Arts and Handicrafts trade fair, Finland's largest craft convention.
Pirkahalli exhibition center, Tampere, Finland, Nov. 15-17, 2002.
Bobbin lace.
Reindeer antler jewelery, by Laplander Esa Inkinen.
Rope twining: spinning bundles of hemp threads.
Rope twining: plying spun bundles by walking a stick down the length.
Rope twining: plying #2.
City of Tampere, Nov. 16-18, 2002.
Tammerkoski Rapids. The city was built around these rapids, which connect Lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi across an 18m drop.
Tammerkoski Rapids, showing Hotel Ilves.
Tammerkoski Rapids, showing waterfall that powered Finlayson textile factory, circa 1820.
Church.
Statues reading in a plaza.
Plaza.
Never see this in the USA, would you?
Näsinneula (``needle'') rotating observation tower.
Memorial.
Tampere's tiniest technology corridor?
KKK Supermarket and Rudolph Hesburger. Perhaps the Fins need a lesson in cultural awareness.
Yummy cakes.
Street light decorations for winter holidays.
Giant Sony display bringing the marvel of rock music videos to a church plaza.
Sony display up close: RGB triples.
Tero Rissa and son Atte.
At Plevna restaurant (Nov.21), some more drunk than others: Panu, Satnam, Tero, Riku, Junana, Matti, Perttu, Eylon.
Train trip to Helsinki.
Tampere and Helsinki, Finland, Nov. 19 and 21, 2002.
Night Train restaurant, near Tampere train station.
Tampere train station (Rautatieasema).
Snow plow at train station.
Snow plow. Kids love this stuff.
Eylon buying train tickets to Helsinki.
Tampere Platform 2.
Train pulling in.
Train to Helsinki, window view.
Denise napping on train.
Helsinki train station, arrival.
Buffers.
Helsinki train station from across street.
Shopping in Helsinki: nothing but clothes, jewelery, and eats.
Lunch at Kappeli: exquisite shrimp sandwich and cream of salmon soup.
Helsinki tram: every 30 seconds!
Helsinki tram: $4 city-wide pass is an enthusiast's dream come true.
Statues.
Stockmann department store: 7 floors in 3 connected buildings, including a supermarket. It's shopping madness!
Naked statues in the snow. Makes me cold just looking at it.
A booth. Why? Why not.
Sushi at Rissa household.
Tampere, Finland, Nov. 19, 2002.
Tero prepares sushi for Satnam and guests.
Tero's hand made sushi!
Atte tries the ``wool only'' diet.
Cats like sushi too.
Tero shows off his picture phone to Satnam, Eylon, Matti.
Lunch at Näsinneulla rotating observation tower and restaurant.
168 meters above Tampere and the Särkänniemi amusement park.
Tampere, Finland, Nov. 22, 2002.
Denise enjoying the view at Vertigo Central.
View from Näsinneula: ships freezing at dock.
View from Näsinneula: Tampere cityscape.
Dessert. Gorgeous.
Elina, Atte, Denise, Eylon, Tero, Aleksi. Trying to look like they can afford this place.
Atte loves ice cream. So does his shirt.
Tero and Atte enjoying the view from Näsinneula. No fear, kid!
Trip to the countryside.
Lapua, Finland, Nov. 23-24, 2002.
Reino Iskala is a bit of a historian. In his home, we found many household items from Finnish life of centuries past. In 2001, Reino built a traditional, 19th century, Finnish cabin ("lutti") in his back yard. The cabin is four small rooms on two floors but would have been home to about ten people in its day. The construction is traditional, all wood with flax caulk, having almost no nails or screws. Inside are hand made treasures and the tools that made them.
Denise using 19th century spinning wheel: making thread the old fashioned way.
Denise using 19th century spinning wheel: won't my friends be jealous?
Denise using 19th century spinning wheel: close-up.
Eylon and Tero spinning. Well, trying to spin. Well, ok, failing miserably. We're just men.
Aleksi revving for the Lapua 500, on Denise's ultra-modern spinning wheel.
Reino's 19th century cabin.
Cabin panorama 1: Craftmatic without the 'matic.
Cabin panorama 2: 19th century tools. Not sure which is more dangerous, the bear trap on the left, or the giant keys on the right!
Cabin panorama 3: window.
Cabin panorama 4: shelves.
Cabin panorama 5: work table with vice.
Cabin panorama 6: 19th century phone. Somebody call for pizza!
Cabin panorama 7: Denise and Elina.
Hand loom and shuttles.
Hand loom, side view.
Denise in awe of a Lazy Kate.
Reino with hanging baby cradle.
Skein winders, etc.
Tapestry made on hand loom by Reino's mother.
Else, Reino, Aleksi, Elina, Atte, Denise, Eylon, Tero.