Searchin' for the meaning of "higher education" in such places as Finland, Oxford, Portugal, South Africa, and Athens, Georgia, USA. The (mis)adventures of academia, travel, culture, and the best cup of tea.
In Finnish they call it "kuutamohiihto" and it is a moonlight (full moon weekend) ski event on lakes Jyväsjärvi and Päijänne. Mama Anne (our Finnish adopted mom) invited us to the event and even provided skis for us to use. For 6 euros we could ski the candle lit trails, stop in at the local bonfires and roast a sausage (very Finnish), and enjoy a little Friday night work-out. The evening started with a mis-adventure as Charlie's ski boot (Anne's husband's ski boot from about 20 years ago) blew out. Luckily we were not on the lake yet, so instead Charlie walked on the lake with the ski poles (they call this Nordic walking here) as we skied our little hearts out. Being 21 weeks pregnant, I felt great (although I did lose my balance not once, but twice and took one really epic fall on my bum). I gotta say this was an awesome way to spend the evening under the moonlit and starry night. The views of the city and bridge from the lake was stunning! Sign me up for next year!
Since we are both celebrating BIG birthdays this year I wanted to take Charlie somewhere in this world that is unforgettable and a place he had never visited. Paris! At first, I was going to keep it a secret until we arrived at the airport, but instead I enclosed the airline tickets in his Christmas card. The trip was amazing, despite a massively wet snowstorm that we endured our last day. We toured the city mostly by feet (such an incredible city to walk your way through). Our palettes were satiated with delicious food, our favorite being Cafe Pinson--a Parisian vegetarian cafe. But,the Zagat-rated falafel we experienced at L'As Du Fallafel was a close second. Of course we also delighted in a few crepes along the way. Breakfast was enjoyed every morning in true Parisian style as we visited Eric Kayser boulangerie for the freshest baguette and pan au chocolat, located literally one block from where we were staying in the St. Germain district. Our little apartment was the perfect home-base for all of our adventures, I booked a flat on Air BnB.
The three days melted away as we had a picnic under the Eiffel Tower, climbed the steps to Sacre-Coeur for a view from the highest point in the city, and drank Starbucks (as a way to use the bathroom--oh the joys of traveling with a 20-week pregnant women) outside the Moulin Rouge. We also fought the crowds at the Louvre to view the Mona Lisa. When flying back to Finland Charlie described it as the "best birthday ever!"
One of the great things about having Charlie in my life is that he gets to try on a new age three and a half months before I do. Despite sharing the same birth year, he carries the "older" man card (ha ha, he robbed the cradle!) This birthday was one of those BIG decade celebrations which called for a special evening, just the two of us. He opted for a quiet night in to celebrate his newly found middle-age and we cooked a yummy dinner together. I baked a chocolate cake (to die for) and we just relaxed in true middle-age style.
Today, we went skiing/walking on the lake with Anne, our adopted Finnish mama. I borrowed Julia's (Anne's daughter) skis and Charlie walked around the lake with Nordic walking poles and the camera. It felt so good to get my body moving and be outside with other active Finns. The Finns love their winter sports and weather does not stop them from playing on the lakes in the middle of winter.
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In Finnish they call it "kuutamohiihto" and it is a moonlight (full moon weekend) ski event on lakes Jyväsjärvi and Päijänne. Mama Anne (our Finnish adopted mom) invited us to the event and even provided skis for us to use. For 6 euros we could ski the candle lit trails, stop in at the local bonfires and roast a sausage (very Finnish), and enjoy a little Friday night work-out. The evening started with a mis-adventure as Charlie's ski boot (Anne's husband's ski boot from about 20 years ago) blew out. Luckily we were not on the lake yet, so instead Charlie walked on the lake with the ski poles (they call this Nordic walking here) as we skied our little hearts out. Being 21 weeks pregnant, I felt great (although I did lose my balance not once, but twice and took one really epic fall on my bum). I gotta say this was an awesome way to spend the evening under the moonlit and starry night. The views of the city and bridge from the lake was stunning! Sign me up for next year! 
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