Vasquez on 21/4/2008 at 06:53

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Sounds like a plan! :thumb: :cool:

37637598 on 21/4/2008 at 18:42

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In my country, A Finn meet means we all get drunk, and go to Finnigans! (24/hr restraunt)

mol on 26/4/2008 at 07:05

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First day's behind us - David and Outrider arrived on schedule, and after presenting our international guests with a Finnish survival pack, also know as (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmiakki) salmiakki (not in booze form - yet) we packed into my car and drove some 170 km due West to Turku, arriving around quarter to 5 PM. Checked into the quite nice hotel, located right in the middle of Turku, and next to a market square which, as I'm peering out of my hotel room window, is bustling with life with farmers selling their produce. Might pop in there in a wee bit.

At about quarter past five we had all gathered in the lobby and were met with Vigil & Morrgan, and Morte, and a bit later with TJKeranen, who arrived by train from up North. Welcome drinks were downed, after which the ladies decided to storm the shops for a bit, while us lads moseyed on down to the river and went to check out the Turku Cathedral.

Having steeped us with culture right from the start, we agreed it was again time to wet our whistles, and the river boat pubs were targeted. By this time everyone was also famished, and when the ladies came back from a successful shopping spree, we decided it was time to head to the legendary pizzeria Dennis, where we had a table reservation at 8 for 9 persons. Arrived there twenty to, but our hopes were shattered when our table was still taken, and we had another 20 mins to kill. A quick walk back to the hotel to drop off the bounty from the shopping spree, and then back, and finally it was pizza time.

The dinner was enjoyable, the pizzas were large and tasty, and it was all very relaxing. Two slightly disturbing events took place. One, David pointed out that my ice cream dessert portion looked, in fact, like a pair of bollocks with a wang (a wafer) sticking out in a prominent fashion. This lead to much discussion about the other mental images my - at this time not nearly as appetising looking dessert as it had been only minutes ago in the menu - dessert brought up. There was also whipped cream in it, and I won't even touch that topic now.

The other one was when Morte took a group photo of us all, and immediately afterwards, with the camera still in his hand, headed for the bathroom, appearing soon after with a much relieved look on his face.

From Dennis we moved on to a nearby brew pub called Koulu (meaning 'School', because it used to be one) for a couple. This is when our esteemed internationals were introduced to the pleasures of Salmari (check out that link earlier on salmiakki).

But the day had been a long one, especially for David and Outrider, who had to wake up in the middle of the night to get to the airport in time, and there was a 2 hour drive behind us, and a filling meal (and a few beers), so we all decided to save our energies for the next day, and headed for the hotel early, before midnight.

It's now 9:55 AM, and we're supposed to meet up down in the lobby at 11. The plan is to head to the Aboa Vetus museum for a quick tour, and then to the Turku Castle, and perhaps to Forum Marinum, a sea and ship museum. Beers will be involved along the way to keep the spirits up, not that it's required - we all seem to be getting along together great! :) But beers will still be involved.

Incriminating and compromising photos will be taken, and posted here later.

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Morrgan on 28/4/2008 at 09:29

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This meet has changed my husband. All Vigil is able to do is long for Dave's Touch.

(As do I and most of the others too, I dare say.)

Vasquez on 28/4/2008 at 19:35

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Well, now it's official that me and morbus are the biggest drunks here, but (un?)fortunately the cameras weren't out anymore by then ;)