|
Title: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 01, 2009, 08:19:15 am Believe it or not, Finnish border patrol/customs agents recently let me back into their country ;). I'm here on a business trip again, and having yet another great time during non-business hours.
When I was in Helsinki last September (trip report & pics here (http://cal-look.no/lounge/index.php/topic,6813.0.html)), the weather and scenery was awesome. This time, I'm getting to see the city and surrounding areas in a different, winter light. It snowed the entire first day and night that I was here, so everything is covered in a bright, white blanket of snow. Temperatures have been fairly mild, with lows in the low 30s and highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. The sun has come out in the afternoon the last couple of days, and the resulting blue skies look very cool in contrast with the snow on the ground. Here are a few pics - many more to come (including plenty of VWs and/or their owners, I promise)... The Helsinki-Vantaa Airport ~45 minutes after my arrival (when it was fairly dry). (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0225.jpg) Me on a winter "walk about" while on my way to watch the final stage of 3 day motorcycle enduro race (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0259.jpg) A "winter garden" (greenhouse) - many beautiful plants growing here in the middle of winter (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0265.jpg) Front view of the "winter garden" (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0268.jpg) Watch out for hirvi ahead! (moose) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0395_2.jpg) A public skating rink on the square near my hotel (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0342.jpg) Finnish skaters having fun (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0338.jpg) Me and my rental car (a diesel Citroen C5) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0350.jpg) A snow view from the front of the "winter garden" (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0276.jpg) Mmmm, VW snow cones with pine topping... (taken in the woods at Ekki's place) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0382.jpg) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: jamiep_jamiep on April 01, 2009, 08:28:09 am Beautiful scenery - nice photos Eric!
Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: ESH on April 01, 2009, 08:49:52 am Watch out for hirvi ahead! (moose) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0395_2.jpg) Don't believe it, the Scandinavians make these up. The Norwegians told us they are everywhere but we've never seen any evidence of this. The Scandinavians drink moonshine.... :D (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v232/SanchoPancho/Scandinavian%20Cal%20Look%20Classic%202006/SCC2006MS041.jpg) Have a good week. 8) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: LuftsickTero on April 01, 2009, 09:10:48 am (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0225.jpg) You brought the Winter with you :o ;D It was sunny and roads pretty dry when I left for Volksworld. Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Jon on April 01, 2009, 10:10:24 am The Norwegians told us they are everywhere but we've never seen any evidence of this. They are... just now I can see three from my office window... pretty rare for first of April! Super cool to see pictures from a exotic country seen threw your eyes Eric E... keep on posting! Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: ESH on April 01, 2009, 21:09:58 pm They are... just now I can see three from my office window... pretty rare for first of April! Three outside the office window on April 1st? Very nice. We have a couple of words for that sort of thing here in the UK! ;D Have you been to Loch Ness? :) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 02, 2009, 10:40:42 am Uh oh, I think I've had too many Finnish beers and trips to the sauna... (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0253.jpg) Hmmm, who's crusty relic is this?? (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0249.jpg) Vroom, vroom! (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0234.jpg) <insert your own captions here> ;D (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0229.jpg) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: vwcab on April 02, 2009, 11:00:27 am Cool pics Eric,I see you're having a good time overthere.(keep posting and have fun ;) )
P.S.how long are you staying in Finland? Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 04, 2009, 03:41:06 am Valtteri is still the man (even though he had to duck out early). Thanks to all The Slugs for showing me around the bar, Finnish style -- mmm, Fisso and Kossu... ;D
--Eric Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: pehmuste on April 04, 2009, 11:41:58 am hahah! Fisu was dabomb :D and you had kossu like the finns do :D
it was a fun night! thanks to Eric as well! Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 04, 2009, 21:57:38 pm Here are some two (and six) wheel pics taken during the last stage of a three day enduro race that ended on a tight course located inside the Helsinki city limits. More in the gallery at this link (http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/).
"Winter" tires (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0282.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0286.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0308.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0316.jpg) Does television make GP bikes seem bigger?? (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0319.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0290.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0314.jpg) Members of the Finnish army, and the back end of a six wheeler that looks like it might be amphibious. (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0317.jpg) Cool trailer... (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0324.jpg) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 04, 2009, 22:23:22 pm Spy photos from famous Finnish skiier/street racer/secret agent, Matti Nykänen ;D. More in the gallery here... (http://s50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/)
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0431.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0411.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0457.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0429.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0497.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0476.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0541.jpg) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: BeetleBug on April 04, 2009, 23:36:00 pm :D
Those last 3 pictures tells me we`re up for one hell of a VWOpen this year! Thanks for a cool story Eric. Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: valtteri on April 04, 2009, 23:47:59 pm Hey Eric, it was a cool night out, today I woke up like this:
(http://www.just-whatever.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/drunk-15.jpg) I talked to Korhonen and he said he spent the day this way: (http://www.just-whatever.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/drunk-2.jpg) But it beats me how Pehmuste managed to get his picture taken this morning: (http://www.just-whatever.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/drunk-14.jpg) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 05, 2009, 00:07:52 am Good stuff/times, Valtteri. I'm thinking that you should work on your accent, then start telling people that you're from Texas... ;D
BeetleBug - will Valtteri's pics also be an indication of what else is to come at this year's VW Open?? :o Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: BeetleBug on April 05, 2009, 09:57:54 am Good stuff/times, Valtteri. I'm thinking that you should work on your accent, then start telling people that you're from Texas... ;D BeetleBug - will Valtteri's pics also be an indication of what else is to come at this year's VW Open?? :o No, we Norwegians can cope with the Finnish hospitality and we`re looking forward to it. ;) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: speedwell on April 05, 2009, 09:58:45 am split bug with TDE engine ::) ::) ::).............. ;D ;D ;D
(http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0497.jpg) (http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f346/57hotrodvw/Finland/Spring_2009/IMG_0234.jpg) Title: Re: TAKE 2: A Texan goes to Finland...(great people/a kick ass VW scene!) Post by: Eric Ellis (57HotrodVW) on April 06, 2009, 02:03:25 am split bug with TDE engine ::) ::) ::).............. ;D ;D ;D Nah, that's way too easy. There's more to it, but you'll either have to attend or wait until after 2009 American Car Show (http://www.fhra.fi/acs/index.html) that's going on in Helsinki, April 10-13 to get the full scoop on some of the VW coolness that will be going on there... 8) --Eric |