I Spy with my Little Eye...

I have a fetish for train station pictures, simply because I pass through there twice a day! This man was planting violets as the early morning commuters headed to work!
On Sunday, I went on a boat ride while fog and cool air hovered over the sea!
This morning, the market was alive with vendors setting out their goods and vibrant colors decorating the stalls!

Back to Sunday, the fog lifted, and the old buildings of Suomenlinna (our sea fortress) were in clear view along with all sorts of beautiful boats.

A Passing Wave at the 80s

Ok, we'll start off with a more toned-down pic, me on a regular day.
But, once upon a fair day...I had an identity crisis. Ok, not really. But here...hairstylin' with Hanna! I had so much hairspray in my hair, even the wind couldn't do a thing to it!


I was put in the Rock-girl group, and here we are struttin' across the stage! It was a fun new experience!

Was hat in der Stadt passiert?

An old depot in the city center was set on fire, and the crowds rushed to see the hungry flames destroy the building and dark smoke cover the sky. A view from near the modern art museum. Everyone had their phone cameras clicking, and you could hear people on their mobiles: "Hey, guess where I am right now?!"



This is a surreptitiously taken shot in Esplanadi Park downtown, on one of the first warm days of Spring. I think they were as avidly people-watching as I was! No leaves on the trees yet! But I enjoyed my first ice cream cone!

Nope, not a wig.

The finished result! It is quite certainly the most artistic hairstyle I have ever had! I dig it!

In the hands of hairstylists. I think they really have something of an artist's temperament.

Yours Truly in 2 Favourite Locations

Giza. Notice the goose legs in the bowl! That was dinner!

Tirolean Alps. The smile says it all.

Easter in the Austrian Alps

The view from the second trekking hut on the mountain, where we ate the best noodle soup in the world! Or else food just tastes better after hours of hiking!










And the view from the highest point we reached on our first climb. Simply breathtaking! The climbing was also very steep!












My hiking companion, Justin, having reached the monument of Napoleon. Avalanches kept falling from that rock wall behind him, rumbling like thunder!











And this is Hohe Munde at twilight, as we returned from a beautiful day of mountain adventures!

Perspectives in Helsinki

Outdoor worm's eye view of a famous church.














Indoor lighting of an art show at Goethe Institut.

Waiting...

...as the rest of the world rushes to and fro. What or whom are they waiting for?

Jessica Grace

We took the metro in the wrong direction one night...mea culpa. It was a memorable evening of new hairstyles, drunk party-goers, and 8 kg of laundry detergent hauled home late at night.

The Missing Person

Bilel

The passage of time is most noticeable in children--he was a 3 month old when I first met him!

Nuura

I met her two years ago as a pudgy-tummied one-year old, and today, she is just as cute!

More from Snowboarding...

Well, we took time off to go sliding down the hill too! I felt like a little kid again!! Here we all are with our "liukurit," whatever you call those yellow things in English...sliders?

A Moment's Rest on the Lift

Me and Challe last weekend! I loved sitting on the lift, it's the getting off that's challenging!

A view from the Top

Here is a view from Saturday's snowboarding trip! It was just beautiful!

Der Puppenspieler

Kasper, mit der gelbe Mütze, ist neugierig um diese magischen Federn. :) It was my homework for German class to go watch this old-time puppet show! What fun, and very interactive!

The Lamp-lighter

Mr. Gnome. He has many uses. He carries the lamp. He guards the back porch. He has also been known to partake in the snowfortress defenses of my cousin's snowball wars. This is his attempt at camouflage. :)

The Ape and the Sheep

Aka Bella and Piki. I thought it was high time to introduce the creatures that roam along the lower elevations of our house!

Kymi River

My fingers almost froze off as I took pictures outside! I thought the river looked wondrously mysterious and enchanting with the rising steam.

Winter Panorama in Heinola

Iso iso-äiti!

100 years old!

Self-Portrait in my frequent hang-out!

I spend a lot of time on the train...I thought the scenery was nice, you know, trees passing by, a man picking his nose in the background!! Heh!

The President of Finland

But for how much longer?

Me & the Guys, 8.2004

My mind has been on Egypt lately, and I smiled as I found this shot in my files. Laila Salmawi, they nicknamed me. Here I am visiting Mohammed (far right) who had just gotten married.

Another random Still Life..

Warm lights in a cold world!

The one pet I´ve never had...or wanted...

My friend Minja and her new friend Stan. Stan also has a friend named Hardy, who didn´t make this shot. Stan is actually very cute for a mouse...

January 7th

A Birthday portrait, out in the snow for the first time! I had a very special day, thanks!

Leisure on a Sunny Day

Sarai and Bella take it easy in the frosty field. Notice the dog has her own winter suit on...!

New Year Festivities

Hanna and Suvi enjoying sparklers! The neighborhood sounded like it was at war with all the exploding lights!

Out in the Woods on Christmas Day

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
--Robert Frost--

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Christmas Day the Snow-Eating Monster made her way in the snowbanks of Heinola, not a single snowflake was safe!

Four Generations

My Mummo and her
great-grandson, Leevi, ready for
Christmas!

Barney and Suvi

Venezuelan Christmas Party

I made some new friends, and tried Venezuelan Christmas food for the first time!

Dinner Out with International Friends!

Here represented, Indonesia, Nigeria, Austria, Germany, Finland...and well, then there's me. :) It was a blessing to discover others with a desire to reach internationals in Helsinki with the hope and truth of Jesus!

On a Cold and Windy Day...

Yours truly, at Suomenlinna, an island fortress built by the Swedes. It was freezing!!

Visiting Friends!

Barney and Jon enjoying a walk in the Finnish countryside!

My Personal Hairdresser--Hanna!