tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38714715674231521972024-03-13T09:17:49.584-07:00A Scandinavian interludemarkcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-21415759976338882292015-06-02T07:22:00.001-07:002015-08-26T09:07:41.646-07:00Farewell Finland: The Scandinavian interlude has ended<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YPWeftyfmCr1KiT_tsvOQdnlQI26tJ14WEAldcLU1NDrm59YKxg7-2ves_Qblnbq3pu05mrUnCV4JyPbmcDGm2IE1ASGq6lU4uj_7X4TCXxHKzUDOxRvFPgJBNewQWjk0AwFHbt_uNM/s1600/IMG_3336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2YPWeftyfmCr1KiT_tsvOQdnlQI26tJ14WEAldcLU1NDrm59YKxg7-2ves_Qblnbq3pu05mrUnCV4JyPbmcDGm2IE1ASGq6lU4uj_7X4TCXxHKzUDOxRvFPgJBNewQWjk0AwFHbt_uNM/s640/IMG_3336.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">As we get prepared to cross the pond and move back to California in a few days I reflect back on the wonderful experience of living 4 years overseas in Finland. It has been a very rewarding time abroad for the family and I in too many ways to list here. The kids learned the language and the culture while experiencing Finnish traditions. I personally will miss the clean air, peaceful forests, mostly traffic-free roads and kind, trustworthy folks. While there is no utopia in</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"> this world, Finland was a great place to spend these past years if you don’t mind occasionally freezing your butt off during the long, dark winters. :) However, I won’t deny I do miss my Californian spontaneity, awesome mountains and eternal sunshine. (Though I need to take some rain back with me to help the Californian drought) I am really looking forward to seeing my family and friends back home. </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">I thought to end this blog I would make a list of things I liked and disliked about living in Finland. Please don't take these too seriously. :) Also, thank you very much for reading my blog through these past several years.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">Liked:</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">1. Peaceful nature and forests and picking berries</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">2. Clean, crisp air</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">3. Stunning archipelago</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">4. Clean and quiet bus system</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">5. Security for my children</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">6. Easy access to health care</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">7. Trustworthy people</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">8. Summer, though it's very short</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">9. Sauna</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">10. Cross country skiing</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">11. Access to the rest of Europe</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">12. Helsinki</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">13. Beautiful Finnish Lake land (Eastern Finland)</span><br />
14. Music clubs in Helsinki for Concerts<br />
15. Long Holidays<br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">Disliked:</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">1. Expensive Gasoline and Beer</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">2. Cold, dark winters</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">3. Too many rules about everything</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">4. Lack of spontaneity</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">5. Boring Finnish lager beer</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">6. Very unpredictable weather</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">7. increasingly difficult economic situation</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">8. Extreme pickiness of Finns when buying used items</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">9. Lack of customer service in many situations</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">10. Minimal store hours on Weekends</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">11. Xenophobia</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">12. Lack of good ethnic restaurants, though it improved much lately</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">13. 50 varieties of the same boring Finnish sausage</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">14. Lack of smiling faces</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;">15. Takes a long time to get to know your neighbors </span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17.5636348724365px;"><br /></span></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-37413343455022860352015-03-21T05:28:00.002-07:002016-07-13T09:46:16.812-07:00Escape to the Canary Islands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Unfortunately, I haven't had as much time to keep blogging on a regular basis. I think this is the longest I have gone between posts since I first created my blog in 2011. Hopefully, I can post with more regularity, but no promises. :) My family went on a trip to the Canary Islands for the Christmas and New Year Holidays and it was our first time getting away from Finland for a warm weather winter trip since we moved here almost four years ago.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7v5MReOItrLb3iMxxIch8gx1T6sXn12Q_217-zu-yCoN-RWy4M6dnklvs56tDdTvSiQy8Iho_1CiG4iPf04CxcHT3kQby_yVaWOXGTYpzplOci86aTwbFCiPZ7WEGqZYYMTNcgfTgUc/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm7v5MReOItrLb3iMxxIch8gx1T6sXn12Q_217-zu-yCoN-RWy4M6dnklvs56tDdTvSiQy8Iho_1CiG4iPf04CxcHT3kQby_yVaWOXGTYpzplOci86aTwbFCiPZ7WEGqZYYMTNcgfTgUc/s1600/048.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I had heard about the Canary Islands from various people and they had always been high on my curiosity list. They are a chain of 7 Islands which are owned by Spain and just 100km from the coast of Northern Africa. The Canary Islands get approximately 12 million tourists per year. They are specially popular amongst Scandinavians and other Northern Europeans who want to get away from their cold winter climates. We had many choices among the 5-6 main Islands that you can travel too. It seems the most popular destinations are The Gran Canaria and Tenerife Islands. We decided to get off the beaten path a bit and picked both Lanzarote and Fuertaventura. Most people tend to book these trips directly through a travel agent and usually have their travel plans already laid out for them. In our case we decided to be a bit more adventuresome, so we agreed to book everything on our own. We thought we would save some money and have some added flexibility doing it this way. This might be the case, but all the extra hassles of travel (shuttles, buses, ferries, airplanes) hardly made it worth our time for the little savings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdZbq08SMylci3nd4aR0VYyaXb0jnpczMzrKuQtzJZ31Kcwpaiw1nl5ez8qkpOYZgdNnertDs67sdHgEtZT-ptsFIRS5sTPEyxaL4K6EWrBVWTaTvcd7mLE3JemIKyCdsp0gd72X4W3Y/s1600/148.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNdZbq08SMylci3nd4aR0VYyaXb0jnpczMzrKuQtzJZ31Kcwpaiw1nl5ez8qkpOYZgdNnertDs67sdHgEtZT-ptsFIRS5sTPEyxaL4K6EWrBVWTaTvcd7mLE3JemIKyCdsp0gd72X4W3Y/s1600/148.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camels of Lanzarote</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We ended up flying directly into Madrid, Spain and then spending one night there before flying to Lanzarote. We didn't really have time to enjoy Madrid, so the first night consisted of just a nice dinner near the hotel. We would get 2 more nights in Madrid en route back to Helsinki. Even though our flight was directly into Lanzarote, we needed to journey down to Fuertaventura via the Ferry for our first 3 nights. So, after a shuttle, ferry ride, bus and taxi we finally arrived to our hotel. Fuertaventura is one of the larger islands and is most famous for it's long white sand beaches, sand dunes and goats. We made sure to visit one of the more popular beaches on the island. During that excursion we noticed that many people were hanging (literally) at the beach Au-natural. :) I guess it was a clothing optional beach much to the children's shocked look on their faces. We also really enjoyed visiting the Sand Dunes which are supposedly very similar to those in the Sahara Desert of Africa which is just 100km away.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmeTMRAoPhaXD-hRFqtpOSr6K8xAHcCglze5l2-Xkwst1jH8Y7WyOhFcYF5retHHxhbf2EhEecQTOXdRXIvTD_E-xaeSCbJIPofkcOmdBMcsNpsjlkpfDaoPNhrOPzkJ8BAg3KOH2etw/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmeTMRAoPhaXD-hRFqtpOSr6K8xAHcCglze5l2-Xkwst1jH8Y7WyOhFcYF5retHHxhbf2EhEecQTOXdRXIvTD_E-xaeSCbJIPofkcOmdBMcsNpsjlkpfDaoPNhrOPzkJ8BAg3KOH2etw/s1600/070.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Volcanic park in Lanzarote</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Our final stop was the volcanic island of Lanzarote. It is famous for it's varied volcanic architecture and has been compared to a mini version of Hawaii's big Island. It also features an annual Iron Man triathlon. We saw many cyclists riding all over the Island and perhaps they were training for the coming Iron Man event. We had a bit more time to tour around this Island and the highlights of the visit were seeing the main volcanic craters and participating in a camel ride. The kids really enjoyed both of those activities. This Island has it's own beauty but is definitely not as sandy beach oriented as Fuertaventura.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4kGqV6CEP6zHbiUvdXxgNOdru5F1wpWpyi1X3O-4XhiNIkVFYaRt_POth24NUPGw58bcqP0a8Q73IohZENb63keeukQf5eK-XRvw-k_QRYDBOgZCrbcmQlXcsbxFXR38-v8wBljtYf4/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX4kGqV6CEP6zHbiUvdXxgNOdru5F1wpWpyi1X3O-4XhiNIkVFYaRt_POth24NUPGw58bcqP0a8Q73IohZENb63keeukQf5eK-XRvw-k_QRYDBOgZCrbcmQlXcsbxFXR38-v8wBljtYf4/s1600/056.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Having been to the Hawaiian Islands several times in my life, I wasn't sure the Canary Islands could live up to my high expectations. We did enjoy our trip and the varied landscapes though I would have to give the edge to Hawaii if you are looking for more lush, waterfall filled landscapes. I still think the Islands are worth visiting and would definitely go back and see the more popular Islands of Tenerife or Gran Canarias. These islands are welcoming during the dark, cold days of winter in Finland. Speaking of old man winter, Finland enjoyed one of the warmest Februaries in a long time and Spring came early as the beginning of March saw the end of the snow pack. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtl5U7cHTbHfpp7-Dn34XiD_PLl6yjAgAF4pEluWLzZd6-Zku7XNywrpRr8H5Zl4oKdVbFikcDHjBcAu9e9s2wJRC_VcxipYgHbyuID052ad185pg9aC-6AbHcE6pUtXuLVdKQw6z2Hw/s1600/118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtl5U7cHTbHfpp7-Dn34XiD_PLl6yjAgAF4pEluWLzZd6-Zku7XNywrpRr8H5Zl4oKdVbFikcDHjBcAu9e9s2wJRC_VcxipYgHbyuID052ad185pg9aC-6AbHcE6pUtXuLVdKQw6z2Hw/s1600/118.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fuertaventura </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-56270474982551461172014-11-25T08:34:00.001-08:002014-11-25T08:34:26.389-08:00Socialized healthcare – a nightmare?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">I regularly watch political shows, and often in US media the term
“socialized healthcare” is used to refer to something negative and something
that US consumers should be afraid of.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> Remember the "Death panel" discussions that Sarah Palin started several years back in the US? </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Having lived in Finland for more than 3 years with my family, I now have
some experiences within a socialized healthcare system and perhaps it is time
to address the big question – is it a nightmare?</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In my experience, not so.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Once we moved to Finland, everyone in my
family received a Finnish social security card (Kela), which entitles us to the
benefits in the public healthcare system.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Of importance, the Finnish system is not entirely reliant on the public
system, as there are several large private health providers, who are typically
sponsored by employers.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Both me and my
wife have the supplemental employer sponsored private health care, so we have
also used that for our healthcare needs, especially for quick health check-ups,
e.g. for cold and flu symptoms etc.</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">In
essence, we have a choice between the private and the public system, however,
the private system does have limitations so that e.g. all surgeries are
referred by the private doctors to the public system.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">How does the system work?
Our kids are school-aged so they receive regular health check-ups either
by a nurse or a doctor through their school. The cost for regular check-ups for kids?
None. :) Recently one of my kid had a
regular check-up and during the visit we discussed the need to have her tested
for certain allergies. The original
appointment with the doctor at the school premises was on Tuesday afternoon and on
Friday we received a letter in the mail indicating that she had been scheduled
for an allergy test at a hospital approx. three weeks later. We did not get to choose the date and time
for the test as in the Finnish system typically the providers will do the
scheduling without input from you (yes, I can see how that would be considered
inconvenient to many), but this was certainly quick and efficient. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Dental care is free for all until age 23. Our kids receive letters in the mail for
their dental check-ups. Again, we do not
get to choose the time and date, but the system makes sure every child gets
their appointments at certain grades/ages.
Cost for kids’ dental care?
None. Adults pay for dental
services, however, the Finnish social security administration (Kela) still subsidizes
a portion of the costs. I have done e.g.
dental cleanings via the public system.
Perhaps a bit inconvenient is that it usually will take about 2 months
for an appointment, but then again dental cleanings can be planned ahead of
time. Dental care in the public side in
our experience has been just fine. Of
course, Finns in general are not very emphatic, or at least they do not hold
your hand at every juncture, so I don’t have a warm or close relationship with
my dentist, but rather I receive the care and they provide it. Cost for adult dental care? Yes, there is some depending on what you need. Dental cleaning at the public side costs about 30 euros. My wife
has done dental cleanings </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 14px;">as well as other procedures </span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">at the private providers and paid a bit as well, again with
partial Kela subsidies. Nevertheless, to our surprise the cost of
dental care even with private providers in Finland is no more expensive than
dental care in US with (good) employer sponsored dental plans. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Surgeries in Finland are typically handled by the public
side. Even if you visit a private doctor
who determines the need for a surgery they will give you a referral to the
public hospitals for the actual surgery.
I know some friends who have had surgeries in Finland and my wife
recently had one as well. As far as I
have been told, all of them have been happy about the quality of the care they
received. Again, they did not get to
pick the date for the surgery, although certainly if the original date does not
work you can reschedule it, in which case it will be rescheduled for the next available
time the hospital has. For my wife, the
wait time for the surgery, which was not time-sensitive, was approx. 2-3 months. Cost for surgeries? Yes, there is some, but they are ridiculously
low. Surgeries involve a day-charge for
the use of hospital beds, and that is all that is charged from the
patient. So, if your surgery requires
you to stay overnight in the hospital, you would pay 2 x approx. 30 euros ($40,
i.e. $80 in total). For my wife, she did
not get to choose the surgeon (or the date), but she had a meeting with one of
the two operating surgeons prior to the surgery and as a result had no concerns
about not knowing the surgeon or what would happen during the surgery. Another friend we know had cancer while in
Finland, and many of her friends asked if she would have rather been in US to
receive care there. My impression was
that she felt that she received timely and appropriate care, and most importantly,
she fully recovered from cancer. So,
from our experiences, there are no delays, long lines or other inefficiencies,
at least not with respect to serious illnesses or procedures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">The idea of having to wait for long lines is often portrayed as something
that certainly happens in socialized healthcare systems. We tested this recently as well. Few weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon my wife
suddenly lost hearing in one of her ears (due to what turned out to be an ear
infection). With no private health care
providers open late on weekends, she went to the on-call (päivystys) at a
local hospital. She provided her social
security card and explained her issue at the front desk. They logged her in and told her to go to the
waiting room to be called. This is where
the long wait times come in, right? It
was a large room with lots of chairs, tables, magazines and TV-screens, and
it was after all Saturday evening almost 9 pm.
The patients are called in to see the doctor based on priority. So, the more urgent your matter the quicker you
are seen. Given that her symptom was
merely inability to hear and pain in her ear, she pulled out a bunch of
magazines and prepared for the wait.
Long? No, in about 10 minutes she
was called to see a doctor, and within another 10 minutes she was done equipped
with an antibiotic prescription. Since
pharmacies were not open, she was given the first two antibiotic pills free of
charge by the doctor to get going before the pharmacies would open the next
morning. Cost for urgent on-call
appointment? Yes, approx. 30 euros (</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 14px;">$40)</span><span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">. This was certainly just one experience and I
am sure there are more busier times than others when patients with less urgent
matters have to wait. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">We have had few urgent check-up needs (for our kids) over the years
as well. In each case, we have received
an appointment for the same day. With an
appointment we are seen when the appointment is scheduled for, so there are no
lines or extensive wait times. Cost for
urgent or same day appointments for children?
None. My son recently fell at
school at recess at approx. 11:15 am.
The teacher called us when my son complained about his teeth
hurting. My wife called the urgent
same-day (public) dental care, and received an appointment for 1 pm, which
really was the earliest she could do after picking him up from school and
driving to the dentist. Efficient and no waiting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Filling out form after form.
That is one thing I recall from US health care visits. Most every time you visit a doctor’s office
you have to fill out few forms about your health history and few disclosures as
well. The amount of paperwork required
at doctor’s offices in Finland seems to be quite minimal in comparison. I think the reason for that is a centralized
system where all of one’s health information is stored. Typical doctor’s examination rooms in Finland
include a computer, and the doctor always enters some information into the
computer during the visit.
Prescriptions are entered by the doctor into the computer system as well
and during the visit they will print a copy to you which you can present at the
pharmacy. However, only on few occasions
have we been asked to fill out extensive forms about health history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">Medicine and pharmacies are closely related to health care. Medicine costs are subsidized by the social security
administration. The costs vary depending
on the medication, and the cost is often described particularly by the elderly
as being expensive. Finland in general
is an expensive country. By way of an
example, we have seen e.g. antibiotic prescriptions cost anywhere from 10-25
euros (13-35 USD). I am sure there are
more expensive medicines in Finland, but our experiences are quite
limited. Getting a prescription filled in
a pharmacy in Finland is in itself one of the most efficient operations I have seen. Some prescriptions nowadays are electronic,
but regardless of the format, you show up at the pharmacy and wait few minutes
to be seen by the next available pharmacist.
You proceed to the counter, present your prescription and social
security card. The pharmacist types in
the information on the computer and while she/he is still typing, the medicine
you need is either dropped off at the counter by another clerk or
dropped from an automatic tubing system (think of those systems used e.g. in Costco
by cashiers to send a stack of bills via the tubing system into some
office). I have never seen them handling
individual pills and counting how many to place in a bottle to be prepared for
the patient. Instead the clerk finds the
packaged drug from behind-the-counter shelves etc., and it is brought to
you. I remember having to wait in US in
Safeway or Longs for 10-15 minutes even without anyone else being there so that
they can confirm the prescription and then prepare it by getting the actual
pills, sorting the quantity etc. The
total process for getting medicine in a pharmacy in Finland is finished within few
minutes. </span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style', serif; font-size: 10.5pt;">So, in response to the overall question – is socialized healthcare
something to be afraid of and would it be the end of the world? Based on our experiences of over 3 years in
the Finnish health care system, I think the words socialized healthcare and
nightmare should be used in the same sentence only in late night entertainment
shows. Regardless of the system, some
people will always complain. I know some
Finns who complain about the Finnish system as well. However, based on the experiences we have
had, I think (Finnish) socialized health care system works quite efficiently
and well, especially considering that it is universal and almost free. And those Finns who complain, have not really
given me any specifics as to what in particular is worth complaining about. Seems like those who I know who have needed
care have received it in a timely manner and with sufficient quality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-45313441743035138312014-10-25T04:08:00.000-07:002014-10-25T04:08:09.113-07:00Weekend escape to Copenhagen, Denmark<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Copenhagen, which is the capital of Denmark is another city that I hadn't visited in over 20 years since I was a post college graduate backpacker. Copenhagen is a wonderful Scandinavian city in the tiny country of Denmark. This beautiful city features a little for everyone and is fairly compact and pedestrian friendly. Copenhagen is smaller than Stockholm, but definitely larger than Helsinki. In comparison to Helsinki there was much more action downtown, including many famous restaurants, shops and street musicians. In fact, Copenhagen is known for having the finest dining in all Scandinavia, including the most Michelin starred restaurants.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokTZleci1l05CJmoYiJssvq-uu5hScIfLOKYkwE-uQ462lxo2fHB-GmCF-SN0HYkLI28szTm2CbGaPvngb3z1bYE_jbQjqbTISW6KMVVgVvyIjhEZh3AttVL_jODxpN6EI9gHTnobOGk/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokTZleci1l05CJmoYiJssvq-uu5hScIfLOKYkwE-uQ462lxo2fHB-GmCF-SN0HYkLI28szTm2CbGaPvngb3z1bYE_jbQjqbTISW6KMVVgVvyIjhEZh3AttVL_jODxpN6EI9gHTnobOGk/s1600/019.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P70K5AzDqeUVrxBJFuHRVTN6S2qakMf32wLQUklMc5wK8YtQxm4cj1aYcvvb7-26qhylDB0Afq66EVrKVUakDxUzXGVSoFrp1K_HWK5BLqzYiyWGelCi11n6CTOxFqesp4URmpqrlpE/s1600/021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3P70K5AzDqeUVrxBJFuHRVTN6S2qakMf32wLQUklMc5wK8YtQxm4cj1aYcvvb7-26qhylDB0Afq66EVrKVUakDxUzXGVSoFrp1K_HWK5BLqzYiyWGelCi11n6CTOxFqesp4URmpqrlpE/s1600/021.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a>During our brief stay we walked around the city, focusing on the touristic center. We strolled down to the harbor to see the famous Little Mermaid statue based on the story from Hans Christian Anderson. This statue has gained status as the most recognizable monument in all of Copenhagen and Denmark. The area was full of tourists snapping pics at breakneck speed. The Mermaid will always get her share of attention. Later, we walked over towards what is perhaps the most famous church in Copenhagen, "Church of our Saviour". This church is unique in that you can climb up to the top of the tower which features a unique outside staircase with only brass rails stopping you from plunging down almost 300 feet to the ground. I decided to climb up on my own and enjoyed the scenic views of the city from the outside staircase. I am glad it wasn't windy that day while I walked the final 150 of 400 total steps to reach the top. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb2T2ynHnFfX8229U2l23GRF9U2oe_Lz5wvPbxPpULbGrewPnXZO5rivowNtUqi6ZDm254Awa8N31ugDhiJKMahGOXJoPLgdO1MOuKVbap8T43R0LPbjLtgr2AfTNa98aph-idFh64cY/s1600/031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAb2T2ynHnFfX8229U2l23GRF9U2oe_Lz5wvPbxPpULbGrewPnXZO5rivowNtUqi6ZDm254Awa8N31ugDhiJKMahGOXJoPLgdO1MOuKVbap8T43R0LPbjLtgr2AfTNa98aph-idFh64cY/s1600/031.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of our Saviour</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Perhaps the most interesting but controversial site we visited during our stay was the area called Freetown Christiana. This little (84 acres) self proclaimed autonomous area was started by hippies in the early 1970s. There are many artists, shops, food vendors and housing units here. Around 800 people actually live here, but their claim to fame is that they live by their own rules. This means that marijuana is sold and smoked here out in the open. Marijuana is not legal in Denmark, but it seems that it is highly tolerated in Christiana. When we walked through, we noticed that probably 75% of the people here were either purchasing or smoking it. It felt a bit like walking through Amsterdam's seedy red light district or Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, California. I won't get into the politics of this place, but it was definitely an interesting site. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Overall my impressions of Copenhagen were very good. This liberal and free spirited city is Scandinavian in appearance but feels a bit more closely related to the Netherlands in tolerance and culture. I feel and after talking to a local that even semi-liberal Stockholm, Oslo and Helsinki are not as progressive as Copenhagen. It was pleasant to explore this city again after 21 years since my backpacking days. I have now visited all 5 Scandinavian capitals in the last decade. They all have their charms and interesting sites. I would definitely put Copenhagen towards the top of the list as it seems there is much to offer for everyone here. So, it is another city that I highly recommend to any traveler looking for Scandinavian exposure. Allow yourself at least 2-3 days to see the city non-rushed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBAhfHHPbYtreGt7LpT2C4KQ6OCkM8gp0Tzaio5DHQMtdQ4b1xtZJKRpMGaGjhztGx8IH2-16UgXFI2w4HL6sTF6r9UI-4y4iP5gSAOhtzt6qOa0PWQ9-TtPHJlFVDliohN-VOS7hFlU/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBAhfHHPbYtreGt7LpT2C4KQ6OCkM8gp0Tzaio5DHQMtdQ4b1xtZJKRpMGaGjhztGx8IH2-16UgXFI2w4HL6sTF6r9UI-4y4iP5gSAOhtzt6qOa0PWQ9-TtPHJlFVDliohN-VOS7hFlU/s1600/034.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christiana's artwork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-66452823788134306332014-09-15T12:28:00.002-07:002014-09-15T12:28:39.991-07:00Summer vacation part 8, 3 days in Prague, Czech Republic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The final stop in my family's Summer trip was Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. Prague holds a very special place in my heart since I spent 4 months living here right after graduating from college back in 1993. For a young and impressionable traveler back then, Prague was just magical. The iron curtain had recently fallen during the Velvet revolution of 1989 and the city was exciting and growing into the capitalistic ways of the West while retaining it's Bohemian charm. It simply was the trendy "place to be" in Europe during that time period. I worked part-time as an English teacher while living here and I got to really know the city's soul beyond the touristic old town. Tourism was already hitting Prague fairly hard even back in the early 90s, however little would I be prepared for the dramatic change that has taken place recently. Turn the clock ahead to 2014 and the city now has been completely over run with tourists and fancy shops lining most streets near the old town. Prague is known for it's beautiful architecture and the famous Gothic buildings are in their original state since the city was not bombed, and therefore spared damage after World War II. The center piece of Prague and main attraction is the Charles Bridge which is nearly 1,000 years old and is one of the most famous walking bridges in the world. As I strolled around the city, I was still in awe of it's charm and the architecture, though I became increasingly annoyed at the high end shopping and massive amounts of tourists marching like cattle through the cobblestone streets.<br />
<br />
Since this was the very end of a long and busy vacation throughout eastern Europe, my family didn't have the energy for doing all that much. Most of our days were spent casually walking around the old town and seeing some of the nearby sites. We covered most of the famous old town and lesser town, and later my daughter and I hiked up the hill to the Prague castle. My daughter and I also explored a bit off the beaten path which included a 300 step walk to the top of the mighty St. Vitus cathedral. We also took in the gorgeous view from the mini Eiffel tower at Petrin hill. On our last full day in Prague, my daughter and I peddle boated around in the Charles river, taking in the views from the water. I had absolutely no regrets visiting Prague again 21 years later, though I was a bit saddened that my magical city had gone through such dramatic changes. I guess a romanticist/idealist always wants to dream about a city in a certain fashion, while a realist understands the changes and influences that occur when a city rapidly goes through a metamorphosis. The strong Western influence over Prague is not necessarily a bad thing for the locals as the city is thriving. I still recommend a visit to Prague, however I do think an off season trip here is optimum. Also, do try to explore a bit outside of the city's touristic center so you can experience some little gems that lie outside the beaten path. Prague is still fairly cheap by Western standards and there are budget accommodations/food to be had. Last but not least, try to enjoy a few pints of Prague's famous beer which should only set you back about $1.25 per pint. :)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5_D4dKZQ3b5OwnClxGOe2-WRcfRoI_VqUjLqPEuzNqPIt6MEC9Ny6ihBFfhqRwPdIFLRBLHTagfIquPSbsmGzegE-LHG6x4hABta6cu7OddjnCOif2HACl5JT250Xv7Z1z4NrnbPKIk/s1600/471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5_D4dKZQ3b5OwnClxGOe2-WRcfRoI_VqUjLqPEuzNqPIt6MEC9Ny6ihBFfhqRwPdIFLRBLHTagfIquPSbsmGzegE-LHG6x4hABta6cu7OddjnCOif2HACl5JT250Xv7Z1z4NrnbPKIk/s1600/471.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Charles Bridge<br />
<br />
<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-7Wl9GA01rwQ74pKg9AXU0cVZkCOUFIWqV850F-7xF0JvTq4cM3sMfNZTs_h6cFGwvJeAtZea-fwpaaRGZxkpuDy0zwAbfPV1igIjxHBbxx75zKwQ8qMNPEPprQfTfXGyLA0zf2DKW4/s1600/447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo-7Wl9GA01rwQ74pKg9AXU0cVZkCOUFIWqV850F-7xF0JvTq4cM3sMfNZTs_h6cFGwvJeAtZea-fwpaaRGZxkpuDy0zwAbfPV1igIjxHBbxx75zKwQ8qMNPEPprQfTfXGyLA0zf2DKW4/s1600/447.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Petrin Hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFFUYJwmMiFySsnG7umto087HtMrqq3qE3OJt06SRJjmpJOSh3dWeQ9blFV6JtV8R2-eGriSoSmYbYgJ93KLfXy5lHvRN_9w9sOTwkAQ2en-M6L8mtZfCrsojNuvBlAis7OkNqUXTINg/s1600/371.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFFUYJwmMiFySsnG7umto087HtMrqq3qE3OJt06SRJjmpJOSh3dWeQ9blFV6JtV8R2-eGriSoSmYbYgJ93KLfXy5lHvRN_9w9sOTwkAQ2en-M6L8mtZfCrsojNuvBlAis7OkNqUXTINg/s1600/371.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prague's Astronomical clock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R4TJEjAy4zS6Upphl-MKk378lsXSrl5RW3q_meqlwj_EUqmBY8CVlIZhDDf8ksyOhYdUkwT4RJQdTkMCIzlg6QJbNESFmCjKhP99EebqqQJN9LIa176IyLNrSLrfjsRtSw3AJjRmw5k/s1600/374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R4TJEjAy4zS6Upphl-MKk378lsXSrl5RW3q_meqlwj_EUqmBY8CVlIZhDDf8ksyOhYdUkwT4RJQdTkMCIzlg6QJbNESFmCjKhP99EebqqQJN9LIa176IyLNrSLrfjsRtSw3AJjRmw5k/s1600/374.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of our lady Tyn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNyLzUp5A7DEsFw6z2j375sFq3QHo1pU7xs7ql4_7A2CTuxhKF3PsEYulQFR0MyWJ_4p67xCJx4cyxUFV3yt-_dFW3ieAphq5-qkKXVgpC2-rKBH3ueC1h7tI3o-CTXZfOK_oBghI8P8/s1600/444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNyLzUp5A7DEsFw6z2j375sFq3QHo1pU7xs7ql4_7A2CTuxhKF3PsEYulQFR0MyWJ_4p67xCJx4cyxUFV3yt-_dFW3ieAphq5-qkKXVgpC2-rKBH3ueC1h7tI3o-CTXZfOK_oBghI8P8/s1600/444.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Vitus Cathedral</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgEba12h9aotZ5oPcRHxudXb_wWIEfneDmswT6VXQThYoiedn7Acycpz4zK6QDOhx2cpkCYbiOGIHUe7110MEboLxY6a20c03wEY_OvtCMZxMd3alQ8goZi14EjEWuLaux00zWKebRmY/s1600/413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgEba12h9aotZ5oPcRHxudXb_wWIEfneDmswT6VXQThYoiedn7Acycpz4zK6QDOhx2cpkCYbiOGIHUe7110MEboLxY6a20c03wEY_OvtCMZxMd3alQ8goZi14EjEWuLaux00zWKebRmY/s1600/413.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dancing house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yjOTaFXdjQpq97F8ijrk82Q-NlW0osuUGH4HwA4pQXjPCdPhgJs8DrsyeU5Z5FDbOnPqet2O5NeXHCeUV6qGdEkzHpUyWLrnWEJqbv9LuBeP_kBHfkxC1Fmww8VJLV0fYS8ysgjoDrY/s1600/408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8yjOTaFXdjQpq97F8ijrk82Q-NlW0osuUGH4HwA4pQXjPCdPhgJs8DrsyeU5Z5FDbOnPqet2O5NeXHCeUV6qGdEkzHpUyWLrnWEJqbv9LuBeP_kBHfkxC1Fmww8VJLV0fYS8ysgjoDrY/s1600/408.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphU4J1YcJnpdBLdEgkf2LNxQVk9Fq9nDCBFlrBhLF4OHfeZJ3eO3oyKT-C-fzJuK_qxl-NzMkx3dB7hLt02SOtbsW_H05VNfW1BagDZpEhzTysU2Y0DI8eGOqhvc4v1tCbBhkImd77DE/s1600/412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphU4J1YcJnpdBLdEgkf2LNxQVk9Fq9nDCBFlrBhLF4OHfeZJ3eO3oyKT-C-fzJuK_qxl-NzMkx3dB7hLt02SOtbsW_H05VNfW1BagDZpEhzTysU2Y0DI8eGOqhvc4v1tCbBhkImd77DE/s1600/412.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3MLX6yN7Nf6Rol9JbiwFl0dInlMIPA_Yyg3xTeqw_yJCiDfJsLiBbvGDuGtNh3suj9yN4hiuSva-oAn11dsfq4udUwoCEXiWlptY60PiIdzIBkyi_hO_xEhIr_m3c8HbFA_soNuJEBU/s1600/387.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3MLX6yN7Nf6Rol9JbiwFl0dInlMIPA_Yyg3xTeqw_yJCiDfJsLiBbvGDuGtNh3suj9yN4hiuSva-oAn11dsfq4udUwoCEXiWlptY60PiIdzIBkyi_hO_xEhIr_m3c8HbFA_soNuJEBU/s1600/387.JPG" height="318" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magical Prague from high on Petrin hill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-24383277410684360122014-09-01T13:05:00.002-07:002014-09-08T01:09:38.000-07:00Summer vacation part 7, Three days in Krakow, Poland<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">After our stay in Vienna and a very short visit to Bratislava, Slovakia, we took an overnight train to Krakow, Poland. Poland is another country that neither my wife nor I had ever visited. I had heard many great things about Krakow and had wanted to visit the city for a long time. Krakow was very interesting in many ways and has the largest medieval square in all of Europe. It is a city for walking around and people watching throughout the enormous square. My family was quite surprised how reasonably priced everything was in Krakow. The city had a very Western feel to it and the service and quality were top notch at just about every place we visited. We had some very nice and gourmet meals for fractions of what they would cost in Helsinki, Finland. We had three full days in Krakow and made it a very cultural visit. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">The first day we ventured all around the city and in the afternoon saw the famous factory that was formerly owned by Oskar Schindler. Schindler, who was immortalized in the Spielberg film, "Schindler's list" was famous for employing Jews during the Holocaust in his factory in order to save them from extermination by the Nazis. The entire factory has now become a memorial and history museum about the German invasion and occupation of Krakow during World War II. Krakow was fully invaded and Poles just like Jews were persecuted and even put to death in the extermination camps. The second day in Krakow was a somber day because we took a tour of the infamous Nazi extermination camp that is in Auschwitz. The extermination camps Auschwitz and Birkenau (Auschwitz II) are known as the world's largest graveyard as up to 1.5 people million perished there. It was a very heavy and depressing subject and tour, however also a very important and educational experience that I feel should be experienced at least once by everyone in their lifetime because we should never forget and never repeat history again. The last day was spent in a more uplifting and fun fashion as we visited the Wieliczka salt mines. This incredibly deep and humongous salt mine was an amazing experience for the entire family. First, you must walk for at least 10 minutes just to get down the flight of stairs to the very bottom of the mine and then you walked around countless tunnels and rooms in order to see all the different passages and art that is in the mines. The tour only covers about 1% of this cavernous and interesting place. There was an underground church carved out of Salt as well as theaters, gift shops, exhibitions and even a restaurant well underground. At the end of the tour we were luckily able to take an elevator that raced up to the top of the mine back to solid ground again. Overall, I really loved Krakow, Poland and it's surrounding areas. In fact, we found Krakow to be one of the highlights of our entire Summer tour of Eastern Europe. I would even recommend it over my former favorite Eastern European city of Prague, Czech Republic which has suffered a bit from over tourism during the last 25 years. More on that to come in part 8, which will be the final chapter in our summer tour of 2014.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO041IvEnKZv0_ESKBUSTpo6E-rYvnTPQmwsz8_DdjbEBRCw0c_bbLt80ornl8rVuI-akClsfyR_iMK8Ru796p6vwPGmWoarorP9By2BvHxZjb91VwIDGIr54QxaaXeMjQt4UfhWAcaZc/s1600/324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO041IvEnKZv0_ESKBUSTpo6E-rYvnTPQmwsz8_DdjbEBRCw0c_bbLt80ornl8rVuI-akClsfyR_iMK8Ru796p6vwPGmWoarorP9By2BvHxZjb91VwIDGIr54QxaaXeMjQt4UfhWAcaZc/s1600/324.JPG" height="238" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krakow's grand square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVAQU3FDnpjyGA0zHXcznjZEflzRAtRt7HzR_IbfN1jFaxYQ7RoEkFEZv0I-VKjQAkKc8sjFxt_aK04SgDNFz1axGPpkiZyFfIIFLy64qFgXEgVo2PKpgrlc8teVK_MGJHLOavWzpxfQ/s1600/341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVAQU3FDnpjyGA0zHXcznjZEflzRAtRt7HzR_IbfN1jFaxYQ7RoEkFEZv0I-VKjQAkKc8sjFxt_aK04SgDNFz1axGPpkiZyFfIIFLy64qFgXEgVo2PKpgrlc8teVK_MGJHLOavWzpxfQ/s1600/341.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj832ektUSZ6vgcdABp_aqVwjDXmRTVEtpa3LhYozPFO4Ipz0w2LVuBPgto7eQ7O8Yyf24gtLHbULz3-eMdm3bfB7hxgtBF-e1mM95WD4kb4ktqWbl6sP74QTcOGuVYrugT0NN7QbJDY0w/s1600/354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj832ektUSZ6vgcdABp_aqVwjDXmRTVEtpa3LhYozPFO4Ipz0w2LVuBPgto7eQ7O8Yyf24gtLHbULz3-eMdm3bfB7hxgtBF-e1mM95WD4kb4ktqWbl6sP74QTcOGuVYrugT0NN7QbJDY0w/s1600/354.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope John Paul II, Church in Wielickza salt mines</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxy_mLOCcF5pnKQ0_WVLpkipdR1ho_88a9ewzoRgye1unKEA5MEm8eYdA1nF2NwVfW9a4hAbGQRFwh5SGad9UWLTv97fgZIR5IpPZaVlUKBBfIaCPdhzFUOXptEvqMtKi-V_ffC1YHCM/s1600/IMG_5818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxy_mLOCcF5pnKQ0_WVLpkipdR1ho_88a9ewzoRgye1unKEA5MEm8eYdA1nF2NwVfW9a4hAbGQRFwh5SGad9UWLTv97fgZIR5IpPZaVlUKBBfIaCPdhzFUOXptEvqMtKi-V_ffC1YHCM/s1600/IMG_5818.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Auschwitz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-30059200751050717102014-08-18T12:31:00.000-07:002014-08-18T23:05:23.568-07:00Restaurant Day in Finland <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwowIDUuJ3Kfijsh7fEtcfYc644F5APh8SOHeT_zvGpaGsWPb3sB07Ju3QFRZut1LosXZN6vdBqYqLwv2UGQfgllE-4DaNWSjVvdt2EgTtfwDxIIMq8nT09VMBHKWvkrquomS7DTs9qc/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwowIDUuJ3Kfijsh7fEtcfYc644F5APh8SOHeT_zvGpaGsWPb3sB07Ju3QFRZut1LosXZN6vdBqYqLwv2UGQfgllE-4DaNWSjVvdt2EgTtfwDxIIMq8nT09VMBHKWvkrquomS7DTs9qc/s1600/photo+1+(2).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So you have a great idea on a food dish? You always wanted to share your special recipe with others but never had your chance? Well, you can in Finland, because Restaurant Day, which takes place approx. 3 x per year means that you can set up and advertise your "restaurant" and you don't need a license to do it. The awesome concept of Restaurant Day is sweeping across Finland and other countries in rapid pace. <span style="background-color: white;">"<span style="line-height: 20px;">Restaurant Day is a worldwide food carnival when anyone can set up a restaurant, café or a bar for a day. It can happen anywhere: at your home, at the office, on a street corner, in your garden or inner courtyard, at a park, or on the beach – only your imagination is the limit". - Restaurantday.org </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl6DInjtHEXMNuakZu1dN51j4CAdgGtUn_gRtUT96udj1Jn6J32AnvsCj1T3h-bAVKDBzKwGwDB2vLXjuhB6olZFWX8lzkbGhEuZ5szl1fc800-Uk_9txMcEEKGxeV7ifn7UQXuse1Q0/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBl6DInjtHEXMNuakZu1dN51j4CAdgGtUn_gRtUT96udj1Jn6J32AnvsCj1T3h-bAVKDBzKwGwDB2vLXjuhB6olZFWX8lzkbGhEuZ5szl1fc800-Uk_9txMcEEKGxeV7ifn7UQXuse1Q0/s1600/photo+2+(1).JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">My wife and daughter always wanted to try to sell their own cupcakes, so they finally decided to make a batch of 100 for the final Restaurant Day of summer 2014. The menu for their cupcake stand in Espoo was 1) vanilla and lemon, 2) chocolate hazelnut, and 3) raspberry. The cupcakes turned out very well and were purchased steadily during the few hours the stand was open. To our surprise, even on a slower Sunday afternoon they sold 100 cupcakes in just 2.5 hours time, exceeding our expectations. My son and I journeyed over to Helsinki for part of the day. We went to one of the parks in downtown Helsinki where we saw at least 50 pop-up restaurants. Countries from all over the world were represented in Helsinki. There were treats from Turkey, falafels from the Middle East, bratwursts from Germany, tapas from Spain, burritos from Mexico, chorizo sausage from Argentina, Cuban food, ribs, sushi from Japan as well as many Finnish dishes and options. You name it, you could find it. My son and I only covered a park which is just one city block in size, but that was plenty for us to choose from. The Restaurant Day map showed hundreds of pop-up restaurants all over Helsinki, so we barely scratched the surface. This really cool concept is perfect for new entrepreneurs or folks just trying to have a bit of fun selling what they love to make. The great thing is that you don't need a permit and can set-up shop just about anywhere you want during the day - even in shopping centers and other commercial (but public) areas. I am excited that this Finnish invention started and is spreading over to other countries. However, I would be pretty surprised to see it enter the United States, which has much stricter laws about who can sell what and where. This grassroots organization is not for profit and definitely is giving back to the community in great ways. I really hope that this amazing concept continues to grow and continues to encourage others to participate. If you live in Finland or another country that participates, I definitely recommend that you visit during the next Restaurant Day. For more information check: </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 20px;">http://www.restaurantday.org/en.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE7IZU7oy3_UjyUB2p_Oi34dGC0P9yqg4VENUJni4TwxKDcPs7Ry1kGH6UzPOmbgQaPmRmR19UurF3KCno4a9wBuU_L1pZq12mhyD-u3XmzMUs08NDLYMDt0nmxL5Dr8FbaUxhPgMeos/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlE7IZU7oy3_UjyUB2p_Oi34dGC0P9yqg4VENUJni4TwxKDcPs7Ry1kGH6UzPOmbgQaPmRmR19UurF3KCno4a9wBuU_L1pZq12mhyD-u3XmzMUs08NDLYMDt0nmxL5Dr8FbaUxhPgMeos/s1600/photo+4.JPG" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: #f7f7f7; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-83078137457283687822014-08-13T02:35:00.001-07:002014-09-08T01:10:02.334-07:00Summer vacation part 6, a quick waltz through Vienna<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next stop on our tour of Eastern Europe was Vienna, the capital of Austria. Vienna would be the only official "Western" European city on this trip and it is a city that I had always wanted to visit since my post University European backpacking/Eurail days. Vienna will always hold a special place in my heart as it was featured in one of my all-time favorite movies, "Before Sunrise". Vienna is known as the capital of classical music of the entire world. Mozart, grand coffee shops, elegant buildings and tourist shops are lurking around every corner. We would only have about 30 hours in Vienna, so we had to plan our days with laser like precision. The first day we arrived in the afternoon and after checking in to the hotel and orientating ourselves, we journeyed by metro to the downtown to stroll around and later visit the Music museum (Haus der musik). The museum was a "hands on" treat and featured several interactive exhibits as well as information on everything to do with classical music and classical composers. We started the second day in the downtown and made our way to a classic cafe for some Austrian sweets. Soon afterwards we ventured over to the famous Prater amusement park which features a classic Ferris wheel built back in 1897. Of course we "had to" take the Ferris wheel up and enjoyed the amazing views of the city from the top. Later the kids did some carnival style rides and then a bit later we went to see the gardens of the famous Schonbrunn palace. This grand palace is known as one of the main highlights of Vienna. We enjoyed strolling through the gardens and going through the human maze with the children. After literally racing through Schonbrunn, we walked to the nearby Vienna Zoo. The Tiegarten Schonbrunn is known as the oldest zoo currently in existence and was originally established in 1752. Although we barely had time to scratch the surface of Austria's grand capital, we really enjoyed the sites and sounds of the city. Vienna is a charming city and another capital city that I can thoroughly recommend. Just make sure to give this city at least 3 days or you also will be racing through like our family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr5Z6ak7wnu6YiJsGR1LNq-Niqu8wxoCznsCY71LU5B33OtJN72Cx98L6c1b8esHrRUtTE1kq9VESPgip2_Qz4X0iX7_0syObsEazpY_McfdmDwDnxepO3sohUtxs6B-hQOSQDG3ac6Q/s1600/IMG_5807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr5Z6ak7wnu6YiJsGR1LNq-Niqu8wxoCznsCY71LU5B33OtJN72Cx98L6c1b8esHrRUtTE1kq9VESPgip2_Qz4X0iX7_0syObsEazpY_McfdmDwDnxepO3sohUtxs6B-hQOSQDG3ac6Q/s1600/IMG_5807.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardens outside Schonbrunn palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg9MXVXstoDR0D3V_xMX-qDjt0tsPj0bQXcO8gANa3ZgoHfbqpUTnylV_zZcXhqUzlf4V30oeUcfZbC_jNMPcezFhbPLe-zKYaUm9TEPcXcxByh7BrafxuA2ADQxnsHMp3poI5WYFKMM/s1600/319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxg9MXVXstoDR0D3V_xMX-qDjt0tsPj0bQXcO8gANa3ZgoHfbqpUTnylV_zZcXhqUzlf4V30oeUcfZbC_jNMPcezFhbPLe-zKYaUm9TEPcXcxByh7BrafxuA2ADQxnsHMp3poI5WYFKMM/s1600/319.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schonbrunn garden's maze</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUpWDgbbc2YB-xiKwPa5-u3-6pPFhP5tyHimkEniabMTFVm8Dxn0gq_9KOnjua2fz9gpDBjjMtnm_GUDxkVezNzstYpUQ_l0GZ40uCt-Zsw7H6XebRpw5ag8oK-YHGhuxxpnZfqWACqY/s1600/IMG_5809.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUpWDgbbc2YB-xiKwPa5-u3-6pPFhP5tyHimkEniabMTFVm8Dxn0gq_9KOnjua2fz9gpDBjjMtnm_GUDxkVezNzstYpUQ_l0GZ40uCt-Zsw7H6XebRpw5ag8oK-YHGhuxxpnZfqWACqY/s1600/IMG_5809.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schonbrunn Palace</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XHXQGbvv4cyV_XmF7sGm3docvCH57A0c_Twy3N_ktpcoAUYuF15E5ezWerB0uXMmySGEXmA6-3MXbn8o_yV67foACVaZI-mX8E1a9jUiPLu42G6eAhbEF34-qKS6sgZETyddDMng82A/s1600/IMG_5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XHXQGbvv4cyV_XmF7sGm3docvCH57A0c_Twy3N_ktpcoAUYuF15E5ezWerB0uXMmySGEXmA6-3MXbn8o_yV67foACVaZI-mX8E1a9jUiPLu42G6eAhbEF34-qKS6sgZETyddDMng82A/s1600/IMG_5786.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the Vienna Opera house</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8IeU_iG8nx2LFf4EPznKz_detOBXnmpPJlfbSRfdcxOWjU23ZroAdXLQPBNlc44_xLH-bsaa3RqFkfpTDcF9ZTji9ivBYidrO_o5vu_9nIomwJjVnw_dpibw-bgSHRBW4pK_Z1b0aJk/s1600/302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl8IeU_iG8nx2LFf4EPznKz_detOBXnmpPJlfbSRfdcxOWjU23ZroAdXLQPBNlc44_xLH-bsaa3RqFkfpTDcF9ZTji9ivBYidrO_o5vu_9nIomwJjVnw_dpibw-bgSHRBW4pK_Z1b0aJk/s1600/302.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferris wheel circa 1897</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-46401897723708083152014-08-05T10:35:00.000-07:002014-08-05T10:35:42.411-07:00Summer vacation part 5, Lake Bled, Slovenia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Lake Bled in Slovenia's Julian alps is a little piece of heaven on earth. Slovenia was quite different from the other former Yugoslavian countries that we visited on our Summer trip. It has been in the European community the longest and it's location close to the alps near Austria certainly makes it feel like the most Western of the 4 former Yugoslavian countries we visited on the trip. Lake Bled is a picture perfect lake in the mountains near the Austrian border. It features a fairy tale like castle on the top of a steep cliff as well as a little island in the center of the lake complete with an old church. During our brief stay here we hiked around the lake to the castle and rented a row boat to get to the little island in the center of the lake. Our children had fun taking some chairlifts up the mountain in order to bobsled in tracks down to the bottom. The views, peaceful nature and clean mountain air made this a perfect respite from the busy cities we had already visited. We only spent around 24 hours in Lake Bled, but it was totally worth the visit and highly recommended should you decide to visit Slovenia yourself. Lake Bled is around a one hour train ride to Slovenia's capital Ljubjana.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrl65PZcSAsL99BlveLV_iSaCd4ysI6vyE-w1JYoFeYPUM_TZph25DsGC_2M3EvzKdQNjnZ_x_7TSurt7QywHZeJcRELDfWHwlsHO_Yo6Qa3FrR_H4kqnLM-49-QOfZ06RE9YNGnozDA/s1600/273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrl65PZcSAsL99BlveLV_iSaCd4ysI6vyE-w1JYoFeYPUM_TZph25DsGC_2M3EvzKdQNjnZ_x_7TSurt7QywHZeJcRELDfWHwlsHO_Yo6Qa3FrR_H4kqnLM-49-QOfZ06RE9YNGnozDA/s1600/273.JPG" height="352" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCbEKGvctWVvTROhx8YrXE9asietfj9M5EC4zeB7SyUGDts4Q8jR6xZ8gqpZFtLxFGMfXPht4ocwlfi8VhJF30gSoNRWtno6udJyuZhGP5bszWec-_ctPbCdtAix-IjCC6Qs6CXYdYv8/s1600/IMG_5754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJCbEKGvctWVvTROhx8YrXE9asietfj9M5EC4zeB7SyUGDts4Q8jR6xZ8gqpZFtLxFGMfXPht4ocwlfi8VhJF30gSoNRWtno6udJyuZhGP5bszWec-_ctPbCdtAix-IjCC6Qs6CXYdYv8/s1600/IMG_5754.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvrl65PZcSAsL99BlveLV_iSaCd4ysI6vyE-w1JYoFeYPUM_TZph25DsGC_2M3EvzKdQNjnZ_x_7TSurt7QywHZeJcRELDfWHwlsHO_Yo6Qa3FrR_H4kqnLM-49-QOfZ06RE9YNGnozDA/s1600/273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggQ6MSTbUGDQFBh-yIdBm-qm1lbTew5oO5iEFc_tZxaI0Y3ixtWn7_ob1CDIZAsruyK5QxDBKUd9nRPJngsbFv8QNmbLIihmUdDEqwhC7PQbvW7M6iTi4MSLTybaops2URXKFY_XL8ak/s1600/282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggQ6MSTbUGDQFBh-yIdBm-qm1lbTew5oO5iEFc_tZxaI0Y3ixtWn7_ob1CDIZAsruyK5QxDBKUd9nRPJngsbFv8QNmbLIihmUdDEqwhC7PQbvW7M6iTi4MSLTybaops2URXKFY_XL8ak/s1600/282.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8PdvT_Us2jA0xyRRRRh2qAtk0hxE9AMQq8m1Tzrl49nIJzlseZcbbp9HGXqT-1hEFbA72CVUM-nNjelDYj1iUvPy4oMM3R2Zl9lqrSZGhcTWrJ0q1vB0TI9YtA-GXuut0SNlhksl8y0/s1600/IMG_5729.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8PdvT_Us2jA0xyRRRRh2qAtk0hxE9AMQq8m1Tzrl49nIJzlseZcbbp9HGXqT-1hEFbA72CVUM-nNjelDYj1iUvPy4oMM3R2Zl9lqrSZGhcTWrJ0q1vB0TI9YtA-GXuut0SNlhksl8y0/s1600/IMG_5729.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIifF3vVlnKNcQETogptJ80mutdzicp9mJoxKTlQ47w8tnIfcuxCr5bW_9O_6u_4Rqoq4fc1ix0M5tRhayO4mJ6ui2LuAjyfQxGeia5p6IjpRsqtB0p-1gYv7rzVkEaZoKC0W5IMrIRc/s1600/IMG_5713.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNIifF3vVlnKNcQETogptJ80mutdzicp9mJoxKTlQ47w8tnIfcuxCr5bW_9O_6u_4Rqoq4fc1ix0M5tRhayO4mJ6ui2LuAjyfQxGeia5p6IjpRsqtB0p-1gYv7rzVkEaZoKC0W5IMrIRc/s1600/IMG_5713.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-76502903132693477482014-07-30T05:30:00.000-07:002014-07-30T10:43:14.471-07:00Summer vacation part 4, Plitvice National park in Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After visiting various old towns, monuments and touristic cities in Croatia we were ready for the nature portion of our vacation. We had been very excited about visiting this park in Croatia which had been on our target list for a long time. Plitvice National park is a UNESCO world heritage site which features a large network of gorgeous lakes and waterfalls in the North Central part of Croatia. Words don't do justice to describe such a beautiful place, so I will attach some photos we took from the hike. Our family hiked 8km (5miles) through the park and followed a route which 4-6 hours of time is recommended. The middle of the hike featured a boat ride which took us across one major lake and to another next set of smaller lakes. The hike was literally a network of lakes and waterfalls surrounded by lush greenery. The turquoise blue water of the lakes was stunning and the water was so pure an unpolluted as they do not allow anyone to swim or fish in the area. If you ever decide to plan a vacation to Croatia, I highly recommend a stop in this wonderful place. It is easily reachable by car or bus from the coastal city of Split. It is also fairly close to the capital of Zagreb. Our family made the drive by rental car from Split which made it easy and flexible to get to the park and nearby hotels. Plitvice National park is truly one of Croatia's greatest treasures and a place everyone should get a chance to visit.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbtMr5AxmXrx7H_E_mnmRcOpVs4Y4V00CaQjj0BzoDuA9ZVt0w43BAiGC4-hYLXAX4qXjGpmF1EIphiIZ3hPO9-pZOcCnb-ZebIs3msyKK5lDpX0L_5yHugM2nvRdSwDPggdUoklU_mc/s1600/248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivbtMr5AxmXrx7H_E_mnmRcOpVs4Y4V00CaQjj0BzoDuA9ZVt0w43BAiGC4-hYLXAX4qXjGpmF1EIphiIZ3hPO9-pZOcCnb-ZebIs3msyKK5lDpX0L_5yHugM2nvRdSwDPggdUoklU_mc/s1600/248.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wAVhY_szizaco3xxYbRu9U4eDZXhuk1Z3PaIYktRHr-N73VVdJcEFbucs3c90E9G0GG1lJhgcWLNM7KYz6hQZoX8k_h88bCwYkfYbX9Vu2c_uuwvy1kkcCYQEHb_t35GPadEcqWiO_k/s1600/251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wAVhY_szizaco3xxYbRu9U4eDZXhuk1Z3PaIYktRHr-N73VVdJcEFbucs3c90E9G0GG1lJhgcWLNM7KYz6hQZoX8k_h88bCwYkfYbX9Vu2c_uuwvy1kkcCYQEHb_t35GPadEcqWiO_k/s1600/251.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9wCkqX8w-U3fjXgDUE0EnW1VjYKSwRcQV7IlsgPf6O4i8dh-DpV2fHGEu3qrA0O9cS_k1TaHzxQccdap_BF1uEg1fY4JZvgzhyFJlj0RE6r683a09rKzrI_Y1gdyhCjLGhVH2ySSON4/s1600/224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9wCkqX8w-U3fjXgDUE0EnW1VjYKSwRcQV7IlsgPf6O4i8dh-DpV2fHGEu3qrA0O9cS_k1TaHzxQccdap_BF1uEg1fY4JZvgzhyFJlj0RE6r683a09rKzrI_Y1gdyhCjLGhVH2ySSON4/s1600/224.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLQPoquJUwS3z1GSjbKjCA858PDpMquWeAtziF0-pOH-HYDrDbtIpAIsIZZzbWtGtnpDSAVEPmNURAHhB5zVc2AGwmjNv42toSY_lGSibEWIKFb-cWMiDZS83YjiMzovP4ziGKJKL2IM/s1600/IMG_5674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiLQPoquJUwS3z1GSjbKjCA858PDpMquWeAtziF0-pOH-HYDrDbtIpAIsIZZzbWtGtnpDSAVEPmNURAHhB5zVc2AGwmjNv42toSY_lGSibEWIKFb-cWMiDZS83YjiMzovP4ziGKJKL2IM/s1600/IMG_5674.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vvvXeJStnSDNduGb9oCjLoOd7KeseT2Q-2x5Df7KJ9c0TfCRGCJ21YXaJyu4hOfEVcUzRUUjSTX17qciCiQg_6T0XdspRXNr7P4olGwzZa_ZLN0amJObRLUCBOPQboL9Ego4TNKZJuQ/s1600/IMG_5555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8vvvXeJStnSDNduGb9oCjLoOd7KeseT2Q-2x5Df7KJ9c0TfCRGCJ21YXaJyu4hOfEVcUzRUUjSTX17qciCiQg_6T0XdspRXNr7P4olGwzZa_ZLN0amJObRLUCBOPQboL9Ego4TNKZJuQ/s1600/IMG_5555.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-80725986947631340932014-07-22T14:12:00.000-07:002014-07-22T14:12:32.525-07:00Summer vacation part 3, side trip to Mostar, Bosnia and Herzgovinia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Perhaps the most interesting side trip and most unique place we visited during our entire vacation was the city of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This interesting country has a very complicated history and was involved in a bitter war in the mid 1990s. The country is actually divided into 3 distinct areas, The republic of Srpska (Serbia), Bosnia and lastly Herzegovina. The geographic area we visited was west Herzegovina. The city of Mostar is the main city in the republic of Herzgovina. Mostar was known as one of the major campaigns in the brutal war which rocked this area for several years. The war is now over but the psychical and mental scars of the city and people remain. The damage was apparent as we noticed many buildings with large bullet holes which had been shelled during the war. The highlight of the trip was a visit to the famous Mostar bridge which divides the city in half. This 500 year old bridge was completely destroyed in the war in 1993, but now it is beautifully reconstructed to it's original dimensions. The bridge is a tourist magnet today and many young locals stand on the bridge collecting money and later when they have collected a total of 25 euros will jump into the icy river below. It is a thrilling and scary plunge of 24 meters (80 feet). Bridge diving has been a tradition of Mostar for hundreds of years. The old city was very interesting and featured cobblestone streets and vendors selling local goods everywhere. Mostar has many different ethnic groups and religions now attempting to live together and there is even a strong Muslim presence with minarets and Turkish mosques in the city. The old town itself is relatively small and can be covered in a day on foot. Mostar has only been on the tourist path for about a decade and is still relatively cheap. Mostar has had a painful history and the local economy is still hurting, but you can see change happening as the locals are proud of their city and background. We really enjoyed the day trip into this historical old city situated beautifully on a river. I would suggest it for any adventurous traveler who is considering a trip to the former Yugoslavia.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HiC_vkJh9ajwR1yTmEfAwj3wsAcjLBYKSrcyPobf_CMvfOKUwza2cgVa8h-hVyksLykbxR8xJeqg3ogQ1UCZ6wYvUqWXlQc-ZT5pcyqao5161R93EX0UPtUuqhNDJyZyVhcAw0yTKRE/s1600/174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7HiC_vkJh9ajwR1yTmEfAwj3wsAcjLBYKSrcyPobf_CMvfOKUwza2cgVa8h-hVyksLykbxR8xJeqg3ogQ1UCZ6wYvUqWXlQc-ZT5pcyqao5161R93EX0UPtUuqhNDJyZyVhcAw0yTKRE/s1600/174.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mostar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFFRk6hZakh88repMLfZqz78tHCFq4RwbYmzhwV4YC3nmLalB6lwu_d0PO88GbYQdV9HZpcZ51oSycjAWysvlWrEjMvchdDAa6GFoe_0lhMinBmo6wXQEjcUl1fxO_-cG-dLpzDEAdD4/s1600/175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFFRk6hZakh88repMLfZqz78tHCFq4RwbYmzhwV4YC3nmLalB6lwu_d0PO88GbYQdV9HZpcZ51oSycjAWysvlWrEjMvchdDAa6GFoe_0lhMinBmo6wXQEjcUl1fxO_-cG-dLpzDEAdD4/s1600/175.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mostar bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8REoVH_7zvkdQ_qghSzuOQBsZVuOOIX7kdhq5SAQWV7ivuPx8vdt8XSrBdoFiYmfpt3tyT6V97geMYAWZwAtRUWHxA49c4wPsgggoN-kAFq4g4-vjTSneKd07fbk5ispu3U-HDzKs9mQ/s1600/182.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8REoVH_7zvkdQ_qghSzuOQBsZVuOOIX7kdhq5SAQWV7ivuPx8vdt8XSrBdoFiYmfpt3tyT6V97geMYAWZwAtRUWHxA49c4wPsgggoN-kAFq4g4-vjTSneKd07fbk5ispu3U-HDzKs9mQ/s1600/182.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e2NKFSdsBhGLVWRbKSEXxfYRbKrCe6TmlulUIK1SkCg3Tsp9z8kiASyb280vdl-dwtb7eKHR4VQ-Z5C-20MEi5dUbf6NuT2kofdtXvsYWCq0BTCL0X23PBBfoA3-ETLyUf0D7EFzFW8/s1600/169.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e2NKFSdsBhGLVWRbKSEXxfYRbKrCe6TmlulUIK1SkCg3Tsp9z8kiASyb280vdl-dwtb7eKHR4VQ-Z5C-20MEi5dUbf6NuT2kofdtXvsYWCq0BTCL0X23PBBfoA3-ETLyUf0D7EFzFW8/s1600/169.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVYgY2ROIE6xSCDX9b7TCWkI-khoQj2V6v5LbW6qHbs_QCw6cDQG4lBcuHVUXo04NYqdwJhshq88ksSiTZlUI_G_oCGFMhPBzkMRhi3yQNstiLGNIyS7oB_if5PL7-nWyhY634pTvPHM/s1600/183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNVYgY2ROIE6xSCDX9b7TCWkI-khoQj2V6v5LbW6qHbs_QCw6cDQG4lBcuHVUXo04NYqdwJhshq88ksSiTZlUI_G_oCGFMhPBzkMRhi3yQNstiLGNIyS7oB_if5PL7-nWyhY634pTvPHM/s1600/183.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">War torn past</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmNYxaUNerOyVAgp-LSRHvQWP9OKxO7iOZOIRNlDqM4eJjcbvz_W6jvqHuUbHgvwKHz_Q7JnBJQzzWyWBBZTeowvCkYb9uColkRZ8hRl0o-36jM27qjW43beM8TTxP9PQVTszp3lQjvg/s1600/177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmNYxaUNerOyVAgp-LSRHvQWP9OKxO7iOZOIRNlDqM4eJjcbvz_W6jvqHuUbHgvwKHz_Q7JnBJQzzWyWBBZTeowvCkYb9uColkRZ8hRl0o-36jM27qjW43beM8TTxP9PQVTszp3lQjvg/s1600/177.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-62690655781335981452014-07-16T08:09:00.000-07:002014-07-16T10:44:51.981-07:00Summer vacation part 2, side trip to Montenegro<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Have you even heard of Montenegro? You might not have because this tiny nation just South of Croatia recently received it's independence from Yugoslavia (Serbia) in 2006. Montenegro means "black mountains" and it is apparent when you see the mountains from above almost spill into the sea. At one point you might think you were exploring a fjord in Norway, however that is not the case as they are coastal mountains. Montenegro is currently known as the newest country in Europe. Our family did a day trip from Dubrovnik, Croatia to explore the Montenegrin coastal cities of Perast, Kotor and Budva. The views were absolutely stunning on the Southern Dalmatian coast and through the Bay of Kotor to our first stop in Perast. In Perast we took a small ferry to visit the man made rock islet containing the "Our lady of the rocks" church. Rumor has it that an icon of lady Madonna was found at this site and then sailors laid rocks down in the Bay over many years until finally an islet was formed. The island featured an interesting chapel and museum. Soon we ventured back to our bus and traveled to our next stop which was the old city of Kotor. Kotor is unique walled city quite similar to Dubrovnik, but a bit smaller and even older. We walked around the old city while fighting the cruise ship passengers at the same time since their cruise ship was docked in the harbor. After a tasty lunch and stroll around the cobbled old town we made our way to our final destination in Montenegro. The last stop was a city called Budva. Budva is more touristic than Kotor and also featured a small old town surrounded by a medieval wall. All of these little coastal cities were scenic and unique in their own rights and definitely worth a visit should you have a chance to get down here. Tourism is starting to pour into little Montenegro and it should be positive for the people and the economy. I know we enjoyed our visit and would hope for more time in the future for a longer stay.<br />
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrRxJGdonSDU5IQ9xlxaQ3JvDsbVGwlDCD66iHRE2JCivx6xh6RQ6BDieBuZxGdMt9eeBzkRAREQQwwK7aF2bLUuj1veuLR921toP-l8mbBeXhp6pzB4YluUk72kdgZGtd69deRFwAYs/s1600/113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitrRxJGdonSDU5IQ9xlxaQ3JvDsbVGwlDCD66iHRE2JCivx6xh6RQ6BDieBuZxGdMt9eeBzkRAREQQwwK7aF2bLUuj1veuLR921toP-l8mbBeXhp6pzB4YluUk72kdgZGtd69deRFwAYs/s1600/113.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside "Our Lady of the rocks" church museum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy9TbClQsm7qjoIh7KQJZkcblCUidpdNhaoMKRWXpyxfnLs36F2lmior1oG_1eD3dhfnxlr7y3IsQFgZGYpElqpNuhhyphenhyphenVl29uoFnlfY76p-545oA4sM_atoux5TxoCrsT5tyEcoGoOtY/s1600/117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipy9TbClQsm7qjoIh7KQJZkcblCUidpdNhaoMKRWXpyxfnLs36F2lmior1oG_1eD3dhfnxlr7y3IsQFgZGYpElqpNuhhyphenhyphenVl29uoFnlfY76p-545oA4sM_atoux5TxoCrsT5tyEcoGoOtY/s1600/117.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">City of Perast in Kotor Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPB0tiyarOEm7-r8Ca8Bd8d59gFyaB_7tO3Zr7Ybf87MVSlCjuNafaweDNpQRZqBerdWAn1ufMNeP-T7hQfeHZiDCp4YcHsjxXidUD2JAcM_FaGg2LwVDQzT4yOfXJ8evSXdVkcUT-84/s1600/IMG_5321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPB0tiyarOEm7-r8Ca8Bd8d59gFyaB_7tO3Zr7Ybf87MVSlCjuNafaweDNpQRZqBerdWAn1ufMNeP-T7hQfeHZiDCp4YcHsjxXidUD2JAcM_FaGg2LwVDQzT4yOfXJ8evSXdVkcUT-84/s1600/IMG_5321.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church of "Our lady of the rocks"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWCiJTec-R-Aqea-RL8i-PumTdbGhMWx3fXXvpqJD90Mqym20LtbBPYzDvmkmy3jmreHnOdrA7E7hBvfv_J6BzbfzPxsW3avEjdMwr3rkqZtj8VZNL8RwqSsXkDllgRM68j7NbVidflU/s1600/115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikWCiJTec-R-Aqea-RL8i-PumTdbGhMWx3fXXvpqJD90Mqym20LtbBPYzDvmkmy3jmreHnOdrA7E7hBvfv_J6BzbfzPxsW3avEjdMwr3rkqZtj8VZNL8RwqSsXkDllgRM68j7NbVidflU/s1600/115.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kotor Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PiSiQTQsBHMutdbpGbY1XCw3kMjtph_VpKNUk1m8PkygQpEtzvt4XCUv-GKXelYyb8yHVywtWUE8VG5RuUPaCHCGCJh2oNAztRU8dbw3zo4iw7sw4xhG3nQFkXlqnF6MO5Xc8IOEQoo/s1600/122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5PiSiQTQsBHMutdbpGbY1XCw3kMjtph_VpKNUk1m8PkygQpEtzvt4XCUv-GKXelYyb8yHVywtWUE8VG5RuUPaCHCGCJh2oNAztRU8dbw3zo4iw7sw4xhG3nQFkXlqnF6MO5Xc8IOEQoo/s1600/122.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back streets of Kotor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-75759677933882042332014-07-15T10:32:00.000-07:002014-07-16T10:45:00.976-07:00Summer vacation part 1, Dubrovnik, Croatia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
My family recently completed a nearly three week tour of Eastern Europe. We spent the largest percentage of our time in Croatia, which included an entire week in Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik is sometimes called the pearl of the Adriatic and it features a beautifully preserved city with medieval walls built along the seashore. We stayed in a wonderful villa just outside the downtown (Lapad district) with my extended family. Old town Dubrovnik is relatively small and can be explored in one day, however the Southern Dalmatian coast is very scenic and stretches a long distance and can take several days to see. The prices were cheaper than Finland and central Europe, but not as cheap as you might expect considering it is the former Yugoslavia and suffered a major war just over 20 years ago. During the week in Croatia we relaxed around the pool and beach most of the time, although we did a few day trip excursions to both Mostar in neighboring Bosnia and Herzegovina and a trip to a few beautiful coastal cities in the small country of Montenegro. We had a wonderful stay in Dubrovnik and enjoyed several trips to the medieval walled city soaking in the gorgeous seaside views and spending equal time relaxing by both the villa's swimming pool and nearby beach. Capitalism has hit this area hard since the war tragically rocked the city in the early 90s. 68% of the city was destroyed, but it has been beautifully restored now. Now you can expect fairly expensive cab fares, souvenirs on every corner and vendors ready to sell you a trip to a nearby Island or day excursion to a neighboring country. However, relatively speaking Croatia is still much cheaper than Finland, but you probably already knew that. :) Stay tuned for more blog posts from Eastern Europe.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlqvgDR-kbm0sh_pDUx8kd_chSB32sXaCYo4z92x1wZna4_yCeT-3W1sVIkz31S3p94JLklPGFBG0x0c9gy3gj1tWjmY86SuJXvDdCTHlTT3ElHQtxKAPjrVJ9Pq8l75OcdiHwk3u-hA/s1600/154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwlqvgDR-kbm0sh_pDUx8kd_chSB32sXaCYo4z92x1wZna4_yCeT-3W1sVIkz31S3p94JLklPGFBG0x0c9gy3gj1tWjmY86SuJXvDdCTHlTT3ElHQtxKAPjrVJ9Pq8l75OcdiHwk3u-hA/s1600/154.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmcWuNIpWVIZFlbnNCiCL_Xk8HH2dZoFoJ9gBjy0CmWfz__mEmrlHrwVXzqeVJZmnfIoSjYgEVs7ROrqGHXAQRaedjtSR_SEtQAXeEGbWOUNKeCBK1f7Xvka7eX-at5hmN7jZ14if3T4/s1600/108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmcWuNIpWVIZFlbnNCiCL_Xk8HH2dZoFoJ9gBjy0CmWfz__mEmrlHrwVXzqeVJZmnfIoSjYgEVs7ROrqGHXAQRaedjtSR_SEtQAXeEGbWOUNKeCBK1f7Xvka7eX-at5hmN7jZ14if3T4/s1600/108.JPG" height="348" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsJPuQ0Wh4vzJtHZefWSca_ZLISMJVecazYY_scgucL7N7s3uWD77wUqRMWzPj6eaJnFONUiO3DYCOVmx1PB5E-SIrYdNHz2QFpg2eriYLLKwm7c2tnNgeFvAs5fFx6yqawoAfQqZF1A/s1600/104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsJPuQ0Wh4vzJtHZefWSca_ZLISMJVecazYY_scgucL7N7s3uWD77wUqRMWzPj6eaJnFONUiO3DYCOVmx1PB5E-SIrYdNHz2QFpg2eriYLLKwm7c2tnNgeFvAs5fFx6yqawoAfQqZF1A/s1600/104.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkEP49PKCD35IjXczGTtvQ0RnQbah94Jw1IL8ih6dCB7KktC8NaaJdjRS2SVtJaXV7FNVxPBFyX5RWeKNk8dnpwgOMYXMYArcsvyA-fi1BSnq43tlob28hlui1wZkk5tBlLfwb2R-0IE/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkEP49PKCD35IjXczGTtvQ0RnQbah94Jw1IL8ih6dCB7KktC8NaaJdjRS2SVtJaXV7FNVxPBFyX5RWeKNk8dnpwgOMYXMYArcsvyA-fi1BSnq43tlob28hlui1wZkk5tBlLfwb2R-0IE/s1600/070.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-46941557292938305752014-05-26T12:34:00.003-07:002014-06-02T00:17:23.997-07:00Finnish honesty<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A social experiment in the form of a "wallet test" was recently performed in several major cities around the world. The idea was to leave a wallet with cash and credit cards therein within a public place and then see how many wallets were returned versus taken. Helsinki ranked #1 in this test with the return of 11 out of 12 wallets. The worst was Lisbon, Portugal were only one wallet was returned out of 12, and the people who returned it were not even from Portugal. I find it amazing how high Finland ranked, but after living here for almost 3 years I understand why.<br />
<br />
Two separate recent personal incidents at the local swimming hall have helped cement my understanding of the honesty of the Finnish people. Several months ago I was working out in the swimming hall's gym and was listening to music with somewhat expensive head phones. Later into the work out, I placed the headphones back in their case, put them in my pocket and continued to work out. Following the work out, I headed back downstairs to use the shower and sauna. As I was getting dressed I realized the headphones were missing. I was pretty bummed after scouring the gym and not being able to locate them. They must have fallen out of my pocket while exercising. I figured someone must have taken them since I was just there 30 minutes ago and they were no where to be found. Then I thought I would give it one more chance by asking the front desk if maybe someone had returned them. As soon as I asked the lady, she went back to get them and handed them over to me no questions asked. So someone not only found them, but promptly returned them to the front desk. Not sure if that would go over as smooth in the States.<br />
<br />
My second incident also occurred at the swimming hall. This time I was working out in the gym and had a loose car key in my pocket. I guess I didn't learn how to secure items in my pocket the first time around. :) Again, I finished my work out and went back downstairs to the gym and sauna. As I was getting dressed I realized my car key was missing. How would I get home, what was I going to do? However, this time I didn't panic, I went calmly upstairs and searched the gym again, but it was not there. Then I walked back over to the front desk and asked, and yet again, the lady returned the key to me. So, someone in the gym had found it and promptly returned it to the "lost and found" at the front desk. I went home later that evening with a smile on my face. <br />
<br />
Finns should be really proud of themselves for living in a society which instills these values on it citizens. It makes for a happier society when people can trust their neighbors and officials. I guess this golden virtue of honesty this might explain why Finns are not the best at Marketing and Sales jobs. :)<br />
<br />
You can read more about the social experiment test here: http://www.rd.com/slideshows/most-honest-cities-lost-wallet-test/#slideshow=slide1.</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-79024284657706784662014-04-28T12:56:00.001-07:002014-04-29T07:30:13.101-07:00Easter break in Holland and Belgium<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewK2vov5hdxtEec4lhCLd3lDDLiQcE3u9aZYbJCof2TWq9sGz62GKGJBIuKLDITdnxhIvrEFp7_nJK2v6wi4A7qEP7cDZG8K6BBcdIVncdvmq9uK45W9uZvfEvfpjJDz_Oz44pmTL-qA/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewK2vov5hdxtEec4lhCLd3lDDLiQcE3u9aZYbJCof2TWq9sGz62GKGJBIuKLDITdnxhIvrEFp7_nJK2v6wi4A7qEP7cDZG8K6BBcdIVncdvmq9uK45W9uZvfEvfpjJDz_Oz44pmTL-qA/s1600/IMG_4944.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In Finland we are given both Friday and Monday off from work for the
Easter holiday weekend. We took advantage of this long weekend and spent our holiday in Holland and Belgium en route from Germany. We hadn't left Finland for quite
some time and wanted to see the famous tulip fields, visit the Anne Frank house
and see a number of other interesting cities and sites. We flew into the Dusseldorf (Germany) airport and rented a car in order to drive directly to Amsterdam.</span><br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOA5JX_megONMvbT-kg1UMYlwFQWopc7DlX-1SfgwcBdtZkJ34QVTCxnqH-_LG49agzthd09ryWJ_m9KXmb7IOEu1NRAJiMQWHZmoz1CY7jTbJp9wvzsbJK4jZgWWB9YyPumVrTZUQ5k/s1600/IMG_5025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOA5JX_megONMvbT-kg1UMYlwFQWopc7DlX-1SfgwcBdtZkJ34QVTCxnqH-_LG49agzthd09ryWJ_m9KXmb7IOEu1NRAJiMQWHZmoz1CY7jTbJp9wvzsbJK4jZgWWB9YyPumVrTZUQ5k/s1600/IMG_5025.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The nice thing about this part of Europe is that many countries are
relatively small and getting from point A to point B doesn't take that long.
I had visited the Anne Frank house 20 years ago and have read the famous
diary when I was younger and now my daughter had done the same, so the family
was interested to see this famous landmark and piece of history. We waited
in line for one hour and finally entered the home, which includes the
clandestine upstairs annex where Anne lived secretly for two years with other members of her
family while the Nazis were patrolling around the streets of Amsterdam. I
could only imagine the fear that they felt as they were forced to live like
prisoners while hiding just because they were Jewish. This was a
very emotional experience for me and the family. The museum has become
much more popular in the last 20 years and now gets roughly 1.3 million
visitors per year. Later we strolled around the famous streets which are
surrounded by canals. Amsterdam is a world famous city known for their
architecture as well as their liberal attitudes towards sex and marijuana.
Strolling through some of the seedier sections of the city I could
picture in my head how very different things are here than parts of the
Bible belt in America. I am socially liberal, but would say Amsterdam's progressive social values are probably even a bit much for myself. :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9YYaM0WshBntR2r7yio8UYdSZl1SX_CKafKkdoBhxN7aMkfUjBbf-uARkFYZzkcBVgPmj2BgnxRocJzCW8RZRY0JQeS_ADvCbaZsutpoSq1-LQpgFopJu1TBmyw1bDNPt4NdywzMpEQ/s1600/IMG_4969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF9YYaM0WshBntR2r7yio8UYdSZl1SX_CKafKkdoBhxN7aMkfUjBbf-uARkFYZzkcBVgPmj2BgnxRocJzCW8RZRY0JQeS_ADvCbaZsutpoSq1-LQpgFopJu1TBmyw1bDNPt4NdywzMpEQ/s1600/IMG_4969.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The next morning was spent in the world famous Keukenhof gardens
in Lisse. This was the highlight of the trip to Holland. This park
is known as the Disneyland of flowers. It was an amazing sight to see; fields
and fields of tulips and other flowers everywhere you looked. The endless
and colorful rows of perfectly planted flowers were a sight to behold and
something that I have never seen anywhere else before. Anyone with a camera could be
a professional photographer in this park because all you had to do was point
and shoot and the colorful flowers dominated the lens. I hope you enjoy some of
the photos we took.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQe20i8mN6ui_bCgyt5wyfFmW2H0cXv3tXNvmyRETqg2Ib6L9bkmSBY6vGBUM9k6v-xDc5QALdWgtDBGRLrTrgt5GfSpDcm4sQ_u7gUEseA_L3D-aQaPLr-TK2oCLkbcHdLGBvHbGX9w/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQQe20i8mN6ui_bCgyt5wyfFmW2H0cXv3tXNvmyRETqg2Ib6L9bkmSBY6vGBUM9k6v-xDc5QALdWgtDBGRLrTrgt5GfSpDcm4sQ_u7gUEseA_L3D-aQaPLr-TK2oCLkbcHdLGBvHbGX9w/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">After seeing a bit more of Amsterdam, we headed off toward Bruges,
Belgium making a few quick stops along the way. We first stopped in
Rotterdam, Holland where we visited one museum and then strolled along a canal and
visited an old windmill which is still being used today as a grain mill.
My daughter and I climbed the steep stairs to the top of the windmill
while my wife purchased some pancake mix inside. Rotterdam is a university town
and the second largest city in Holland after Amsterdam. Rotterdam is
also the largest port city in Europe and one of the largest port cities in the
entire world. After that, we headed back on our journey making a final pit
stop in Antwerp, Belgium. Besides being Dutch speaking and a large
diamond city, I really didn't know much about this city in Flanders.
Antwerp is actually a very pleasant city with a bustling outdoor European
cafe culture. Here we grabbed some of our Belgian favorite treats, including waffles
and frites (Belgian french fries). Belgium is known for some food
specialties which include their famous chocolate, waffles and Belgian style french fries. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n1uedWa857wsL_pC1FVnA9xDLxww_OvbSd2-dszzSwbrPq5o3NYB8VNOmMnd2Q_LZxIj9B4pGaHleJHS_CIp5ocMYF4AUl0hrkwT0w3go9khpRakHwBVjx4-UvQZiwEUic_6aw2K1DQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5n1uedWa857wsL_pC1FVnA9xDLxww_OvbSd2-dszzSwbrPq5o3NYB8VNOmMnd2Q_LZxIj9B4pGaHleJHS_CIp5ocMYF4AUl0hrkwT0w3go9khpRakHwBVjx4-UvQZiwEUic_6aw2K1DQ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Late in the afternoon we arrived at our destination of Bruges, Belgium. Bruges is a wonderfully preserved medieval city and also in
the Dutch speaking Flanders part of the country. The country is actually
bi-lingual, with Dutch and French as official languages, though most
people also seem to have a good command of English. I really enjoyed this
city when I first visited it as a backpacker 20 years prior. It is still a
very nice city, but I noticed things had changed a bit since my last visit.
Many of the streets were now lined with high class designer retail shops. Also, the center
had a cheesy traveling carnival and there were hordes of people in every
direction. My daughter and I wanted to climb the famous Bell tower in the
center and had to wait approximately 45 minutes in line just to get to the
entrance. There was a movie with Colin Farrell called "In
Bruges" which came out about 6 years ago and it seems that movie might
have pushed Bruges over the top as a prime tourist destination. I still
really like this city, but it seems a shame that it might have lost some of it's personal charm </span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 17.77777862548828px;">with the massive amounts of people</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. Our hotel, which was just
a 5 minute walk outside of the old town, was absolutely wonderful. We had
a large quiet room and the hotel also featured a pool which was great for the
children.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c4mCQb8rgrKhBgItpgP24sfBKXW3sV50c_CXnmslzsDJ6xpqFLiC6X_mItFZ3TEAncPiyIRlYMdhfHUnqDwOPlDsUK-DCATQqKPrakmhpjLmxTdjNohmOkA3IxFSnGSSbx_XUXTCv3Y/s1600/IMG_5063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c4mCQb8rgrKhBgItpgP24sfBKXW3sV50c_CXnmslzsDJ6xpqFLiC6X_mItFZ3TEAncPiyIRlYMdhfHUnqDwOPlDsUK-DCATQqKPrakmhpjLmxTdjNohmOkA3IxFSnGSSbx_XUXTCv3Y/s1600/IMG_5063.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">For our final day on the trip, we would make a few more pit stops
on the way to our departure city of Dusseldorf, Germany. We made a stop
in the capital of Belgium, Brussels, for lunch. Brussels is a large city and also the
capital city of the European Community. The main reason we wanted to
visit Brussels was to see the Grand Square which is considered one of the
finest in Europe. It is an impressive square with very picturesque
buildings on all sides. Brussels is also famous for a little statue of a
boy peeing, called the Manneken Pis. We found the little statue which had a
large crowd gathering around it. I couldn't believe it, all this fuss about
this statue and it is so small. I guess they built up some legend about
this little statue and feature it in their tourist information, but really it
is just a tiny statue of a boy peeing into a fountain. Brussels isn't
known for having so many touristic areas and we were satisfied just seeing the
center. Our final stop on the way back to the airport was Cologne,
Germany where we wanted to see the great Cologne Cathedral. My daughter
and I climbed up the 500+ steps to the top of the tower where we enjoyed some
of the views from the top. The Cologne cathedral is a neat, Gothic style
church in which construction started in 1248 and didn't complete till 1880.
It is a massive church and one of the largest in Europe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteprVQREhoUBTRQIqeJhuVGfSOT72GDW_qQPWaqALyIIQSva0ah0LbLvkYlRr0VWnLlE8ybFekY95PN9I-7uraPpUtF3irj97kKgZjWqa2AoPwfBVNBk05Chpjo1WGwNYkN8BylwTalk/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjteprVQREhoUBTRQIqeJhuVGfSOT72GDW_qQPWaqALyIIQSva0ah0LbLvkYlRr0VWnLlE8ybFekY95PN9I-7uraPpUtF3irj97kKgZjWqa2AoPwfBVNBk05Chpjo1WGwNYkN8BylwTalk/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1spt3iLNTM8lKPvQ-bVoQ2ceiqbf8p2CS2o-R7QY25XdgqWELnBdjnegQ8ck3tlEz8kznkPsduH2b39oogP5LgNKEC4Ct5GGEVhxGCsVReISrOJis-N99XIXugLCCrDbi1jAIjJiNKyM/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1spt3iLNTM8lKPvQ-bVoQ2ceiqbf8p2CS2o-R7QY25XdgqWELnBdjnegQ8ck3tlEz8kznkPsduH2b39oogP5LgNKEC4Ct5GGEVhxGCsVReISrOJis-N99XIXugLCCrDbi1jAIjJiNKyM/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">In just 5 days we covered a large area of this region and
definitely saw some of best the highlights of Holland and Dutch speaking
Belgium (Flanders). This is a pretty and cultural area of Europe and
definitely worth a visit in the Spring. I think the highlight of the trip
were the amazing tulip fields of Lisse in Holland. I have never seen
anything quite like it before. Tulip fields, canals, Belgian waffles,
fries and some of the finest beer will make your taste buds and other senses work overtime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf_U0yoeNlHKV08fV-Engtj8gPsSyKOOBYvXGeRsptY1tcprHYTTV_Q3YI8EZMc5HqaSGU45CEb-o_VotnrMGDR0Xy7T7PVCxEjrnw91DcFvYb5eJ1Zct_Y95TWHR52GGy8IguYeTCQs/s1600/IMG_4912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNf_U0yoeNlHKV08fV-Engtj8gPsSyKOOBYvXGeRsptY1tcprHYTTV_Q3YI8EZMc5HqaSGU45CEb-o_VotnrMGDR0Xy7T7PVCxEjrnw91DcFvYb5eJ1Zct_Y95TWHR52GGy8IguYeTCQs/s1600/IMG_4912.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-2461074156356665842014-03-16T12:41:00.002-07:002014-03-16T21:18:28.181-07:00Are the high taxes in Finland worth it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx12u_g0lQb-NJmB1xZBIFrsvdDHKkMjsw7Ocf-VqaefWPgkh3eGkBJwPS0kG5p-7dRqYI9n04VkodzzpsHW_dMv4tTp3JkTCSksptEKlyc0uZJbI65-HlehdBJWN4Zh3wmE6Ulsskspk/s1600/Taxes.1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx12u_g0lQb-NJmB1xZBIFrsvdDHKkMjsw7Ocf-VqaefWPgkh3eGkBJwPS0kG5p-7dRqYI9n04VkodzzpsHW_dMv4tTp3JkTCSksptEKlyc0uZJbI65-HlehdBJWN4Zh3wmE6Ulsskspk/s1600/Taxes.1.jpg" height="282" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A short film from Finland was recently nominated for an Academy award. Just the other day I heard on the Finnish news that the Finnish candidates who were nominated and attending the Oscar Gala for best short film would be taxed on their gift (swag) bag that was valued at 60k euros and which all of the candidates received for attending the event. The Finnish tax authorities were quoted in a news article opining that the Finnish candidates would need to pay approximately 20k euros in taxes to the Finnish government! Hmm. In case you didn't already know, Finland is not Hollywood. :) I highly doubt these short film producers earn much more cash than a typical private sector employee in Finland. However, it is interesting to note how quickly the tax authorities are to jump in and take their "share". <br />
<br />
The real question is whether Finns and foreigners living in Finland get a value for their tax dollars. I am sure we could debate this back and forth for days. Finland isn't the highest taxed country in Europe, but it is apparently near the top 5. It also ranks up with the highest tax rates anywhere in the world. Finland currently has a corporate tax rate of 20%, a maximum individual marginal tax rate of 53% and VAT (Value added Tax) of 24%. It is a progressive taxation system, so as your salary increases the tax rate increases as well. There also seems to be less of a range of incomes, with a larger median as opposed to folks all over the place like in the United States.<br />
<br />
The question is a bit more complicated than meets the eye. There are social services like efficient bus services, free education, including university tuition, disability benefits, health care for everyone, long maternity and paternity leaves and other benefits, etc. Many people do benefit from the system.<br />
<br />
Lets take e.g. health care. In Finland there is universal health care which means that everyone is covered. There are some fees, e.g. if you need surgery you pay a fee of approximately 30 Euros per each day at the hospital. The surgery itself was free. Dental care is free for kids and adults up to 23 years of age, including braces and everything else. After age 23 you pay some fees however they are not very much. For example, a dental cleaning cost me around 30 Euros, so there is still some subsidies by the government. In the United States at least until recently most people get their health care from their employer sponsored plans. Someone out of work with a pre-existing condition may pay an arm and a leg for health care or might be outright rejected from the plan. There also have been horror stories of those folks falling through the cracks between jobs. I even had a friend who was between jobs and diagnosed with cancer so he paid for everything from his pocket (i.e. large loans). This kind of scenario would never happen in Finland because everyone is paying into the system and everyone has coverage. <br />
<br />
However, is the public health care system in Finland good considering the high taxes in the country? Some people living in Finland have had negative experiences with the public sector. They have experienced long waits, talking only to nurses, and some rudeness. On the private side, it seemed that most of the people I spoke to were very happy with the health care they are receiving. I am also fortunate to receive private health care from my employer. I do like them (Diacor), but I have to admit it seems a bit odd to me that there are several private health care corporations in a social democracy like Finland. My thoughts before moving here was that health care was optimal in this system and there really wasn't a need for private sector health care providers. Interestingly enough, the private and public sectors work together. If you go to a private doctor and it turns out you need surgery, they will refer you to the public sector. All babies are delivered in the public sector and so on. I think the system works perfectly for those diagnosed with serious illness or with pre-existing conditions, however for those looking for care for minor issues the system is not functioning so well. <br />
<br />
Another example is the high cost of fuel, food and drinks in Finland. These are partially related to the 24% (13% on foods) VAT (Value added Tax) I was a bit shocked after arriving in Finland and noticing the high costs of food, drinks and everything related to automobiles (gas, parts, repair). It's not like prices are dirt cheap in US, but in Finland the prices seem just insane. Do you want to drink a fancy beer with your dinner? You are going to pay for it. For example, in the States one Sierra Nevada beer purchased at the grocery store is around $1 per bottle, here in Finland it is around $5 per bottle, so 5 x the cost. Want to fill up your gas tank on your car, it is about $8.50 per gallon here in Finland. The proponents of the system will say that the taxes are high on alcohol in order to pay for the social programs cost by alcohol and we shouldn't tax everyone else, just those who drink. I understand this way of thinking, but why does it have to be so high then? It is currently the highest alcohol tax in Europe according to a recent study. Let's take a close look at the fuel taxes. The fuel argument made by some Europeans is that we are getting much cleaner fuel and trying to get people to take public transportation to help "save" the environment Is the double price really justified in Finland (and most of Europe) in order to help the environment. I don't actually think gasoline prices being double in Finland is actually such a bad thing. I think one actual consequence of the high fuel cost is that generally speaking Europeans drive smaller more fuel-efficient cars. The Europeans place a much higher burden on gasoline taxes and "use" that extra cash to clean up the environment and place the extra money into other social services. For example, Norway is an oil rich country, but they still choose to heavily tax gasoline and use the extra funds for education and other services. To me it actually makes sense to get more people out of their cars to use the public transportation system and use the extra funds to help with other social services. I think if some Americans looked at the bigger picture then they might understand the reason for the high taxes, but I seriously doubt the US lobbyists would accept such a large increase in fuel costs.<br />
<br />
Other things that taxes in Finland provide for, include education from toddlers to University students. For example, pre-school cost around few hundred euros per month per child. Elementary, middle, and high schools are free an provide free hot lunches. University students also provide free education, aside from approximately 100 Euro annual student union fee. Moreover, students at higher education schools are also provided with some free allowance each month since their focus is supposed to be on studying. Education is free, but is it good? It is quite good indeed according to recent statistics. Finland has consistently ranked at the top of the world in PISA scores for primary education. The one negative about higher education is the difficulty in getting admitted the acceptance percentages to many universities are quite low, e.g. someone wanting to become a teacher will need to be in the top 100% of applicants for the 5-year Master's program.<br />
<br />
Another field that in most countries is paid for and managed by governments is infrastructure, that is roads, public transportation, etc. There seems to be quite wide network of trains, buses. etc. and they are typically clean and on time. It seems like there is always some construction going on in the roads, but generally they are in good shape, snow is plowed timely during the winter, etc. There are also many public sports fields, and areas from ice rinks at most school yards or soccer fields during the winter to many trails, swimming halls, etc. that are also used by Finns often.<br />
<br />
Many more topics and comparisons could be covered, but the ultimate question is, does the taxation system really benefit those people who live here in Finland? The topic could be answered each way. For me being an American who has moved over here to Finland 2.5 years ago, I have struggled a bit accepting the high taxes. I wonder if my tax money is really being wisely spent? Is the health care system optimal enough to justify costs? Are the social benefits offered here worth it for most folks? Coming from States I can appreciate the social benefits as I think it overall makes a more trusting and egalitarian system. It is definitely not a "dog eat dog" world out there and everyone is given a fair chance. However, I also feel like sometimes the taxes are a bit excessive for what I am really getting out of the system. I think the answer lies in what you value as a person and society. Are you someone who would rather go about things alone without much government assistance or someone who appreciates social services and is OK paying for them in order to benefit the entire society? I think people in Finland are definitely paying a high premium to live in this society, but then they can sleep at night knowing that they will never have to worry about losing health care coverage and can send their young children to school by themselves because of the overall security and safety of the society here. At the same time we can't build roads and train tracks with private money. So some things have to be paid by taxes. Is the USA still a good place to live and raise a family? I am personally fairly neutral on this. I actually like a little of both systems. We might not often realize what services and programs we use. It is really a tough issue with no real right or wrong answer and it really comes down to which society you prefer living in. However, I suggest that one looks more deeply into the question of how taxes affect society as a whole and not just their own personal income. There are repercussions in a society that has wealth spread too wide and one that has all the wealth in the middle. Bottom line is that there is no perfect utopia tax heaven. I think Finland's system works for some and America's system works for some. What is your opinion?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygUor25sC8D_zVH4CyS3Eax8-IqqhSoTGXMRo1YIQZ964MaArIyvdTsF5tFHS3EZ8JCaNNa8HrGasGPG2ILDfuXYFVckadnvNnqiiICHkvFwGksAWeQDOO-map2yA1ocLnKfRuoa2hzE/s1600/uncle-sam-taxes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjygUor25sC8D_zVH4CyS3Eax8-IqqhSoTGXMRo1YIQZ964MaArIyvdTsF5tFHS3EZ8JCaNNa8HrGasGPG2ILDfuXYFVckadnvNnqiiICHkvFwGksAWeQDOO-map2yA1ocLnKfRuoa2hzE/s1600/uncle-sam-taxes.jpg" height="400" width="337" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com130tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-2283963659652695192014-02-06T05:08:00.000-08:002014-02-12T03:50:35.527-08:00Would the real bird please stand up? The invasion of the Flappy Bird<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcABfXxpL1KkqwUl_2yaNin18aeEpOJxReM9P6NtZoBUoZhgxQaErgfRHXhwUW4O1-96zMp_Mz5FJZgXO7b8P9d_TdmhH6izwk8POBx3lrxwjOOA86hQ97mxNAUMZHKDjjwRENgQL69I/s1600/flappy-bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRcABfXxpL1KkqwUl_2yaNin18aeEpOJxReM9P6NtZoBUoZhgxQaErgfRHXhwUW4O1-96zMp_Mz5FJZgXO7b8P9d_TdmhH6izwk8POBx3lrxwjOOA86hQ97mxNAUMZHKDjjwRENgQL69I/s1600/flappy-bird.jpg" height="414" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
So I am going to take a sharp pivot away from my usual expat content this week to talk about a "virus" that has recently invaded people's smart phones. :) This new game sensation is called "Flappy Bird" and has just recently taken over the #1 spot for downloads on the iTunes app store. I just heard about it myself and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. <br />
<br />
So then I downloaded it for my iPhone from the iTunes app store. The first thing I noticed right away is that it had more than 50,000,000 (estimated) downloads and supposedly has over 75,000 reviews. One thing you notice about this game right away is that it is very retro with pixelated graphics and simple game play. Think Mario Brothers from the mid 80s. Essentially all you do with the game controls is move the bird up and down by pushing the screen to make the bird fly. Seems easy, right? Let me tell you, the controls are about as difficult as I have ever seen on any smart phone game; the bird barely flies and it is nearly impossible to get through the barriers (pipes) that the bird must fly through in order to keep the game going. The pipes are very close together and there is barely enough space for the bird to fly through. As soon as the bird hits a pipe, it comes down crashing and the game ends. There is no "second chance" or "continue from this spot" option. The game play is extremely annoying to say the least, but I guess there is some addictive nature to it to see if you can beat your previous high score. The score is based on how many pipes you fly through. There is really nothing else to this game, no bosses, no creatures, nothing else to see on the screen other than pipe after pipe.<br />
<br />
I am thinking to myself why is this game so popular all of a sudden? I did a bit of research and it seems the game was released last May of 2013 and didn't get much attention or downloads at all from the statistics (App Annie). Then came December 2013/January 2014 and the game downloads spiked dramatically as if the graph line was flying off the charts. So, maybe then some people just caught on to it and they shared the game with their friends? Could it be that simple, since the game company claims they didn't do any direct marketing and instead just got lucky? I was checking the reviews on the iTunes store and it occurred to me that almost every review was written in the same way and/or with the same theme. All the reviews were very long and talked about how this game is evil but addictive, blah, blah, blah. Basically saying that they didn't really like the game, but then almost every review was a 4 or 5 star rating. It definitely smells like something fishy is going on with this game. A plain retro game with tiny amounts of downloads sits in the store for 7 months, then all of a sudden it rockets to the moon courtesy of thousands of downloads and reviews. Seems that spam bot reviews were created by automated programs and automated downloads occurred to virtual devices. I can't prove it, but it seems to be the reality of this little game. If I was a betting man, I would place my money on this marketing being completely unauthentic. Fake viral marketing in a nutshell, not organic growth. This is not the way to promote yourself or your business. I highly doubt this has any staying power for the longer term. Videos like "Gangman Style" by PSY and "The Fox (what does the Fox say)" by Ylvis are creatively done and not forced virility. The same would go for the game sensation from Finland, Angry Birds, which is actually a fun game that can be enjoyed and played by all ages for a long time. The game play on Angry Birds is impeccable in comparison to that silly poseur Flappy Bird. So, would the real bird please stand up?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBvcgfuZRC-RyE7Gn6XrfvoatvGOsfylGKHMTvslb6F2J5DGu1duyYh0A1eERscbfpfM5rIIv_vDGVyWI-3CugSwmGTrMOlybzgaOBQUCJMXFr5OaO1Ig6iVh1NaDlW4uE1hC-8Qfd5Y/s1600/23997-Flappy-Bird-vs-Angry-Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvBvcgfuZRC-RyE7Gn6XrfvoatvGOsfylGKHMTvslb6F2J5DGu1duyYh0A1eERscbfpfM5rIIv_vDGVyWI-3CugSwmGTrMOlybzgaOBQUCJMXFr5OaO1Ig6iVh1NaDlW4uE1hC-8Qfd5Y/s1600/23997-Flappy-Bird-vs-Angry-Birds.jpg" height="372" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-58717461621937048612014-02-02T10:16:00.000-08:002014-02-02T10:16:11.768-08:00Finns and the weather<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaui9S4UpXZz0nOfbdlg4HV-VkrgQe_7GUPYv-SpkDw5iFoqSUuZSndsxkTDnl5wA2imbdCxvqDPrxMdvi7g_uVE9C0_zJ4FYgfDg8LgTS8ldVMKQ6C1ucTVJbmKgIZPnwkbm_XqpY34/s1600/snow_soccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVaui9S4UpXZz0nOfbdlg4HV-VkrgQe_7GUPYv-SpkDw5iFoqSUuZSndsxkTDnl5wA2imbdCxvqDPrxMdvi7g_uVE9C0_zJ4FYgfDg8LgTS8ldVMKQ6C1ucTVJbmKgIZPnwkbm_XqpY34/s1600/snow_soccer.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Snowstorm, pounding rain, sleet, frigid cold temperatures... There is really no such thing as weather that would prevent the Finns from doing what they want to do. I am not saying that they enjoy the freezing cold days, but that they will always continue on with their outdoor activities no matter what the barometer might read. There is a definite distinction as to how the weather affects outdoor activities in Finland versus where I came from in the USA. <br />
<br />
For example, if one of my children is playing soccer and the games are scheduled to be played, they will never be cancelled based on weather conditions. The games will go on no matter how cold or rainy the field of play might be (yes, I have been at the side of a soccer field in rain and in 37 F temps as well). The spectators and players will dress appropriately and just go do it. In the US there is the fear that a wet and muddy field might lead to someone tripping and getting hurt and perhaps some parent suing the city where the game was played. In Finland there is no such fear of lawsuit (because the Finnish legal system does not allow punitive damages like US allows) and there is not the same worry about the children falling and getting hurt. The other difference is that kids are taught to tough it out at earlier ages and living in a harsher climate leaves no other options. Where we lived e.g with the soccer league there was a "weather hot-line" that we could call several hours before games to confirm if they were cancelled or not. Here, my daughter has played numerous day-long soccer tournaments with continuous rain all day long. We would sit with our raincoats on and the kids would continue to play unfazed throughout the day. Since the weather is quite moody and unpredictable in Finland there is no real way to plan around it, one just needs to deal with it.<br />
<br />
The other night my son had his school's 100 day celebration scheduled for outside. The teachers were planning on grilling sausages, drinking warm drinks and doing a scavenger hunts. Well, it was quite chilly that evening (-15C, +5 F), but the show must go on. The celebration proceeded as planned and lasted 1.5 hours. I wore 3 layers under my coat and a hat, but little did I know that it really doesn't matter how one dresses, if you are just standing around in -15, it is still quite difficult to keep warm. I noticed the other parents, but no one seemed to be as cold as me or being Finns they just keep their pride and didn't show it.<br />
<br />
The funny thing about the weather is that while Finns go on in any weather and do not seem to let it interfere with their activities, this does not mean that they would not constantly talk about it. The weather, it seems, is a constant topic throughout the year in Finland. Seems that not one day goes by when I don't end up chatting with one co-worker or another in regards to the current weather. Too cold in the summer, too hot in the summer, too rainy, too humid, too icy, too freezing, too dark, too light. Regardless of the weather, the Finns will talk and most likely complain about it. There honestly never seems to be a perfect weather scenario for the Finns - but they will go on in any weather regardless. Since Finland is such a high Northern country, the weather is ever so changing and hard to forecast, so one must deal with the card they were given and stop trying worry about it. In the past 2 years that I have lived here I guess I have stopped trying to worry about the day to day weather and just accept it for what it is.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: Getty images.</span></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-58318265910860694992014-01-18T02:55:00.001-08:002014-01-21T06:25:17.896-08:00Finnish customer service or lack thereof<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is a sensitive topic and there has been much discussion about it by Expats and Finns alike. Whether it is a casual conversation with one of my co-workers or a chat with my wife, this topic seems to come up somewhat frequently. Some people believe that "customer service" and "Finland" should not even be used in the same sentence because Finland doesn't have a clue about treating the customer while others might think that everything is fine and there are just some misunderstandings among expats living in Finland. I am going to try to be neutral here, but based on observations and experiences that I have had while living here for 2.5 years, I would rate Finnish customer service a 3 on a scale of 1-10. I would estimate that from my experiences I have had a pleasant customer experience approximately 30% of the time. I guess it could be worse. :)<br />
<br />
I think the big debate here is: Are the Finns just rude and don't appreciate or give good customer service or is it just a cultural thing. Perhaps they are not really intentionally trying to be rude, but it is a perception of outsiders used to a different level of service that their level comes across as rude. I personally was shocked in regards to one experience I had after I had just arrived to the country. I needed to change the car from summer tires to winter tires so I went to a local tire shop in order to do that. First of all, when I asked the guy behind the desk if he spoke English, he said "no", but then spoke English anyways. I noticed he said the same thing to every non-Finn who came to the shop looking for tires. Sure, he might have wanted people to attempt Finnish, but rudely saying "No" to everyone who asked wasn't really a nice move. Then later it came time to get my car as it came off the platform. I tried to drive away, but the key did nothing. Some message then came on the screen which referred to the electronic system. Everything was fine before coming to the tire shop and now since they changed tires I cannot start my car. I asked for some help, but no one seemed like they cared or had the time to help. Some guy turned the key a few times and finally after some minutes they just proceeded to push my car out of the garage into the yard without saying a word. Now I was in the parking lot with a car that doesn't start and not sure how to handle it. So, then I go talk to the manager who acts surprised but gives no help at all. Almost like he just wanted the situation to go away. I called my wife, who then attempted to call the place, however, they simply did not answer the call. She finally got a manager of the entire chain on the line, who was apologetic but unable to help. I went back to my car and after monkeying around with the engine for a while and having my wife search for technical solutions online from her office, the car finally started back up. I took a deep sigh of relief and then raced over to pick up my son at school. I think even Finns would admit that this was bad customer service. <br />
<br />
I have already blogged in the past about numerous stories of frustration that my wife and I have had when dealing with Finnish banks. I was rejected many times for simple credit cards and we were rejected by banks for loan applications. Finally a good story to share when a very friendly and accommodating Finn at Danske Bank (formerly Sampo Pankki) helped us get a good rate and loan on our new home. See my earlier blog article (2012) on "Do Finns trust foreigners" for more about this experience. Also, in spite of my horror story at the car shop, we were finally able to find a friendly car repair shop in Espoo with a very friendly owner who normally accommodates our needs. I just have to remember these pleasant situations and understand that there are indeed exceptions to the rule.<br />
<br />
Another expat shared a story about how he offered to open the door for an older gentleman and after the man walked through the door and said nothing, my friend said "you're welcome". The Finnish man then proceeded to say "Well, I never asked you to open the door for me" rudely and walked away. :) Hmm, it seems like many Finns just don't want the help, they want to "do it on their own". Trust me, I know from experience myself that Finns are forever independent and proud and generally shy away from help. They do not seem to want to owe anything to anyone. I am still a bit torn over whether to chalk off these experiences and stories as rude and unacceptable behavior or just part of the culture that needs to be accepted when living in someone elses country. I don't expect things to be just like in the States when living in Finland, but I do think some form of customer service should be practiced by Finns. Sure, in the US we have much higher level of customer service and many people's livelihoods depend on the cash they receive from tips and such. Still with that said, one should not feel entitled in their jobs just because they know they will not receive anything extra or lose their job because of it. So, I actually do think that the Finns could learn a bit about customer service in the States and perhaps change their habits a bit to make their country a better place to live. Sure, every culture is different and no country is perfect, but I think it is pretty safe to say that if there is something that the Finns can improve on, it is definitely customer service.</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-10338173797652438912013-12-31T05:55:00.000-08:002013-12-31T05:55:33.353-08:00Happy New Year!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTnXo_DIZpUA5ikUGYnxhbelmXuVkng2q-KxV7BubuKmSOFf7aRwtuO5nRT8pA-UGSSIMlWqOOcMG1CVxjjziBbJ-Jjseums_sZV9-krZyWolYFhKE_5ZXypEj4-vfksp2ocpYHa4THg/s1600/fireworks_and_happy_new_year_2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTnXo_DIZpUA5ikUGYnxhbelmXuVkng2q-KxV7BubuKmSOFf7aRwtuO5nRT8pA-UGSSIMlWqOOcMG1CVxjjziBbJ-Jjseums_sZV9-krZyWolYFhKE_5ZXypEj4-vfksp2ocpYHa4THg/s400/fireworks_and_happy_new_year_2014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and wonderful 2014. The Finns says "Hyvää uutta voutta"! New Year's Eve is a bit different from Christmas in Finland. Seems that Christmas is a very peaceful family Holiday where no one appears to run around to multiple gathering, but stays local with the family. I was told that on New Year's Eve in Finland, from the time the sun goes down till midnight, fireworks become legal. Since moving to Finland we have practiced a family tradition where we light off fireworks from our front yard. There are no legal problems doing this and police do not interfere on this night. We light actual rockets, streamers and ground sparklers. The kids are always excited for this and it reminds me of my childhood back in the States when we had fireworks on the 4th of July celebration. However, I think in most places in the States, the use of fireworks is not always permitted, maybe just restricted to certain areas and types of fireworks. It is interesting how many families in the small neighborhoods in Finland take part in the New Year's fireworks. I think the cacophony from the fireworks last year began around 8pm and didn't let up till past midnight in our little neighborhood in Espoo. This seems to be the general theme around the country.<br />
<br />
There is still a distinct lack of snow on the ground here in Southern Finland and also no signs of the first major snow storm. Most people have expected the snow to fall by this time of year; however it just hasn't been cold enough. The last week or so we have had about 5C (41F). The snow is actually welcomed this time of year since it brightens up things nicely in the dark and allows for snow activities. The days are still very short now and will be until early February when it starts to get noticeably lighter with each day. The sun rises about 9:15am now and sets at 3:22pm. However short and dark the days might be at this moment, staying positive and knowing that it will eventually change helps one get through the dark, dog days of winter in Finland.<br />
<br />
As another year races by I have much to be thankful for and reflect on. 2013 was another busy year filled with fun, work, adventure, traveling and learning. Our family hasn't let go of the travel bug as we plan on visiting several more countries in Europe this coming year, 2014. Whether you live in Finland, The United States or any other place in the world, I appreciate the fact that you stopped by my blog and I hope you find some of my previous posts interesting. As always, I appreciate comments on my page and look forward to hearing your thoughts.</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-67829268910172329762013-12-02T10:01:00.000-08:002013-12-02T12:45:52.651-08:00Zappa Plays Zappa Plays Helsinki<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKb4oJieKVZ4aCjvpf8k7LuJb7vKZBla4c-C3YnXA9eWtMIvsG_hFyCbFGvUvYBzQUXUGJFKSCYc3QfihP_66gXWJXwJj_TxbU2hBdPeuJkx8GvGe2Pu8jyMAS2z9SwlrKI8Lp-Msgrxs/s1600/20131129_224352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKb4oJieKVZ4aCjvpf8k7LuJb7vKZBla4c-C3YnXA9eWtMIvsG_hFyCbFGvUvYBzQUXUGJFKSCYc3QfihP_66gXWJXwJj_TxbU2hBdPeuJkx8GvGe2Pu8jyMAS2z9SwlrKI8Lp-Msgrxs/s400/20131129_224352.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Frank Zappa was ahead of his time. He was a musical genius who constantly pushed boundaries and never compromised himself for the status quo. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This eccentric showman would leave behind quite a musical legacy that has proved
to be influential among many prominent artists. Zappa's music is hard to define, but can be characterized as a mix of experimental, progressive, parody, rock, jazz and even blues influences. He first born son, Dweezil has committed himself to bringing Frank’s music to a
younger generation via his Zappa Plays Zappa group.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GIh3zQ9owjwwBWC2kAKTsqMeAwobF_Cw9MiyZAkDmmF6CObpmqC4qfevNsoCxJGbAW0pzjQbfW14LL7OiEpUEjXs1StQt-9HdaCMWKPoQ9I5SyZYrsouu7XX1230WU5rwu1kpkCAF6o/s1600/20131129_202605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GIh3zQ9owjwwBWC2kAKTsqMeAwobF_Cw9MiyZAkDmmF6CObpmqC4qfevNsoCxJGbAW0pzjQbfW14LL7OiEpUEjXs1StQt-9HdaCMWKPoQ9I5SyZYrsouu7XX1230WU5rwu1kpkCAF6o/s640/20131129_202605.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Zappa Plays
Zappa would finish their European tour with a visit to the Kulttuuritalo (Culture house) in Helsinki. Since all concerts are quite different, my friends and I had no idea what the evening
had in store for us. The venue was a few kilometers from the city center and the capacity seemed to be
around 700 people. They kicked off the night with the first set which was done
in honor of the 1973 album, "Roxy & Elsewhere". It was the 40<sup>th</sup> anniversary of
this classic live Zappa album so they would play it from start to finish. The band
consisted of a talented female saxophone player, a multi-talented lead singer who also played horns and rhythm guitar (among other things), a talented keyboard player, a talented drummer, an awesome bassist and Dweezil
Zappa on lead guitar. The band played through their Roxy set while taking time between songs to interact and chat with the
audience. At one point Dweezil noticed some
children on the shoulders of their parents and asked them to come up and sit on
the stage to make things easier for everyone. This
was a very nice gesture from Dweezil and the children seemed to really enjoy
coming up on the stage. Also during the
first set, a few folks volunteered to come up on the stage to perform a few small acting sequences
with the band. It was awesome to see
this kind of crowd involvement and clowning around during a live concert performance in Finland. It seemed that everyone was in a good mood
and the band was just having a blast.
They definitely didn't seem like artists who just go through the motions
in order to make a buck. They also briefly celebrated the birthday of their bassist by giving him a small "Happy Birthday" cheer. Everyone was feeling groovy and digging the good old vibes of an old fashioned Zappa concert. These were true performers and multi-instrumentalists who really enjoy their craft. The first set ended after about 1.5
hours and a small 15 minute intermission would follow. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTaQEinQyL0Rxc_rOxQzmRpoIEXN_TVzPRFW_4usS5CVtJ5jvL0fqQAD9fT3c3CZEdR68hgnW2HrkjMp3deDMF4VMabtLmg7ZWi89BNZcJzyVXdXYfktj1KQkGmTuVxicBL1SUppwNiA/s1600/20131129_194839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTaQEinQyL0Rxc_rOxQzmRpoIEXN_TVzPRFW_4usS5CVtJ5jvL0fqQAD9fT3c3CZEdR68hgnW2HrkjMp3deDMF4VMabtLmg7ZWi89BNZcJzyVXdXYfktj1KQkGmTuVxicBL1SUppwNiA/s640/20131129_194839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Since they
already played such a nice first set, I had no idea what to expect from the
second set. I was thinking to myself
that just 30-40 more minutes of Zappa hits would probably be plenty of value for the money and conclude this awesome show. However, little did I know that they would perform
another 1.5 hours worth of famous Zappa songs.
While the first set was a nice mixture of songs from the Roxbury album, the second set would be a stampeding tour de force of Zappa classic and
instrumental pieces. This was truly a
special set and the fans got more than their money’s worth. They even played some of my personal favorite Zappa songs
which included the "Black Page" parts 1 and 2 and "The Muffin Man". Frank Zappa was known for his long and
creative guitar jams during his live concerts.
Dweezil, while not just copying Frank is one hell of a guitarist
himself. He displayed his guitar chops
during many of the songs from the second set which included many killer guitar riffs noticeably on "The Torture Never Stops", "Watermelon in Easter Hay" and "Muffin Man". It amazed me how relaxed
all the band members were while playing through Frank Zappa’s collection of
favorites. Many Zappa songs are incredibly
complex and feature many experimental elements and time signature changes. The band seemed to have no problem recreating
Frank’s music and kept smiling the entire night while performing. Once the clock struck 11:00pm, the band finally completed the gig with a 3rd encore song. Since the
show started just after 7:30pm, the crowd enjoyed over 3 hours of non-stop music and
entertainment from Dweezil and his amazing band of musicians. I have been to many
concerts in my lifetime and rarely have seen such a band playing so relaxed and
giving the fans every penny during a very lengthy performance. In summary, Zappa Plays Zappa was definitely
one of the highlights of the year’s past concert calendar in Helsinki. Frank
might not have been on the stage, but he was there in spirit and his star will
shine brightly on the music scene for long time to come. Thanks to Dweezil and company for helping to make that happen.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsxxNxwAfFdCqQ8eHQI5NkYlYo4vzpieGiiupj8gFnYDz_qCegTVYaQ4LrGrJNfgoetStzHpHl2zkM8t8vPM7W1L0C-uH5NnkPogJ1Kn2woxOlMcM01iU3bOedrTEnT32tVuSa-AXMII/s1600/20131129_230534+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnsxxNxwAfFdCqQ8eHQI5NkYlYo4vzpieGiiupj8gFnYDz_qCegTVYaQ4LrGrJNfgoetStzHpHl2zkM8t8vPM7W1L0C-uH5NnkPogJ1Kn2woxOlMcM01iU3bOedrTEnT32tVuSa-AXMII/s640/20131129_230534+(1).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">Ryan Brown:</strong><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> Drums</span><span style="background-color: #b5004e; text-align: justify;">,</span><strong style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">Ben Thomas:</strong><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> Vocals</span><span style="background-color: #b5004e; text-align: justify;">,</span><strong style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">Scheila Gonzalez:</strong><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> Saxophone, Flute, Keyboards & Vocals,</span><strong style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">Dweezil Zappa:</strong><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> Guitar,</span><strong style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">Chris Norton:</strong><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> Keyboard,</span><strong style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;">Kurt Morgan:</strong><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"> Bass</span><span style="background-color: #b5004e; color: white; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Complete set list here:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/zappa-plays-zappa/2013/kulttuuritalo-helsinki-finland-2bc430e2.html">http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/zappa-plays-zappa/2013/kulttuuritalo-helsinki-finland-2bc430e2.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">All photo credits: Oded Zalmanovitch</span></div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-47775849291849125162013-11-17T13:02:00.000-08:002013-12-22T14:31:00.241-08:00Finnish Diving Clowns<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNcS4oA16B3cugUGiBkKTox5aw0Mizd2slrcWlH2wXVuJdrnognGeHeGA6yJM5A0jFZfa_zK9_e2XevCMiuZWUNraSs7iNad1OCgnHbV3yHLdqSdFV3hgusQ28zgF7tqM3-3cTTpMIfY/s1600/Jerobeam+ticket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihNcS4oA16B3cugUGiBkKTox5aw0Mizd2slrcWlH2wXVuJdrnognGeHeGA6yJM5A0jFZfa_zK9_e2XevCMiuZWUNraSs7iNad1OCgnHbV3yHLdqSdFV3hgusQ28zgF7tqM3-3cTTpMIfY/s640/Jerobeam+ticket.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">We took out 6 year old son to a circus show last weekend.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">When you think of the circus, you probably think
of circus tents, clowns, animals, acrobats, perhaps even jugglers.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">For me during the last 15 years or so, circus has
been defined by catching the highly unique shows known as Cirque du
Soleil. T</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">his Finnish show known
as Jerobeam places a totally different twist on the circus concept.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This show which consisted of about 15 performers,
focuses mainly on pool diving stunts.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">All the performers in this show had painted clown faces and
they were all highly trained diving/jumping experts.
The show started with a fake lifeguard trying to tie some balloons up
near the top of the 7.5 meter diving block and another man coming to help with a
ladder before they both plunged into the swimming pool, ladder and all. From there on out it was a full on assault of
clowns doing their best dives, falls and jumps from various different heights of the swimming pool's diving blocks and springboards. Belly
flops, butt flops, head first, back first, you name it, and they probably tried
it. Seems it was likely to hurt these clowns doing belly flops from 7.5 meter blocks, but they got right
back on their feet like nothing had happened and clearly had practiced these high jumps many times. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Throughout the hour plus show they featured many different
activities including a pirate battle, lighting a man on fire before plunging into
the water, a water skier and having 6 or 7 people diving into the pool at the
same time. These guys seemed fearless
and at the top of their game. One act
towards the end really stood out as one of those “only in Finland” type of
stunts. One clown was dressed up in a ghost outfit and only had holes cut out for his eyes
so he could see. Essentially he was just
wearing a white sheet. The “ghost” walked
through the crowd, and then climbed up to the top of the highest block. Then he proceeded to remove his ghost sheet,
which now revealed that he was fully naked while he quickly placed his hands over
his private parts. Then just as people realized this</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">, he quickly jumped head first into the water while still
holding his private parts and he proceeded to swim across the pool naked to the
other side. As he reached the other
side and left the pool, he again covered his privates with his hands and walked quickly to the
locker room. This was the naked
clown act known as "nakupelle" in Finnish. Interesting enough, no one in the audience
seemed that shocked and even my wife mentioned that they do this same act with each
show. I can only imagine the horror in
the United States when the parents realize what is going on with their kids in
the audience. It would probably make the local evening news. Don’t forget Janet
Jackson’s famous Super Bowl nipple slip created a situation where live TV in the States is now
delayed around 7 seconds. It is just
the human body people, relax! Again it
outlines the cultural differences between Europe and the prude United States. If these things are not made into a “big deal” in the US then they are probably not such a big deal.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I thought the entire show was great fun and my son agreed. After the show completed some of the
performers hung around and my son made his way over promptly so he could
shake hands with the clowns. So, what a better way to cap a Saturday evening than seeing Finnish diving clowns working their magic in the swimming pool. :)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iDauGv0k8nbiE6qnCwP8YvuMXrJczupBzFkRPMXcz5OV8WSvxq1ErTMpp7TQj79PVKVoJ0SLB3xPwylxUWoCuroYtHIYIKnBG3P_H7MebF8mdwIa8REvr8iUMCtQZaze0Wk9Mtxfi-I/s1600/photo+1+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3iDauGv0k8nbiE6qnCwP8YvuMXrJczupBzFkRPMXcz5OV8WSvxq1ErTMpp7TQj79PVKVoJ0SLB3xPwylxUWoCuroYtHIYIKnBG3P_H7MebF8mdwIa8REvr8iUMCtQZaze0Wk9Mtxfi-I/s640/photo+1+(1).JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-65917983469524073892013-10-26T08:27:00.000-07:002013-10-26T15:02:37.195-07:00The Eternal City <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our children had 3 week days off from school in October for autumn break so we decided to visit Rome, Italy. I was very psyched to get back to Rome, which I consider one of the greatest cities in Europe and definitely one of my all-time favorites. Walking around the historic center of Rome feels kind of like walking through a time-capsule that dates back 2,000 or more years. Not only does Rome feature amazing ancient architecture, but it also showcases masterpieces from the Renaissance period. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPgFyhnuGnW1lNN5RCZgtNTlhLBXIzlMmKkbJ6C9herq1VrNK-cxSjq8IyBCpVdlCFtS85ZleAfJxsuj9JEl7tJHfw97YoT65G4_AZohLACIcsFm0zrxdChP5G_i-tU4SL3dxHAEQh-w/s1600/238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPgFyhnuGnW1lNN5RCZgtNTlhLBXIzlMmKkbJ6C9herq1VrNK-cxSjq8IyBCpVdlCFtS85ZleAfJxsuj9JEl7tJHfw97YoT65G4_AZohLACIcsFm0zrxdChP5G_i-tU4SL3dxHAEQh-w/s640/238.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trevi Fountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div>
We rented a little apartment near the Campo De Fiori square in the historic center of Rome. I have never been to Rome in October before and was first surprised how warm it still was and secondly how many tourists were there. My first two visits were in 1993 and in 2000, both during the summer. I remember the city being crowded then, but that was the summer. I expected October to be a bit more mellow, but judging by the crowds it seemed as if it was still the high season. Campo De Fiori square is situated very close to the Tiber river across the bridge from trendy Trastevere neighborhood and also a short walk from the touristic Piazza Navona. The first day was spent just getting orientated with our new surroundings and then eating some nice pizza and gelato. It seems that every day we ate well, indulging on thin crust pizza, nice pastas and other Italian specialties.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_sdKAwBkyavuXECGYGaJu8ebJBij_w8mXZw5tcdcOILx5bI28FoWlkdxs2RIAdnh7XisdrwBd5skKN2RmPpVQiUX5NUtqimOUUSDLg7QVuKd-yuK1O-fOL2mNEUAOgw5hhH-DdZ7X4Y/s1600/247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_sdKAwBkyavuXECGYGaJu8ebJBij_w8mXZw5tcdcOILx5bI28FoWlkdxs2RIAdnh7XisdrwBd5skKN2RmPpVQiUX5NUtqimOUUSDLg7QVuKd-yuK1O-fOL2mNEUAOgw5hhH-DdZ7X4Y/s640/247.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day 2 was spent taking a nice tour of the Colosseum, Palatine hill and Roman Forum. We entered the Colosseum first with the tour guide who nicely explained the history and use of the Colosseum. It was amazing to think about how much blood was shed during the days of the gladiators and to think how long this structure has existed. It was my third time visiting this awesome structure but it still felt very interesting and inspirational. We had another guide during our visit of the Roman Forum who explained the importance of all the buildings around the Palatine hill and Roman Forum. We learned that back in those days the simple spices of salt and pepper were like gold and were stored in safes. Having a supply of salt was the key to storing your food back then since there was obviously no refrigeration.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HBHXvpKYEpy9nHlCDLpfY6lxMbnhQDSl-e8iIf57ZlhIeBiRWTbQe3nX2EkBWNEWXFNSY8tvQ62jDf79VigAbie_uQ9wPFWZmzcT1RAvvPxxyaR_J-v9BTql4M8wGa7Mi_ly1AeWX_8/s1600/IMG_4401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HBHXvpKYEpy9nHlCDLpfY6lxMbnhQDSl-e8iIf57ZlhIeBiRWTbQe3nX2EkBWNEWXFNSY8tvQ62jDf79VigAbie_uQ9wPFWZmzcT1RAvvPxxyaR_J-v9BTql4M8wGa7Mi_ly1AeWX_8/s640/IMG_4401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colosseum</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
On day 3 we entered into a different country. Well, if you consider the tiny Vatican City another country then yes. We followed the Tiber river just 1 mile north from our apartment and ended up smack in the middle of the center of Catholicism. We soon joined hordes of tourists ready to enter the largest cathedral in the world that is St. Peters in the Vatican City. It might have been smack in the middle of October, but this is actually still high season in Italy and the line to get in St. Peters was about 45 minutes from the time we arrived. We walked a bit around and marveled at the grandeur and beauty of this place. The showcase of St. Peters is the La Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo which is featured just inside the cathedral. Later my daughter and I decided to climb up the 320 + stairs to the dome at the top of the cathedral. We raced up the stairs challenging each other to see who could keep the pace longest. Once we reached the top we were rewarded with some of the best views in the entire city of Rome. We marveled at the horizon and all the majestic buildings below us. This was truly a special place to visit and won't soon be forgotten. Once back down, we rewarded our stair climbing efforts with some tasty Italian gelato and planned our visit to the very popular Vatican Museums. This is another place I have visited in earlier trips to Rome, but it would take a lifetime or more to see all the exhibits. The main reason most people visit the Vatican Museums is to see the incredible frescoes on the ceiling of Sistine Chapel. This was Michelangelo's masterpiece and he spent 4 years of sweat and tears completing it. We trudged through the Vatican taking the shortest path towards the Sistine Chapel but it seemed that everyone else had the same idea and we were following the crowd like sheep being led to the slaughter. We did see some interesting pieces of art and sculptures along the way, but since I was carrying my son most of the way, I really just wanted to get to the Sistine Chapel. We eventually reached the Chapel and arrived there with a huge group of tourists. Words cannot really describe this place, one must visit on their own. I can say this, whether you appreciate art or not you will find the painted ceiling magical beyond words.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrGu_ZzPFwM0Y1mOFAppk0M5GjjcpSZLI60AUSzLzd_2lbtJZVOEUEIVM3Ru3g6MVnbM6JUHYOoAqPD9O5Oclw8h4hbSi9pmNhA5fwGfRemfErvZwy88r9PsRFOycyKbosK9IP8Vdmfw/s1600/IMG_4471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFrGu_ZzPFwM0Y1mOFAppk0M5GjjcpSZLI60AUSzLzd_2lbtJZVOEUEIVM3Ru3g6MVnbM6JUHYOoAqPD9O5Oclw8h4hbSi9pmNhA5fwGfRemfErvZwy88r9PsRFOycyKbosK9IP8Vdmfw/s640/IMG_4471.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Peter's basilica Vatican City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
On day 4 we would take a bit of a break from the major museums and large groups of tourists. We walked up past the famous Spanish Steps to the Borghese Park. The Borghese Park is a large, sprawling park just North of the historic center which features a villa, a famous art gallery and lots of open space for taking a break from the busy city. We took a brief visit to the famous Borghese gallery, which features work by Raphael and Bernini. Soon after that we decided to rent a four person bike and pedaled all around the park, which was great fun and the family thoroughly enjoyed the break from the museum lines. I highly recommend this park which is a nice respite from the busy city.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAfphqtLKy1EhjIMJEZmy0CZVb6RviJCnkREOPlYUU3W1AGF1e3ohsVqLU16WrShjTg1kNP1IujnHNIwobhxBz70YroHMVp-6cO3KTh_T9XTbizZyPFJLdFRKsgYhzXINh_cGhCp2wC4/s1600/162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAfphqtLKy1EhjIMJEZmy0CZVb6RviJCnkREOPlYUU3W1AGF1e3ohsVqLU16WrShjTg1kNP1IujnHNIwobhxBz70YroHMVp-6cO3KTh_T9XTbizZyPFJLdFRKsgYhzXINh_cGhCp2wC4/s640/162.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early morning job near the Tiber river</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Day 5 was our final full day in Rome and we decided to visit the famous underground tunnel burial system known as the Catacombs. These Catacombs were the burial place for many popes and Christians during the time of Christian persecution from the Romans during the 2nd and 3rd centuries. It is actually an amazing piece of history that could easily be overlooked when visiting Rome. Just when you thought you had seen all that Rome has to offer, there is always something else lurking around the corner. These Catacombs are a bit out of the way for many people so they must be visited either by city bus down the famous Via Appia Antica or by a tour bus. We decided to take a regular city bus which took around 45 minutes from the center. The Appian way is one of the most famous roads in Italy, if not all of Europe. It is the main road which took people, including Roman soldiers, back to Rome after their conquests. It is still a very neat looking road, mainly of cobblestone. The San Callisto catacomb we visited was 4 levels deep (20 meters total) and 20 kilometers of total space. So, as you can imagine the underground system was immense and buried a total of approx. 500,000 people. The tour guide, who was a visiting priest from India, took us below and we walked around a small portion of the vast system. He took us to the famous crypt of Popes, where St. Callisto himself was beheaded by the Romans. Another day in Rome and another amazing piece of very old history.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ6383YcepfvNWA23spYjWYvT4Ji6HgoGfhpRdJpPW4N6EdycOBXXhLKtH2iSn5A6lhykVABB-HsUsmKF9c3V7Ld1DicMWD_iME2gt4lrFtTqysjReXqQX7xCX4-cFhg5wFhcXEkHs5U/s1600/240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZ6383YcepfvNWA23spYjWYvT4Ji6HgoGfhpRdJpPW4N6EdycOBXXhLKtH2iSn5A6lhykVABB-HsUsmKF9c3V7Ld1DicMWD_iME2gt4lrFtTqysjReXqQX7xCX4-cFhg5wFhcXEkHs5U/s640/240.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Near the<br />
Catacombs and Appian way</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The eternal city is an amazing place to visit and probably one of my favorite cities in all of Europe. There is so much to see and do for just about everyone. It is a city of arts, ancient history, food and so much more. However as much as we enjoyed Rome, I would probably not take young children there for more than a few days. While it is a great city, it is not loaded with many children's activities besides eating pizza and gelato. :) With that said, I have no regrets and thoroughly enjoyed this visit. Since I threw a coin into the Trevi fountain, I will definitely be coming back to Rome again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-47703474006845110122013-09-15T06:20:00.000-07:002013-09-17T13:07:56.195-07:00An American expat living in Finland for 2 years now<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has now been just over two years since I moved with my family to Finland from the United States. This two year milestone is a good time to reflect on my experiences as an expat and hopefully learn from them and continue on with my voyage. I thank you for taking the time to read my blog and I hope it is something that you enjoy and can learn from as well. I hope that in my writing I never come off as arrogant or self-absorbed because that is not my intention. Yes, I know this blog is mainly about my personal experiences living abroad but since I have a larger audience now, I would hope people reading it like yourself enjoy my ramblings and perhaps gain some insights as well. I think it could be especially useful for someone wondering or perhaps considering to make a move abroad.<br />
<br />
Time really does fly and before you know it the children are growing up and the years are passing you by. So much happened during my second year living abroad in Finland. At this time last year, we purchased a home in Espoo and that experience in itself was quite scary, but we survived. Buying a home in a foreign country can be daunting, but once we figured out the rules and got through the red tape, it wasn't such a bad experience. Fortunately the interest rates in Finland are at rock bottom now, so it makes perfect sense to buy instead of renting even if only for a few years. Life went on as usual, my children kept busy with their school and sports activities, I remained working for the same start-up in downtown Helsinki and we went on several trips and adventures. I was also able to see some amazing artists live in Helsinki, including Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, Omar Rodriquez-Lopez, Rush, Kiss and The Smashing Pumpkins.<br />
<br />
Last winter (2012-2013) was long and cold, but we were able to enjoy winter sports and other winter activities. But like all things in life, the winter came to and end, so it wasn't so bad. This last summer was fairly dry and warm and was probably one of the best in Finland in a long time. The seasons change and everything seems to balance itself out. Life is fairly normal now, we know more people in the neighborhood and in the school network and we are familiar with most of the local shops and know how to get from place to place without much hassle.<br />
<br />
I have learned so much from living abroad and I am still learning more almost everyday. It is always eye-opening to see how things are done in a culture and country other than you own. Sometimes you are shocked and others times awed by the little things that you are not used to, but each day you learn and grow. I am starting to crack the code of Finnish society, but it definitely takes some time and effort. Finns are not going to become your best friends overnight, there is trust and patience involved. I have learned much about the Finnish workplace and the value of time off. I have learned how people here have a greater separation between work and personal life. I have learned how folks are more efficient with space and how they recycle more. I have experienced the silence on buses and the peaceful walks through the endless forests. Of course, learning and experiencing should never stop as it keeps one's inner fire burning. I think what I have learned this far in life through my travels and living abroad is that we should always keep our minds and hearts open, we should never stop learning and experiencing and try our best to avoid stagnating. Of course it is easier said than done, but let's not forget that we only have one life and it is short so why not try to live it to the fullest? </div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3871471567423152197.post-51482415957867048522013-08-25T04:25:00.001-07:002013-09-17T13:04:20.969-07:00Summer Vacation Part 3 (California and Finland)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The 3rd and final leg of my summer holiday started the same day I returned from Greece. We arrived back to Helsinki at 3 am and I grabbed a few hours of sleep before jumping back on a plane heading towards Los Angeles. This part of the trip involved some business in Los Angeles and Las Vegas for my employer, followed by a quick visit home to the San Francisco Bay Area. I was excited again to return to my home state, even though I needed to work during the first part of the week. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2YLqUdwPmzmbYbtSMQlH_XR1Qkj6lRLV5pFbbKWxd2GoDl91e7Raow_N_lRgkK_IYXnOs998wMywwjqGyfdpDa63PeW6hiTBSWAwiIkgVlEph9xNWMRNeQZQfWLmkaJ3yCvbC08zKhg/s1600/167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2YLqUdwPmzmbYbtSMQlH_XR1Qkj6lRLV5pFbbKWxd2GoDl91e7Raow_N_lRgkK_IYXnOs998wMywwjqGyfdpDa63PeW6hiTBSWAwiIkgVlEph9xNWMRNeQZQfWLmkaJ3yCvbC08zKhg/s640/167.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misson Inn, Riverside, Ca</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
No need to get into details of the business portion of the trip, however I was quite amazed at the hotel that I stayed at while in Riverside, California. I stayed at the historic Mission Inn hotel which made my stay feel a bit more like a vacation than a business trip. The Mission Inn was built in the Spanish Mission style just over a 100 years ago and has been visited by many famous dignitaries and important folks through out its history. Albert Einstein, Emelia Earhart, Teddy Roosevelt among many presidents stayed here. Ronald and Nancy Reagan had their honeymoon there as well. The hotel was palatial and in addition to the interesting Spanish style architecture, it had 2 bars, 4 restaurants, a swimming pool and various staircases, nooks, crannies and meeting rooms. It is definitely one of the most impressive hotels I have ever stayed at and for $125 per night for a large room (about 95€), it was an absolute steal from what I am used to in Europe. So, in between work sessions I was able to indulge in awesome food and swim a bit in the pool and soak in some California sun. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFi5An3aSpDuMEe-voFB3dXCXYUuDcdfJ5TTSGat45DBRvllVEXVNsjAJKxOZvxQyva8a648BEkMKLheoDaWc51hUEWdin8Awjq9OVBPLhftGhgK8kvmCxPwHk3dFC8It3nfHPwYTI3Y/s1600/179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFi5An3aSpDuMEe-voFB3dXCXYUuDcdfJ5TTSGat45DBRvllVEXVNsjAJKxOZvxQyva8a648BEkMKLheoDaWc51hUEWdin8Awjq9OVBPLhftGhgK8kvmCxPwHk3dFC8It3nfHPwYTI3Y/s640/179.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grand staircase, Mission Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At the end of the week, I drove over to Venice beach from Riverside, strategically trying to get on the freeways during light commute hours, which is almost impossible in Los Angeles. The traffic in Los Angeles and its surrounding areas is an absolute nightmare and even worse for someone coming from calm and efficient Finland. However, with that said I made decent time from Riverside to Venice beach. I hadn't been down to the famous Venice beach area since I was a small child and I had no idea of the motley characters that now call it home. There is the famous Muscle beach which was a showcase to the muscled celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joe Weider among others. As I walked down the beachfront, I noticed jugglers, entertainers, freaks, a man playing guitar on skates, various merchants, aggressive dudes trying to sell their new rap CD's, among other characters. It reminded me a bit of the old Telegraph Avenue area in Berkeley as a beach community in Los Angeles. A lunch near the water, hanging out a bit near the beach and strolling down the beach front and I was ready to go back to the airport and head back home (San Francisco, CA). I always enjoy a trip back home to relax and catch up a bit with family and friends. However, as always time seems to fly and my short stay at home was over and I was again at the airport and boarding an airplane back to Helsinki.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq5pIxfByFvm-T4XU7wzsYBkQuwYTsSM6miIZu8DRdsXi96P4ovIrfuM1uINXKAkFj3kD-e8iXDVASM3cvQBYF-LjlWAU7vt9Y7hqgRjnEKdwKJX6dqVKymuGLjKoVyhNEjU5PCWe3Zw/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq5pIxfByFvm-T4XU7wzsYBkQuwYTsSM6miIZu8DRdsXi96P4ovIrfuM1uINXKAkFj3kD-e8iXDVASM3cvQBYF-LjlWAU7vt9Y7hqgRjnEKdwKJX6dqVKymuGLjKoVyhNEjU5PCWe3Zw/s640/002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Saimaa</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My wife already had plans to visit her grandmother who lives in the North Karelia area of Finland and driving there takes around 4 hours from Helsinki/Espoo. I have been to this area several times in the past and have always enjoyed it. The drive takes you directly through the Finnish lake land region which features the great Saimaa lake among other natural sites. We would spend an afternoon visiting her grandmother before driving over to a campground in the Punkaharju ridge area. This gorgeous area features views of the Saimaa and a drive across a high ridge that splits one of the lakes in half. This was our first camping experience in Finland and it was nice, the facilities had everything one could ask for including clean showers, restaurants and activities. The next day we visited the famous city of Savonlinna which features the best preserved castle in all of Finland as well as a lively market at the lakefront. It was another beautiful, sunny day in Finland to stroll around, take in some views and enjoy our surroundings. The long drive back home included passing through the center of the Saimaa and stopping for lunch in the lake port city of Puumala. Puumala is a neat little city that is right in the heart of the lake region and features a nice harbor for the boats that seem to come and go all day long. Then we continued the journey through the lake region taking in the views along the way and then back home to Espoo. It was the wonderful end to a long summer Holiday. I can say that this summer was definitely one of the most memorable in a long time and the weather in Finland cooperated. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbrMSFBnsi_s5wdgN6WEPu0vzeRVtD4x_Vzg4Dl8akGYSBktmdVFkuUAM2PT99XgZ_unlTH2uhguQA_6hiETy0zM5v0MkLNIhYqbsvWYjzZgVhx3C2GuEAbqybKI886DYYMYhSW2yC68/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIbrMSFBnsi_s5wdgN6WEPu0vzeRVtD4x_Vzg4Dl8akGYSBktmdVFkuUAM2PT99XgZ_unlTH2uhguQA_6hiETy0zM5v0MkLNIhYqbsvWYjzZgVhx3C2GuEAbqybKI886DYYMYhSW2yC68/s640/001.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punkaharju ridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
markcathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17786721328220247575noreply@blogger.com1