What a Great October !

I’ve been thinking about last few weeks while listening a melancholic album by a Swedish artist that was introduced to me over a year ago. Despite the sad music in the background I have to say it was a very nice month!

In the beginning of the month I spent an excellent weekend in Amsterdam with a friend that I had bit problems to locate at the Amsterdam airport. The "locating issues" were due to non-functioning phones and the fact that I was standing buy the exit 1 and he was by the exit 2. But not to worry, we finally found each other and got to spend two days in sunny/rainy/sunny/rainy Amsterdam. There we got to watch funny rowing contest in the endless canals and do bit of shopping; not to forget sightseeing on a canal boat and a lot of walking. In addition I found the cutest and funniest winter cap to myself there, now just waiting for a cold weather so that I can shock people here with that funny cap. ;)

Then last two weekends I’ve had visitors from the north. Week ago a friend from Finland visited me, and we finally made a visit to Luxembourg. We’ve basically been planning to visit the city of Luxembourg almost ever since I’ve moved to Belgium, as one should visit ALL the Benelux countries if one lives here. Well now I’ve done it and it was cute and pretty little town, once you got out of the train station area though. Then on the following day we visited caves in the town of Han-sur-Lesse, that was interesting as well since I’ve never been in any kind of cave in my life. Although have to say that the guide was bit slow, so we, three Finns decided to speed up a little and walked ahead.. Eventually leaving the group far behind. Once we got out of the the cave we were stopped by a locked gate. After waiting for some minutes a man came to us and asked where have we left our guide, well we advised him that the guide is still inside. Then we got a bit of lecture about the fact that there are about 14 km of caves in and we could have got lost. Well, why on earth anyone would leave the lighted bath?

In addition to my visitors at home, there even were visitors in the office this week. It’s always nice to meet up with colleagues from other locations, and socialise with them. This time we did enjoy a couple after work drinks as well in the city of Mechelen. Have to say the town was quite dead on Wednesday night. Luckily German, Finn, Swede and Belgian were willing to bring some life there.  

My (home) visitor number two, from Sweden, arrived on Thursday evening. I had to leave her to explore Brussels alone on Friday as I had to go to work. But she survived very well, even found Manneken Pis by her self, and it is not an easy task to find that tiny statue in the historical center of Brussels. Once I got off from work on Friday we spent the night drinking beer and socialising in one of the most famous pubs in Brussels. Funnily enough we ended up spending few hours of the night with two Norwegians. Well, somehow Nordic people always seem to find each other, and what is nicer company than Norwegians? They are always so damn friendly and happy!

On Saturday it was time to visit Atomium and Little Europe. When it comes to Atomium I have to use a Swedish word to describe myself, which is fegis. As I didn’t dare to go up the top ball, the restaurant. I am afraid of heights and truly felt uncomfortable to go to a lift that is in a tube.. What if it gets stuck somewhere in the middle..? But I did go to the other steel balls that were open, despite the uncomfortable feeling that I experience when I am exposed to heights. After Atomium, we went to see the wonders of Europe in the Little Europe. It was cute, hilarious and interesting all the same time.

Now it is Sunday afternoon, I left my visitor to the Ryan Air bus almost seven hours ago, since then I’ve been being just a lazy ass on the sofa. But it has been very very busy week, so I am allowed to have a lazy Sunday!!! Although, I have to say that I wouldn’t mind having more months like this.

  

Luckily my life doesn’t slow down much now, as in two weeks I’ll spend a long weekend at my parents in Finland. In the end of November or beginning of December I may make a weekend visit to Stockholm and naturally I’ll go to Finland for the Christmas period. Flying there already in the mid December. Time’ll just fly; like me in the northern European sky ;))

Dilemma called LUX

I thought to write few lines while waiting for a friend to board a train to Brussels central station (coming from the airport). She has already got out of the airplane, so not too much time to write this.

We are planning to go to go to Luxembourg City tomorrow. Yeah, Luxembourg City! People seem to be so confused every time I tell them that I’d like to visit that place. I guess people here (Belgians especially) just do not like going down there. Then again that is more than 20 km away from their parents so it must feel bit uncomfortable to go that far. But have to say it’s not only Belgians who don’t see a point to visit that city. Basically I’ve been told that there’s not much to see and it’s expensive. Well I’ve decided that I want to see it my self and then make my decision about it. In addition how come I can tell anyone that I’ve lived in a Benelux country if I’ve never been in LUX?

Okidoki, just got a message from my friend that she is about to board to the train!! (it takes only 15 – 20 min for the train to come from the Airport so I gotta run now!!)

Laters!!

Happy Thoughts

I’ve been in good mood for last week and half or bit longer I think. Not sure if it’s the endorphins that I get from my training, travel plans or shopping. Those three things just keep this girl going, with a smile on her face.

I also like gifts very much, giving and receiving. Usually they are the most fun when they come totally unexpectedly. Then the giver has thought about the receiver, not because of Christmas or birthday or another occasion, but just because! Now I actually just finished knitting a present to a friend, as a surprise. I am quite happy about the result, as I haven’t been knitting anything for a long time. Now I’ve made a gift that has part of me and I hope the receiver will be positively surprised.  

Yesterday I spent some time in the city of Antwerp to shop, as I needed a pair of walking shoes that I can wear with skirts. You know, usually shoes that goes with skirts are not really “walkable”. I know all the thoughts that any man reading this may have. This is just a fact of life; high heels just look so damn good, but they are not really for walking. Especially in this promised land of cobble stone streets. Well, anyhow I found two pairs of flat shoes that will look cute with skirts, so I bought them both. Now I’ve already been matching my skirts and tops in my mind with those shoes. I will be wearing them next week in the office and of course during the weekend in Amsterdam.

Talking about Amsterdam, I am really looking forward for my little escape from Belgium. Unlike Brussels, Amsterdam is really pretty city with picturesque canals and beautiful old buildings. In addition people there are easy going and friendly. Not sure if the people in Amsterdam are the way they are because of the widely available herb they are selling there, or the Dutch people just are much more social than their cousins here in Belgium.

Amsterdam made me think about my favourite holiday, which took place last spring. I travelled then in Norway and Sweden. The holiday started with a small exchange student reunion in Drammen Norway; it was so great to see old buddies and go out to party with them in Norway. I still am very proud of myself since I managed to communicate with Norwegians in their own language! Well I spoke Swedish with a Finnish accent and they replied in Norwegian, and then I just smiled. After catching up with exchange student friends I took a bus with one of them to Göteborg (I don’t like the English name of Göteborg, so I wont be using it) and visited her there for two nights. I was very positively surprised about the “Åbo* of Sweden” as it was very relaxed city with nice people and delicious kanelbullar (cinnamon buns). From there I headed with a Finnish friend of mine (who flew to Göteborg to meet up) by bus to Linköping to visit an old colleague of mine there, who actually has managed to escape from Belgium. And the final destination of my Scandinavian tour was Stockholm, the beautiful capital of Sweden. During this tour I just kept smiling all the time mostly thanks to old and new friends, and bit of thanks to Champagne, cider and rosé.

Just started to think what time I should get my fix of endorphines today. Seems like I'll have to wait until the evening so that the air will be cooler. The heat wave has hit Belgium and it is bit bizarre to have a temperature over 25 degrees in October.

 

*) Åbo also known as Turku is one of the biggest cities (towns) in Finland and also located on the western part of the country, and the people there do not like much people in Helsinki .. And it has come to my attention that people in Göteborg do not like the Stockholm people. Hence calling Göteborg as "Åbo of Sweden" :) .. and have to say i stole this term for my friend's uncle.