Happy Easter

Today is Good Friday. I'm going to church in a few hours. Happy Easter.

A lazy Finnish summer

Here on the island of Nagu in the Turku archipelago are some of the prettiest cottages. I was here in the summer of 2015. The saying goes, 'find a beautiful spot in the world and get lost in it'. Does it apply here? It sure is a very beautiful spot.

Hostels, air bnb, couch surfing

There are so many ways to save while traveling. While I've never spent time in an Air BNB or done any couch surfing, I've stayed in a lot of hostels. I think its a blessing that at my age I'm still able to stay in hostels with all kinds of young people. What is this? A decommissioned naval vessel that is now a hostel. If I can find a hostel I usually stay longer. I stayed 5 days here and paid USD100 in total, had my own cabin and shower.This was Turku in Finland. I'd do it again.

Welcome to Hel(sinki)

Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway, which is my most favorite? I can't choose. I love them all. Even if you don't venture far from the capital city, you'll still be in awe because each is so different even though they are right next to each other. Here at the harbor front and there are many harbors but this is where the market place is. There are vendors who set up their stalls on their boats selling smoked fish and potatoes. It is very busy and crowded in summer because of the numerous tourists from all over the world, but mainly from China. It is a festival every day in summer.

Spring and wild flowers

I've used this photo many times. It was taken in Greece in Spring a few years ago. As I approached the hill at Mystra I thought I was seeing red poppies. They were not poppies but anemones. What a delight it was. I went to Israel the next Spring because I read that these red anemones grow in such abundance. I did see some. Since then my goal was to see wild flowers wherever they may be found. I saw a lot in Scandinavia, different kinds, lupins and that was really wonderful. I know its the trend in England, to leave wide swathes of land covered with wild flowers. Its good for ecological diversity. It gives a valuable habitat to the birds, bees, butterflies and other critters. It is a sustainable practice.

London

I'm planning to go back to England again this year. I can't get enough of England. Even as I criss cross the world, my heart still loves England. The best time to visit is in June. There are a few great hostels that makes London and even England affordable. There are also a lot of cheap eats, sandwich shops and the like that again makes London affordable. Besides all the museums in London are free. It gets very very crowded. The best treat is Regents park, right in the centre of London. Tucked in one corner of Regents park is the Queen Mary rose garden which boasts of 4000 varieties of roses. There are so many old fashion English roses that it can melt the hearts of even the most stone hearted people. You have to pay to into Kew garden but Regents park is free!

Next ebook

'I traveled solo in Europe for 3 months in the summer of 2015' is almost completed, worked on it for 6 months. I've already started on the next ebook, 'Some English gardens' While there are so many gardens in England, I'm going to visit a few that are accessible on trains and buses, that is, ones that can be reached without a car. I have just returned from Toronto after visiting my parents who live there. I go to Tokyo for 10 days next month and I have to plan for my trip to England to visit these gardens. I'm doing the research right now and I'm excited. Come with me in my ebooks.

Travel plans

Around Stockholm are numerous little islands and there are numerous ferries that criss cross the archipelago. Many Swedish people own little summer cottages around the archipelago but you don;t have to own anything to visit these pretty places. It is glorious in summer. When you are in Stockholm, just head to the ferry terminals, jump on any ferry and head out. The sea is calm, the sun is usually shining though it sometimes rain. Everyone is smiling and happy. Its an incredible place to be in.

Is it Spring yet?

I am in Toronto right now and it snowed yesterday. We are still buried in snow. No sign of Spring yet and not for a while.

Summer, I'm ready for you

Freetown Christiania, Denmark, Summer 2015