Four Days in Dublin

It's an annual habit now for me if two makes a tendency. A few days in some interesting city. This second annual city visit was headed to Dublin. I have made a joke about interest towards Ireland. If it has plenty of beer, whisk(e)y, golf, good food, pleasant and storyful people plus redheads and fne music it's good for me. Well, it was no golf this time but next time it might be different...

So, a Sunday evening in August saw me taking a jet towards the green island. With a Nordic cultural figure in its tail (which reveals you the jetliner company that performed its job just fine). What was waiting for me then?

Day One - Bus Strike! (won't stop me)

I had picked a reasonably priced hotel some three kilometres from airport and seven from city centre. Dublin Metro Airport Hotel (by the way, no metro trains in vicinity). It was supposed to be easy bus ride away from the buzz. First surprise was that there was actually a bank holiday and annoyingly a general bus strike. So for the first morning it was a taxi ride, a budget slip but a pleasant discussion with the driver.

O'Connell Street is in the heart of tourists' Dublin. I headed to get my Dublin Pass to get entrance to plenty of destinations. A small detour to St. Stephen's Green park close Trinity College since the tourist info located in an old church (!) was closed. Public holiday for nothing special really, in the words of taxi driver Geoffrey.

OK, I got the card a little later but surely had many ideas of what to do. Still my idea was to spend time in interesting locations and not to overplan the whole thing. First place to visit was Cristchurch Cathedral close to the famous Temple Bar district. And by coincidence with four extra euros I took part to a bell ringing tour to the church tower. Greyish and old bell ringing master lead a group of random tourists up the narrow stairway. He told us about the specialties of bell ringing around the globe and especially in the British Commonwealth. It's traditional rope pulling in orderly fashion and involves great deal of mathematics. Bells are to be rung in permutations and a full peal is over 5000 single pulls of a bell with multiple hour effort. Not as easy as one might think!

Well, it was enough of bells and prayers for the day. I pointed my nose to the obvious, Guinness Storehouse. It is a seven floor high old storehouse building of St. James Street brewery. A must for common tourist but nothing too special for a beer efficinado. I had previously done Heineken Experience in Amsterdam and this Guinness one was pretty much similar. Basics of beer making and components, company history, advertisements etc. A part of exhibition about the lost art of coopering was quite interesting. Take a note to the embedded monitors in the barrels:

I did like the advertisement history section too. Guinness stew and chocolate cake in the restaurant were just fine for hungry young man, slushed down by Guinness Dark Lager. I had to try that non-stout stuff for American markets. Best thing in this place was still Gravity Bar with almost 360 view around the Dublin area and complimentary pint. As a bargain I got also a souvenir shirt for me.

First day continued then from cathedral to brewery to a notorious jail, Kilmainham Gaol. And I was constantly walking and absorbing all new things to me. This jail had been closed a long time and now portrayed Victorian era prison with different kinds of design features. Many Irish rebellions and uprisings lead to Kilmainham Gaol for their leaders. Numerous people were even executed until certain 1916 aftermath started to finally turn the public opinion and decision makers' heads.

At the and of the day I did some more walking around. One of the obvious, fish and chips with Guinness in one Temple Bar area pub, I did too. Then another taxi ride back to hotel and some hints from the driver. The sea shore was apparently the place to visit.

Day Two - Walk Fast, Breakfast But No Belfast

My experience lead to me to walk the seven k's from hotel to city centre. Yes, the busses were still off the road. I was going for a real Irish breakfast in traditional pub. No more weak excuse of a hotel version for me! Along the way I could see regular dubliners rushing to work, opening shops, jogging - the everyday stuff. Luckily the slight threat of rain went away as I entered Slattery's in Capel Street, one of the few remaining pubs that can sell pints from first thing in the morning. Mister Bourdain visited this place in his Layover, that's how I ended up clogging my veins with nutritious beans, egg and sausages under all the Michael Collins memorabilia.

A few blocks from Slattery's was Old Jameson Distillery which I had to visit. It was more intimate than huge Guinness museum - and here too the tour guide was excellent storyteller. Interesting fact, Jameson uses mostly American bourbon casks but also sherry casks from Spain and port casks from Portugal. Copper distillation pans were charming and complimentary tasting involved. Well, Jameson is good but not quite into my whisk(e)y taste.

In the hotel I had seen strange local sports from TV. Commented in Irish Gaelic. So I wanted to know more about these Gaelic Games that were so much followed in media. A good walk through the northern areas of Dublin centre to Croke Park, Irish national stadium. Along the way I could see some really Republic pubs, a reminder of wounds behind Irish separation and nasty times.

Croke park tour was thorough. I got to see locker rooms, teams' celebratory dinner facilities, player tunnel, playing field, grandstands, media stands and enterprise cabinets. There were also many stories about the history, sports, even bloody conflicts and construction in Croke Park which was able to contain fourth most spectators of any European stadium. Stadium offered also Gaelic Athletic Association museum and hall of fame. It is very striking that there are no professional players in hurling or Gaelic football or their female version counterparts. Still these sports are most popular in Ireland over association football and rugby. And even Helsinki has a local team!

At this point the sturdy Irish breakfast was all used and hunger set in heavily. Near Connolly Station I noticed interesting pub called Brew Deck. As I learned it was owned by Galway Bay Brewery offering their and other small breweries' malty nectars with some food. I went with an Irish burger and Galway Bay Fullsail Ale. And as dessert I took a half pint of Galway Bay Milk Chocolate Stout. Hey, I had found my favorite Irish brewery! A small chat about beer scene in Ireland and in Finland with the bartender and then to walking ways again.

On the evening I visited National Wax Museum PLUS since I had it covered with my Dublin Pass. No other places in the vicinity were open so I choose wax. But it wasn't special in my mind, I wouldn't do it again. Basic Irish writers, leaders, sportsmen, musicians and such. Kick'em tubbies!

Some coffee and apple pie and I forced my tired legs uphill same seven kilometres. I had to gather more strength for next day.

Day Three - It's Lobster Season

This was the day I was going for the shoreline and seafood. The busses were back in service! I was still craving for proper full Irish and had a place in mind - O'Neill's right next to tourist information. And boy was their version plentiful with seven euros in really authentic surroundings. I couldn't help but to smile, a definite thumbs up from me.

Before heading to Howth I visited St. Patrick's Cathedral not far away. It was impressive and as a christian I did also take a while to say a little prayer and humbly thank. So maybe it was meant to be that I coincidentally met a woman who asked me to help. Or I was after all fooled. She did not want money straight but help to buy some basic food for her kids. I was hesitant which I also told but eventually did give her a helping hand. I hope that it went right but I was still questioning my actions and doubts. Well, the poor will always be around but we should not become cold-hearted.

Anyway, it was time to head for Irish sea shoreline. I took local DART train to Howth, a fisherman village quite famous for its seafood. I had plenty of expectations for this and realising the very hilly geography of Howth peninsula even raised them. Stepping out of the train immediately started to fulfill my expectations. Gentle breeze from the sea, the best possible weather, really fresh seafood smell and picturesque village. Well, small minus for flocking tourists but that could be dealt by just walking further. You see, regular people seem to avoid proper walking.

I absorbed sea air on the piers of Howth and relaxed before going for the catch of the day. King Sitric and its casual West Street Bar was something I had looked upon. According to the waiter it was lobster season so I had to taste it. But for starters a couple of rock oysters raw and Galway Bay Hooker Irish Pale Ale to accompany. And then for main course oyster salad and Irish dark country bread. Really fresh and worth the expectations.

The hills were pretty steep in Howth. With full stomach I started to climb towards Howth summit. Because I'm me I did not take a bus. At the top it was really nice to have acup of coffee and ice cream in the unbelievably beautiful scenery. I did not expect to find high rocky cliffs right next to Dublin! There was also a light house to guide all the ships safely from Irish Sea to the port. And by the way, there were golf courses and all kinds of greenery around. As I did not have map I missed much of the cliff walk but still got to see many fine landscapes.

For me of all the superb things this was just perfect. There is something in my blood that longs after sea shore, seafood and all kinds of greenery. Needless to mention, I did walk my legs into aching again but it was worth all this. Hotel was just for the shower and rest.

Day Four - Botanic Takeoff

Last morning is always a little sad. It was going to be over today. Packing luggage, basic breakfast and I still had few hours in Dublin. I took one of them double deckers and headed for Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, district some three kilometres north of Dublin city centre. I do enjoy a nice quiet walk in gardens and in Dublin it was free, also the greenhouses with tropical or subtropical plantation. A nice destination with practically no cost.

Outdoor activities will make you hungry. For me it was The Church, a restaurant and pub in an old church. Quite obvious name. They seem to re-use their churches here - maybe we have to do same in Finland sooner than later. I had some fish cakes together with O'Hara's Red Ale. And then there was just a little time to take the DART train to Dun Laoghaire south of Dublin. Another seaside destination and one last chance for me to enjoy some sea breeze in the sun. If there was more time I could have done local sea museum.

Finally I had to go back to hotel and pick my luggage. In the airport shuttle I was the only one and had a nice chat with the driver. My feeling is that if you respect the locals they will generally do the same. At the airport you have to kill some time always. Some more food, an Irish coffee and a bottle of Connemara. Then back to the skies and towards home it was.

Definitely Ireland is part of my future plans too!

My tips: Howth for the views and seafood, Botanic Gardens, Old Jameson Distillery, Croke Park tour, Kilmainham Gaol, O'Neill's Irish breakfast, Dublin Pass and Leap Card for transportation.

Swiss Off!

Not a big traveller, me, thus far. Well, since my kid brother was studying in beautiful French speaking region of Switzerland I had to find my way there. Eventually - at the beginning of January 2012. And because of me it took some weeks to write some stuff out of my first real European vacation. By the way, pardon my French. I am too lazy to try and get all my few letters correct.

Day one - southbound flight(s)

After far too little sleep it was time grab one's baggage and head to Helsinki-Vantaa. Of course the weather was somewhat nasty - wet snow almost horizontally. So me and my brother were going to miss our connecting flight from Arlanda to Geneva. No chance to stay in schedule. To rub it in my face over Baltic Sea I read from a Blue 1 cup that only thing you can't recycle is wasted time. Oh really?

We did get tickets to a Lufthansa flight towards Frankfurt. Where we weren't suppose to go at all. Anyhow, those Germans at least serve something in the flight as opposed to SAS -  nothing without extra money. Guess what are white sausage balls? Not telling here. We figured that there was no way that our baggage got to the same plane as the brothers did. Again I was forced to kill some time in the German main hub before entering already third flight of the day.

Eventually we got to the Geneva airport around sunset time, white Jura peaks looming in the background. Our baggage didn't - that's what we thought. After waiting and searching it ended up in a surprising result: our baggage had raced us through Germany and beat us comfortably. We left them far behind in Sweden but wasted so much time in Frakfurt that our stuff passed us via Munich. Now we know that your baggage can actually get to your destination before you do.

Luckily Swiss trains are much more reliable than Finnish compatriots. After an irritating day it was nice to by tickets and enter the train in the airport with ease. Two tired fellows headed for some self cooked food and sleep with aching muscles.

Word of the day: mure de marais (cloudberry) - some home made jam for my brother's friedly landlord.

Day two - open skies for heavy rainfall

My first morning in Switzerland could have been better. Lake Geneva (Lac Leman) about hundred meters from the apartment seemed like a sea. Weak visibility and bad rainfall. Just like my brother had told me. Well, some starch down your stomach and out there with newly acquired camera. I'm the one who likes to walk around to get used. My kid brother is the one who does proper training, whatever the weather.

I did get some photos to proof the shi... wetty day. And I got my pants wet - stupid to leave one's Goretex pants in the baggage. A glimpse of the lake and downtown Morges I did get though. Rest of the day was quiet cooking with student budget, stretching the stuck muscles and planning following days in the corner cafe. Kronenbourg 1664, favorite bulk lager of France, is OK for a refreshment. My brother also introduced me to hit series How I Met Your Mother. Now I probably have to start using my spare time also for that. Not a bad thing though - since I cannot yet spend time with mother of my future kids... Just read that as you like. A fool I am.

Word of the day: tempete - storm (if I recall it right)

Day three - Olympic Lausanne with beer to go with it

Second morning started with rather aching back. Not the best of matrices I was sleeping on and apparently I am not that young anymore. Weather was OK, cloudy but with visibility to the foothills of French Alps. How nice it is to see snow clad mountain tops over a famous lake first thing in the morning! The older brother, tourist and plain walker he is, headed for some photos and tries to by cheese with his three word French. The younger however, student and sportsman he is, went to get more training mileage under his belt. I got the cheese, goat and sheep versions, and loaf of bread. But with English and help from friendly locals. Merci!

Come afternoon, we headed to the local technical university EPFL. One of the best, if not the best, in its field in continental Europe. First and actually the only restaurant visit of the trip. Student food with Asian touch, something to fill your stomach quickly. Switzerland is many things but not very affordable. The university was no super destination for the architects and wannabes if you don't count local Rolex learning center. A weirdish slice of cheese -style steel and glass structure that would make for a great skateboard track.

They have a metro, or more like quick tram line, from the technical university to the city center. Unlike we Finns for some years still to survive. Two long time sports enthusiasts that we are, me and my brother headed to Musee Olympique at the shore of Lac Leman. A must with no entrance fees for the month by coincidence. There was too much interesting stuff for our two hours. Probably one of our favorites was the Olympic Games torch collection. IOC, do something to stop those freaky Hey I'm a weapon from scifi series kind of torches (Turin 2006 as the most plastic one)! Medal collection was of course interesting like old equipment of Olympic heroes. Zatopek's marathon shoes for example got some respect from us - quite some slippers. I would like to have a Boycott Moscow Olympics with Misha the bear crossed over T-shirt for the sake of trivia and history induced laughter.

Once we were finished with the museum it was time to find local beer. Naturally my brother had a suitable place in mind. Metro line to upper Lausanne and nice brisk walk. We tried some really local beers from Lausenne outskirts brewery Docteur Gab's and also from a Jura mountain region brewery Franche-Montagnes. The bartender was really helpful in English and also happened to add some local beers to the tap during our brief visit. My first pint, Docteur Gab's Chameau (camel), had the taste of typical wheat beer if not the instant millet on the palate. Hopefully Google translator is correct with that. Second one was an interesting beer from the Jura, Franche-Montagnes 14th seasonal. Strong color, smell and taste of black currants. Yes, sounds weird but works well in the dark winter night!

Words of the day: fromage du brebis & chevre - sheep milk cheese and goat cheese

Day four - silence in Morges

We couldn't get a visit to local brewery. So it was another quiet day around Morges. I had lost my voice. My brother went running back and forth some hill, that's what real athletes do. I get it but don't do it. In the mean time I took my trusty Ecco shoes (6th year in the making!) and camera for a walk in the surrounding foothills of Jura mountains. I found my way past local ice hockey/curling hall, through wine yards to quite some castle in Vufflens. Then headed back downhill towards the lake and Alpine backdrop. I had this one moment of strong symbolic meaning - a lonely old leafless tree in the middle of wintery field with sun giving its rays through cloudy sky. Snap with camera and hurry back to the town center to let my brother in. Since I was the key user of the day. Oh the irony! Silly old me...

For the rest of the day we put some effort on getting food on the plate. And had a beer each in the nearby bar. Docteur Gab's Houleuse is what I went for. Interestingly a strong taste of buckweed for a couple of seconds before entering the wheat beer region of palate. It was really nice to continue to chat with my kid bro about our experiences and listen to his somewhat crazy actions during training camps. We do share the ability to tell stories, never a bad thing in my books! Also did watch quite some How I Met Your Mother episodes, a daily routine of trip since no access to telly or internet. But could not buy a Swiss watch with hefty price tag.

Word of the day: houleuse - storming

Day five - Alpine stars or not

This was the day. My first real experience of Alpine skiing - yes, in the Alps! Overslept in the morning and then headed to the railway stations. In Switzerland you can buy easily a combined ticket for train trip and daily skilift rides. I was like a kid taking a good look of closing Alps in the Swiss express train. Some steep hills these Swiss people have their wine yards located. And there was Montreux, no VIP dazzle anyhow. Then came Martigny, shift to Saint Bernhard express (yeah, you know the dogs for sure) and up towards Verbier - our chosen ski resort.

A lot of firsts for me again. A cabine lift to 1500 metres and then in search for some rental equipment. That was not cheap but it was a kind of once in a life time experience. We did not have a clue of the routes and slopes but up we went. Once there pointed our ski tips downwards. My brother first and then me, somewhat hesitant as a first timer. For sure we had been skiing with cross-country skis as kids in all sorts of terrains but this was no cross-country. Anyhow we went on, my brother gently waiting for me the tumbler.

After a couple of descends a thick fog took over the landscape. So no fancy photos - and more importantly no idea where to ski. We made it anyhow, some less and others more snow around their gear. Darkness began to arrive. I gave green flag to my brother so that he could ski like he wanted. I went for just one more run down some red slope. Hard enough for me while my bro was taking some black slope head on. Well, sports generally are no place for me to excel over my younger brother.

I was happy and tired when we headed back to the valley. Baguette filled with some sheep milk cheese, salami and lettuce tasted so darn good after a day of winter activity. Especially since it was self-assembled. Two merry chaps went asleap that night with nice experiences and less money - the other with higher tumble tally and with a souvenir bruise in his elbow region.

Word of the day: Je suis perdu. - I am lost.

Day six - the fun is over, for now

It was my final morning in Swiss landscape. Of course the weather was getting really beautiful. So I did get a sight of the perfect landscape over Lac Leman to France (one photo available in the blog for now). Scenes on film it was. I did also my first ever mere French shopping:

Bonjour! Un Baguette (and francs in). Merci. Au Revoir!

And I still had my voice quite lost. One more tourist thing to do was to send some postcards - last day action. Then it was time to take an express train to Geneva airport, really easy and enviable from Finnish point of view. Last shopping to have some Swiss chocolate (naturally) and white wine as souvenirs. Then aboard SAS flight to Arlanda...

...in which I ended up in Swedish baby boom region. Three crying babies and one humorously staring one in the neigboring seats. I am no fan of SAS: my legs barely fit in the seat rows and nothing is served as an inclusion of the ticket price. Lufthansa kicks you ass, Scandinavians! SAS sucks also other that air to its jet engines. Anyhow, in the home I was eventually with many stories to be told.

Word of the day: sortie - exit

Afterthoughts

I can see why my brother probably lost a part of his heart to the region. And I am so happy to see that we have a lot in common. My kid brother is all grown up also - with his own twists like I do. I can boast now with a hundred per cent Alpine skiing in the Alps stats. I want to travel - since a little boy - and now I finally can.

You can enjoy life in many ways. But if you cannot share your experience with someone close to you something is really missing.

A Kind of Travel Story

So I was sent to another world behind the Atlantic for working matters. First time overseas for a guy approaching his way to fourth decade. I haven't been travelling that much for sure - if one does not count the force of imagination. It would be somewhat boring and also inappropriate to go into working details. Since I seem to have a livid mind I won't leave this experience untouched though. Just to state a disclaimer, it wasn't all for fun - quite some nine hour days in the office. However, I tried to get some out of it.

***

First day. After three hours in bed I had to take a cab to the airport. No queueing though and plenty of tired waiting time. Some Finnish sweets for the colleagues. I had a nice little discussion in the plane with a Serbian student. From that point of view Finland sure looks like a - if not paradise - safe haven of secured living.

Shift to a bigger Jet towards Atlanta, Georgia. Another first for me. So over the Atlantic and some time zones. Lufthansa had quite a nice entertainment system for the passengers. And also one really atractive stewardess who had some resemblance with a colleague of mine. Her slight clumsiness at times only made it all that more fun to follow! Thought of throwing the young lady a nice little compliment. Well, I ain't that kind of guy. No syrup if there aren't pancakes to go with. It sure was nice to eat the cheese with white wine while listening to some jazz in the headset. And the ocean kilometers beneath seemed like a wrinkled deck of blue steel. Over the icy Labrador and along the east coast of America went the jet.

Of the plane to the soil of new world, through the security checks and customs. I did some replay dance in the scan chamber - apparently a kind of waist alert. Next headed for local metro, all good with a Breeze card from a vending machine in my hand. And then it hit me: where the heck is my digital camera. Too late to go back, first casualty of this conquering was somewhere behind me. Suspect the space under plane seat. Well, I survived the metro ride with slightly bitter taste from my own foolishness. Had some burger and a big fat dessert accompanied by a local colleague of mine, after which just needed to deck the hotel bed. Georgia evening still had warm breath with some sprinkles of water in it.

Beer count 0/1: a pint of Franziskaner Weissbier in Frankfurt airport, something familiar to start with.

***

Second day and first morning in USA. I had to do some streching to have my stuck legs and back going. Then learning to deal with local shower kind of system. Next breakfast - here comes the starch and animal fat! Ham and mushroom omelette and a load of wheat based produce. Learning to tip. Georgia weather turned its back on me - high 30's in Fahrenheit and rain. So no walk yet for the European without driver's lisence. Nice shuttle bus driver dropped me to the office.

(here was the secret work stuff in office)

First day of work in another continent was completed. Crazy European headed for hotel some quarter of a mile away. As it was expected, someone just simply dropped to the kingsize bed. I did try to see some Monday night football but managed it poorly. It was about half time when the hunger sent me to scavenge something to fill the void in my stomach. Restaurants were everywhere but mostly closed. Pedestrian surely felt himself somewhat out of place. Finally I was able to find some corner place which served a log sized stromboli with sauce surprisingly similar to my own patented tomate sauce. Back to bed then over the not so nice crossing. By the way, Saints stomped Giants.

Beer count 0/1: no beer for me since I took the hotel death night straight on.

***

Second morning in USA. Some stretching and morning TV before breakfast. First some fruits and yoghurt since it all cannot be that heavy. Then pancakes with butter and caffeine dose. Now it was OK to head for the office with own two feet. Another Georgia morning started in cold and damp conditions.

(here was the secret part again - have to mention the oddiness of having subs and potato chips as lunch though)

I did notice a pub along the way to office in the morning. So it was my instant destination on my way after working hours. Straight to the bar table and a new brew for me. I had a cod burger with crisps and went for another beer also. Local bartender named Chris certainly knew his job. Well, to the hotel I headed since there was more to come.

A colleague picked me up for some bar trivia with his friends. So I went. There sure were no tailor made questions for the Finnish guy. The team did finish in second place for the evening, not much of my effect there. I had some pizza and beer along with gained respect of answers to certain questions and apparently quite fluent English for a true foreigner. It certainly was fun to meet locals in a bar of good music, beer and food.

Beer count 4/5: Samuel Adams Winter Lager and some excellent IPA (outside the official list) in the corner pub, Michelob Ultra and Laughing Skull in the trivia bar - all new acquaintances for me.

***

Third morning in USA and finally some Georgia sun. Newly developed morning routines of streching, local news and learning to shower in US. In the breakfast my tips had started to make a difference since this sir was already being served to the table with his waffle. Thanks for the fruit and yoghurt combo it was not pure starch attack with some fat from animals.

(not for your eyes and ears stuff here - with more bread, meat and mayonnaise based lunch served with Coke as lubricant; pecan pie with vanilla ice cream in the afternoon was on unexpected extra)

After office hours same colleague from yesterday took me for real southern barbecue - accompanied by his son. I got to see the skyline of Atlanta both in the sunset and in the night lights - from a car window. A glimpse of Georgia Tech, Olympic swimming center and Martin Luther King Historic Site also. But the best was served in a hard-to-find restaurant next to a railroad track field. A crispy rib as a starter, Brunswick stew and collard greens as sides and burned ends (really tender and smoky beef) as the main atraction. Really good southern stuff with intense, sour and rich taste jam packed my stomach for sure. And seasonal plenty-of-hops beer as the beverage of choice was another great pick.

To see the really good local things you have to be able to bounce around with the good people of your destination.

Beer count 5/6: Sierra Nevada Seasonal in the barbecue house.

***

Fourth morning and the same routines again. Crispy and clear low 30's morning it was. Back to protein batch in the form of an omelette with rich fillings. I gave up to the lure of having some baked sweet goodies early on. Then  a brisk walk to the office on an alternative route.

(secrecy bound and somewhat dull work - powered by American Italian food)

For the evening I was dropped to a mall quite some miles east. Now I'm not a big shopper but since in USA I had to have my small share of it. I found something to bring back home and also fit in my cabin luggage. Not that cheap in those close to city malls though. It was funny though to hear from a black guy "cool pants, man". My red pants weren't the usual choice. I managed to get lost in an American mall for a minute and found myself shopping cosmetics. That really spells time to find exit and run to the hills with one's money!

I found the metro station and headed for a new region of Atlanta for me. I had agreed to meet a friend of a Finnish colleague and that I did. Two strangers in a totally new environment for me. Well, what the heck. I might just go with flow and rise to the occasion. I'm quite bad company while shopping and more keen to good food and beverages with interesting people. Should be bound to great discussions then - and that's what the evening offered. Along with another new beer and buffalo burger. Got to give thumbs up for women who drink their beer graciously!

Eventually it was time to try some local cab on my way to the hotel. Of course the cab driver was a Pakistani immigrant with fourteen year experience from the streets of New York. Again nice to talk with different kinds of people. That cab driver had a hefty tip.

Beer count 6/7: Leinenkugel's Fireside Nut Brown to go with the burger.

***

Fifth and last morning in USA for now. Same morning stuff with packing included since I was bound to take flight back to Europe come evening. Ham and cheese omelette, more starch and a brisk walk in a sunny Georgia morning followed.

(once more the office stuff here - with some generic burrito to keep me going)

So compliments and direction to local metro station. If it had been a game of who doesn't belong here I was the certain pick. Anyhow, I made the airport without any problems and cleared the security check. Then final spending on some random and foolish souvenirs. I had also supposedly cajun style fried shrimp dish in a pub along with one more new beer in American soil.

To the confined seat of an Airbus I pressed myself and took one last look at the sea of fireflies - metropolitan Atlanta lights they were. Had a nice but brief conversation with a woman of Asian background. Apparently she was a nursery professor heading for Cairo. And also very thankful of me using my height to help with her luggage.

Beer count 7/8: Sweetwater 420 to go in the Atlanta airport.

***

A bad night's sleep it was. No room for long legs and head dizzy of tiredness. Very thirsty feeling which only with water could be written off. Well, finally the flight was over and I was back in the old continent. Food in the plane was OK, entertainment good enough and another quite attractive Lufthansa stewardess aboard. So it was survivable although not all pleasant.

I was forced to spend some five hours in Frankfurt airport. Damn tired but no real opportunity to get some sleep. I strolled around the shops and did my final spending. I was amused in the security check since I was guessed to be niederländisch. Well, I taught the clerk quickly that danke in Finnish is kiitos.

Had to go for frankfurters and potato salad to make my whining stomach quiet. I threw in a pinch of work and tried read a paper. Not a huge success story. As one final encounter with a stranger I shared a discussion with French man living mainly in Finland. He was an entrepreneur of some sort, nice guy to talk to. I managed to throw in words of my employer's current business.

There was one final surprise for me. In the same flight back to cold dark north was a familiar person. Someone quite a few steps higher than me in the company hierarchy. Infact, almost the opposite ends. My secret identity was probably not revealed since I'm pretty much nobody. And my brief moment of shame in the form of stand up kind of a performance some eight days earlier was from behind a mask.

Well, in Helsinki I took a cab home and had some words with the driver. As a tip, I know where I'm not going to buy an apartment.

Beer count 8/9: Licher Hefeweizen as the liquid to flush down the frankfurters.

***

All in all, my first visit to the American continent was excellent. If not the lost camera. Still I give value to the experiences acquired. Atlanta seems to possess some really good food and plenty of warm hearted people. Hopefully I'll get to return sooner than later and land some golf in. Spring or fall would do good but first got to take care of the business.

Someone did not bother to check his spelling or grammary. And managed to write a lot of not that much. And again sabotaged his good night's sleep.

Beer total: Intense, rich, full-bodied, exciting, surprising, unique, does not leave bitter after taste - the way I like my women... BEER. Always joking and dead serious at the same time...