Colourful in Black and White

I took these photos in the other Culture of Europe for 2011 - Tallin, Estonia.

You're probably thinking, "Uhh, where's that?" or "Why'd you go there?" I can tell you that it used to be the old Russia. I can tell you that it's just a 2 hour ferry ride south of Finland. I can tell you it's in Europe. I cannot, however, tell why we went there. But I am extremely happy we did.

It's an incredibly beautiful and colourful city, with a million art galleries and interesting alleyways to dawdle through.

Also, seeing my 13 year old brother get whacked by a gypsey for sitting on the 'holy' steps of a Russian Orthodox church didn't hurt. Hah.

The hilarity of Achmed the dead Terrorist seems to have been scattered all over the world.



Fin(e)land

So, on the 29th of June, my family and I headed off to a land where reindeer and blue-eyed blondes are found in abundance. Let me hear you say "Yay Finland!" (and Estonia, but that's coming later.)
I was anticipating an adventure, but nothing could have prepared me for what was in store.
Through activities like a bicycle tour across the Finnish Archipelego - mass of islands -, being harassed by drunk unemployed natives wanting to sit in our seats and simply chatting to locals we REALLY got to know the country.

*Side note - I cycled over 150km in 4 days. You have permission to be impressed.

We visited many a place, including Turku, one of the two culture capitals of Europe. I only mention this because tragically, we left the day a massive rock festival was beginning. SOB. I have yet to recover from such disappointment.

Here are some pics that hopefully do justice to what I experienced:)