Haavakyyhky

A visit to the zoo with Josefin and Maya.

And finding out that there actually is a bird called "haavakyyhky" (re: "avokyyhky").

Location: Korkeasaari, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Sunstruck

Sitting outside in the early summer evening for 4'33".

Location: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Latte, please

Reading for 4'33".

Location: Cafe Torpanranta, Munkkiniemi, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Alphabet City

Walking over three bridges and trying to write the letter S.

Location: Ruoholahti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Relaxing at Cafe Ciao

Chatting over coffee with my daughter, Julia, and my grandson, Julius.

Location: Ruoholahti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Dead Poets Society

A poetry reading in honor of Jarkko Laine (1947-2006) with poets Ville Hytönen, Jusu Annala and Hannu Helin on the roster, MC'd by Leevi Lehto, at Korjaamo.

Route: Etelä-Haaga-Töölö-Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Passport

Driving home after renewing my passport at the police headquarters.

My actual line to the young lady serving me at the counter: "There's an APB on me, but that doesn't prevent you issuing me one, does it?"

Route: Länsi-Pasila-Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Shopping for Geof

Out to get some books, dictionaries and CD's for Geof Huth at the WSOY bookstore (and later the Academy Bookstore and my sister Meiju's little bookshop, Kirjatarha).

PS. Found a new feature by Google that lets you scribble your routes on Google Maps and added the complete track of my visit downtown here:
(see route)

Route: Etelä-Haaga-Keskusta, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Repo man

Taking a bus to pick up my car from repair and driving it back home.

Route: Etelä-Haaga-Konala-Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Fire & smoke

Reading the latest issue of Tuli&Savu poetry magazine outside at Max's Cafe.

Location: Max's Cafe, Munkkinimei, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Babysitting

A nice stroll around Länsi-Pasila and a visit to a neighborhood playground with my boss's daughter, Ella.

Location: Länsi-Pasila, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

A sunday walk

Out to have some pizza.

Location: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Gathering of old friends

Dad giving me a ride to a party at Kikka's house to celebtrate Suvi's visit from Beijing, China.

Route: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki-Westend, Espoo
(see map) (see track only)

Julius's christening

Driving in my Dad's car and picking up my daughter, Josefin, at the Kamppi metro station on our way to the Lauttasaari Lutheran Church where my grandson was christened as Julius Mio Kristian.

Photo Josefin Strandell
Route: Kamppi-Lauttasaari, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Maxing it out for Cage

Smoking a cigarrette for 4'33" outside at Max's Cafe.

Location: Max's Cafe, Munkkiniemi, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Em dashin'

Crossing the bridge from Meilahti to Munkkiniemi.

Location: Paciuksenkatu, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

The Ascension

Sitting home for 1 minute 11 seconds. (See Acts 1:11)

Strangely enough, the two links below show two completely different tracks: the first a simple line that makes two sharp turns, as if going up step by step; the second a pyramid-like shape in 3D.

Location: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

DJ Manninen

Teemu Manninen crossing Mannerheimintie after the Nynny Club poetry reading at the Old Student House.

Location: Downtown, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Mr Nutz enjoying Dutch tobacco

Lassi Hyvärinen smoking a cigarette on the terrace of the Old Student House, before the Nynny Club poetry reading.

Location: The Old Student House, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Karkkipäivä

Taking the tram downtown, to perform at the Nynny Club in the Old Student House. Joining me were Saila Susiluoto, Olli-Pekka Tennilä, Virpi Alanen and Teemu Manninen (with special guest star Juhana Vähänen).

Route: Pikku Huopalahti-Downtown, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Changing cafes

Walking from Cafe Delivo, where I had breakfast and read the morning papers, to Max's Cafe, where sat in the sun and did some reading.

Location: Munkkiniemen puistotie, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Break on through (to the other side)

Crossing Mannerheimintie through an underpass between Ruskeasuo and Pikku Huopalahti.

Location: Ruskeasuo-Pikku Huopalahti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

I'm watching you

A seagull sitting on a tiny bridge in a park between Niemenmäki and Pikku Huopalahti.

Location: Niemenmäki, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

On the 3T

Riding the tram to visit Mom, who's waiting to have her shoulder operated, at Töölö Hospital.

Route: Mikonkatu-Topeliuksenkatu, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

J

Trying to write the letter "J" around the statue of J. L. Runeberg, a national poet, in honor of conceptual artist and friend, J. O. Mallander.

One of Mallander's early works, as part of a series called "Paper Sculptures" and dating back to almost four decades, depicted said statue with the image of Runeberg covered by a huge upside-down letter J. An early influence on me and a nod to Claes Oldenburg, for sure.

Location: Esplanadin puisto, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

In the early morning sunshine

Riding a bus across suburban Helsinki to see a colleague.

Route: Etelä-Haaga-Kumpula, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Two bridges

Crossing the bridge on Paciuksenkatu from Munkkiniemi to Meilahti.

Location: Paciuksenkatu, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)


And an other one, across Mätäpuro, in Pikku Huopalahti.

Location: Mätäpuro, Pikku Huopalahti
(see map) (see track only)

A late breakfast

A late morning walk before breakfast at Max's Cafe. A chance meeting with an old friend, Papu Pirtola, with whom we had a nice chat over coffee.

Route: Etelä-Haaga-Pikku Huopalahti-Munkkiniemi, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Broken bones

First day of my six-month hiatus. After breakfast, and listening to a nightingale sing, off to see Mom who broke a few bones in her shoulder yesterday.

Route: Munkkiniemi-Meilahti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Free at last

Walking home from the bus stop after work – and not going back until early November.

Location: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

A tribute

Making an em dash at the Parliament House.

For J. O. Mallander

Location: Mannerheimintie, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

After kisses

Walking downtown to see a show at the Galleria G.

Route: Aleksanterinkatu-Pikku Roobertinkatu, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Lunch poem 3

On a bus to Thai Manohra.

Route: Konala-Töölö, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Lunch poem 2

Getting back to work after lunch at Ristorante Villetta.

Route: Ruusulankatu-Maistraatinportti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Night ride

Another stab at the big O.

Location: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Caged

Sitting for 4'33''.

Location: Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Short cuts

Driving home from work.

Route: Länsi-Pasila-Etelä-Haaga
(see map) (see track only)

Riding with Mom

Mother's Day lunch at my sister's, then dropping off Mom, before heading back home.

Route: Laajalahti, Espoo-Meilahti-Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Pispala-Helsinki

Driving home through greening fields and roadside woods, with Pauliina Haasjoki, Marianna Kurtto and Lauri Otonkoski, via Koivukylä, Vantaa, where we dropped off Pauliina at a friend's house.

Route: Tampere-Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Runotuli

After the two-hour drive from Helsinki, with fellow poets Marianna Kurtto and Lauri Otonkoski, we had lunch at the Thai Na Khon, in downtown Tampere, and then drove out to Pispala, to perform at the Cultural Center, where we were joined by another dear friend, Pauliina Haasjoki.

After the reading, a lady sitting in front me turned around to address me. Turns out, she was a childhood friend, Hannele, whom I hadn't seen in over forty years. Oh my. Also present, among the audience, were Jussi Wahlgren and J. K. Ihalainen.

Route: Hämeenkatu-Hirvikatu, Tampere
(see map) (see track only)

Full moon

Driving towards a full moon hanging low in the sky, dropping off two friends, then picking up two poems from work, before finally getting home.

Route: Nuuksio, Espoo-Kauniainen-Munkkivuori-Länsi-Pasila-Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Out of the office

Seven minutes of a all-day staff meeting with colleagues.

First sighting of swallows.

Location: Nuuksio, Espoo
(see map) (see track only)

Smoke

Kristian Blomberg having a cigarette outside the Cafe Mascot, minutes after giving his first ever poetry reading.

Location: Cafe Mascot, Neljäs linja, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Poetry night

On my way to a poetry reading at the Cafe Mascot. Five debutants of the poetry magazine Nuori Voima stepped up to the plate to present their work: Irina Javne, Einari Paakkanen, Timo Harju, Pilvi Pääkkönen and Kristian Blomberg. Also performing were Claus Ankersen (Denmark) and MC Jabber (Great Britain).

As it happens, this was the first time the proceedings were broadcasted live at Sports Tracking.

Route: Ristolantie-Neljäs linja, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Hockey night

At home, watching television.

Location: Ristolantie, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Armchair poet

Sitting home alone doing nothing (although the skies seem to think otherwise).

Location: Ristolantie, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Getting home from work

First taking the bus to pick up my car, then shopping for groceries.

Route: Länsi-Pasila-Pitäjänmäki-Munkkivuori-Etelä-Haaga, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Seeing red

Stopping at red lights on my way home.

Route: from Hietalahdenranta to Mechelininkatu, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Three bridges

Crossing three small bridges at the mouth of river Vantaa, the original location of Helsinki, stating back to 1550.

Location: Vanhakaupunki, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)
(see map) (see track only)
(see map) (see track only)

Töölönlahti

A Sunday afternoon stroll around Töölönlahti.

Location: Töölönlahti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

The leaves are starting to come out

A walk around Pikku Huopalahti, enjoying the sights of migrating birds and birches showing a little green.

Location: Pikku Huopalahti, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Cross-over

Crossing the bridge between Meilahti and Munkkiniemi.

Location: Meilahdentie, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Museum piece

Walking through the Meilahti Art Museum, looking at a show called Defiance and Melancholy - German paintings from the Dresden Albertinum / Galerie Neue Meister.

Now, what caused the straight southward line shooting from scribble, is a complete mystery. At the end of the line, there's a replica of a small village from the Iron Age. Maybe it happened while I looked at a painting by Caspar David Friedrich, a nocturnal seascape from the shores of the Baltic Sea. Go figure.

Location: Meilahti Art Museum, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

No man is an island

Crossing the bridge to Seurasaari and walking around the island.

Location: The Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

Helsinki Arch

Walking the length of a sculpture by Bernard Kirschenbaum (Helsinki Arch).

Location: Meilahti Art Museum, Helsinki
(see map) (see track only)

On May Day

A stroll in the sun, starting from Cafe Carusel and ending up on the highest point of Ullanlinnanmäki.

Location: Kaivopuisto, Helsinki
(see map)