Monday, October 28, 2013

Holidays on my mind.

15 nights. That's the nights left to my summer holiday. Last spring we decided we would save our holidays till the time of the year when it's dark and cold and wet and miserable. And so we've been waiting and planning and counting the days. And now it's only 2 weeks away!

And where are we going? Might be that I've mentioned about it here already before or not but after hard thinking and researching we booked flights to Miami about six months ago. I don't think I've ever planned any holiday so much ahead before. :P First plan was to just rent a car and drive wherever our noses point. But pretty quickly we noticed that our Finnish-German planning enthusiasm won't let that happen. So now we've booked hotels for every night some can be cancelled the day before, so spontaneous is still possible :D but that's fine for me, at least I don't need to stress too much. And I think we still have space for some extempore activities.

Our plan is that we fly first to Frankfurt and stay there in airport hotel for one night. Then in the morning we can easily get to the airport on time. From Frankfurt we'll fly to Miami where we will stay one night and in the morning we'll get our car from the car rental. From Miami our route goes Key West-Everglades-Naples-St. Petersburg-Orlando-Cocoa Beach-Fort Lauderdale-Miami.

www.fungraphix.com
So far we did not plan too much more than the route and hotels. Mostly I would just like to drive to some gorgeous beaches and see the nature. And of course eat! Oh, I'm so curious to know how the food really is  there in the big US. Is it all fast food and supermarkets full of frozen meals? I have a feeling that there might be something else too. ;)

We do have tickets to Universal Orlando Harry Potter World I'm coming! Oh, and we also have tickets to NBA and NHL games (guess whose idea?). And then I heard that we must see alligators in Everglades and I want to try surfing in Cocoa Beach. And of course we need some time to do some shopping. Hmm, I guess that's quite many plans already. Ooops. :D

Last week was quite busy at work which makes me want the holiday even more. At least it feels like I've earned it. :P I have started to get a bit bored with this 8 to 4 routine now this morning was very difficult to motivate myself  so some change is very welcome. Talking about change, I had some at work too. Since this week I'm not anymore only the Finland-Baltics-UK team, but now I am the complaint handling person for whole Nordics, yei! It's weird how excited can a person be to get more work to do. :P I will probably regret this later... At least I've already now noticed that my Swedish is non-existent. And that compared to that my German in pretty damn good. :D 

Please hit me with your Florida tips in case you have any, I think there might be still space for few plans! ;)

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Amazing Alps.

When I was younger, I always dreamt about far-away countries, mostly Asia and Australia. I thought there was not too much interesting things to see closer. I was dreaming about beaches with white sand, weather so hot all you need is bikini and shorts, about brown skin and surf hair and a coconut drink in my hand while gazing at the endless ocean hmm, sounds still good :D 

First time I realized I might have been wrong was on Interrail, a train tour around Europe. I saw so many interesting places, beautiful cities and cute villages. Before that I thought "pläääh, France and Italy, how booooring" and the only place in Europe worth of visiting were the Greek islands. However on this Interrail we ended up spending one week in Italy, because my travel companion really liked the coutry. And I liked it too, not a bit boring, the gorgeous Tuscany, historical buildings in Pisa and Florence and of course Venice. I have to admit that I'm not huge Rome fan thou, but hey, I cannot like everything. Now I would go back anyday, I would really love to see the south, especially the food in  Napoli. And what about France then - we had to go there because I had few friends studying in Lyon. And I fell in love with that city, I actually would want to live there someday, but I guess I would need to learn some French first..

And so I started slowly, but steadily appreciate the history, interesting cities and breathtaking nature that we have right here in Europe. Now that I've been living here in the heart of it ;) for 1,5 years I've seen more and more and always there is something suprising and exciting to see. Maybe next stage from this is that I will finally appreciate the nature that we have in Finland and other Nordic coutries, but let's not go ahead of ourselves.


Last Monday I got couple of those "wow" moments that one can experience on our continent, when we drove south from Wolfi's parents to see the famous Neuschwanstein castle aka Disney castle. Already on the way to the castle I got to play Japanese tourist with my Sony while we were driving down Romatische Straße and Deutsche Alpenstraße. Amaaaazing Alps! I'm sorry for my boring adjectives, but there is just not word big enough to describe them. Just go and see it yourself! And it was gonna get better.

Neuschwanstein castle's premises are truly breathtaking and so is the walk up to the castle. And the fact that it was built there before all kinds of modern machines. Only thing that flattened the atmosphere was touristiness of the village down from the castle. But I don't wonder why so many people wants to see it, and where is people, there is business... Apparently the castle is somekind of pilgrimage destination for Japanese tourists. :P


After the castle we drove to the border of Austria to a small town called Mittenwald. The cutest place ever! On the way there, passing villages and cities, I was wondering if I would be different, if I'd spent my childhood in a town that is surrouded by Alps I have this similar thought quite often, for example "would I be different if I would have lived in a small village my whole life".

The more I'm travelling in Europe the more I want to see, and now it feels like one lifetime cannot possibly be enough for all of it. But how to pick? And my new born Europe-enthusiasm has not reduced my interest towards Asia. Unfortunately. :P


Please don't copy pictures without permission.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Well planned is half done.

I guess now would be good time to update the wedding planning situation. ;) That it would not be too dry with only text, you can see our newest decorations well, ok some old stuff too at home as illustration.

Last week we signed first agreement with Qubus Hotel that was already mentioned here some time ago. So the issue of venue changing has been solved. :) The ceremony is still supposed to be in the consulate; let's hope it'll be all fine.


Unfortunately the photographer from London, who took our "engagement" photos turned out to be way out our budget not so suprising. So last week we met a photographer recommended by one of our friends. Here you can see her pictures. We liked her work very much, so it was not very difficult decision to hire her. So that one is solved also.

I'm very excited about our invitations, which should be ready soon. My brother has been working on them for some time already, and the invitations only need some polishing. And then we only need to find out where to print them. Oh, and find envelopes in correct mint shade. ;)


Tomorrow we will visit Wolfi's parents, and apparently there is a lot of stuff for us as we've been ordering all kinds of wedding related things from internet. For example the wedding cake decoration! :)

As I've already told before, we have a band and I got my dress looong time ago. It looks like we are in schedule, so to say. And all the stress is gone at least for now. Wuhuu! :) Now I'm waiting for spring so I can "get my hands dirty" with all the small details. I hope I still have this same energy then.

I hope you all will have a very nice weekend! I'm planning to. ;)

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Rakkauskirjeitä

I wrote this text already week ago, but "did not have time" to finish it. This is in Finnish, so I'm sorry for you guys who won't be undestanding it... I will write short description in the end to feed your curiosity. ;)

Ikävä näyttää aiheuttavan omituista runollisuutta myös minussa, kuten niin monissa taiteilijoissa, kirjailijoissa, laulutekijöissä ja muissa hihhuleissa ennen mua...

Nuorempana mulla oli monen muun liikaa amerikkalaista saippuaa katsoneiden tavoin kovin dramaattinen kuva siitä mitä rakkaus on. Kuvittelin, että rakkaus on sitä kun sydäntä särkee, on koko ajan ikävä, itkettää ja tuntuu kuin maailma loppuisi joka toinen päivä. Jenkkisaippuan lisäksi tähän draamanhakuisuuteen saattoi toki vaikuttaa melko "aikuinen" teini-iän parisuhde, josta eroon päästyäni piti äkkiä löytää sitä O.Cstä, Gossip Girlistä ynnä muista tuttua menoa.

Noh, kyllähän sitä hakemalla saikin aimo annoksen draamaa, jos nyt ollaanko vaiko eikö olla-leikkiä ja yöllisiä itkupuheluita voi siksi kutsua. Tapana oli ihastua korvia myöten johonkin poikaan (tai mielikuvaan pojasta), joka ei varsinaisesti vastannut tunteisiin. Tälläisen pojan vuoksi oli näes helppo vollottaa, kun "ei se rakasta mua". Sitten sitä poikaparkaa jahdattiin about puol vuotta, kunnes se vihdoin joko sanoi hyvin selkeästi e-i-k-i-i-t-o-s (joskus muutamankin kerran) tai hommasi itselleen ihan oikean tyttöystävän.

Aina välillä vastaan sattui ihan mukava tyyppi, joka sitten otti ja ihastui muhun. Mutta enhän mä niistä tyypeistä tykännyt, sehän olis ollu ihan liian helppoa. Ja näin sitä mentiin uudestaan ja uudestaan, eikä sitä yhtä oikeaa löytynyt vaikka miten etsi.

Sitten tapasin erään saksalaisen, hurmaavan hymyn omistavan miehen. Mutta en ilmeisestikään ollut ihan vielä valmis, vaan säikähdin miehen kohteliaisuutta ja maailman ystävällisimpiä ruskeita silmiä. Niin, että eipä auttanut kuin yrittää sössiä sekin hyvin orastava juttu. (Siitä nyt ei sen enempää, loppu hyvin kaikki hyvin.) Onneksi tämä herra ei kuitenkaan säikähtänyt ihan pienestä ja onneksi ONNEKSI kukaan muu ei ehtinyt napata tätä kultakimpaletta sillä aikaa kun minä vähän mietin.

Ilmeisesti meidän välinen välimatka ja miehen eksoottinen kansalaisuus (sen hymyn ja silmien lisäksi) kuitenkin herätti mun kiinnostuksen, koska "eihän tämä tämmönen mikään ihan tavisjuttu oliskaan". Tiedän juu, että kuulostaa hirveän pinnalliselta ja suunnitelmalliselta, mutta väliäkös tuolla jos lopputulos on kuin parhaimmasta päiväunesta. Niimpä sitten parin kuukauden pohdiskelun jälkeen päätin, kuten olen saattanut aiemminkin mainita, että tuon miehen minä haluan. Ja sain! Vieläkin, suurinpiirtein joka päivä, mietin että mitä hittoa, ihanko oikeesti tuo maailman ihanin mies haluaa herätä joka aamu mun vierestä. Voin sanoa, ettei kiinnosta lottovoitot ynnä muut kunhan tuon saisin pitää.
Viimeisen vajaan kahden vuoden aikana oon pikkuhiljaa ymmärtänyt, ettei se ole rakkautta että pitää itkeä toisen perään, muuttaa omaa käytöstään tai tarkoituksellisesti riidellä niin että se kuuluu naapuripitäjään.

Rakkautta on, että alusta asti tuntee, että saa olla oma itsensä, mutta haluaa olla paras mahdollinen minä, jotta itsellä ja toisella on hyvä olla. Itse pidän itsestäni ehkä tuhatbijoonaa kertaa enemmän nyt kuin muutama vuosi sitten.

Uskon, että meidän suhteessa on jo eletty ensihuuman yli tai ehkä se jatkuu ikuisesti :) mutta meillä ei silti riidellä. Yleensä ei oikeastaan olla edes eri mieltä. Eikä se tarkoita, että meillä olisi tylsää. Ja kyllä niitä riitojakin varmaan aikaiseksi saadaan (ainakin jos se musta riippuu), jos ei muusta niin viimeistään siitä kuka tuo joululahjat lapsille Saksan ja Suomen jouluperinteet eroavat huomattavasti tässä asiassa. Ja kyllä meillä tunteita näytetään, niitä positiivisia. ;) Meillä on hauskaa, ihanaa, turvallista ja rakastavaa.

Meillä on alusta asti eletty sellasessa symbioosissa, että jotakuta aivan varmasti ällöttää. Mutta pitääkö väenvängällä tehdä juttuja erikseen, jos ei tahdo. Meidän on hyvä olla yhdessä, joten nautitaan siitä niin pitkään kuin saadaan. Ja tottakai meillä on omia "juttuja": Wolfi katsoo futista ja mä luen kirjaa. :D

Uskallan sanoa, että olen löytänyt sielunkumppanini, sen toisen puolikkaan. Sen kenen kanssa tunnen olevani täydellinen, juuri tarpeeksi ja jota ilman en enää halua elää. Juuri nyt uskon, että haluan jakaa elämäni tämän ihmisen kanssa ja että me selvitään mistä vain kunhan ollaan yhdessä. Meidät on luotu toisillemme. <3

This is basically a love letter to my handsomer half. Unfortunately he won't understand it at least not in a while ;) I had to kiss few frogs before meeting my prince, who taught me what real love is. He is my other half, who I could not live without anymore. We can do anything, if we do it together.

Sunday, September 29, 2013

“How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” *

This week has been extraordinary, very different from the normal work, gym, cooking, dvd-cycle which I happen to like very much, but it's good to shake up things sometimes. :P First of all I only had two days of work, and after Wednesday's office I got to start my long-time-waited mini-holiday. The reason for the holiday was that I had the pleasure of welcoming my very dear friend, my maid of honor for a visit. Last time we met was in March, quite exactly half a year ago. And oh gosh, there was a lot to talk about ! I really would have wanted her to stay I was almost planning to call her work and tell that she is on sick leave or something, but unfortunetaly after two wonderful days I had to let her go for now. (I hope that my newest acquaintance Whatsapp will help us to keep in touch more often. I have given up with the never-ending flood of new social networking apps and web sites, but this seems pretty useful. :))

Let's say, I've been very satisfied in the life situation that I have now, I might say that I'm actually happier than ever, but having a good friend over reminded me about the importance of having friends and keeping in touch with them. (Because who am I kidding, I have not tried my best lately). Nothing can compare to a friend who knows where you are coming from, who knows all the darkest secrets which I of course don't have, and to whom you can tell things that the boyfriend does not want to hear :P It's so refreshing to get other perpective on things that are going on in your life.


I know I'm not the best in keeping friends, and especially now when I'm living far away from them, it's very challenging. Even we have all the possibilities with internet to form friendships even without ever meeting. Still it seems somehow difficult with the friends you used to meet face to face. Luckily, with good friends it always feels like we met just last week, even it was six months ago.

And I guess it is normal that friendships come and go, but there is some I wish would stay forever.


  

I guess I am kind of unsocial person, I like to be with me and myself and I've never had huge group of friends. But now that I'm so used to being with another person feeling of loneliness hits harder than it did before. We, me and Wolfi have been together very tightly since I moved here, but today he left for training in Berlin. Now I realize how much I would want a friend whose door I could just knock anytime. I guess tomorrow I should start making some... ;)

Our Sunday breakfast

I was trying to figure out things that I like to do and cannot do with my boyfriend. Now I would finally have time for those things. But after two days of thinking zero things came to my mind. I guess we are just one of those yuckily sweet couples who loves to do everything together. ;)

Ok well, I can do two things: I can watch TV-series with Finnish subtitles (or of course Finnish TV-series, but no thanks :D I know, I'm so unpatriotic) and I can eat Turkin Pippuri as much as I want without anyone complaining how my kisses taste bad.

*Quote: A. A. Milne

Sunday, September 22, 2013

"Woman cries before the wedding and man after.*"

Like said earlier, this week we've been searching venue for our wedding. We got invitation to check special wedding Sunday organized in one of the hotels we visited earlier. This was first time they organized such event, and I have to say that it is brilliant idea. They've prepared the room with all the decorations, they had tasting free lunch, yei!, few exhibitors and some dance shows. Even the burleski was not exactly what we want to have in our wedding, I think in general this was very nice event, and will for sure have influence in the decision of many couples. 


We also had tour around the hotel, and got to see the wedding suite (which is included to the price). They have pretty nice roof terrace too, that could be available for our use. 


After some negotiation between me and the much more generous fiance, I feel a bit less terrified about the prices. After all wedding is once-in-a-lifetime-thing. And anyways, I want it to be a nice party with good food and smooth service, so I guess I have to be ready to pay for that. Only thing that we did not agree quite yet, is the alcohol....or more like the price of it "Who will know that we bought the cheapest Polish vodka?!". I guess there is some Finnish stinginess in me. Maybe we balance each other just perfectly. :P

Despite the salty price, we both were more than happy with Qubus-hotel's service, and also the menu sounds (and tastes) quite delicious. I'm even starting to warm up for the idea of having huuuuge amount of food, like proper Polish wedding should. So dear guests, one thing is sure, you will not be hungry! :D

It is not 100% certain yet, but it looks like we might have found our place! :))

*Polish proverb...

Thursday, September 19, 2013

It's all about the money...

First of all I want to explode one stereotype about Poland - it is not cheap.

At least what comes to weddings. Seems like here weddings are a big business, or at least it is a good business. Maybe I could have expected that, seeing all the wedding dress shops that are in every corner (at least my dress was not too expensive..). But I did not. I thought we will have luxurious wedding with third of the price that would be in Finland apparently I think I'm in Romania :P

After the small setback we've been comparing possible wedding venues and their prices. Huhhuh, I say! And I hölmö thought that food is cheaper here. Or at least service. Well, that's not how it looks like. Or maybe they smelled that we are foreigners, we have money, and made special offers for us. :P

So what is this outrageous price then? For the menu the normal price per person seems to be something between 40 and 50 euros. It includes service, plates and utensils, non-alcoholic drinks + toast, ridiculous amount of food and sometimes wedding cake. I checked few examples for catering prices in Helsinki, just to compare, after I heard from several people that these prices are too high. And it looks like you can get the same package in Helsinki with the same price. That couldn't be true right?

Ok, I have to say that the amount of food that seems to be the norm in here is huge. And probably there is more staff included in the price also than in Finland. But still. I'm wondering how can average Polish couple afford any of this. If food for the wedding is already half of the yearly salary? Do they get some government money for weddings, or what?

Other thing that has caused us me some grey hair is the food:

  • Does it need to be so Polish? Don't get me wrong, I like Polish food, but it's not very festive for me, it's like makaronilaatikko and karjalanpaisti in wedding (ok these are probably traditional Finnish wedding dishes :P)
  • Can somebody seriously eat so much? Apparently wedding is the new Christmas in Poland.
First they serve three or four course dinner, then opens the buffet (Swedish table as the call it here) and after that the dessert buffet. Yes, dessert buffet! Not only wedding cake, nooo, but like 10 other cakes too. Crazy. And so that we would not starve after this humble amount of food there will also be night food. And night-night food.

One thing is for sure, alcohol is cheaper here. (I shouldn't say for sure. Maybe there will be some special tax for wedding wodka.) Not very surprisingly wedding in Poland means that everyone gets wasted for some people in Finland too, so of course it is natural to have never ending wodka service for the guests. However, we decided not to have open bar, and this seems to be shocking for Polish. :D

So if I did not have a culture shock before, then no worries here it comes! ;)

This post might include slight overreacting.