Sigurd Eriksen: Colorful Helsinki

Summer is starting to be a distant memory and after several remarkable weeks of nice weather here in Helsinki the fall has finally arrived. Well — I'm not so happy for the autumn, but colder days and nights means that we are getting closer to the winter and snow, and that I love. Yesterday it actually did snow, but not for long (maybe it was more like heavy, white rain). But at least the fall brings beautiful colors and crispy air.  

Last weekend my family came over from Oslo, and this time we change the indoor playground for an outdoor concrete skate park, just ten minutes away from work. Lukas (3,5y) simply love skateboarding and I guess I have to pick up my skateboard and start all over again. After all — it's important to be involved in the kids interests :-)!!

It seems I always have a naked story to tell from my stay here in Finland, and this week is not different. I took the my kids to a swimming centre (Itäkeskus). We had a great time playing in the swimming pool. This was the daytime so it was packed with school kids, but we found our own corner of the pool. After a while it was time to get home, so we went to the showers, took a quick trip to the sauna, and headed for our locker. The problem was that on our key, the number was 378 and the highest number in the locker room was 268??? After a while a janitor came by, and I asked him. He said we were on the wrong floor. Our locker was on the second floor. He then told us to come after him and he would show us. Since we've came out of the shower we were naked. I was carrying my youngest son (Rasmus, 20mth) and Lukas had the towels. I asked the janitor if it was ok to be naked, and making sure of that we would stay inside the men's locker room. He said, yes, yes, come on, follow me!! Well — he opened up one door with his large key belt and we followed him like small ducklings. The door shut behind us and at that moment (all naked, with Rasmus on my arm) I realized that the way to the upstairs locker room was going trough the swimming hall (with at least 50 kids learning how to swim). I can't remember being so embarrassed ever. The janitor walked fast (luckily) and I followed him even faster. Then I heard Lukas; Daddy — don't leave me! I'm sorry to say, but I told him; I'll be waiting on the top of the stairs inside the locker room. Hurry up! Well — we found our clothes and got dressed, so in the end everything turned out good. After this experience I realized that Finns have a different view regarding nakedness then we have in Norway.

I started telling you all about the colors here in Helsinki and one picture says more than thousand words. Hope you enjoy the pictures. They are all fresh and taken from downtown Helsinki.

Moi, moi!