The Egg

I have recently made a commitment to start biking again. This has resulted in 3 things:

1. I now arrive at meetings wet from either rain or sweat. At the same time my work partner Marika has developed a habit of wearing Nanso night dresses as day dresses so we make an interesting combo.

2. I have allowed myself to eat fries at lunch.

3. We have had to resolve the problem of transporting two kids with one bike.

I wasn't always an evil car driver. I used to bike daily but then the child transportation problem came up. I did find the perfect solution, a dutch Bakfiets cargo bike, but it took me several years to realise that I wouldn't be making that kind of money in the foreseeable future. So we decided to lower our expectations and look at trailers which I think are mostly quite ugly.

It was my husband that spotted this Lokari trailer (Finnish design!) somewhere and it was the first of its kind that I felt I could live with. We hunted for it for a few days and found a used one for one tenth the price of a Bakfiets. So I'm very happy. We have nicknamed it "The Egg".

Apparently it's very comfortable as one passenger has fallen asleep. On warm days the top slides off.

The following are views from the Egg from the perspective of the passengers.

Happy in Hakaniemi

Maybe one of the last warm days of summer. Coffee in a paper cup. An inquisitive  six year old asking how many days we've known each other (2021 days). Three gentlemen playing finnish evergreens. The orange tents that are always the same. Manna porridge with butter at the Kahvisiskot tent when it get's cold. Hakaniemi market is my happy place.

Secrets of 'Southern Helsinki'

A few years ago, I guess it was in the 1900s, I worked in a project with a Finnish company. One of their staff members used the phrase 'Southern Helsinki' when referring to their manufacturing taking place in Estonia. I clearly remember his face when saying this. He really thought that he was cracking the best joke ever. I never found that funny, and it didn't get any better as he repeated it too many times (secret number 1.)

This summer I went to Pärnu for a few days with friends. Pärnu is a well-known spa city in Southern Estonia. It was my first time there and I have to say I fell in love with the place! It is an attractive, calm seaside city with beautiful long beaches - just a perfect place to recharge your batteries. Only 1,5 hours from Tallin by car. It is time to finally forget Lanzarotte. Pärnu is definitely the hidden gem of Northern Europe (secret number 2)

Rannahotell Pärnu is one of the landmarks of Estonian Functionalism. Just perfect atmosphere and located right on the beach. Rooms with beautiful balconies overlooking the sea were attempting but we only had some nice cocktails in the bar. One of our trip’s themes was to support local small businesses so we preferred a small B&B over the Rannahotell as it is nowadays part of the Scandic chain. During off-season (October-April) you can rent the whole Rannahotell for less than 3000 Euros! 60+ rooms, staff, and the whole building is reserved only for you and your guests. (secret number 3)

Get spa treatments, do sports and be healthy!

Seven different rhubarb dessert, Ammende Villa