She’s finally doing it!

Yes I am, finally, finally doing it. Being more than on time at the Helsinki-Vantaa airport (thanks to a delayed flight!), being there on the right day (still angry at myself for MISSING the flight yesterday morning!) and being awake (lately, I’ve honestly been so tired, slept in the last two months altogether more than ever before!) and really, on time, woohoo!

AND I’m heading away. Now, it’s started, the trip around the world or at least a trip a bit further away than just Finland. Let’s see how far it brings me (yes, my sister, for example is pretty sure it won’t last for long…she claims that I’ll end up staying where I’m now heading!). At least today, if the sky or the aeroplane don’t explode, if Iceland stays where that weird little island should stay, if I don’t mess things more up and run late to the gate (has happened couple of times, but with blue eyes and innocent smile they always let too late people in – once I got a private bus ride from the gate to the plane, luxurious; no standing in queues!) – then my new life begins in.. ICELAND.

Yes, right. I know, tell me about it. Iceland is not Siberia. Siberia is not in the neighbourhood of Iceland. But at least there’s snow. At least it’s a start. At least it’s something very new to me; never went there, always wanted to (or at least almost always!). At least I’ve got open eyes (and heart!) and time. So, let’s see. Let’s see how long will stay in Iceland, let’s see how long Iceland stands me (btw, I’ve heard that Icelandic people are as crazy as Finns, so might be I feel there very welcome and like at home). Let’s see, let’s see. At least one thing is now pretty much sure; in the beginning of March I’m gonna fly to South Africa to perform in a poetry festival. Yes, tell me about it. What happened with the travelling around the globe WITHOUT stepping on board. Was supposed to travel slowly by trains, busses, ships. And here I am, flying to Iceland, flying from there to South Africa. And if my sister is right, like she normally is, I’ll propably end up flying back to north from the south. Unless a tiger eats me.

Please Tiger don’t eat me.

Please Maaria don’t miss the flight, go to the gate, go there now in the best case.

I was supposed to write a farewell text to my Finnish blog to all my dear Finnish readers. But I’m too embarrased to do that. They all laugh at me, at my face here, in Finland, because of me missing the plane yesterday. Most embarassing thing is, that I’ve met 3 people on my way to the airport or at the airport, who knew I was supposed to fly yesterday, and who were wondering why am I still here. It’s a good lesson. A bitter one, but well, nobody has died, life goes on, and my credit card bill might be bigger now but then I’ll just have a motivation to write even better books and maybe even find work as a freelance translator or a strip tease dancer or as a secret agent. Let’s see. Right now it’s all better than yesterday. It’s good to leave Finland, cause it’s sooooo dark and rainy (okay well, I guess Iceland won’t be different from that point of view) and goodbyes have been already said – many times indeed. Oh. But well, yes, now that I mention the word goodbye, I get emotional. Who knows when I’m coming back. Who knows what happens. In Iceland, for example, who knows, but right now I’m just following my heart. And red nose. It’s pointing at Iceland.

Goodbye Finland, welcome world! And greetings to all. Will send postcards at least to Munich and to my dear editor, who called me this morning and gave me cool tips on what to do in Iceland. There’s, for example, a penis museum. Those crazy Icelanders! Who wants to see a penis of a whale?

Stuck in Finland

I’ve stayed almost 2 months in Finland now, and have seen the burning yellow ball in the sky only maybe twice, maximum thrice and it all just lately. Last week I spent in Denmark, Copenhagen (a big recommend, seemed to be a really cool city!) and saw the sun for the first time for a long, long, long time. It’s been so cloudy; the first 5 weeks being here in the northern periphery I honestly didn’t see the sun at all!! It made also me a bit less brighter. Really, I’m not that blond anymore.

So dark so dark so dark at 9 AM.

So you can imagine how tired I’ve been, just because of the darkness. It’s getting worse; it’s really hard to wake up – haven’t for example had much interest in going for a morning run, which I normally love to do. In addition I’ve had lots going on in here. Promoting a book is fun but somehow after every interview I feel like an old, wet dishcloth. Actually right now, even though it’s a new (NOT bright!) day, I feel that way. Was thinking of waking up early, going for a run, and then. No. Rather not. Slept a bit longer, stayed in bed, and am still hanging around in pajamas, missing all my friends in Munich and in here as well – have been quite emotional lately.

Actually I’ve felt like an old, wet dishcloth for the whole week; have been busy writing a column, working on an essay, giving an interview (the last one of the year I’ll do on Sunday on a Christmas market) reading books and attending two parties, and not attending two other parties (gosh before Xmas it seems that Finland is a big party partyland). So no wonder, that I haven’t been able to concentrate much on the new novel, which I started writing on my way from Germany to Finland two months ago. And I miss that. Being able to concentrate. It’s just that if there’s an ordered essay, column – any kind of text – or tickets to somewhere or dates with friends or a cat staring at me (there’s one right now!), I can’t think of creative stuff. But well, luckily in November I got it all superduper. Got 45 pages written already! That’s a lot for the beginning.

Book promoting in reindeer horns!

Concentration to write is disturbed also, if I’m surrounded by so many „delicious“ novels and books that I am now. My friend went to Budapest for some days, and I’m taking care of her cat and apartment. Her library is so big I could die for it. So many novels that cry for being read. Unfortunately there’s no time for that, unless I wanna miss the plane. Because FINALLY I get out of Finland! Don’t get me wrong, Finland is an amazing country, but I haven’t felt so good here, have been kind of lost. But on Thursday next week FINALLY I get even more lost. Not in Siberia, where I was planning of going, no no. I’m flying to Iceland. With a one-way-ticket. Have no idea how long will be staying there. Miraculous life, isn’t it.

About Finland; it is lovely here. But something is missing. Home, for example, and sadly I’ve noticed, that connection to some friends is dead. Of course that happens. People get married or babies, or they move away, hang around with new friends, find a new job or whatever, and then you notice, that in the end you’ve lost people! And you miss them. It’s not only that, that makes Finland for me so distant. Something else there is as well. Maybe the common atmosphere (even though Finns are really crazy, funny people!), the sun (of course!!), the mountains in Southern Germany, the city of Munich..

During the last two months I’ve got to know many new people. That do the same; write. Or work at publishers or have something else to do with the world of books. So I’ve been surrounded by people. Funny people. But still, especially in the heart of Helsinki during rush hours, where people just run to different directions and are busy with Xmas shopping, I’m so very lost. But one thing there is, that I love doing here and that brings some peace on mind. Walking around. Helsinki is very, very beautiful and charming city. Walking in Kallio, Punavuori, Ullanlinna, Hakaniemi, Kruununhaka, Töölö – almost everywhere in the central area – is really calming and charming. Every time there’s something to notice, something that I haven’t seen or thought about before.

Pretty little housing in Helsinki.

There are also nice bars and cafes and so lovely libraries that I could move to live in them. Have been working at a library of Rikhardinkatu. A big recommend; go there. Check it out. As well as the library of Kallio. Those two are my favourites (Btw, special greetings to the lovely staff at Kallio’s library and thank you for the sparkling wine that I got to share with you one Friday!) and in both of them I’ve been able to concentrate a bit on what I love. Today I’d like to go and test the swimming hall of Yrjönkatu. Haven’t seen such a gorgeous, public swimming hall maybe never before. Need to go to sauna once more before leaving Finland. Last time I was in sauna two weeks ago at the residency, where I was writing and living for the whole November.

In November at the artist residency there was snow. Which makes it all brighter.

So my intention was to kind of advertise Finland (this time only Helsinki) but it seems like I’m just throwing up some feelings. I miss everything right now. Somehow this darkness makes it all a bit depressing – no wonder there are so many depressed Finns! It’s been a shock after 3,5 years away from Finland staying here so long during the so very dark time of the year. In a way it’s nice; you can just stay in bed. Which makes you of course good in bed!

But now it’s time to crawl out of the bed. No more bed time. More writing time. Need to write that essay, need to finish writing it, have been working on it for almost a month, time to do it, time to send it away. Time to go outside. Time to start smiling; in the evening I’ll meet a dear friend, that I haven’t seen for many months! Yesterday I had a date with a friend, that I haven’t seen for some years! On the weekend I’m busy with one performance, but will anyhow go visit my big brother and his family outside of Helsinki, and hopefully meet also my little brother, and of course my sister and her family. Because who knows when we meet for the next time. My dad I saw yesterday. Still trying to get my mum here, because could be, that next time I see Finland is in a year or so. Or not even then. Unless somebody calls me and invites me to promote the book somewhere interesting…Bye, have a great weekend, and I hope to get a bit more active with this blog. Just because I’m missing you guys, yes, you my people who have no idea of Finnish language (and how great it is!).

Time for hibernation

So I finally reached Finland – excactly one week and one day ago. On the same day I touched my novel for the first time as a concrete book. Ever since that I haven’t had time to think. At all. Nor did I have time to write, except signing my book. Helsinki Book Fair took all my energy from Thursday to Sunday, so the last couple of days I literally didn’t do anything.

Except recovering from all the action during the fair, jogging between the fields here in the countryside at my sisters, reading loads of books, cuddling with my nephews and all the animals that live here, eating super delicious vegetarian meals made by my sister (it’s like full pension here, maybe I should stay forever!), taking care of health insurance (which I didn’t have for over a week and now I need it, my ancle is broken!) and sleeping. So much sleep. How can so much sleep fit into one person?! I never needed much sleep, quite often I stay awake all night long and write or read, but now..these days…hmm..maybe it’s lack of writing? Or iron? Or…

On nälkä, on jano (Being Hungry, Being Thirsty) is out since last Thursday! Happy writer!

Well, it’s been dark, so very dark, which makes everybody tired. Dark begins already at 5 PM – but it feels dark all the time. The sun rises – well, I don’t know when excactly. Have been sleeping like a bear in the winter time. I miss writing. I miss Munich. I miss travelling. Haven’t been in Finland this time of the year for the last 4 years (!!). Hard to get used to the darkness. Didn’t remember at all, how dark and grey and dull it could be. Hard to get used to the grey weather (today was partly sunny, though – but very very windy!). And most shocking to me: hard to get used to hearing and using Finnish language daily. Might sound crazy, but I miss German language and Germany. It’s been my home for the last few years. Now that my home is where my story is, I miss my old surroundings. Maybe because of being so tired, I kind of don’t live right now in the moment, like I normally do, like I always do; day by day, step by step, second by second. Now everything is like a dream. Like swimming in my own history. I hope I wake up soon. Hopefully tomorrow. Hopefully at least next week. Don’t want to hibernate all weeks long.

My sisters cat is doing excactly what me is doing all the time these days!

Which brings me to this: My trip around the world will be delayed. Have to stay in Finland for a while because of promoting the book. The whole November I’ll write in a very small village in a residence for young writers and translators (you can still apply to get a room there next spring time!). Then I’ll go for one week to Copenhagen and after that return to Finland to promote my book as well as possible. The feedback I got from Helsinki Book Fair was good, which made me of course happy. Let’s hope the book sells well – but more than that I hope it will raise up discussion around the topic I’m worried about: human trade. Next year we can stir up discussions in German speaking countries, since we signed an official contract with my Austrian publisher AND we found a great translator for the book (jippiieeee!). Hopefully the same will happen with Iceland – we just have to get in „hands“ a good translator.

Now I’ll crawl back to bed – have been awake the last 4 hours after my latest nap. Tomorrow I’ll leave my sisters house and go visit my parents in a town next to the sea for couple of days. There I finally have a chance to go to sauna. And sleep some more! Good night world, good night darlings!

Mysterious streets of Tallinn

Hi. Greetz from Tallinn. When I arrived here two nights ago, it was a rainy and cold evening. Somehow I found my way from the bus station to the old town, and in the old town I found my hostel easily, and on the wall of my hostel I found that sign (the first pic). So it felt like at home, right away. And then I found out, that my shoes are wet. And that I have no clean underwear. Haven’t had a chance to do laundry. Or actually I did have a chance. Was just being too lazy or something. But now you all know, that I’ve been walking around in dirty underwear. Isn’t that great thing to know? Well, just between us: I haven’t had a chance to do any laundry ever since I landed in Estonia, nor did I have any lust to buy new underwear. So you might think that I’ve been walking TWO days with dirty underwear, but you’re wrong! I found clean stuff from a side pocket, and then I thought „oh that’s why there are side pockets!“ (never before understood the meaning of side pockets cause things just get lost in them!). From now on I’ll make sure that every bag and purse of mine will have side pockets or hidden ones, and I’ll put underwear in them just to make sure, that in the worst case I’ll at least have sidepocketunderwear.

But now, let’s repeat it: It was a dark and rainy evening, when I landed in Tallinn. Which made me go out. I love dark and rainy evenings! Especially in the autumn! Especially if I can stay inside and hear the rain beating the roof. Oh how well do people sleep then. You just need the sound of the rain! If I would have a concrete home, which I don’t anymore, I would have baked and apple pie and drank potfulls of tea (TEA, not wine!!), but now that I found myself in Tallinn, nothing could have kept me inside. The old town of Tallinn is one of the most beautiful old towns in the world, if I may say, and this time, for the first time in my life (have been in Tallinn about 10 times), I had a chance to explore it a) all by myself and b) in the dark on a Sunday evening (=no other people there, especially not drunk Finns fooling around!).

It felt like being in a short story of Edgar Allan Poe. The streets were mostly empty, my footsteps echoing in the narrow alleys, dust and smog covering the tops of the buildings and churches.  No other people to be seen, except way up on a hill, where you can lay an over-all look at the city. My heart was loud. It’s nowadays all the time so very loud. Don’t know why. As if it wants to jump out of my chest. Maybe I should go to the doctors? Oh, before going to the doctors maybe I should finally get a health insurance. Found out last week, that I don’t have any. Germany kicked me out of their system and Finland won’t take me unless I stay 3 months in there, which I’m not planning to.

Anyways it was a dark and rainy night, no people to be seen, but I felt secure. As I walked up and down the alleys, I imagined someone chasing me and had to look behind me every once in a while, but I wasn’t scared, like normally would have been. This time it was kind of fun. You know; simple people can have fun in really simple ways, so if you want to have simple fun, talk to me babe, talk to me!

Anyways it all inspired me so much, that after having dinner at Vegan Restoran V (which I highly recommend also to those, who eat meat!), I walked some more and then I got lost and walked until I wasn’t lost anymore, and landed once again at the hostel and started writing. I’ve been writing for hours here in Tallinn like a really good girl. My publisher will be happy one day. Actually I think my publisher is happy with me already. (Which reminds me of how excited we all are…the novel being officially published in TWO days!!) Anyways yesterday I woke up early and continued walking around the empty streets. Dust, smog – all of it being still there, carrying me through the alleys, holding me tight, walking with me hand in hand. Perfect. Lot of stuff to my writings, believe it or not. Simple writers get inspired by simple things, so if you want to have simple stuff in any text you need to write, talk to me babe, talk to me!

I got good tipps on what to do/ where to go in Tallinn from a good friend of a friend, that is actually also my social media friend, and I went to KUMU. After, by the way, deciding to miss the ferry to Finland. I just didn’t want to go yesterday. So I called the ferry company and they were nice enough to allow me to travel with no extra costs tomorrow with my ticket (it’s 19 euros to get to Helsinki from Tallinn by Eckeröline at 12 PM – cheap, cheap!). And then I asked the hostel if I could just stay another night. They said „yes of course, but it costs 8 euros“. Ha. EIGHT EUROS!!! That’s nothing. The hostel is cosy, old style, really nice, and my room mates are almost invisible – so I said oh, okay, well then I have to look for another place to stay. And then I smiled and said „haaaahaaa, I’m joking!“ and then we all smiled. Nobody laughed. Nobody laughs at my jokes. So I decided never ever to joke anymore. Oh and now I’m angry at myself. I missed a very important appointment today. Shit. It’s not good to be spontaneous. All the other meetings I could arrange on other days but this one. Shit shit shit. I’m stupid. I should have travelled to Helsinki yesterday. Oh oh oh!

Anyways I went to KUMU by a tram even though I prefer walking. Walked through a pretty park. Opened the door of the KUMU. And then realized: shit it’s Monday. No art museums are open on Mondays. So I didn’t see any master pieces. But I went to a cafe called NOP. And sat there for 3 hours. Wrote like a really good girl. Many many pages. I don’t dare to say how many, you would all think that I’m a freak…I’ve got this great Idea for a new novel, and I’d like to start writing it, but every time I start, I end up writing stuff around the story…it’s like having a delicious sandwich in your hand, and you want to bite it, but every time you open your mouth, something comes between the sandwich and your lips. You might bite the air around it. Never reaching the sandwich. But I’m being hopeful. The story is developing in my mind – maybe I need this burst of writing stuff around the main story. The main character is there, I’m writing about him, I’m like dancing with him, feel so bad. For him. He’s an old man. I saw him in Warsaw. He’s real. I never talked to him but I saw the empty look in his eyes. I saw what he was holding in his hands. I have to write his story. About what he was holding in his hands and why. Tell it to the whole world. It’s about human rights. But can’t tell you more. You can read it one day – if I ever get to bite the sandwich. Haha, I think you all wanna know what he held in his hands? Did I wake up any curiosity? Hopefully. It was something, that would break your heart!

Rainy, dark Tallinn. Oh Tallinn. May I stay here and not go to Finland. I’m tired. I’m scared. Have no idea whats waiting for me in Helsinki. Well, my novel, of course, interviews, people. Today I’ll get to hold my book in my hands for the very first time. On Thursday there’s a press conference, where it will be officially published. I think I’m going shy to the conference. Of course I am, just like in tv every time I have to be in tv. But first I’ve got an appointment at the hairdressers. In Tallinn, in, fuck, 20 minutes, have to run. Hopefully I won’t miss the ferry. Have a great week people! I’ll run run run now!

Vigorous Vilnius

Miaoooo! It happens quite often that I fall in love with places (and people and animals and books and sweets and names and shoes), but if I fall in love with a city, there has to be something very special in it, because I prefer countryside when it comes to falling in love with what I see. Hä. Sounds weird. Well, everything and everybody that I fall in love has something special in them. Now me talks about city-loving. It’s too early in the morning I need a break, cheers, tea is the thing (Jasmine tea, if possible, because it keeps people young, that I learnt in China from an old Chinese lady who looked like a teenager).

Let’s keep it in city-loving. Helsinki, Munich, Verona, Bergen (in Norway), Gent (in Belgium), Oxford, Innsbruck, Moscow, Athens, Madrid, Prague, Istanbul, Budapest, Hong Kong etc. etc. have made it to my heart (btw, for some reason New York or London never did). They carry something special in them. Something that I can’t put into words. Now I’ve got a new special city to my list of „beloved cities“ for you to introduce: Vilnius, Wilna, Vilna – how ever you’d like to call it and I will tell you why. Or I don’t know if I get to the point but let’s try. (Normally in the mornings I write „morning pages“ into my diary but now I decided to write here about Vilnius, so it might all NOT make any sense..)

I can only say: please go to Vilnius! And please DON’T go there in the summer time, when everybody else is going. Go when the colours are bright and when it might rain and is freezing cold, go in the fall. Or in the winter time. It gives you more. In the summer time all the European cities seem to be quite the same – and it makes things boring. Eastern Europe is in its best outside of the „high season“. I actually decided to avoid summer time in Europe (now remember there’s a girl talking, whos heading to Siberia in December!), because summer carries something desapointing in it…I mean summer, come on, everybody, me including, expects summer to be nice, warm and sunny, and if it’s not, then everybody is more or less being dissapointed, right?

Well the good news are: there’s always a weather. Weather never goes away. Some say „oh wow what a nice weather today!“ and some argue „oh whatta shitty rainy/snowy/dark/too hot a day!“ But why don’t you just forget about the weather. You can’t hide from it, you can’t run away from it, and every day is a new day. If it’s cold, wear a fucking (thick) jacket (and by a hat!) and stop complaining. Have fun. Take it as it is. Weather is there to play with you. Sometimes people forget it. They think that weather is just playing around and there to annoy people. But no-ho, weather, my dear, is our best friend! So if it’s too hot, go topless, people do that, and you might even get more good than bad looks from people. Concentrate on what you see and experience. Remember: no matter what the weather is like, you are still you, and the world is still the same old world, and from white cows you get milk and from brown cows hot chocolate and bunnies love carrots!

So when you go to Vilnius, don’t just walk around in the old town. Old towns are always beautiful, or at least most of them are, and the old town in Vilnius is not extraordinary beautiful compared to for example old town in Tallinn or in Stockholm or in Prague. It is worth wandering around, of course it is, but don’t spend your whole time there. Instead, go to the hills that are surrounding the old town (ha, if it’s cold, climbing up makes you warm, so don’t you dare complaining if the weather decides to be cold – do something about it!), walk to Uzupi (ah oh uh – and get an architectural orgasm!) and wander around. Go to backyards. Go to cemeteries. Go through open doors and gates. Observe the surroundings, talk to people if they stare at you – in Eastern Europe they seem to stare at you, especially if you wear something else than what is „normal“. It’s somehow lovely in Uzupi; some old houses almost fall down but still look so adorable, that you would want to give them a hug. New houses are being build or old ones being renovated – if you want to see Uzupis, GO THERE SOON. I’m afraid It will loose its enchantig atmosphere when/if all the new houses occupy the area. From the bottom of my tiny little twisted heart I hope the city of Vilnius won’t let people build or renovate so many buildings there. It’s so pretty now with more old than new houses and surroundings.

What else is there to do in Vilnius. Well, do what ever you feel like doing. Isn’t that a great advice? Actually every day just do what you feel like, even when you’re not in Vilnius. Stop planning things. I mean of course you have to go to work or do stuff that you have to, but other than that go where your feet take you or where ever your nose leads you. I decided not to plan anything anymore. Plans might affect other people – and what if you change your plans!? Then you upset the others, make them sad, even if the changes are not coming from you. Or you might get obsessed with your plans, and don’t follow your heart. Or you get confused. Or you loose yourself. Or you start panicking and going around in circles like I sometimes do when I forget about what I was going to do. That’s why it’s better not to do plans. Then you don’t forget things.

Except that now I’ve got such an idea for a novel that I have to do some travel planning. Need to travel to Balkan countries and East Europe after Siberia and Japan and the Rainbow Mountains. Need to. My new novel needs that. Oh but first, of course, I’ll meet up with my two cows in Thailand or Vietnam in February/March (greetings to you girls!).

Anyways now that I’m trying to write a travel blog (I’m still practising, propably for a very long time, so please don’t judge my blog yet) my hot tips to Vilnius are

– Cafe Mint Vinetu (if you buy a book and a piece of cake and then write a lot in your notebook, the quite serious but nice waiter will smile at you!)

– Literary street (!!)

– Buying hand made mittens from the market (old town shit – remember to handle!)

– Titanikas (Art Academy, where you can see cool art for free)

– Vilnius Picture Gallery (not that special but gives you a taste of Lithuanian art)

– Gate of Dawn (the oldest and the only gate of the old town, not that special, but before that you see a really old 500-year old church in an inneryard, and it’s worth visiting!)

– The National Opera (you get easily cheap and neat tickets – i went to see ballet and it was GOOD!)

– Do Re Mi hostel is a good place to stay overnight (it’s cheap, quiet, close to everything and very clean!)

– TALK TO PEOPLE IN RUSSIAN and they take you more seriously – if you don’t know Russian, pretend that you understand – I’ve started slowly speaking Russian again…my skills are rusty but it’s great place to practise them..

The nightlife must be good in Vilnius, that’s the feeling I got. There are lot of pubs and bars, and people seem to go out a lot. Unfortunately I can’t say much more, because I’m an old cow nowadays, or actually I’m a young cow who drank too much alcohol lately and tries to stay far away from the king called Alc. Nightlife is boring all alone without drinking, that’s a cruel fact, so I didn’t go into the night of Vilnius. Next week in Helsinki I have to go out, but there I can entertain myself by talking to friends and watching them go drunk. Ha. And now I’m off to bus once more. Nine hours of training my bottom muscles. Then I’ll eventually land in Tallinn, unless I step into the wrong bus and end up in Ukraine.

Testing

Testing testing testing. I’m sitting on a bus. It’s dark outside. I just left Warsaw behind, and at the same time I left a good friend behind. We meet each other maybe once in two years, but it’s always the same: wonderful. I’m happy to have such amazing people in my life. All of them like diamonds in my pocket in their own ways. None of them being just stones to me. No, they all have a meaning, yes every single one of them, even the ones who I got to meet only once or twice. I collect people. It might sound insane but I do. I collect people into my heart and to my memories – and yes; sometimes I collect them into my stories. Or I take a piece from there, a piece from here and build an image of a person I need.

In this test post I wanted to write about travelling by bus in Eastern Europe. But what is there to say. It’s dark, when it’s night like now, and it’s light, when it’s daytime. I’m tired. Couldn’t sleep much last night. I don’t like Warsaw. The hostel was creepy and there were itchy bugs in my bed who kept me awake, and I was blessed to stay in the same room with three loud hens. Who were cackling and being annoying loud at six o’clock in the morning. They didn’t care about the rest of us in the room. Felt like throwing my pillow, my mobile phone, my book, my laptop and my clothes at them. But then I thought they’re not worth it. I stuffed the ear plugs deeper into my ears. Could still hear them. I went under my pillow and under the blanket. Could still hear them. I started pretending that I’m dead.  Could still hear them…

And then I realized they wouldn’t take a notice on that I’m kind of dead, since I was under my pillow and the blanket. So I gave up. And woke and got up. And was being on a bad mood. And up. Ever since that I’m awake. So no wonder my test posting is like a mess.

Don’t have much to say. Just testing how it goes in English, just testing WordPress. Just testing if it’s worth to start a travel blog. Just testing if my brain is working. No. It’s not. It wants to sleep. So I’m telling you: travelling by bus in Eastern Europe is like travelling by bus. In Eastern Europe. The roads are bumby, the movies are dupped, my stomache hurts, and they have Internet everywhere. Even on the buses. Now I’m travelling by a bus from a company Ecoline. It’s much better than company called Eurolines, which took me from Frankfurt to Krakow some days ago. Here, on Ecoline buses, you can almost lie down and feel like a human being. Instead of feeling like a sitting humannonbeing.

I love being on the move. I love these days. They’re full of excitement. I feel like a child. I feel like a newborn. Not that I know how newborn feel like. Forgot about it 32 years ago. But I feel free. And open. I love my life right now even though I miss some people. I love being alone and seeing new places. I love leaving Warsaw (but not my dear friend!) behind, because it wasn’t my place to be in the long run. I love going to Lithuania. I never went there before. Krakow was really beautiful. You are beautiful. I’m scared of going to Helsinki in like five days. It’s gonna be crazy. Lot of action, book fair, interviews, book releasing and so much other things to do..

So good night now. Maaria stops testing. I have to think about…continuing to build this blog. Or to just keep on writing in Finnish somewhere else.