Baltics, Denmark and Switzerland

Apart from a little capoeira and a lot of night life not much to has changed over the last 6 months. I stayed London all summer, if you can call 10 days of sun summer? It was ok, there are loads of festivals and concerts ranging from the marijuana festival to the Latin and Notting hill carnivals.

I decided from now on to get out of London for 4-5 days each month .



In September I went to Denmark. First to Aarhus, a small university town (2nd largest city in Denmark) to visit a friend I travelled with in Argentina. I did a lot of exercise as everyone uses bicycles for transport. Aside from riding around, I saw a few Danish bands and tried some typical food-frigadelic (Danish meatballs). I also played in a volley-ball tournament at my friends Uni. while drinking lots of Carlsberg beer.

Then I jumped on a ferry to Copenhagen were I spent my last few days. A charming city with a mix of old architecture and castles, a modern excess of MC Donald’s, 7-elevens and Irish pubs. Funny enough as soon as I got to the centre I accidentally ran into some Kiwi’s I know from London.

The women are very fit but not all blonde as you might think. I found the locals initially distant but very friendly, helpful and hospitable. If you go to the right places it isn’t as expensive as London. I had a good time though.



In October I spent relaxing week in Switzerland. I started out in Interlaken, where a dutch friend of mine is living and working (Balmers Hostel)… It’s a little town in between 2 lakes and a few mountains. Like most places in Switzerland I visited. It’s famous for it’s extreme sporting activities : Skydiving, bungee jumping, river rafting, climbing and skiing etc...We spent a day on the scooter just riding around visiting the neighboring mountain villages and lakes. Some amazing scenery. Before heading to Zurich , I also passed through Thun and Luzerne.

In Zurich I stayed with a mexican friend of mine that I used to work with in Ios (Greece) some years ago. We went out with his girlfreind and some of her friends (that we both know from Greece) for a little reunion…. We met another friend of mine that I met in bolivia and again in Colombia (by chance). She is Swiss and invited us for a really delicious cheese fondu which later turned into a night of rum and guitar before we all headed off to an 80’s party. Up till now I had not seen any Swiss dancing so it was a fun to see.



Had a great time catching up with all my friends again and remembering what lakes and mountains look like. London has another type of scenery…………and usually the colour is always grey!

Overall I found Switzerland beautiful, expensive, very clean and small. Aside from the neutrality of the Swiss which is particular. I would sum up Switzerland as just mountains, lakes and Money. Most parts of the country are very rural and the main cities are quite cosmopolitan .

The Baltic’s - Latvia and Estonia



My first impression was fog and cold. After a few days it was still cold.... Although I was very impressed with Riga, not only because of the stunning and very well dressed women but Riga’s city centre itself. Most of the centre is beautiful.A rich mix of architectural styles (from several periods) ranging from German, Swedish and Sovietic influences etc. I aloo had some really good meals. I tried the famous Lido restaurants and had some amazing steaks (somthing lacking in london).



Latvia is still reasonable as the average salary is about 150/200 pounds a month. Although the more north you go the more expensive and colder it gets. Which goes for the people as well. I was lucky to have freinds in Riga ( I refer to them as the smiling latvians). I did not see many people smile or laugh in the Baltics. They don't talk much either, at least initially . I think they lighten up with time?

My freinds took me to a historical festival just outside of Riga. It was interesting to see how latvians used to live and dress a few hundred years ago. It didn't stop there we had to join in for folk dancing, ritual music and a mating folk dance .I tried a few strange local foods like liquid bread with cream (which was tasty), balsamic shots and snakefish (which I did not care for too much).



Tallin (Estonia) was different to Riga. The mid-evil historic centre was also very picturesque (tiny) but did not seem very estonian as it's shops, bars and restaurants cater almost exclusively to tourists. Infact estonians in general were not so thrilled to see tourists, probably since the Fins take a ferry every weekend from helsinki and come to Tallin to get drunk. I did meet a few nice Estonian Russians though…. The rest of the city centre is more modern then Riga but far less attractive. Prices are also higher, especially in the old town.

Finland

Some of the worst weather I have had yet.. Cold, rain, wind ....The sun sets at 3pm in the afternoon.. There was also a storm, that delayed my ferry 8hrs.... After a short stay in Helsinki, not a bad city. I spent a few days in Tampere- a university town known for its black sausage (don't ask). I Spent my time there mostly with a group of 20 international students from everywhere and a Finnish mate.

Finland is an odd place.The people love to drink to the point where I could say they are all alcoholics. A little crazy as well. They also do not know the meaning of sorry or excuse-me. after they have stepped on you and bumped into you countless times- nada(usually behavoir in a bar).

Fins don't like their neighbours (neither the Swedes or the Russians) and are not big travellers. Fins can only buy wine and alcohol at a special shop ( a monopoly controlled by the government) called Alko... I imagine this is to re-strict them as they have no control when it comes to drinking. Fins have a suana culture which is nice (Even the dorms have suanas)....

Overall I met some cool Fins, but I don’t think they are typical, usually finns are quite distant and take a while to get to know, unless they are pissed drunk.

I have in very few instances in my life felt as cold as now and would recommend that you come to these countries in the summer months.
posted by marco at 11:58 AM