Maybe Your Country Is Only A Place You Make Up In Your Own Mind. Something You Dream About And Sing About.

A smile, in return to a smile

So I’ve been here for almost three weeks now. There’s been quite a range of different kind of emotions you go through when you move abroad. There’s been times when I’ve seriously doubted myself and all of this me being here- thing but after all, at the end of the day I do enjoy it all and I’m so glad I came. The stories I hear from other newcomers who’ve lived here now for months or even for years inspire me. Also the little moments of success of my own; when I get by in a café, groceries' or in a bank in French, encourage me. 

The passed few weeks I’ve just been on holiday really. Mainly also because of the weather which has been very hot and sunny. Rainy days basically zero so far. I've just been learning my way around here, what’s the closest grocery store or the best coffee or whatever. Preparing some practical things as well like getting a bank account and canadian number. But in this week I’m gonna start going to the gym again and most of all, looking for the job.  Let’s see how that’s gonna turn out..

So far no homesickness. Or I do miss certain things which I can’t find in here. I don’t know how sad/terribul/weird it is that those things are all food related :D I would sell my soul for Devil’s Jam right now or for the large finnish section of ice creams in the groceries back home. I’m really starting to realize that Finns might actually be the biggest consumers of ice cream in the world. Though I have to admit that Canadians have bigger ice cream jars (2L). Surprisingly the strawberry has become my favourite!

I do miss knowing everything. Where to get different stuff from or how to do things. Now I have to ask for help or just do things over and over again untill I get them right, find what I was looking for. But now I’m starting to get a hang of things here. Having an Internet connection helps tremendously to stay in touch with friends and family back home, sometimes I feel like I never left – I seriously don’t know how people coped before!

(Olympic Stadium, Montréal - notice the Finnish flag there up front!)

I’ve done a bit travelling as well. My first and one of the many trips here in Canada was to the capital itself, Ottawa. Bilingual, quite small, only 800 000 people living there but so british and clean! Huge amount of museums which I managed to visit only in one, Canadian museum of civilization. Btw loved the river being the border of two provinces, Ontario and Québec.  

(Where you can cross borders by crossing the bridge in Ottawa)

I do love this neighbourhood I’m living in. I’m so grateful that I found a room in this particular area. It’s full of restaurants, cafés, shops, parcs nearby, everything you need really. Small town of its own. Lots of immigrants here, you can hear so many languages.. The closest metro station is at 15min walking distance and there are plenty of bus connections as well. Even during the night. The best bagels in the city are just around the corner.

Financially cannot do much saving here. Apart from the rent of my room. Living is more expensive than in Spain for sure but not more than in Finland. There are positive surprises though, meat is cheaper here clearly. And I love the selection of cheeses, thanks to the French cuisine. I’m loving how local based most of the products are here.

What I love the most about living in this city is that there is always something happening, somewhere.The same diversity can be seen in the city itself and the people who live here. I’d like to triple myself to be able to attend to all the events, activities I’d like to see. The most happening day of the week seems to be Sunday. Tam Tam's, Piknic Elektronik, Pride etc.. 

There’s always a party going on in some part of the city. Every new day is a mystery. You don’t know what you’re gonna do and who you’re gonna meet. I've met some Québecois, some Canadians and some international people like myself. Some might stay in my life a bit for longer and others maybe not but I still enjoyed the time when their paths crossed mine. This is the best of travelling! 

(Piknic Elektronik, Sunday afternoon: waaay much better than any friday night out!) 

Sintra - first impressions

A small town at the edge of Lisbon metropolitan area that has a story to tell. The royals’ favorite the Portuguese and foreign ones, inspiration for artists and number one destination today’s travelers in Portugal. Sintra holds the country’s most iconic castles that will stand out from the rest of the world’s royal palaces.

Castelo dos Mouros and Sintra 

It was thanks to the royal family of Portugal who’d been chanted by Sintra mountains, fountains and the ocean around them for thousands of years. Many of the palaces served as ”holiday cottages” for several royal families during centuries. The most recognizable ones stand on top of the mountains,” of the moons” they used to call them in the ancient times and worth of every step you take uphill. The Palació de Pena used to be a monastery dating from Middle Ages and is today one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The transformation from a monastery into this colorful candy palace took place in 19th century by Prince Ferdinand. The castle has been forgotten and abandoned in between the centuries as impossible as it sounds. How can someone forget something so colorful, stands on top of the mountain and can be seen as far from Lisbon in a clear weather! The last Queen of Portugal spent her last night in the country in this very palace. Since Portugal turned into a republic the castle has been serving the public as a museum. Architecturally the palace has wide range of styles in it and can be divided into four sections which all enlighten its historical past.

Palació de Pena

Castle of Moors which no one quite knows where it started. Dating somewhat from the 8th and 9th centuries from the Muslim era, it is part of Sintra national landscape and UNESCO World Heritage Site. The original idea of it was to protect the capital as the country. It holds the best views I’ve seen in Portugal so far. Some people don’t appreciate it cause it’s just ”the walls” but it’s great to take steps somewhere as this historical and pass all the flags of Portugal that have represented the nation during 900 years.

There are bus connections up there you know. Or you can take a taxi or tuktuk of course. Or do it like I do walk all the way up and down and die pretty much after the 5 hour adventure. Or I might have been just out of shape since we’re not exactly talking about Mont Blanc or Everest here just a few hundreds of meters going uphill. If you happen to be in Lisbon in the summer don’t miss the chance to visit Sintra. But if you can, wait since you’ll be making the experience so much more pleasant with less tourists during the winter season.

Some of my favourite houses found on my way up to the mountain

The reputation as a fairytale is highlighted by the forests and gardens around these two castles. Take an hour or two while getting lost in them. They also offer a cool shade during a hot day. Sintra holds more castles also but I haven’t visited them yet so don’t bother to write about something I haven’t experienced myself. Sintra’s small town is also an UNESCO World Heritage Site but didn’t think much of it. Except that it’s super small. Along the streets and in the parks folks sell all sorts local products. Some would say they’re touristic junk but I definitely refer them as worth stopping for!

In case you’re not into the enchanted castles you can always hop on the bus to the most Western point of Europe Capo da Roca. The bus ride for an 1 hour was quite nice driving along the small Portuguese roads through small villages. The actual spot which stands as the westernmost point is quite small but there seems be to a lovely looking natural park surrounding it. Didn’t fancy much of a taking a stroll on a super windy winter day so that’s yet to be discovered. But for someone who comes from a country with lakes and as flat as Finland – the rocks and that gigantic ocean was a powerful view. Knowing that the next spot of dry land is thousands of miles away. It was a place to be experienced with all senses: feel the strong wind coming from the ocean, hear the powerful noise of the waives rushing to hit the rocks and see all of that with your own eyes.

National Pantheon in Lisbon aka Church of Santa Engrácia started in 17th century but not completed until in 1966. This is the last resting place to many famous portuguese characters for example the Presidents of Portugal and portuguese royal family. Not free but worth a visit and there’s a cool viewing point upstairs. 

+ On my way there found this cutest portuguese house with all the plants, laundry details! 

Random summer shots in #Helsinki!

Randomly Lisboa! 

Masterlist

Contains my photos and blogs from 2017 on. Updating as we go along and digging some older posts from MTL times. 

BLOG 

Eurovision

UMK 22 

Host City 22 : Turin

ESC 20 : Best Non-English Entry

UMK 20

Eurovision 2018, Lisbon. 

ESC 19: Songs that I love but others don’t / Artists coming back to ESC / Songs that I don’t love but others do / Different genres / UMK artist guess / 

ESC 18: Positive review / Negative review / Songs that I loved but other’s didn’t / Non-English songs / Biggest growers / Different genres / The BIG 6 / Saara Aalto Songs / Mid tempo tracks / 

ESC 2023: 10 things I don’t want to see / Voting system to be changed / Who will qualify SF2 / Who will qualify in SF1 / Top 5 Non-English Songs / 

UMK23: Keira / Benjamin / Robin / Lxndra / Käärijä / Kuumaa / Portion Boys / The worst UMK stagings / UMK23 review / 

UMK24: Cyan Kicks / Sexmane / Sara Siipola / Jesse Markin / Windows95Man / Sini Sabotage / Mikael Gabriel x Nublu 

Lisbon Life : 

LX Blogs / LX tips Part 1 / LX tips part 2 / 1 year in LX / Sintra first impressions / Quilty 6 months in LX /  Fall 2017 / One month in LX / 2w / PT expectations / Going to LX / 

Something else 

100 years of Finland / 3 x / Home / Geography of my way / 

PHOTOGRAPHY: 

Lisbon

Sintra / Lisbon before Covid-19 

Lisbon Before Covid-19

Lisbon Before Covid-19 Part 2

Mixed: Olaias Metro, the most beautiful / Xmas / Less known LX / Random Part 1 / Pantheon + random / Rua August sunrise / 

Waterfronts : Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / 

Parque das Nacoes: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / 

Belem: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / 

Palaces: Queluz part 1 / Queluz part 2 / Belem Part 1 / Quinta da Regaleira Part 1 / Pena and the Moors Part 1 / Pena and Moors Part 2 / Pena and Moors part 3 / Pena and the Moors part 4 / Pena and the Moors part 5 / Royal Palace of Ajuda / 

Lisbon Streets: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8 / Part 9 /  Part 10 / Part 11 / Part 12 / 

Beach: Part 1 / Cascais / Praia da Ursa

Sétubal: Part 1 / Part 2 / 

Arrabida : Part 1 / Part 2 / 

Portugal

Berlengas: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / 

Azenhas Do Mar: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / 

Porto: Part 1 / 

Nazaré: Part 1 / Part 2 / 

Évora: Part 1 / Part 2 / 

Braga: Part 1 / Part 2 / 

Coimbra: Part 1 / Part 2 / 

Costa Nova

Helsinki

 Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / 

Lahti

 Lake: Summer Part 1 / Winter Part 1 / Winter Part 2 / 

Travels

Bologna: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / 

Amsterdam : Part 1 / 

Galicia:  part 1 /  part 2 / part 3 / part 4 / part 5 / 

These are the hoods where I work every day! Parques das Nacoes in Oriente.

Discovered the coast of Cascais this weekend! Unfortunately my settings weren’t correct so my shots weren’t that good but oh well..here they are! Gonna do another visit there one of these weeks.. 

The buildings of Helsinki. Loving the colour and small details in them.

Setubal, 1h away from Lisbon. Gorgeous beaches, cute little town. Heaven for seafood lover. Annual Eurovision concert :)