You'll be in my heart

I can't believe 6 months have already past. My life here was just extraordinary and I don't want to leave.

I've said goodbye to almost everyone and now I'm trying to finish to pack. I'll never get in the plane with such heavy and big luggages! I've brought everything I really needed and left the rest to Marie.

Saying goodbye to her was really hard. I've been living with her and I did so many things with her that just imagining not seeing her every morning is awkward. I used to talk to her about everything, go out with her for a smoke even if I don't smoke, call her in the morning when I knew she was in her room awake just because I was too lazy to get up and say hi in person... I'll miss all these little things...

Finaly Célie and I left. Arriving in Baggot Street, my hand luggage, which was uncredibly heavy, broke! We just left since 2 minutes and I had already a problem!!! Célie and I decided to take a cab to the airport but getting closer to it, we got stuck in the traffic jam. We were really short in time and we started praying not to miss the plane.

Fortunately we arrived and the next problem to solve was the luggages to check in. I don't know how I did. I transferred stuff from one bag to the other until it got a bit lighter... that meant that Célie and I had each 2 pullovers, 1 coat, 1 bag about to break and 1 broken, plus other stuff that was about to fall down every second. We were desperate!

We asked a couple to help us carrying our stuff until the plane but these stupid and selfish people refused because they were afraid we were carrying bombs or stuff like this. Do we look like terrorists?!!!! That really got on our nerves but fortunately another man saw our desperation and helped us.

We arrived in Beauvais airport and I was waiting for my luggages when I heard the speakers saying "For your security, we allow only one luggage per person". I looked at Célie and together we started laughing.

Célie's mother was waiting for us outside and we drove to Célie's home. Just the time to grab some clean clothes and we were on the road to Paris.

Here finishes the story of my Irish adventure. I've made a lot of new and very good friends (among my best friends!), visited a wonderful country and learned so much on all levels. I'll never forget this amazing and great experience and I'm decided to go there again. Ireland is my best adventure so far!

Visiting the city... one last time

14.08.07
After two days spend writing my report for the school, Célie and I went to visit Dublin Zoo. We were disappointed. The entry was quite expensive and the zoo wasn't that exceptional.

We went for a coffee with a friend (potential boyfriend for me ;-) ) and in the evening we joined Alex and Ramona for the final diner together. It was nice, though a bit weird. Saying goodbye wasn't easy...

15.08.07
Last visit of the city (St Patrick's Cathedral and Christchurch) with Célie, my (still) potential boyfriend and a friend of my cousin's girlfriend (are you still following?).

The evening was a nice memory as well: Japanese restaurant with Célie and Marie (my last evening with her) and one last drink at the Capitol Bar where Richie joined us!!

End of the Finish adventure

Time to leave Finland and Aurélia.

6.30 am?: Getting up
Here we are, packing the last things before leaving. Nothing's left behind, we can go and say goodbye to Rauma, and Aurélia's appartment (she already left as she had to catch a plane for France in the morning)

7.15 am: HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO??????
The bus left just in front of us leaving us and our luggages at the bus station without any other solution to go to the airport. Célie and I started worrying. This bus was our unique chance to be on time to catch the coach that would have lead us to the airport from Tempere. We started thinking of the possibilities left:
- taking the next bus would have left us in Tempere without any transport to go to the airport... except the taxi
- grabbing a taxi from Rauma to Tempere: we asked, it would have cost 200€ (1,50€ per km!!!)
- doing hitch-hiking until Tempere

We voted for the last solution and tried stopping cars on the streets. The problem was that people didn't go that far and we didn't want to stop in the middle of nowhere risking not to find any cars afterwards... So we tried until the next bus to Tempere arrived and we cought it. In Tempere we decided to take a taxi. That was another 30€ but at least we were at the airport and ready to check in. The funny thing is that we were the first to get into the plane and that we got the place next to the windows! Amazing, when you think how the day started!

15 pm: Arrival in Dublin
Even though the wheather isn't great as in Finland, it's so good to be home!!!

Turku Express

Last but one day before going back to Dublin.

This morning we had decided to take our time and to stay in bed. After a while, we stood up quietly and got ready. We had planed to have a good and big lunch with pasta as we had only eaten bred and cheese all the previous days. We also had planed to go to Turku in the afternoon and to visit the city.

Around 3 pm, we still hadn't eaten and the girl of the tourism office told us the next bus was leaving in 20 min. We looked at each other with Célie and understood our thoughts: we had to run back home, prepare our stuff and run again to the bus station... that meant also giving up our big lunch.

Though a bit disappointed not to have pasta, we went home and got ready in less time then expected. On the way to the bus station, we were already tired and, joking, we suggested to do hitch-hiking. That was actually successful! A car stopped and it took us some time to make the driver understand where we wanted to go ("Bus station... Das Bus... le bus... Bus...")

We had 5 min left before the bus' departure. The driver of the car understood we were in a hurry and really cooperated. He drove fast until the arrival point and we manage to catch the bus! That was our first hitch-hiking experience!!! And it was funny!

In Turku, we went to see a nice church that had a river flowing just aside. On both sides of the river was a kind of park where people lay down and rested. Instead of getting in the church and visit, we decided to rest as well a bit and we ended up sleeping in the grass!
After a 20 minutes nap, we sang (as usual!), visited a bit the city center and went back to our meeting point where Aurélia was supposed to join us. In effect, we had planed to go to Naantali, the Finish Saint-Tropez, where sunsets are well-known for being among the most wonderful.

Aurélia arrived (1 hour late!!) and we got a bit lost in Naatali. But the show we attended was amazing! We went on the edge of a lake where ducks were bathing and took some great pictures!

We stopped for a beer to celebrate our trip and to thank our friend for welcoming us. But time was running and we still didn't had diner so we drove back to Turku and had a burger in the Finish Mac Donald's: Hesburger! Not bad.

"Les Island"

3rd day in Finland.

We decided with Célie to change landscape and to visit some islands that the tourism office described us.

First of all, there was a misunderstanding regarding the departure time. The first boat, that was marked as leaving around 10 am, was finally cancelled. It took us almost 30 minutes to understand that as noone was talking English or wanted to help us. Fortunately, we met a really nice Finish couple that translated for us.

So we had about two and a half hours to kill and since the weather was once more very hot and shiny, we decided to stay on Rauma's harbour, to visit the Lighthouse and just lay on the rocks under the sun.

These 2 hours were the most peaceful we spent in Finland. We listened to music, chatted, enjoyed, discovered wild life...

At the right time we went to buy our tickets for the tour. This was the program:
- 1st island (unpronounceable name so I re baptised it Couscoustajine... quite close to the real name): 5 hours on it. Historical island, bonkers, military canteen...
- 2nd island (can't remember the name): one and a half hour on it. The lighthouse.

When we left the harbour, we were really excited because the trip really changed the landscape around us: sea, boats, fresh air. Just great!
As soon as we arrived on the island, we kind of changed face. We soon discovered that there was not much to see. Bonkers, bonkers, abandoned places and... bonkers. 5 hours HERE!!! We occupied our time on the swing, having an ice cream in the military canteen, going to a viewpoint on top of a tower and... chatting... again!

We were really happy to see the boat coming back to lead us to the 2nd island. We were like 2 adventurers rescued after 1 month in a tropical jungle without seeing anybody. So when the boat arrived, we didn't even let the people come down and jumped on the deck.

2nd island: worse then the first one!! It was 3 stones in the sea and a lighthouse on the middle of it. And that was basically all!!!! And THERE we had to stay one and a half hour!!!!!! The area of the place was around 600m². No kidding!

We tried to stay calm and went up the lighthouse. The view was really nice... but still to desert to be that exciting! I think we were really surptised when we discovered that the lighthouse was also a hotel!! Why do people spend 100€ (we asked for the price!) to spend one night in the middle of nowhere????

Coming back to the continent, we decided that the day was still nice even though a bit long.

In the evening we went to a restaurant to eat traditional food: reindeer. It was delicious and we ended up our day coming back, stomach full.

Helsinki, capital and city of our hearts

It took us only a couple of minutes to decide to cover the 254 km separating us from Helsinki yesterday evening.

Leaving early in the morning (around 5am), it took us 4 hours, 32,10€ each and a looooooooot of patience to arrive. Fortunately, we left taking with us our cameras, the guidebook and our good temper that help us bear the trip. We sang all the way long and I'm sure that the other passengers didn't realised they would need some patience too to bear the trip with us!

Arrived in Helsinki, we stop at the terrace of a bar to have breakfast and started to visit the city. The weather was once more unbelievable shiny and we spent a great day walking along the lake, taking pics with flowers, and discovering the harbour and it's cute market place.

The most impressive thing that engraved our memories is evidently the wonderful cathedral right in the centre of the city and not far from the harbour. So white and so sober that it looked like it was shining over the whole city.

Coming back from Helsinki, travelling the 254 km in the other way and so, getting bored another 4 hours, we joined Aurélia and her friends at the terrace of a café for a drink. But apparently no one realised that it was evening and that the mosquitoes were already out to bite some fresh French flesh. Therefore we didn't stay long.

Memorable day... for various reasons! ;-)

Rauma, peaceful city

This morning, Célie and I took our time. Aurélia and her housemate already left for work so we were only the two of us ready for our Finish adventure.

After having shopped a bit for breakfast and dinner, we left to visit this cosy city. We went to the tourism office and asked for information and activities to do, visited the city centre walking (Célie bought sunglasses! :) ) and enjoyed a huge pizza at the terrace of a restaurant. And then it was already the end of the afternoon!

We spent a nice and quiet day in the sun and for a first approach, it was really good.

In the evening we had an aperitif with Barbara, Aurélia's housemate, and went to see the most wonderful sunset ever at the little beach beside home.

From Dublin to Rauma

4:00: Time to wake up
Finishing the luggages, preparing the sandwiches for the trip and leaving.

5:45: Waiting for the Air Coach
Célie and I are in the streets, really awake, singing out loud "Regarde! Le jour se lèèèèèveeeee!!!!!", having big laughs and impatient to be in the plane to Finland. The weather is so smooth and even though it's raining a bit (which make Célie very happy because she can use her "Kaputze") I'm only wearing a jacket.

7:45: The plane takes off

13:00: Arrival in Tempere!!!!
"Look Célie the little plane over there! That's our private jet! ;-)"
And then, looking at the airport: "OH-MY-GOD!!! Where are we??? Is this little shack the airport???.... Ok keep the faith, it's a Ryanair flight, therefore it's normal that we arrive in some lost places...". Well, we hope!...

Afternoon: Visiting Tempere
Visit of a nice church and then chatting at the terrace of a café having a great ice cream. The weather is unbelievable! 24°C!!!! We're out in the sun, in our little tops and T-shirts enjoying life and holidays!!

18:00: Arrival in Rauma
Very different from what we expected with Célie. At this time of the day, everything id closed. The historical city centre is made of little cabins of wood... and basically, Aurélia explains us that's it's the only attraction of the city... Ok, I admit it, Célie and I were a bit worried at that precise moment: "What are we gonna do here for 5 days???"

22:00: Sunset
We went to the creek just down home to see the magnificent sunset over the lake (already the 2nd one we saw today!) and, after having taken 1000 pictures, came back because of the mosquitoes!!!

Last day at Siemens

Here we are, my last day at Siemens. I can't believe I already spent 6 months in that company.

I had to clean up everything, organize the last files and say goodbye to everyone... and obviously it took me longer than expected!

After the working day, we all left (Célie and Alex comprised) to Kobra and then to D Two to get our last team drinks.

I makes me quite sad and nostalgic to realise it's already the end. After all, I would have been glad to stay a couple of months longer. I was really appreciating my life style here...

I really want to thank you all for your friendliness and your help. I'll always remember you.

A piece of Picardie in Dublin County

A long and excited trip for Célie who came to visit me. She just arrived home when I suggested to join Marie and her friends in Café en Seine. Célie, full of energy and happiness, accepted and it was the beginning of a long evening! (As always with Marie! ;-) )

Around 3am we came back home and went to bed. I had to be ready for my last day at Siemens... and Célie's Birthday!