Moved in

We are in our new apartment in the Ruoholahti neighborhood of Helsinki finally. There was a different container outside the apartment when we arrived on Wednesday, up on stilts, and our stuff was all in there. We are almost out of boxes now on Saturday and are dealing with the chaos of how to use the extensive closets in this place. That will take a while. One thing that's quite different is the Finns take their lighting - all of it - when they move. So I was on the hunt for lamps all week, and we'll be back at it today. I think it's that lighting here is of very particular designs, and mostly very expensive, so it's assumed you'd want your own style and to hang on to your investment. We'll be more frugal. I'm talking overhead fixtures too! We had lights in the kitchen, hall and bathrooms the night we moved in - plus candles that resurfaced in a timely manner for our first dinner.

The next night was the first wow sunset, as the clouds broke on the horizon and filled the place with mauve light.



We are at the end of the block and by a shore walk so we see all the dog walkers, which is great. Then we also have a resident swan family with four cygnets that naps right outside our windows. They are very tame here. Plus a guy who does a quick dip in the water every morning. I'm curous to see if he also does this through ice in the winter - it's very common here!

As to water fowl, here's the loon looking out over the canal - see the boat too? If you want to view pics larger, you can click on them - but they may get huge, fyi.

Until Monday, I thought we were going to be sleeping on the couch as we did not bring a bed due to the different European bedding styles, but after much internet research, I found this whole bed at a great sale price (ale in Suomi) and a store I could actually find right in town. So I was able to buy it and have it delivered Wednesday evening, and Gerald got it put together before the sun set completely too. It will take a while but each thing is coming together, bit by bit.