Scandinaivia: Part Deux

It is that time of year again for me to go on our big holiday of the summer! With our time in Europe drawing to a close, I checked the 'Must See' list and Scandinavia was still not crossed off. I found a great travel agency that booked all of our hotels and transportation between the three remaining capitols: Helsinki, Finland; Stockholm, Sweden and Oslo, Norway. Ben's hopes were not set that high as he knew nothing of these places and I knew I could blow his socks off!

First stop on the tour was Helsinki. One of the main sights on this stop was to see Alver Aalto's work. He did a great library down in Mount Angel and we wanted to see more of his work in his home country. It was a bit overcast and misty, but was comfortable enough for being so far up north. Our hotel was central enough that we could get to everything we wanted to see. First day was all city centre stuff, Presidential palace, Rock Church, most of Aalto's more functional work, the seaportside market, the large bustling market hall and taking a walking tour around the scenic residential quarter. We walked through botanical gardens and lounged on the steps of city hall. We had worked up quite an appetite so we had a big dinner of various fish and reindeer. No Dasher this year for Santa, because we ate him! The next day we took a tour boat out to the zoo early in the day. There are so many little islands that constantly have little boats going out to them. The zoo was great, but I love zoos! The animals were all up and about since it was a bit rainy and not that cold. The lion was pacing right in front of the thick glass, nothing like looking a full grown male lion in the eye with only 2 inches of glass between us! Exciting stuff! I got to see a few different wild cats that I had never seen before and a European Lynx chowing down on a full rabbit, ethically euthanized of course. I had never had seen that before, glad they did not throw him a slab of beef, since rabbit is what he really would eat, guts, fur, eyeballs and all. We took a walk around one of the many lakes since Finland is know as the land of a thousand lakes and I believe it. We caught the last few of the Aalto buildings before the sun disappeared around 10 at night.

The last day in Finland we did a quick walk around the central park and a few of the museums before we boarded our cruise ship! We left Helsinki just before dinner time, so on board we had a great seafood dinner, walked around the large cruise ship, watched an acrobatic performance, listened to one of the worst Drag performances ever and take some great pics of the islands. We watched a movie on the laptop and tucked into our respective bunks for a bit of shut eye. By the time we got up the next morning, we had time for a quick shower, another fabulous breakfast and we were off the boat by 9am to have a whole extra day in Stockholm then previously thought! And the other great thing was, our old friend the sun was there to greet us! A quick note of all our hotels, they were amazing. Comfortable, clean, free Wifi, free buffet breakfast that was fabulous and were always centrally located right next to the ports/train stations for easy getting around.

The first day we set out in Stockholm to see the old city centre, with the winding medieval streets and Royal Palace. We had lunch sitting outside in the sun, took a nap on the seaport side on a bench, wandered over to the Nobel Peace prize place and of course dinner at Hard Rock Cafe to get that ever collectible shotglass. I even dragged Ben over to a chocolatier that claimed to have the world's best hot chocolate. It was pretty good and we even picked up some chocolate to snack on for the rest of the trip. Stockholm was beautiful, the women were stunning, the men were attractive, it was one of the cleanest cities I have ever been in and of course the fact that it was sunny and hot helped immensely! We strolled through one of the many large parks that sits on its own little island, since Stockholm is made up of many different islands. We went up a telecommunications tower to look out over the city at the 30th storey. Ben was surprised since when you walk in, it does not look very welcoming and looks a bit utilitarian. It was one of my many tricks up my sleeve! The other surprise, was the Absolut Ice Bar, where the entire bar, seats, tables, walls, and even your glasses are made of ice. We had to wear thick jackets and gloves they provided and of course got a free drink. It was a bit kitsch, but still interesting!

We also went to several museums over the few days, and we have collectively decided that the museums of Sweden are WEIRD! No real way to describe how surreal they are, and just all out strange unless you see them yourselves. We were a bit disappointed in the viking museum and even more so in the Norse museum since it wall all about how Swedish interiors. Our last day in the city was during a bank holiday so mostly everything was closed. We strolled around the city and just had a great time visiting the Östermalmshallen Food Court where it is a huge market for food, the Kungsträdgården was in full bloom with Cherry Blossoms to get some great photos, and got to see a fancy changing of the guard at the castle. We never did get to go into the Royal Palace, but once you have seen the British crown jewels, nothing else will really compare.

For the last leg of the trip, we took a 6 hour train ride to Oslo. The closer we got to Norway, the cloudier the weather, until finally it was lashing rain! LASHING! We stopped for one of the most expensive crappy meals we ever had, €45/$55 for a small nacho, a sandwich and two tap waters. Needless to say, Norway was just as expensive as we were warned. The next morning we ate as much as we could with breakfast and headed out umbrella in hand. We took a walk around the Royal Palace, up the main streets, through town into the Vigeland Sculpture Park. A Norwegian sculpture had over 200 pieces of his work there, and we walked all over the huge park getting up close and personal to it. We stopped for lunch on the waterfront, and that is when the torrential downpours began. We walked up through the Akershus Fortress and old Castle, taking refuge in some of the old outbuildings and finally crossing the drawbridge back into the modern parts of town. Since I was tired, my feet hurt, was all wet, we headed back to the hotel to wait it out. Luckily by dinner time, it had cleared up a bit and we got to walk all over the Opera house. This was a great architectural marvel. It was loosely based on an iceberg/glacier idea. The white marble snaked up the building that the pedestrians could walk all the up the side of it, up to the roof with the main performance area popping up as glass in the middle. We got to walk inside to see the ramps of the entrances spiral upwards similar to Guggenheim, but in wood, not plaster. I was glad Ben talked me into going to see this. We had a great dinner and tucked in for an early night since we had to catch the train at 5am to get home. Although I wish we had another day to properly see the fjords and other things outside of the city centre, with how much it cost, maybe it was not such a bad thing to give it a miss.

With being so far up north the summer nights are long. The sun comes up before 4am and sets well after 10pm. We got to the train station, after paying a small fortune, we caught the direct train out to the airport. We checked in, got through security, found our gate and just waited until we were ready to board. So far, so good. But within minutes of us getting ready to board, our flight was canceled due to the ash funny-business.

We got all our luggage, headed back out to the main airport area and began queueing to talk to an airport representative. We were told we had three options: 1) cancel the trip and get a full refund, no. 2) Wait a two more days and get on the next flight to Dublin and hope that the ash does not delay that one too, nope. 3) Get a flight somewhere else. So I asked if they flied to London, and yes, we could get one of the last flights heading into there in a few hours. So England bound we now were. I knew before hand, that if I could get to London, I could always get home on the ferry, so there was a Plan B if you will. We landed in London and found out our options there 1) take a £250 flight into Dublin per person ($700 total) or 2) take the train/ferry the next day for £32 each ($80 total). But the cheaper transportation option meant stay a night in London. Now, even though I had a Plan B, I still was not prepared with maps and hotels, so in desperation I rang my friends Irish mobile number that I had hoping that she still had it since she was now living in London. Not only did she have it on, she was home and she came to collect us and stay with her for the night. She did say the last time I saw her that if I was ever in London, I could come and stay, so I just took her up on it. Her boyfriend made us an amazing dinner, and three bottles of wine later, we were all caught up on our gossip, happenings in life and general complaints about our office. Early the next morning Ben and I took three different train rides through England and Wales over to catch the ferry, which took about 1 1/hours to take us into Dublin city. I had always wanted to take the ferry, but not necessarily under these circumstances. We made it home a day late, very stinky, but very happy. Scandinavia may be expensive, but well worth the trip. Next time Arctic Circle and try and find Santa!!

Strange Anomaly #55

Now every town/county/country has its own planning requirements for architecture. But one strange one I came across recently in order to get planning permission was a Bat survey. Although they are not endangered here, I had to find a bat specialist, of which there are many, have him sonically try and find bats in the existing structures we want to have removed and survey the rest of the site to see if there were only ‘ a solitary bat such as an immature female, a male or a non-breeding female up to several hundred pregnant or lactating females’ and take into ‘consideration of the impact of demolition on the feeding and commuting behaviour of the surrounding bat fauna.’

(Un)Holy Thursday Mess

It tragically has become the story of the month.... more redundancies. With more being laid off with each coming month, that means that there are more leaving do's. This time it was saying goodbye to Colin. The Thursday before Easter was the last work day so since this was also our last time working in Milltown before moving to Terenure, we headed to McSorley's for one last blow out. Past and present employees turned out in droves. NOt only to say goodbye to our comrades, but also to get in the last drinks before Good Friday. Good Friday and Christmas are the only illegal times for a pub to be open. So promptly at 11:30 on Holy Thursday the lights flashed for last call and by midnight, no more drinks. You would think that people would not be able to get drink for the next year as they cleared out the shelves at the market or off-license, but it only was for 24 hours. Edell and I took off at last call since it was getting quite messy with people picking each other up, swinging each other around and hugs and crying. None of the above for me thanks. I said my goodbyes and the two of us tottered off to get some greasy yummy chips for the walk back into town. Good end to a sad night, but I will see these people again, either in Oz or North America sooner rather than later!

Strange Anomaly #54

The post man in the city centre does not have a funny little car he drives around, no he cycles all the post to everyone. Super sturdy bike like the old durable WWII looking things, and has a large basket in the front and two huge satchels hanging down on either side by the back wheel. Much more economical but I do feel sorry for them in all the rain and wind with no vehicle to try and get warm in.

The Chapel to Argus House

After a three years in The Chapel at OMP we could not longer fill it and were rattling around in the place. In a strange deal, we are swapping buildings with another company, and moving out. It will still be an hour walk to work, but just not a nice of a walk. The Chapel was meant to hold 130 and by the time of the move we are now only 30 in Dublin. Change will be good, but sitting in front of the rose window for the last few years has been quite nice.


Now I sit in front of a broken, yet thankfully not drafty, fireplace. It is a cosy old house that was converted to offices. Just a bummer that we have no canteen, just an old picnic table sitting in the middle of the carpark. Plus our desks are half the size, so now I have stuff flowing over and piles and trying to eat around the piles is acrobatic work!

Strange Anomaly #53

We have been reading out loud at work the daily trivia, and most of them I was slow on the draw for, or when it came to English History I was a bit fuzzy, but nailed the US ones. But one that stumped me (that I so would have gotten) asked how many stars are in 'The Plow'. Is it a TV show? Movie? Celebrity reality show that I had never heard of? None of the above actually. After the bewildered looks I got from them when I evidently a bit slow for not knowing what they were talking about, some laughter and a fair bit of gesturing, it was revealed that is was none other than the 'Big Dipper'. I so should have gotten that question! Yet another example of same thing, different name. A few others that fall into that category is board games: Sorry = Ludo, Clue = Cluedo and Drafts = Checkers.

M+J in Dublin

Misti and Johnny came to visit! YAY! Even though I just saw them for their wedding, this was a second Honeymoon for them. Within minutes of landing, I had them fed, showered, quick cat nap, and out for a pint of the black stuff in Ireland's smallest pub! Ben had to work the first part of the week, so we got a tour of Ben's new office that had just been completed that I had not even gotten a chance to see. To save on money for us as well as them, we cooked at home and got to enjoy Johnny's AMAZING salsa and other culinary delights that his mother send us recipes to.

I did give them one day on their own, but they slept in until 2 in the afternoon and I think caught up on the last year of sleep with having a little one in the house.

Luckily Irish museums are free, so between the sunny, albeit cold weather, we were having, we brought along our sandwiches, I gave them a free tour of Dublin parks, art museums, Dublin Castle, Chester Beaty Library and past the great churches. We ended the night in Ireland's Oldest Pub (you will see the trend here).

I wanted them to meet my 'Irish Family' so on the Saturday night I invited all of my friends over, made a big pot of my Mexican surprise and had a few beers in the house. A great way for both of my family of friends to meet each other. We also hired a car so Misti could try out driving as well on the opposite side. We took them to our favourite haunts outside of the city centre: Glendalough, Newgrange, Monistaboice and of course Ireland's highest pub, Johnny Foxes. Since we had loads of drink left over from Christmas time from clients, some bottles of wine from Thanksgiving as well as Birthday bottles of Whiskey, we spent most of our evenings playing various different games at the house and drinking all our free stuff. We even invented a new game: Irish Barbarian Pirate Rummy (a take on Norwegian Rummy that they taught us). And of course lots of Farkle.

Of course, what would a trip in the Big Smoke be without going to see the Guinness Brewery, Jameson Store house (Johnny and I are big whiskey drinking fans), and a few pubs within city centre. They took a trip into Temple Bar and with two pints coming to the equivalent of $20, we were not going to be drinking in town. Which this has to be Ireland's most expensive pub.

The time was short but sweet, and I think we crammed in as much as we could without spending a fortune, it is always great going underbudget when you are on holiday. Just nice to see our friends that we have missed so much!

Strange Anomaly #52

Firefighters not the studmuffins they are in America, or should I say the Fire Brigade. I know as for myself I desperately wanted to be a FireMAN when I grew up after watching my neighbours house burn down, and when I realized that I was 1) not going to become a man, much to Ben’s delight and 2) that although women can do the job, I just would not be bodybuilder enough material to do the job physically well. As I was told by a Northener, the firefighters as not as well respected due to that fact that when the ‘Troubles’ we going on up North, they did not want the firemen to put out their fires so bottles and rocks were thrown at them.

As with the imagery provided below one can also see the hotness factor. Maybe if the Irish ones spoke, it would give them a few additional hot points for the accents, but for the most part, I have never met an ugly American firefighter. And for the record, the Irish man was in a calendar as Mr. May of 2007. If this is the type that makes it into a calendar, Case. And. Point.

St Patrick's Jewelry

Meg, Paul's wife, has been a great contributor to my creation of jewelry. The night before St. Patrick's Day she invited all of her co-workers over to her place for a little boozy fun before the jewelry shopping. I had all of it laid out, and after a few bottles of wine, some nibbles and chats later, they were ready to shop. Out of the 8 there, they all bought at least one thing, and one even bought stuff for her wedding. That is awesome! The extra cash definitely helps and it funds me doing even more pieces. So in true Irish fashion, my eyes were hanging out of my head the next day after drinking too much wine, so it is great that we get that as a national holiday! Just have to remember why I usually limit myself to one or two glasses of wine, not one or two bottles..... I always have learned the hard way!

Strange Anomaly #51

Sirens have all different sounds. Some sound like US police and others sound like mainland Europe. When I asked about this, I was told people were less able to igonore them if they change around since people do not move out of the way in emergencies as quickly as they do in the States.