Get prepared

Okay, is it way too much to write one post per Cuba-day? There's so much to tell, so many pictures to show. Get ready for this blog to turn 'Go Cuba' for a couple of weeks.

We returned early Wednesday morning. Took a taxi to the hotel we'd stayed at before leaving and drove back home to Varkaus. The level of tiredness was beyond describable. A lunch break in Lahti didn't help for more than 15minutes. Stomach ache didn't help the situation either. Neither did the feeling of wanting to vomit my brains out, or the flu-ish feel that was attacking out of the blue. A 20min nap in Mikkeli just made things worse and it was only when we got to Juva that my eyes started to understand that being closed isn't the only function they know how to do. Made it back home alive and managed to stay awake till the evening - trying my best to avoid the heavy jet lag I felt hitting me.

Now I'm blessed with a crazy cold, and visiting school in Jyväskylä for the last time in a long while (till I return my thesis?). Been lucky enough to meet up with a few friends again but now my focus should switch to the 'start writing thesis' -side.

(Btw I'm confused: How could I catch a cold in Cuba? Excuse-moi? My brain feels like it's somewhere up up up in the sky and eyes feel like they're digging deep deep deep in the ground.)

Anyway, get ready for more pictures of cute Cubanitos, old American cars, Che, beach, nature, random people and music.

Also, as I already told in my previous post - I'm packing again.

Why? I'm moving to Oslo, Norway on Thursday. It's been an exciting year and continues to be. I'll tell you more later. Lets get these Cuba stories out first. ;-)

<3

Linda

C for cuties in Cuba

Cuba

I hope you didn't forget me.

Now back with around 3500 pictures, and probably as many stories.

A little love for all these fellas below.

Cuban kids smile with their heart. Only by looking at them you remember that it's happiness that matters.

No matter who you are, where you're from, what you do - 'as long as you love me'.

(yes, Backstreet Boys)

I'll get back to you with many many pictures and stories. Just need to defeat this jet lag as well as prepare the upcoming: I'm moving in a week! It's unpack and packing time again.

Besos,

Linda

BBQ @Erik's

Couldn't have spent my last full day, Sunday February 26th, in a better way.

Johannes invited Karen and me to join him to a BBQ at his friend, Erik's, house. Tina had come to London with her sister, too! Exchange friends re-unite!

As London's weather at the time was amazing, +15°C, we couldn't say no. Well, we couldn't have anyway. ;-)

I doubt I've ever had a barbecue in February before.

Karen and me couldn't find a shop when we got to Paddington station. Probably still blinded by the previous night out. We ended up getting chicken from a local fastfood restaurant.

Erik lives on top of the station. How cool is that?! The weirdest thing was that we couldn't even hear the noises of the tubes.

So, we literally had a barbecue on top of a tube station. Never done that before either.

After eating we decided to watch a movie: The Island. I found it pretty good! Funnily, as I usually am not at all interested in Sci-Fi movies.

IMDb describes: "A man goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a "harvestable being", and is being kept as a source of replacement parts, along with others, in a Utopian facility."

Karen and I couldn't get over how funny Francesco is. Situation comedy. He makes us laugh no matter if he means to or not. A guy whose words you just have to hear in order to understand how he makes us feel.

Constance had found sunglasses on the floor of her Uni on a sunny day. Francesco's reaction: 'Do you really use them? Ew, that's disgusting.'

Erik brings ice-cream, Francesco's face gets an 'is this real' sort of look, Francesco runs away and chucks his gum in the bin, runs back and asks: 'Can I have one? I love ice-cream!' ...yeah, we noticed.

Francesco's comments about his favorite football team loosing a game: 'I'm so sad. So upset. I can't change team though, because football is like love. You can't just not love and change the team.'

Francesco wants to enjoy the sun. He finds a spot where the sun just about reaches his forehead. Comment: 'Ah, this is so warm! So lovely. My hands are warm.' A moment later he continues... 'Oops, the heat came from the grill.'

And the list goes on. Amazing. Lovely. I think he just made my weekend.

...and then it was time to head home, back to Finland.

<3

L

Crepes and cider: Last weekend in London

Karen came to visit me on my last weekend in London.

We were invited to have dinner and pre-party at Johannes' apartment with him and his flatmates.

Coco had prepared tasty French crepes and Johannes had made tasty sauce for it. We met Francesco for the first time. He provided the humor. What a guy.

We provided drinks.

I'm craving for those crepes as I type.

After our delicious dinner Johannes' classmates started arriving for the pre-party.

Nobody had told us it was carnival! Helloooo!

People were all dressed up and had seen so much effort in they awesome costumes.

Johannes is lucky to be surrounded by so friendly and kind people. His classmates and house mates are all super nice and I felt like I'd known them for a longer time. Oh how I wish I would have! I surely should have joined the times I was asked. In the future tiredness will not be a valid reason for me to miss events like these anymore. Please remind me, ok? Maybe I should make myself a board with the phrase 'tiredness is not a reason' on it.

What a great night. As Johannes and his classmates continued to an open bar party Constance, her friend, Francesco, Karen and Me went to Camden's club Coco, which is right next to the Purple Turtle where I went to see Franco. (read here) I'll post more about Coco later. Hilarious night out. Sure was carnival... hahah!

Many thanks for Mr. Johannes, or Miss Black Swan should I say, for letting me use his pictures!
Karen has quite a few from the night + weekend, too. I'll post them for you once I get back home from Cuba. Or more likely when Karen sends them to me. ;-)

<3
L

Rum with ice and a burning cigar, please

If everything has gone according to plan and schedule I should now be up in the air on the plane towards 

Cuba

which I was packing for here.

Our final destination remains unknown but most likely we'll backpack here and there. Depending on how amazing the hotel we get is. ;-) This is the excitement of trips with uncertain 'joker' accommodation.

Computer at home but I've scheduled a few posts for you during my time away.

If we find the energy, time and place to blog (internet cafe) - we will do so.

That's a very big if..

But in two weeks time I'll hope to be back with amazing stories and pictures to share and remember forever.

This is what is waiting...

Pictures from We<3It with the keyword 'Cuba'

This post is all about stoke. Critical Mass: February, London.

Just by looking at this first picture: Can you believe that this was the best skate so far? The best skate ever?

London will forever be my longboarding home.

Look at those people! Aren't they just great?

To the point:

Critical Mass February, London

My second CM. Hopefully not last.

They better have Critical Mass in the city/cities I live in the future. If not. Hey - I'm so arranging.

If the concept of Critical Mass is unfamiliar to you, read my post of my first CM in October here. From that post you can also find a video I made of the event.

The mass never has a point of direction nor a certain destination, it just goes and it flows.

It always starts at South Bank, near Waterloo station and usually goes past St. Pauls Cathedral.

Bombing Oxford Street, continuing on to Regent Street or Park Lane is also a very common route. And the best part of the mass. It's crazy how crazy the tourists get! Snapping pictures and cheering at us with amazed faces. People asking 'what is this all about?' and looking confused as...heaven.

Critical Mass feels good.

My favorite part of the mass was as we rode down Regent Street, continued towards Leicester Square, turned down to Haymarket and continued on Pall Mall ending up at Trafalgar Square. Long downhill. Smooth. Skating down Haymarket the fastest I've ever had the courage to go. Adrenaline rush.

Perfection.

Talent show on Trafalgar Square. ;-)

If you skate and go to London, do contact these amazing and talented people. You can do it by for example joining/contacting this group on Facebook: London Longboards. Or by reading and contacting via the London Londboards Blog here. They will be more than happy to take you along to skate sessions all around the city. You should most definitely go to London for a weekend during CM time, which is always the last Friday of the month. A skate at Critical Mass will redefine your understanding of the words stoke, community, friendship, kindness, help and fun. And I will be jealous that I won't be there to join you.

<3

Linda

xxx