use a flash as it disturbs the animals - please follow this...I saw some people who obviously could not read and was shocked at their rudeness by getting very close to the glass and letting their camera do the flashing.  Poor animals.  It stresses them out and can hurt them!** (Oh and the signs are in Estonian, English and Russian)

Some animals that I can remember off the top of my head (and of course not in order!):

• Goats of all kinds of varieties! (Including sheep and rams)
• Some were doing their mating call and it sounded like sneezing (or snorting) on the female and then a high-pitched "uh blub blub blub uh blub blub blub" - funniest thing ever!
• Snow Leopard (couldn't see them - they were hiding)
• Lion and lioness
• 2 beautiful tigers (I have never seen them before up close!)
• 2-3 polar bears (these were a huge hit with my 1.5 year old as they were walking around their enclosure and then standing very tall!)
• Lynx
• Puma
• Monkeys of various varieties (some are part of an indoor exhibit but do have access to outside during certain parts of the day) including chimps!
• Reptiles and other "dangerous" animals (i.e. crocodile or alligator and flesh-eating fish) were enclosed in an indoor exhibit
• Hippos
• Camels
• Kangaroos
• Wallabys
• Donkeys
• Warthogs (and other hogs)
• WIDE variety of birds (cranes, pheasants and others)
• The rhino has passed away after living to be 41 years old (in 2010) - but they're hoping to get more soon
• Elephants (there's an indoor elephant exhibit during parts of the day but mostly they are outside) 
•  The male, Carl, had his tusks removed due to him damaging them and causing him great pain.  There's a panel of information and photos of his surgery - OUCH!
• Turtles and tortoises
• Striped hyena
• Predator birds (eagles, falcons, hawks etc) - unfortunately this was temporarily closed - but we saw people walking around the blockades anyway...grr!

So many more animals but it was definitely worth every penny!  An individual adult fare was 3,20� and you can find more information here.

We spent over 3 hours here and managed to see everything there was to be seen - but would've loved to stay longer!

One thing I did do for V�in�, was get him a collector's coin.  It was in a machine that you pop in 2� and picked a silver coin that had a polar bear or an elephant on it.  I had to get the one with a polar bear on it - since he was so amazed by them.  On the back is written "Estonian Heritage Coin" with a map of Estonia and on the front, had a carving of a Polar Bear.
There was another machine that was similar but it only took 1,05�.  Seriously - and of course - I did not have 5 Euro Cents!  I think that machine allowed you to pick one of 3 designs and it flattened the 5 Euro Cents coin and imprinted the design on it as you cranked the handle.  Ah well.
The trolley stops across from the Zoo and there's a McDonalds, a Hesburger, a car dealership and a Prisma (and mall) across from the Zoo too.  So if you wanted to grab a quick bite to eat first - then mosey on over to the Zoo - it's one way to go!
There are also lots of picnic areas in the Zoo itself - as another option.  We saw a couple concession stands selling popcorn and cotton candy...and one cabin that sold more food (I think).

On your way out, the bus stop/trolley stop is right at the end and a little to your left (blue and white signs) and if you catch the #7 - it'll take you right back downtown (or relatively near).

Last night we walked around the Town Square some more and just relaxed.  We ate at a Chinese restaurant that was really cheap but tasty called the "Chinese Inn" and walked around some more.  We were stopped by a lady dressed in Medieval gear and she gave us some coins to get us a free drink with our meal..."But if you do not go to Olde Hansa today, surely can come back in the next 700 years and still use this coin!"
Olde Hansa is a beautiful, old medieval restaurant that was a bit out of our price range - as we're travelling to Canada so soon - but we'll definitely go back and try it (and make use of our free drinks!)!

Overall, I'd have to say we were extremely pleased with our trip to Tallinn and have already made plans to come back again.  I'll be making a separate post on bits of tidbits we picked up while in Tallinn - that'll hopefully help you on your adventure here - should you have the great oppourtunity to visit!

**We did not make it to the Open Air Museum - which is a real shame - but we'll try that next time!  I also plan on getting some almonds downtown today...or at least sample them!**

Day 2.5 in Estonia (a pretty funny post)

This morning, I swear - we were going to go to the Open Air Museum...I really mean it! Oh and the Tallinn Zoo!
So guess what stopped us?  My camera.  I took so many photos yesterday and forgot to charge the battery last night...and no it's not a digital camera that takes double A batteries...it has a rechargeable lithium...so it can't be used without this battery! Argh!
Well, we went to various churches and explored and it was nice.  Many churches request you do not take photos - fair enough.

We also enjoyed some elk soup at the Town Hall in the Town Square of Tallinn which was very tasty (as the sign suggests it is "Full of taste") and only 1� for a bowl of soup.  They sold buns for a Euro as well and drinks were 2� - but I didn't know what they sold for beverages and thought the soup would be satisfying enough.
They have outdoor benches and long dark wooden tables to sit at in shade from the sun.  At the very top of the Town Hall (look wayyyyyyyyyyyy up) you can see "Old Thomas" who is the mascot of Tallinn.  I got a couple magnets of him - so I'll take photos of that and perhaps create a Picasa Album online and link it here on the blog...much easier than individual photos!
When I paid for the soup - the lady asked if I needed anything else and I said no.  I remembered when sitting down that oh, I forgot spoons.
I sent the darling husband in to get spoons and she asked him, "What will you do for me, for your spoons?"
My husband was kind of stunned at first (I'm sure but he wouldn't admit it) and said, "Well, what do you want me to do for you, for my spoons?"
She requested that he brings the dishes in after he was done eating his soup.  It was  an old fashioned way of doing an exchange...we thought it was pretty neat but yes I thought it was quite dirty from an outsider's point of view!

As we went walking around, my son overloaded his diaper and ended up peeing his pants (thankfully he was walking around and not on my husband's back in the kid carrier!)...so while the husband ran home, I snuck into a hostel entrance, changed his diaper, then V�in� fell off the little rocky pillar he was standing on- landed on his back and I'm pretty sure the tour group that was JUST outside the hostel entrance have labelled me as "Bad - no wait WORST Mother of the Year"....great.  (He's fine by the way - no bruises either shockingly).
Note to self - bring extra pants...socks...more diapers...

Well after all that trauma....we found a bakery.  And not just any bakery but a REALLY cheap but delicious one!  For 70 Euro cents, we got a fresh, warm loaf of bread....it had a crisp but not crunchy crust...and it was a little sweet on the inside...yum.  We ate the whole thing while walking about today....oh and we got 2 pretzels as well...oh they were good...THEY WERE ONLY 45 EURO CENTS EACH!!!  We'll be back I'm sure.

We hiked a ridiculously long way to Kadriork Park (hope I spelled that right - don't have my glasses on and I can't find the tour guide book)...it's the summer home of a Russian Czar from a long time ago.  Unfortunately it was closed (opened Wednesday to Sunday) - but we had fun walking the grounds and taking some photos (while my camera still could).  There was a huge playground across the way - so that was lovely to let V�in� run and enjoy himself.
But as fun goes for a toddler - he was interested in eating sand (dip the shovel in the sand and lick it...licking it of course encouraged the sand to stick!) and not giving the shovel back....so we left after a quick 10 seconds diaper change!

On our way back to the flat - we stopped at McDonald's because they don't charge for using the bathroom, they are relatively clean and we decided on getting some Rotten Ronnies to get us enough energy to drag ourselves back home.  Yesterday I was there to take V�in� in for a quick diaper change and it was PACKED.
Why was it packed? Because it's �ber cheap!  Any kind of everyday McDonald's meal (we got a Big Mac and 6-piece nuggets) was only 3,20�!!! And if you wanted to upsize it - it was �3,80! (In Finland, it's 5,80� for a Big Mac Meal and the meals are a variety of prices)...I opted for a Happy Meal too, because neither my husband or I felt like sharing our fries - we were so exhausted from hiking around Tallin....(I know - bad mother rule #2...salt is a no-no - we gave him lots of fluids to flush it out after!) and it was 2,80� for a Happy Meal (it didn't cost extra to get a juice box! - I think it does in Canada) and if you wanted to make the meal bigger (i.e. granola bar or yoghurt container) - then it was 3,30�....my son was also highly entertained by his toy...a yellow bird from the movie "Rio".

I managed to get some souveniors today - just post cards and some magnets of Tallinn - I may have to go back because despite the guy's shop lacking any heat or air-conditioning (he doesn't even have a door - it's a shop in a wall really) and he only accepts cash....his stuff is cheap!  Post cards are 35 Euro cents each (some shops were selling them for 70 E.Cents-1�...) and he had some nice magnets for 2�...the hilarious thing about his little shop...he also sold magnets with images of Michael Jackson, Oprah Winfrey and Barrack Obama them.  No idea why - as I'm pretttttty sure that neither of the above mentioned people (along with other "famous faces" I didn't know of) have been to Estonia.  Anyway!  I seriously considered buying a couple of those- just to give as prank gifts and saying "Oh I got these in Estonia..." I'm sure they say "Made in China" on the back - or something like that in Estonian.

I still didn't get any almonds today - but that's my goal for tomorrow, along with going to the zoo and Open Air museum - because we leave the day after for Paris. 

Day 1.5 of being in Estonia...

Okay, we're renting a flat in Estonia (yay washing machine!) as we're not going back to Finland right after our stay here...nope.  We're going to mosey on over to Paris - hence the need for a washing machine.
And unlike the Sweden trip, we have access to a speedy internet connection - so I'll blog as we're going around Tallinn, Estonia.  (Then post it when our trip is done..or whenever!)
Our friends were supposed to take a tour with us of Helsinki and Estonia but had to bail out unfortunately - so we figured we'd skip Helsinki ourselves and trek on to Estonia.
 
Estonia recently accepted the Euro as their currency...whew! Thank goodness! Saves us on converting or having to exchange cash.  (It was in effect as of January 1st, 2011).

So Estonia is across the Baltic Sea and it takes 90 minutes by ferry from Helsinki and is relatively cheap (about 20� per person).  There are a variety of different ferries (in terms of length wise) you can take - but we went with "Linda Lines" as it was cheaper and just as convenient as any other.

Once we get off the ferry, there is a lady standing there with Tim's name in bold, black lettering on a piece of paper.  She was very friendly and manages the properties that tourists can rent during their stay in Estonia.  She had a taxi waiting and we drove about 7 minutes to our flat, which scared the crap out of me.
The building on the outside, was lifeless.  It's a stone white building and looks like death.  Inside as we maneuvered the hall ways (which were painted a somewhat cheery green- like the last buckets of paint anyone would ever buy because they're on sale ...that kind of "cheery green"), I got really worried that we were staying in a seedy apartment.  
The property manager who drove us to our flat and showed us around was very friendly and was able to speak great English.  So she gave us some information (but not too much to overbear us) and offered to pick us up (10�) and take us back to the ferry on the date we were moving out.

FYI Hotels are super cheap here as well and very lovely.  They're all within walking distance from the ferry or offer a shuttle service...we just needed the flat for the washing machine and Tim really wanted to "live like an Estonian" and cook food (not like he cooks mind you! :P)...and not feel so much like a tourist by living in a hotel.  Fair enough!
(I continue...)

First of all - it takes a metal key fob (metal circular disc thing) to open the outside building door (to get out you have to push a button)...then you go up to the designated floor and you need a key to get into the door NEAR your flat's door.  There's 2 apartments behind this door.  Then when you close it behind you, you need to lock it again with your key.
THEN you need 2 keys to get into your flat.  Needless to say - I feel quite secure and Tim said it's a good thing we're not here to drink...because there's no way a drunk person could remember which key is which!

So, we enter the flat and it's gorgeous!  We rented a studio flat but it's bigger than most!  A beautiful little kitchen (but with wiggle room!), an up-to-date stove (those glass flat top ones) and a stainless steel oven door...I am in love.  There's a large kitchen window that can be opened on the side and the bathroom...HAS HEATED FLOORS!  Shower only, a basic washing machine, a fan for the bathroom (no window) and then there's the living room/bedroom.  Very spacious and lots of light!  There's lots of house plants around to give the place some color, the living room windows open wide, there's an extra pull-out cot and a desk with a great internet connection.
Talk about a surprise to me!

Last night was the first night and we decided to find the town square and eat out for supper.  We found it alright...lots of outdoor eating space available for various restaurants and all of them offered heat lamps and blankets for your lap while you dine.  (It was getting a bit chilly- although most of the snow IS gone).
We ate at a restaurant that offered a meat platter for 2 and it came with fries.  Great! Somehow the bill came to 50� (and you can tip in Estonia where as Finland you don't)...they charge a pretty penny for a glass of destilled water (no tap and ice cubes here!) approximately 2,70� for a glass of water.  No free refills either.  Pop is about 2,90� and Tim splurged on a tall and fat glass of beer and it was almost 5�. 
All menus are in: Finnish, Estonian, English and Russian.
The only thing I did not like about eating in the Town Square: was that they have the hostess in the front of the outdoor eating area, asking you for your business.  They were polite and handled "No thanks!" very well - but I just like to look and then to make my decision.  Seeing as there were so many options and the weather was fantastic - I just see no reason to try and hustle customers into your restaurant.  Then they really get you by showing you a menu (often what's posted is just the condensed version) and offering you a seat.
Tim said this is common in Montreal!

We snagged some groceries at a nearby corner store - which I was expecting would cost us an arm and a leg...but for a little over 11� we got: a pack of sausages, a huge package of 7 cinnamon/sweet buns, a big box of juice, some potatoes, 3 or 4 cartons of yoghurt and a couple bananas.  Oh and some soap.  Prices here are just so much lower than in Finland!

Today (Easter Sunday) everything was open as per regular hours.  The stores were closed on Good Friday, but Easter was not treated as a "close your stores" holiday.  How weird.
Anyway, it worked for us!  So we went back to the Old Town of Estonia and walked around a lot.  We saw lots of panhandlers but they just sit there quietly with a cup or a hat....not like the ones in Halifax that offer to open the door for you (Spring Garden Road!) or that spit and curse at you if you don't give anything.  Similar to Finland's panhandlers from what we've noticed.
There were so many restaurants and cafes everywhere!  And as well, many souvenior shops too.

The most popular items we noticed in souvenior shop windows were: things made of amber, glass, crystal, woolen sweaters/hats (knit with fabulous and tricky patterns) and some black smith items too.  Also there are many little figurines too.

There's lots of wooden carts that sell sweet almonds - but perhaps I'll try those tomorrow.

The great thing about Estonia - lots of playgrounds (similar to that of Finland), parks to just sit and enjoy the scenery and no dog poop!  In Finland, there's a lot now that the snow is gone!

There's also a "knitting corner" in Tallin filled with yarn shops...I didn't make it there today - but perhaps Tuesday!  Tomorrow we're hoping to make it to the Open Air Museum and to the Tallin Zoo!

What we did do today, would probably make most people terribly ill.  We climbed up the St. Olaf Church Tower.  Not with ropes or free-style...but up a kajillion stone stairs (I didn't count but my thighs say at least 300)!  Most stairs were of different heights, and in a spiral stair case fashion...but � way - there's some benches for you to take a breather.
Did I mention this is a narrow stairwell and it's 2-way?!  Holy difficult when there's people to pass!
So when you get to the top (you do this all at your own risk and the tickets are 2� per person) you can go for a walk outside....at almost 123.7m high.  The stairs alone, take you up 60m.
(My thighs are killing me the day after)

Last night we went to a huge shopping district and popped into Prisma (it's in Finland too) and we picked up some small groceries and a couple shirts for V�in� as I forgot (how I don't know) to pack them.  The food is still cheap in the big grocery store and their alcohol section (usually nothing more than a small percentage of alcohol - aka nothing more than a cider or beer) was huge.  It was the size of a regular liquor store in NS.  Freaky.
Turns out this Prisma was around the corner (about a 15-minutes walk) from the flat we're renting from.

Oh and in terms of language - Finns can get around Estonia easily enough.  Many speak Finnish and a lot speak English.  The Estonian language and Finnish language are part of the same group - so many words are quite similar.

Trust

Finland is a very trusting country.  I've said before that people give their bank account number regularly (i.e.: you owe your friend 42.50� and don't have exact change) because that's how people transfer funds here.
No cheques in Finland!  That's so over 20 years ago.

Now that the old post has been brought up - here's a few more examples that I have experienced - on trust.

• I met a lady from the internet who was selling a baby back pack carrier that we need for our up-coming trip to Estonia, Paris and Canada (airlines are awful with strollers!)...She wanted 15� - I had a 20� bill because that's what the machine spits out....she said "I don't have change and have to get going...Do you have your cell phone?  Take down my account number and send me the money."  
• I leave V�in� outside our friend's homes when visiting (if he's still asleep) in his stroller and we just keep an ear out for when he cries.  LOTS of people put their kids outside (or on a balcony) to sleep - especially in cooler weather....I do this downtown too if I'm knitting or in a small shop with too narrow of an entrance to bring a stroller.
• My card was declined at the grocery store and thankfully I was with a friend (her dog is my dogs' mutual girlfriend) - she paid for me and I paid her back by the end of the day.
• I ordered something from a Finnish bead site called HelmiQ (in English or Finnish), which I've never done before and I had the option of paying 2,95� extra to receive the bill in the mail...or they sent me their company's banking info and I transfer the funds that way.  I opted for paying online and saving myself 2,95� - I ordered it April 12th and received my package this morning.  It takes 2-3 business days for the money to get to them electronically...but once again trust.
• Finns with vehicles have blue "parking" passes that they put on their dash boards and it has a "P" on it and a clock with adjustable time arms.  When you park somewhere that doesn't require a parking fee (they have meters where you pay then get a ticket stub to display on your dash board), but does have a time limit - you put the pass visibly on the dash board and put the time you parked.  I thought it was odd and it's "too easy to cheat the system" - and I asked my friend if someone could just go back to their car and change the clock forward....she confirmed that yes - lots of people do it.  If you're caught - you're stuck with a hefty ticket.
• V�in�'s Canadian passport came a couple days before departure to Canada back in October and we still haven't received his Finnish residence permit.  Why? Because we forgot to bring the passport to the police so they can make a copy of the passport and review it...he hasn't been deported yet! (I kid...no really he's sleeping on the couch!)  We received a letter reminding us to bring it to the Police station and that was that.

Now, ask yourself this...."Would you leave your kid outside to sleep (not in a yard but in a downtown area for example) or give your bank account number to a complete stranger, if they didn't have exact funds to pay you in cash?"  (This question is not for Finns - but probably those that are Canadian who read this via my Facebook page).

R-e-s-p-e-c-t

Oh no I'm not busting out some Aretha Franklin....This is something about Finland I had no idea about until very recently.

Whenever you see a Finnish flag up in the air - it's usually a sign of a holiday or celebration.  Now by celebration, I don't mean someone's Sweet 16th birthday, but a day to celebrate a particular artist or poet (etc) in Finland but the stores are not closed.  Holidays are holidays and in my books - defined as a day to stay home and reflect, spend time with family, and in general nothing is open.  The day before the holiday and after it as well, is always a pain in the neck at the grocery store!!

Now what happens if the flag is raised but only half-way?  In Canada, that typically meant Remembrance Day, Battle of the Atlantic - remembering soldiers /Military service (wo)men who have died while in the line of duty.
For awhile, The Chronicle Herald, Halifax's daily newspaper had a small photo near the heading with the Canadian flag raised at half mast whenever a soldier died overseas (particularly in Afghanistan).  Well, on Parliament Hill, that rang true as well - they'd lower the flag and it would be out of respect for the soldier(s) who have lost their lives (many of them are quite young as well) trying to protect others.
For some reason, Prime Minister Stephen Harper, decided it was too depressing and too much of a reminder to Canadians, that yes, we're constantly sending troops overseas and yes, they're dying left-right and center.  It's a shame and highlights the fact that HE is not the one on the receiving end of a death in the family who was proud of their country to serve overseas.  So why bother raising a flag?  The Chronicle Herald (and I'm sure other newspapers) continued to print the flag at half mast when a soldier died - and I am grateful there is some sort of recognition for those that are brave enough to put their life at risk for others to live.
And furthermore, why wouldn't a PM be interested in showing his support & sympathy?
Oh right, because he's the one sending the troops over.

Well, in Finland - the flag is at half mast - not necessarily for soldiers or politicians or "super important people".  A couple weeks ago, I noticed the flag was at half mast and I was worried because I thought perhaps today the grocery store was closed and we of course, needed groceries.  I contacted a friend and she notified me that yes, stores are open regular hours but someone in the area must've passed away recently.
I told my friend well, there are several buildings in the area and we all share this flag pole...so I have no idea who it may have been but wow this was so interesting!
So the deal is, whenever someone passes away, someone in the area (a family member or close friend) goes out and puts the flag up only half way.
Now, that's what "respect" is all about.

**PM Harper is currently being investigated for contempt (aka not supporting Canada among some other nasty things) and his favourite word is "coalition".  He's a Conservative and not many people like him as far as I know.**

A conversation (true story unfortunately) I had in Finland with a drunk....

I was waiting for my burger at Hesburger - while V was asleep...and some guy in the line up decided to have an intense conversation with me.  He asked where I was from and then asked if I was living or studying here.....and I kept my answers short - because let's face it - I'm here because I'm hungry and have a child who's asleep...so of course I'm going to take advantage of eating a small meal "by myself in peace and quiet".

He was smelly like alcohol and needed a shave but was relatively young (30 years max).  Anyway - he then complimented V�in� and told me he had a boy who is in 1st grade, who he gets to see once a month or so....and he's "the top of his class" and the ex-wife had smoked a lot of pot during the pregnancy and the kid is the smartest...so really - smoking weed can't be 'that bad'"....

I just smiled and nodded and used the puppy-eyes to get help from the staff as they were delivering burgers to other customers.  Unfortunately - they didn't get my hint.

Then he told me that he didn't know what to order because "talking to you is as satisfying as eating a bull by the horns"... Jeeze - I'm flattered now.

I get my burger and REALLY want to eat it - but he keeps talking to me!

Then he asked if he could touch V�in� (who was passed out) - and I said politely and firmly, "No, please don't touch him because I don't want you to wake him up."

WHAT DOES HE DO?!  HE TOUCHES V�IN� ON THE HEAD!!!  Thankfully - V�in� had a hat and hood on...his hands were filthy - I nearly barfed.  He then smiles and says, "See - he didn't even feel it."

I gave him a dirty look and said that he shouldn't have done that...and the guy thinks we're best buds and KEEPS TALKING.  He wanted to know what the English word was for a soul patch (small patch of hair under the bottom lip) and for a stay-at-home-mother.  I played dumb and said "Oh English isn't that great..." but apparently Russians have words for everything!!  JEEZE.

Something about going to Turkey to swim in the coral reefs....and that I should enjoy my beautiful baby.  Then he left - didn't buy anything...just left.

Restaurant/Cafe Review: Arnold's

I was told by a friend that Arnold's is THE place for donuts.  There's no better donut in Finland than from Arnold's, which is a little cafe located in the Jyv�skyl� mall with H&M in it.
Well, I've only had a fruit smoothie there before and during our tour of Turku and Sweden - we stopped at an Arnold's in Turku and each of us got a bagel sandwich with a donut and a drink for lunch.  The total for two was a little over 15� (which is very reasonable!) and the meal was filling.
My husband had the Chicken & Bacon, while I opted for BBQ Chicken.  Surprisingly the BBQ Chicken came with jalape�os (not too spicy) - and it was a DELIGHTFUL combination with the BBQ sauce! 

You have a choice of bagel (about 5-6 varieties) and the type of sandwich you get is already pre-loaded with ingredients on the list.  It was toasted and both came with a nice thin (but not wimpy-thin) layer of cream cheese and the ingredients accordingly.  My husband detests cream cheese but he seemed to enjoy his sandwich.
The donuts (or muffin if you pick that) are like a taste of Heaven.  They're incredibly light, barely greasy and so much cheaper if you order it with your sandwich (bage-wich?)...1�/drink and 1�/donut or muffin...as opposed to 2,80� for a single donut and a bit more for a muffin!  So - it was a great deal.

When we got home to Jyv�skyl�, my husband really wanted another Arnold's donut.  He went to the one in JKL to get another meal and being the brave man that he is - he ordered the exact same combo.  I asked if it was as good as the one in Turku - and he said, "The one in Turku was better.  But the donuts taste the same - which is good."
I was flabbergasted.  Well of course, the donuts would be the same...they're probably (but not confirmed) frozen then baked on the spot....the sandwiches...well why wouldn't they be the same?!
I had to investigate this myself.

This past Tuesday I had a knitting group night - and I usually try and eat beforehand...so I popped into Arnold's and ordered (being the braver person out of my husband and I) a Chicken & Bacon bagel sandwich with a MUFFIN and a pop (tea or coffee I think is another option for the same price).  I asked for pickles on my sandwich instead of tomatoes and that was easily done! :)
Here are your faults JKL Arnold's:

• Very thin (wimpy-thin) cream cheese layer on ONLY ONE � OF THE BAGEL!!!!!!!!!!
• Not toasted...this is a serious disappointment.

I love a toasted sandwich (I enjoy regular soft ones too)...but a toasted bagel sandwich is a bit of a must for me...and after experiencing Turku's sandwich and now JKL's....I wonder if it would be rude of me to ask for a toasted sandwich.

Oh and the muffin...that came in a box (yay no more squished muffins!), and while I didn't have time to eat it Tuesday night - it made a hearty and tasty breakfast the next morning.  I had a banana one with caramel drizzle on top.  It was delicious.

Sweden Part 1!

This is about my trip to Sweden via Turku from March 13-19th, 2011.


To get to Turku from Jyv�skyl� - we took a train that was an old one.  Unfortunately the one we had didn't have a family compartment (like a small room on the train with a door) like we did on the newer trains to Helsinki.  So! Of course the train is a very boring place to be for a 16-month old little boy...and with 5 teeth coming in at once - it was hard to contain the screams.
It takes about 3.5 hours to get there but with the various stops and people boarding and leaving - it took about 4.  Well shoot me now - is what I was thinking by the time 20 minutes passed.

FINALLY! We get to Turku and it's a bustling city.  It originally is the capital of Finland - then Helsinki took over in 1812 (Thank goodness for Wikipedia).
The population is approximately 175,000 (JKL only has about 80,000-100,000).
However, we didn't get off the train in the city center...nope.  We got off at the very end of the line....at the harbour!  Our hotel was a 5 minute walk (Seaport affiliated with the Best Western) and that hotel was in front of Viking Lines.  Where we would be taking our ferry boat to Sweden the next night.
NIGHT?  Why of course.  The ferry is 10 hours long thanks to all these little islands off the coast of Sweden that are in the way of a more direct route.  There's one that leaves early in the morning or one that goes over night.  We opted for over night as it guaranteed us some sleep prior to hiking around Stockholm.

Now before I go on about the awesomeness of the Viking Lines (hello buffet!)- let's get back to Turku.
Turku reminded us very much of Halifax, Nova Scotia.  Why? Because it had a huge harbour, lots of boats and the cold to the bone weather associated with living near a harbour.
Bonus of living in Turku?  Well if you are Swedish - all the street signs are labelled in Finnish on top and Swedish beneath.
The buses are a heck of a lot cheaper as well!  It's only 2,50� per person and if you have a child in a stroller....IT'S FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  In JKL - we pay 3� a pop, the ticket received is good for 1 hour and you still pay if you have a stroller.  Oh and the ticket on Turku buses are good for up to 2 hours!  BONUS!
As well, there's a bus on the outside near the rear entrance that you press and it opens the door for you.  So if there's a huge line up in the front - slip in through the back with your pram.
The #1 bus is the way to go as it takes you to downtown within 5-8 minutes (I haven't actually timed it but we tried to walk and it was quite far) or directly to the airport if you need to fly.

Now...the hotel.  The Seaport was a very spacious and nice place.  We got there pretty late in the evening, around 8:30pm and had had nothing to eat and didn't think of asking when their restaurant closed.  We were given a room very close to the reception desk (bonus as we had a sleeping child in a stroller and quite a bit of luggage).  We tried to walk downtown and didn't make it - so we walked back and the bar was still open around 10pm.  The kitchen - was not.  So we were stuck with starving or eating some chilled sandwiches and bottles of pop that came to over 15�.  We opted for the latter.
The breakfast buffet on the other hand was PHENOMENAL!
Here's what was included (if memory serves me correctly):

• Eggs (packaged stuff but not as bad as cadet camp stuff)
• toast and all the meats/cheese/veggies for a sandwich
• yoghurt and cereals and fruits for toppings
• porridge/oatmeal
• meat balls and mini sausages (like mini hot dogs)
• juice, coffee, tea, milk

Not too bad of a spread!!  V�in� himself ate about 3-4 hefty sized portions of eggs and a few meat balls and bread himself!

We did a lot of walking around Turku that day and found a nice market that sold wonderful kinds of things!  Like bear meat!  (Unfortunately on our way back we didn't have enough time to pop in and try and get any for our trip home)...
We didn't get to go into Turku's Castle as it was closed that day (of course).  And no Finns do not have a monarch.

**Please note because Turku is a city by the harbour - the sidewalks were quite icy (for mid-March remember) and bumpy...and parts were very thick with slush - so if you have a stroller with smaller plastic wheels and not the air-pumped ones...it can be difficult maneuvering around.**

Part 2 to come !! (Sorry this took so bloody long to get online).

Sweden Bound!

Hi Folks:

I won't be online for a week! Wahoo! Shrek-free, Farmville-free, Twitter and FB free....ah - it's like a real vacation.

I'll still have access to my emails for the occasional (and hopefully none) emergency.

We're travelling to Turku by train and then spending the night and next day there...then taking an overnight boat to Sweden (IT'S A 10-HOUR RIDE)....please send all your prayers that V�in� doesn't continue to teeth.  I haven't swam in a long time and don't want to (due to various angry other passengers going deaf with V�in�'s angry screams). :P

Cheers for now!

A Warm Kind of Rejection

Last night at my knitting group I was making pot holders.  I know! It was so exciting being able to work a pattern easily - that the day before - I could not do at all.
But that's not the point.  The pot holders didn't reject me.

One of the ladies was knitting beautiful white and light blue mittens.  Then we got talking about engagements as her daughter was recently proposed to and another lady's son proposed as well.
Well, this is the fun part.
The one knitting mittens explained that if a man proposes to a girl and she says "YES" - fine they're engaged and get married.

(Cue "creepy-what-happens-if-she-says-no??" music)...

But if the girl should say "No"....she'll gift the poor lad with a pair of mittens.

The running joke here?  Well, she was knitting mittens for her future son-in-law (and yes the daughter did say yes!) somewhat of a joke because he did not ask the mother of the bride  for her daughter's hand in marriage! (She's doing it as a joke and using a pattern traditional to where he is from in Finland).
Although, I did confirm that many young men no longer ask the father (or mother in this case) of the bride for their daughter's hand in marriage.  The die-hard traditional romantic ones still do.

Anyways - the point of this story is...be prepared for a warm kind of rejection if you pop the question to a Finnish girl.

First Signs of Spring

Some of the first signs of spring in Finland is the increase in temperature...the sun is higher and warmer...there is more day light throughout the day (yay for not being pitch-black by 3pm!) and the ice cream truck cruises around.

Another sign is the 1st of March!  According to the Finns I was knitting with on Tuesday, the 1st of March is considered the first day of Spring.  Regardless of the fact that there may be still frozen lakes, piles of snow and trucks still shipping out snow to somewhere...
Because their spring and summer is quite short - Finns embrace the on-coming of spring full on.

Oh and something I never noticed on the 1st of March was the sweet sound of birds chirping!  That's a "sure sign" of Spring arriving.

The 1st of March & Sports related things...

The 1st of March was yesterday and I had the lovely oppourtunity to hang out with some friends (meet new people) and knit.

First of all, I asked if Finns have a term similar to "In like a lion, out like a lamb" (or vice verca) and they do not. The similar one for them (although nobody could confirm the actual timing) was something about snow on the roof by spring time meant a cold summer by June...or no snow on the roof by spring meant a hot summer by June.  Something like that.

For those of you that never heard of this....we have a saying "In like a lion (on the 1st of March if the weather is bad), then it'll be out out like a lamb (by the end of the month the weather will be great)".  Or vice verca.
I always tried as a child to remember whether it was actually "correct" in a sense but always ended up forgetting.


Now in sports! I rarely discuss sports as I am not an avid sports fan, however, last night was a big night for Finns because they are BACK on the map! (Not that they ever left the map...thanks to this blog, many others and Conan O'Brien.)
Finland is very proud (in a modest way) of Matti Heikkinen as he won the World Championship for men's cross country skiing.
I had a difficult time finding this bit of information on CBC's new site and actually had to do a few searches because it wasn't a "big deal".  Perhaps if an American or Canadian won....then there'd be a different tune?
As well, cross country skiing isn't as big of a deal in Canada (they do ski) compared to hockey.
I was lucky enough to be with my knitting group last night and see this Matti fellow do some interviews and for someone that JUST WON THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS - he was a very traditional Finnish man.
How so?  He was very serious looking at some parts, not jumping around and having a super huge 5-miles-wide smile like the 2 Norweigans that landed 2nd and 3rd....just very calm.  Like it was a training session, except you know, it's the WORLD Championships and his first win in this category.


Well, I am very proud to live in Finland and witness a wonderful moment in history, especially since (if you've read the article), Finland's been sort of on the back burner for cross-country skiing due to 6 team members testing positive for drugs/ "banned substances" back in 2001.  So 10 years of drama and suspicion is finally put to rest now that a Finn won fairly.

And maybe if I pay attention, I'll be able to meet him in person (as oppose to walking past him - which I'm sure everybody has done as he's so quiet) and possibly get an autograph!

Ambulance Fees

When calling for an ambulance - instead of the trusty ol' 911 like in North America - it's 112.  Just so you know.

Oh and if you REALLY NEED an ambulance, Kela will cover a good chunk of the fees!
Some examples of really needing an ambulance:

• Heart attack
• Choking/stopped breathing
• Labour/giving birth
• Major accident

So, how much do you pay for an ambulance to pick you up and take you to the hospital?  If it's for a really good reason (as mentioned above in the examples): 9� and some change.

Scrape your jaw off the floor!  I was in the middle of a frozen lake with my dogs when I heard about this!  I'm so impressed! And the distance doesn't matter between your current location and the hospital.

A friend of mine's son was choking and they were billed afterward for the ambulance ride and it was only 9,20�...(possibly 9,80� - terrible memory right now)!!  I am not entirely sure (and neither is my Finnish friend) as to how much it costs if "you don't really" need the ambulance...She looked online and found two possible answers for me.  One person said it cost them 200� and one fellow responded to this forum stating that they were an ambulance driver and he's only charged someone 88�.

Either way it's a nice fee!

I looked up Nova Scotia's ambulance fees and they're not as bad as I thought (as long as you're a resident):

Ambulance fee

3     Fees for transportation by ambulance shall be billed according to the following table:

	Medically Essential Transportation Fee	Inter-facility Transportation Fee
Resident	$134.52	$0
Non-Nova Scotian	$672.57	$0
Non-Canadian	$1008.84	$1008.84
New Canadian	$1008.84	$1008.84
Stipulated third party insured	$672.57	$672.57

Currently - my family and I are considered "Non-Nova Scotian" as we are no longer considered residents of NS.  

For more information on NS's medical fees for ambulances (it's a pretty hefty read) check out this.

Even if you're dead - someone has to pay for you to get shipped via ambulance! "The fee for ambulance transportation of human remains is $534 and shall be billed to the Office of the Medical Examiner."




*And yes, if you do see an ambulance (or other emergency vehicle) with sirens and/or lights flashing - please, don't be an ass and pull over to the side.

Chocolate kisses

No no, not these kind of chocolate kisses!

In Finland, a long time ago, there weren't many people of African descent (from here on called "black") and the "N" word was loosely used.

How so?
"Brunberg" chocolate kisses used to be known as "N-Kisses".
Only in recent years was it changed to just chocolate kisses....or chocolate kisses filled with _____.


The same company (I believe) also sold licorice faces.  Licorice is black and they were known as "Black faces" or something of the sort.  Finally someone pointed out that it was too racist (understandably so) and now I think they're just licorice faces.

Restaurant Review: Rosso Pizza

Each month - or as frequently as I can - I will do a Restaurant Review for a restaurant that I have eaten at in Finland.

1st one up to be reviewed is Rosso's Pizza.  Rosso's Pizza is a chain restaurant (think Pizza Delight, Pizza Hut or East Side Mario's) and here are some pro's and cons of the place.

Pro's

• English menus are available
• Credit cards, Visa Electron (debit) and cash
• Serves alcohol for those who wish to sip and dine
• Kid friendly - child menu and play area usually available
• Reasonably priced lunch menu
• Nice salad bar throughout the day
• Wide variety on the menu
• Lots of seating available and pretty spacious to include stroller space!
• Friendly service
• They use FRESH WHITE MUSHROOMS!!!  Most pizza shops here use canned and already sliced mushrooms.

Con's:

• You can end up waiting a very long time for your bill.  I've previously had my child dressed and my coat on and the table was cleared but no bill was presented until almost 15 minutes later.  Oh and it wasn't packed or overly busy.  15 minutes to me is incredibly long when your 15-month old is screaming his head off!
• It can be quite expensive and many other pizza shops sell a pizza of a similar quality and flavour for a fraction of the cost.
• Vegetarian?  Well there are some good options (notice I'm not saying fantabulous) but not many.  And the pizzas often all have tomatoes on them (I hate tomatoes)...unless you make up your own pizza, which is more expensive (I think).

There are fortunately 2 Rosso's Pizzas in downtown Jyv�skyl�.  One is inside the Jyv�skekus (?) with the movie theater and H&M and the other is located across from the Town Church.

Oh and as typical of all Finnish restaurants - you're charged for water (plain water that's right) and refills.  **Remember - all prices include taxes and you don't tip here.**