Matka Borealis Rovaniemi

This is our frist of many night trains accross Europe.<br>We Leave Helsinki on the 9th and get into Rovaniemi very early on the 10th<br><br>We should have a fun packed Day in Rovaniemi. looking to do some arctic rally driving. and other male bonding activities.<br>

... We had our photo taken with Santa, but the tour itself had more to do with a machine regulating the rotation of the Earth than christmas etc...so it felt a bit strange.<br><br>The scenery in Finland was a bit of a let down after Norway to be honest, as it was all pretty much flat, with straight roads lined by trees the entire way. We came across the odd lake here and there, and while these were quite nice to look at, once ...

... Raamat aitab meelde tuletada üht-teist pärsia keelest. Siis sõidan linna elu uurima. Ületan jõe mööda kolme erinevat silda ja tiirlen pisut ringi, enne kui näen raudteejaama silti. Piletivahetus sujub, saan 10 euri tagasi ka. Ilm on harjumatult soe (või olen ma lihtsalt juba harjunud), tutvun jaamaga. Raudtee- ja lennujaamad on omamoodi lahedad kohad, täis lubadusi uute paikade avastamiseks. Võtan jaamarestoranis kohvi, shokolaadi ja tuttava ...

... telltale old buildings and cobblestone streets, being a town resurrected from the ashes of the second world war. as my feet hit the dry wood i ran for the second time, and felt such happiness to be exactly where i was doing exactly what i was doing... i have been feeling this more and more recently, this indescribable joy at being here now. here is not a location, physical or temporal. it is everything, a state, an existence ...

... out and stood behind her, and chanted while she sung another song - it was incredible and beautiful to witness. by this point all our expectations were gone, so we weren't surprised when next a choir of finnish men and women dressed in matching somberly colored clothes came onto the stage and sang a few finnish songs, only to be joined by the entire group of monks. in all it was one of the most interesting cross-cultural displays i have experienced!

... Yukon, and a friend had recommended it to me, jokingly calling it her "bible". I remember having a hard time getting through it, its concepts not always easy reading on those lonely exhausted nights after 16hours in the field. But I did finish it, and it had a profound yet subtle effect on me, that I have a hard time pinpointing even now. It is itself a travel book, paralleling two journeys - a physical one by motorcycle across the western United States, and a mental one ...

... have lived. i notice that here there seems to be more time for things like long runs in the woods, doing dishes, meeting friends for coffee. maybe because there is a lot less else going on (e.g. last weekend, one of the most exciting thing that happened to my flatmate erika and was accidentally buzzing up a dude spamming us with junk mail flyers of various home sauna ovens). or maybe ...

... all his post world wide gets sent to. Alongside the post office resides Santas grotto where we met the 'real' Santa Claus and had some banter with him, before getting our group photo taken by one of his elves! *** Better quality photo to come *** We wandered around the souvenir shops a bit before grabbing a coffee then getting the bus back down to the town. We grabbed some bits and bobs for dinner from the supermarket so that we could have a bite later ...

i had an interesting realization the other day. a classmate told me that i likely wouldn't have to come back next year if i finish all my classes this semester, that i could just write my thesis from canada. the thought made me feel really sad. i'm realizing that although i am staying connected and close with people back home, and would still call edmonton home, there is something about being in finland that is really important to me ...

... and i'm slowly stocking my kitchen and making my room a bit more me. it hasn't snowed yet, the weath** is a reminiscent of alb**ta, in that if you don't like it, wait 5 minutes, although it may be cold**. it has gen**ally rained one day, been gorgeous and sunny (but only about 7-8 degrees) the next. apparantly they really get a lot of snow h**e. my next task is to buy cross country skiis, and i will probably bring my snowboard back with me aft** christmas. oh ...