Travel sans visa coming for European, Caribbean, Mauritius, and Seychelles nationals

by Brenda Yun on

A mutual agreement allowing Europeans, nationals from four Caribbean countries, and citizens of two island nations in the Indian Ocean is expected to be passed and approved by the end of March, which will allow for hassle-free and smoother travel.

If you hold a passport from any of the following countries, it means you’re that much more free to travel between those listed sans visa: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Bahamas, Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Mauritius, and Seychelles. The maximum continuous stay in any one country will be three months (90 days).

I have a feeling this means we’ll be seeing more speedos and nude women on the beaches of the Caribbean very, very soon.

[via South Florida Caribbean News]

Play chicken in Helsinki traffic

by Tom Johansmeyer on

I was pretty impressed by Helsinki‘s public transportation, which was more than ample with trolleys, subways and buses. There were few SUVs, and the bike lane was rarely empty. While the Finns got the ingredients right, the mixing was … well … suboptimal.

The least menacing of the interesting transportation overlaps involves the bike lanes and sidewalk. Neither is clearly defined, and I almost got clipped by a cyclist my first day on the ground. And, that wasn’t the only Finn to take a shot at me. Of course, this is tame compared to the streets, in which cars, buses and trolleys jockey for position.

I actually saw a trolley, bus and car jammed in traffic, while a pedestrian walked straight into a guy wearing headphones while riding a purple woman’s bike. From my spot on the small patio in front of the Klaus K Hotel, I was able to enjoy the misfortune of others. But, I almost lost my arm at the hands of an errant cyclist while taking the few steps back to the front door.With Satan traveling the roads, what chance does any pedestrian have?

I snapped this shot with my Blackberry. This was the taxi in which I rode while in Helsinki over the summer. Needless to say, I did pause for a moment before getting in.

The most amazing bed-time view in Finland

by Tom Johansmeyer on

The Hotel Kakslauttanen is in Saariselka, Finland, a small town in the far north of this already northern country. From your guestroom, you can turn off the lights and take in the aurora borealis from your bed. This, quite simply, is an experience you won’t find anything else.

Glass igloos take the place of traditional guestrooms at the Hotel Katslauttanen. A small room, encased in transparency, comes with a small bedroom, and the main attraction is above. There are 20 of these spaces in the hotel built by Jussi Eiramo, designed specifically to take in the Northern Lights.

If you plan to soak in the arctic sky up in Saariselka, remember that there isn’t a lot of sunlight every year. In fact, January brings four hours of dusk, and that’s about it. Some guests have trouble finding their igloos, which would be comical if not for the cold. The management is ready for this challenge, offering flashlights to guests that overshoot their rooms.

A night will set you back $370, but you need to plan for some time in a traditional space, as well. The igloos have great views, but lack showers.

[Via NY Times]

NYT Celebrates Finnish Food Revival

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Finland is famous for it’s substandard cuisine, having been ridiculed by leaders from across Europe. And, let’s face it, it’s not all that hard to poke fun at an upscale restaurant named “Grotesk.” The country is trying to repair its culinary image, though, which is no easy task for the land of herring and reindeer. Of course, the Times pitches restaurants like Juuri and Loft, not exactly bargain destinations. Don’t worry, I’m here to fix that.

If you’re going to drop a little extra cash anywhere, make it your hotel. I stayed at Klaus K Hotel and don’t regret it for a second. Sure, it was a cool spot, and as expected, the Finns there made design and style a priority. I was impressed that they spent three hours helping me try to find a wireless internet connection when I had a minor meltdown at the front desk (thanks again, guys!). Blitzen makes a wonderful breakfast. Reindeer meat is included in Klaus K’s free spread, which is both tasty and filling. A few doors down was an excellent Indian restaurant (can’t remember the name … seven months ago, sorry). It’s definitely worth a stop, especially if you want a break from seafood.

But, if you want the best dining experience in Helsinki, you have to head down to the harbor. Snellman’s doughnuts will make you forget all about Dunkins. Neither circular nor with a hole in the middle, the delights at Snellman’s are rectangular and contain an apple pie-type filling. I mean, seriously, who wants to spend 250 Euros on a dinner that includes goat cheese ice cream at Nokka when you can down almost pure sugar for a couple of bucks?

No need to Finnish yet– we’re on vacation!

by Aaron Hotfelder on

A member of Finland’s Parliament has proposed a novel idea for keeping his country’s couples together: grant all employees a 7-day “love vacation,” during which they can re-connect with their spouses or significant others.

The proposal is the brainchild of Tommy Tabermann, a poet and author who was recently elected to the Finnish Parliament. According to Tabermann, “During the seven days, couples could devote themselves to each other ‘both at an erotic and emotional level’ and ‘find their way back to the path of love in order to find the wellspring of love again’.”

Leave it to a poet to come up with an idea like this. Doesn’t he know that spending seven days in a row together will probably destroy more relationships than it repairs?

[Via Boing Boing.]