Covered in snow

Snow is covering Helsinki and its surroundings. But temperatures are rising and during the next week plus degrees are predicted.

So enjoy the snow as long is it is here. Have a nice Sunday!

Beautiful winter

The best part of winter started. Now temperatures are fairly mild with just around -10 degrees. The sun is out and reflecting in the white snow.

Enjoy your Sunday and have a good start into the week!

Red sky

Now the November as we know it in Helsinki has really started. The sun only comes out occasionally, it's wet and getting colder. The northern part of Finland already got the first snow. But from time to time, when the clouds move away during the evening hours, the sky glows in the most amazing colors.

Have a nice weekend despite the grey November weather. And let's hope for a few rays of sun in between.

Early sunsets

Today it is a late post for a change. Darkness comes early these days. But the setting sun also paints some beautiful colors all over the sky.

Have a good start into the week!

Fully equipped islands

Did you know that there are a couple of public islands in the Helsinki and Espoo archipelago? Apart from the ones you can reach by ferry there are also a couple of others that you can visit with a boat.

The amazing thing is that they are pretty well equipped for visitors. You will almost always find toilets, as well as a fireplace with pots and pans. And you will even find islands with a public, always heated sauna. And if you fancy, you can also bring your tent and stay over night.

Find an overview of the islands on Espoo's and Helsinki's websites.

Espoo Jazz 2015

Hei jazz fans. If you don't have anything planned yet for the upcoming days then be prepared to fill up your calendar. Today the yearly Espoo Jazz Festival starts again.

A program filled with finest jazz is awaiting you. Finnish and international jazz musicians will play in different locations around Espoo. You can buy your tickets online from the official website. And some events are even for free. The festival goes on until Sunday.

You get to Espoo easily by bus from Kamppi. Have a look at the program and enjoy the music!

Spring is close

The last snow and ice is melting. The plus degrees during the last days as well as the first sunny days have cleared most streets and paths already. And it looks as if the temperatures won't drop much anymore.

Have a nice Sunday!

Red Bull Crashed Ice Championship 2015

With speeds of over 60 km/h six guys racing down a winded ice course with turns, banked corners and jumps on skates, that is Ice Cross Downhill. If you'd like to see that live and in action you should come to Serena in Espoo today.

There the Red Bull Crashed Ice Championships are held today. Watch the best ice cross skaters from around the world compete for the trophy. The finals start at 18.00. Doors open already at 15.00 and the entrance to the event is free. You just have to find your way to Serena. To find out how to get their and for more information on the event check out the Serena website.

At the sea

The sun probably won't be shining today. A Father's Day walk along the sea might anyway be nice.

Have a great Sunday!

All Saints' in Finland

Have a nice All Saints' Day today and enjoy the sunshine!

And keep in mind that almost all shops are closed today.

Have a nice weekend!

Morning light

Thanks to the end of the daylight saving time we can all get up one hour later. This also makes the mornings a bit brighter again.

Have a good start into the week!

Library on wheels

The library system HelMet in the capital area works flawlessly and is just really good both in terms of service and selection. But there is even more to it than just the normal libraries. Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa also have their own mobile libraries.

Big busses filled with books drive through the cities and stop at several destinations every day to make the library service even more accessable. You can just come here and browse through the books or even reserve your book to be brought to your neighborhood by bus.

For the schedule and all stops check out the timetable of the library busses in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa.

A beach weekend

This weekend awaits with hot summer temperatures again. The best thing to do is to spend the time at the beach and refresh in the cold water.

Around Helsinki you find lots of great beaches along the shoreline. And even though it has been quite cold during June the warm temperatures of the last days and weeks have warmed up the sea that much that swimming is possible without problems. Especially at beaches with shallow water like Lauttasaari's Kasinonranta the temperatures can be as high as 23 degrees and more. Or head to a lake in Espoo or Vantaa.

Check out the list of all the beaches in Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa and enjoy the weekend!

Fog over Keilaniemi

This morning thick fog wobbled over Helsinki and Espoo and packed the Keilaniemi shore into a big white cloud. This is how it looked.

Have a nice day and a good start into the weekend!

Free outdoor pool

You would like to go somewhere swimming with the kids during those warm summer days? But the sea is still too cold?

Then head to Tapiola. Next to the Tapiola swimming hall you find two outdoor pools. And the best thing is that there is no entrance fee. The first, deeper pool has a diving platform, the second one is just for paddling.

There is also a life guard on duty to make sure everything is ok. Take a look!

Lunch on the sunny terrace

The weather is beautiful outside and you have to sit in the office? Then try to get at least some sunshine during your lunch break. If you are one of the many people working at Keilaniemi or Otaniemi you might want to try out Ravintola Keilalahden Ranta.

You get an amazing lunch buffet with a wide slection of salads, bread, meat and vegetarian dishes. Each day they have another fresh smoothie included in the buffet. All together for 10 €. Which might be much compared to other lunch places. But for what you get there, especially qualitywise it is a really good deal.

The best part about Keilalahden Ranta is the big sun terrace with seats in the sun or the shade. From there you have a great view over the Keilaniemi bay.

Check it out!

The beauty of a rainy day

The rainy weather also has its upsides. Yesterday the sun pained an amazing rainbow into the sky over Helsinki.

This picture was taken on Länsiväylä in Espoo driving towards Helsinki.

Off to the islands

The summer is coming back and now also the ferries to all the beautiful small islands around Helsinki and Espoo operate again. Go for a boat ride to Iso Vasikkasaari, Suomenlinna, Uunisaari or any of the other wonderful places for a relaxed summer day trip.

Enjoy the summer!

Smokin' hot advertisement

In most cases advertisements are just annoying. But sometimes they manage to surprise.

Like at Iso Omena shopping center in Espoo. Here they installed a completely new way to present advertisements. This machine makes smoke fall down vertically onto the escalators and projects the add onto the falling smoke. From afar it looks like a waterfall and it is funny to see people's reaction to it. Check it out if happen to be in the area. You have to take the escalators from the supermarkets down to the parking lot.

Microsoft moved in

The characteristic Nokia building at Keilaranta has changed its tenant and is now Microsoft's new home in Finland. Yesterday the new signs were put up. Starting from tomorrow the smart and mobile phone department at Keilaranta will start operating as part of Microsoft. 

Nokia now focuses on their remaining three businesses which are network infrastructure (NSN), location-based services (HERE) and Advanced Technologies. Nokia's Head Office is now based in Karakallio, Espoo.