The crazy Finns!

One thing I can't understand about the Finns...they cycle everywhere no matter how cold the weather. Petra and I did a really Finnish thing today and decided to cycle into town (6km) in -20 DEGREES weather!! I have never felt so cold in my life !! Crazy Finns!
(Cycling with just jeans and no thermals was not a smart idea either...NOTE TO SELF: always, ALWAYS wear thermals!).

Petra and I borrowed some bikes from Wolfi (Austrian) and Karolina (our Polish housemate). Petra (with Karolina's bike) and I (with "Jacqueline"...i.e. Wolfi's bike) on the bridge nearby Oulu town centre.
We had to go into town to Nordea bank as Petra had to open up a bank account and I had to activate my internet banking so that i can pay my rent for this month which is due today. Even though the weather was cold, it ended up being a beautiful day, the sun was shining brightly all day! and it was still quite an experience cycling into town in -20 degrees weather!!

When we arrived back at 6pm we were starving and frozen. Wolfi came over and made a delicious "Bratwurst", scrambled eggs with salami for dinner. While Chef Wolfi was preparing dinner, we warmed ourselves with some much deserved and needed tea and chocolate biscuits!
A happy and warmer Petra, relieved to be back in our comfy, warm flat!
Our gourmet meal!
A very hungry Dori (aka ME) and Wolfi...

Runeberg Day!

Today is Runeberg Day and on this special day, Runeberg Tarts can be bought from all coffee shops and bakeries In Finland. So just before our first class Petra, Wolfi and I enjoy some coffee and a Runeberg Tart.
Munch munch...!! (Runeberg's Tart is a Finnish pastry seasoned with almonds and rum and raspberry jam is usually in a sugar ring on the tart)
Note: Johan Ludvig Runeberg was a Finland/Swedish poet, and celebrates his birthday on the 5th Febraury (today). He is held to be the National poet of Finland. Many of his poems deal with life in rural Finland.