Finding the perfect tree

Yesterday Martti, Akseli and I went tree hunting. I still can't get over the fact that everyone here has a real christmas tree! We went looking at a place called saunalahti. Within 10 minutes we had found the perfect one. Martti told me that it is called a one sider tree. A one sider tree has one side absolutly perfect and the other with not much branches so you can put it agaisnt the wall. Since ours was going agaisnt the wall it was the ideal choice.

The man wanted over 30 euros for it but Martti managed to get it for 25 euro. I was able to briefly understand the conversation in finnish and the man was saying he had never sold a tree under 30 but Martti replied theres a first time for everything. His bargening was a success. 

Once we had paid they wrapped it in this netting and in the car it went. 

That night we all helped to decorate the tree. I got the honour of putting the star on the top. 

Our finished, 'real' christmas tree.

Locked Forever

Thursday was one of the last days I would see Fiona so we went into Helsinki. The christmas fever was everywhere with christmas decorations and lights all over the place. 

We walked past the white church and got some great photos. 

I look very tiny in comparison. 

The first time we were in helsinki we walked past this bridge and we promised that we would put a lock on it before we go. So we bought a lock from Stockman, engraved BF into it (Breanna + Fiona / Best Friends) and locked it on the bridge. It was really windy and it got so cold that it was hard to open the lock! We threw the keys in the water together and planned to meet in 10 years in this exact place to visit it. 

Afterwards we met up with Elli for coffee.

Snow sleding

On sunday morning the snow was back and Selma, her friend Nellie and I went snow sleding! I haven't seen much snow in my life so the whole place being white was defiantly a shock! It was no doubt one of the higlights of my exchange! I felt like I was in a story book, walking through the snow draging a sled behind me. 

There was lots of kids riding down the hills when we got to the park. I got no instructions but instead just saw Selma and Nellie going down yelling for me to follow. I had no idea how to steer and leaning to one side made me go in the direction I didn't want to go in! I think the other Finns got quite a lot of laughs out of my sleding attempts, espicially when I accidently crashed into a little kids snowman. 

This is my neighbourhood, vantila, from the top of the hill. 

Akseli later came out too

Selma, Nellie and I tried to go all together. We ended up crashing into a bush... Akseli got quite a laugh from it. 

Snowball fight in action.

We even made snow angels. While we were making them it started to snow again. All three of us lay down with mouths open to try and catch the falling snowflakes. 

Porvoo

On saturday Selma, Kaija and I drove to the gorgeous town of Porvoo. It was a really old town built in the middle ages and my host mum said the streets and buildings were at least 500 years old! 

The first stop was this cute, little chocolate shop. It was so popular we had to que outside the door for a while. It was really cold to wait as it was at least -5 outside. The wait was well worth it though. 

There was a wide variety of delicious chocolates. We got to pick 2 each. I stayed well away from the licorice ones. 

They make the chocolate inside the shop and there was a window where you could watch them. 

We then walked through the pituresque streets on our way to find a cafe for lunch. I ended up having salmon and potato soup. In australia I hate fish with a passion but in Finland it seems to taste a lot better :)

The lake in the background of this photo was actually frozen!

This was the main street. We spent a lot of time here looking through all the cute little stores. There were lots of christmas stores. They were all very crowded with people and at times it was even hard to move around the shop. I found a few little gifts and keepsakes though :)

Late afternoon it got even colder so it was time to stop for a hot chocolate. It was one of the best hot chocolates I have ever tasted. 

We had a quick look around these markets before heading back. Selma and I found flavoured licore which kept us entertained for the hour car trip back. 

The moon looked really pretty in front of the buildings on the way back to the car. 

It was a really good day and has become one of my favourite towns in Finalnd!