Travelog for: Wavy Gravy

(updating map  )

Hi Mom!

We are so sorry, that we haven’t update for so long. My host has been very busy at work and with her studies. Weather has been wet, cold and windy. So there hasn’t been anything interesting to do around here. 
Yesterday Susanna was getting ready to go to work (yes she works at Sundays too).  I jumped into her backpack, and insisted that she takes me with her. She said that I will get bored at her work. She can’t take photos or show me around, because she needs to serve patrons.
But I told her that at least I want to see beautiful autumn colors outside. So here are some photos of our way to work and back. Aren’t they beautiful? My favorite is that red maple leaf. First time night was so cold, that grass is frozen and so were leaves. Nature can make just a beautiful art work, don’t you think?

Hugs and kisses Mom!

From: Wavy Gravy

Hi Mom!

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for your postcard. I was thrilled to have greetings from all you guys at Postcrossing / TV meeting at San Francisco. Susanna was very happy too.  We put the card at refrigerators door, so we can see it often 

It's been quiet around here (Susanna is reading and reading), but next Sunday we will go to short trip. I don't know where yet, it will be a suprise. 

Lots of hugs to you Mom!

Love
Wavy Gravy

Hello Hello!
Yesterday morning we got ready for our trip. I was so happy and thinking, that finally I will saw something other than books. Little I knew.  Guess, where we went….Helsinki-Pasila book fair. First we went to Art Forum fair. There were lots of different art works. Most of them were modern, and we didn’t “understand” them. In photo you can see with this big wild board made of steel wire or something like that. Well I wouldn’t want it in our living room. 

Then we saw some old books, and then we saw some new books and more books and……..We also saw some strange figures. My host told me they are characters from Finnish children’s books. We walk in the fair for hours. There were very crowded and hot. But it was still quite fun.

Take Care Mom!

Wavy

Hi Mom!

You never know, what happened yesterday. I got company. I’m so happy, well Droopy the dog (if you remember him) is nice fellow, but spends most of time in his own thoughts. And now, let me introduce my new friends. Here is handsome BEAR called Punker. I have real bear friend now mom! And here is cute duck called Darwin, I’m sure we will have fun together too.

For occasion Susanna decided, that we will have a little party. And so we had some pastries and chocolate and hot cocoa. Mom I think I have gained some weight here.    But if weather is good this weekend, we will go to long walk….

Your very happy little bear
Wavy

Hi Mom!

I just heard, that I can spend Christmas here with Susanna. Thank you! It will be interesting to see Finnish Christmas. Last Sunday we went to see little lake Joutjärvi near Susanna’s department. Well I have been there before, but now I have company, much more fun. We saw some ducks too, and did little exercise by climbing old trees.

Hugs and kisses Mom!

Wavy

Hi Mom!

Last weekend we went to Seinäjoki again. I have been there several times, but it was fun to travel with other Voyagers this time. At train we had whole compartment just for ourselves. We saw Susanna’s school and took pictures at river Seinäjoki. If you translate the name from word to word it means Wallriver. We all started to wonder, where that name comes from. Susanna didn’t know, maybe we will Google it….Weather is getting colder and we are waiting first snow.

Take Care Mom!

Wavy

(updating )

Hi Mom!

Last Friday we got a big surprise. When Susanna arrived from work, she was giggling. Suddenly someone shouted HELLO! It was new visitor Big Foot. He is funny fellow, I like him. We shared candies he brought and some chocolate too. Then we started to learn Finnish language. Droopy is our teacher. Finnish language is quite difficult. I have been here for a while, so I have learnt something already. My name is Wavy Gravy = minun nimeni on Wavy Gravy. I can also count to ten
yksi=one
kaksi=two
kolme=three
neljä=four
viisi=five
kuusi=six
seitsemän=seven
kahdeksan=eight
yhdeksän=nine
kymmenen=ten

The most difficult thing are these letters Ä and Ö.

I can’t wait Christmas, although there is no sign of snow yet.
Love you Mom! Rakastan sinua äiti!
Wavy

Hi Mom!

Last Tuesday 6.12 was Independence Day of Finland. At the morning, we noticed that first snow has arrived. Susanna tried to take photos of us with Finnish flag, but it wasn’t windy enough.


Some people light two candles at the window at 6 pm, but Susanna can’t do that, because of that funny cat of  hers. She really don’t have any real tradition for celebrate, but there are two tv-programs she watches every Independence Day, so we watch them with her. First is old black and white movie called Tuntematon sotilas ( The Unknown Soldier) based on Väinö Linna’s book. Film is about Finnish Continuation War. It was little frightening time to time, glad I have company with me. And then we watch reception by Finnish president Tarja Halonen at Presidental Palace. Can you believe mom we watched several hours, how people shake hands with the president. And that is one of the most popular tv-programs at all year here. Susanna explained, that it is interesting to see whose been invited, who’s with who and what kind of dresses ladies have. Really……

We are all busy with Christmas preparations, but I will write soon.

Hugs from Wavy

Hi Mom!

I’m sorry we haven’t update for a while, but before Christmas we were busy and at Holidays we just relax. Here are few photos, how we spent our time. Couple of days before Christmas we went to see Christmas lights at Lahti City Hall. This was the first year, they have special lightning. Photos are not very good (Susanna says sorry!).
At Christmas Eve we went to cemetery and take candles to graves of those loved ones, who have passed away. Weather was not very nice as you can see. We all were feeling cold, when we got home. So we were ready to Christmas sauna. I must say sauna isn’t really my thing, so humid and hot. But Big Foot just loved it. I waited most of time in dressing room with Darwin. After sauna we had our Christmas dinner. There were lots and lots to eat. For example Christmas ham, rutabaga casserole, potato casserole, rosolli salad and much more…Boy we were full and so we went to sleep quite early.

Happy New Year Mom!
Love you!
Wavy Gravy

Hi Mom!

(Wavy wrote this before he left, but I have had some difficulties so I’m sorry about delay with this update
Susanna)

Real winter has finally arrived here in southern Finland. So I got to see snow, before I travel to my next host. I’m so happy. We went to see little lake again. It sure looks different now. All covered with ice.

We saw people on ice, and wonder, what they are doing. Susanna explained. As soon as ice is strong enough (sometimes those people try to go there before that… drowned people every autumn)  people, mostly man goes to ice to ice fishing.  They make hole on ice and catch fishes. These Finnish people really are funny. They sit on small stools at cold, windy lake for hours and hours, and got few small fish or nothing. And Mom, they all were alone, so they don’t have talk to anybody. Hmmmmmm.  We, me Darwin and Big Foot had lots of fun playing in snow.

Love you Mom!
Wavy Gravy

Hey Mummy!

I savely arrived in Germany! I was welcomed very warm by the TVs, currently living here and certainly by my hostmum. I had a few presents with me and so I easly could make friends with all 

I told them a few experiences of my trip to Finland. I liked it very much, but now I am happy to go on with my trip.

I showed my new friends the postcards Susanna gave me.

But then I was sooooooooooooooo hungry!

The cute blue elephant Napoleon shared his piece of cherry cake with me.

Now I am full

This weekend hostmum and hostdad don´t have to go to work, so we have time to make sightseeing!

Big kiss to California!

Your Wavy Gravy

Hey Mummy at home!

We started the sunday with a great breakfast! Hostdad bought fresh biskuits and croissants at the bakery.

We made bacon and cucumber on the biskuits. Very yummie! So the day can start!

Hostmum talked about their holidays last year. Imagine, they were in California and made a short stop in Sacramento!

Have a nice day, kisses!

Your Wavy Gravy

Hey Mummy at home!

Yesterday we made a trip to the most famous castle in the region, the Veste Coburg. It is one of the best preserved castles in Germany.
The castle exists since the 13th century and was restored and upgraded a lot of times in its history.
Martin Luther, the reformer stood there in 1530 for a few month.

We visited the museums. I liked the museum of glass art most. Look, the fantastic candelabra!
We also looked at the collection of sleighs. There is one very pretty with flowers and fruits, we took a picture of it.

We also saw the smoker lounge, very comfortable with the chimney!

I wish you a nice week, my dear mummy!

Kisses from Germany,

Wavy Gravy