A trophy for my efforts

a trophy and stars
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com

The reasons why I should get a trophy for my efforts.

On June 2, I turned one year older than last year. That means I’m one step closer to death, but hopefully, I won’t die in many years. I went on a cruise to Stockholm alone for the first time ever. Before, I went with my parents and on class trips. Of course, I travelled alone inside the country. This was the first time I was alone abroad. It was only a cruise, but that’s a start. I stayed on the ship for 23 hours. It was kind of lonely since Finns don’t talk to strangers. But I didn’t need to go through the hassle that I went with my dad. He always wanted to sit and drink beer. But at least then, I had company. A good thing about travelling alone is you can go as you please. If I was tired, I would go to bed. I did that without telling another person if I wanted to sit on deck and read a book. On the cruise, there were a lot of families, so there weren’t young party people. It’s calmer to be on board when there aren’t drunk people there. In general, there weren’t many people on the cruise, which was nice. You didn’t need to queue anywhere. It’s been a heatwave in Finland, so sitting on deck with the wind blowing was nice. The best part of a 23-hour cruise is the buffer and tax-free shopping. I only buy sweets/candy because I don’t like alcohol, and I don’t smoke. Unlike some people in Finland.

For some people, unemployment brings them down or being single. It brings me freedom and confidence that things will get better. The only time I get depressed is when I’m forced to do things I don’t want to do. I’m selective, and I’m not ashamed of it. I don’t go for the 2nd best as Madonna sings in Express Yourself. It’s better to be alone than socialise with the wrong people. I have had enough of those when I was younger. Life is too short to have toxic people in your life.

I should get a trophy for tolerating people in the first place. I don’t need to get it from others because I can get it alone. Treat yourself with a trophy of your choice once in a while. I will award myself with sweets/candy that I bought from the cruise ship. I have always had a sweet tooth, no matter how I feel.

Bloganuary: My 3 fave ways to travel

StPeterLine
Photo by me. Princess Maria, Harbour of Helsinki

Here are my 3 favourite ways to travel

Number One: By cruise ship

I live in a harbour city, so it’s easy to travel by ship. Everything is done for you. The food and the entertainment. You sleep in a cabin. All you need is to relax. I’ve been on a cruise to Stockholm the most. Then to Riga and Tallinn at Christmas. Then to Saint Petersburg, Russia some years ago.

Number Two: By train

It’s a bit more expensive than by bus, but it’s the fastest. I travel to Helsinki twice a month. The most challenging part is the sleeping arrangement. I find it difficult to sleep sitting up, so my sleep is light. I’ve also travelled to Lapland by train, but then you have a bed to sleep on.

Number Three: By bus

It’s the same on a train. I can’t sleep sitting up, but at least I can rest a little bit. You can’t move like you can’t on a ship or a train, but it’s easier than driving yourself. I don’t like to drive long distances either, so the bus is my 3rd favourite way to travel.

Bloganuary: What is a road trip you would love to take?

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I’m taking part in Bloganuary this month. I don’t know if I’m writing every day, though. Today, the subject is a road trip you would love to take? I’ve been on many road trips in Finland. When people from other countries come here, all they see is Helsinki. But that’s not what Finland is about. We have a beautiful country. We might be small, but there are many places to see. Not even Finns themselves will see the whole country during their lifetime. The places I’ve been to is many, so here is places I’ve been to in Eastern Finland. There are cities like Lahti and Savonlinna, which are the places I’m gonna show you here. The photos are from 2009.

Probably the most famous place in Eastern Finland is the ski jumping towers in Lahti. I’ve been up in the biggest towers. You really have to admire those ski jumpers who have the courage to jump from there. It was kind of scary being up there for an ordinary person, but it’s a great experience to see it from that angle.

The next destination is Savonlinna. I was there the first time when I was a child. You see the city from a different angle when you’re an adult. The attraction St. Olaf’s Castle is an impressive sight. In the summer they have an Opera festival there. Other times you can take a walk inside it.

Last not but not least. The museum in Mikkeli, Headquarters museum. It was used as the headquarters during World War 2. Part of it it’s a school and the other a museum. There is a study that Marshal Mannerheim used. It’s a fascinating museum, especially if you’re interested in wartime in Finland.

So if you want to see more of Finland than Helsinki, check out Eastern Finland. The best way to see our country is a road trip. A trip I would love to do is a road trip in my own country. There is a lot of places I haven’t seen but also places I want to see again.