What the hell?

God Damn it's Hot Here
And yes, I know how hot it is in NY. But it's been exceptionally warm here. So hot that the quickly aging parents tire easily. Which reduces the scope of travel. So instead of scouting out the oldest part of Turku, and perusing the vintage shops, we sought shelter at Memphis, a thai-indian-east blended restaurant, for lunch. (Never been to Memphis in the states, but I found it here. Funny. And funnier when I recognized the "More than Words" on the musak.) No traditional finnish food for us. It's weird, but there aren't as many Fin-focused ravintolas. Finns eat so much finnish food at home that they branch out while eating out. And it's tasty.

Did an assortment of shopping with the family, and finally purchased marimekko fabric to pull together a shirt. (They sell the same fabric the designer uses in the present clothing line, so anyone can sew their own creations at home. Kind of neat.) Booked the Tallin boat and hotel. And we're all set for our weekend to Helsinki. (We're staying at a Scandic hotel right in the center. And we're not donating an arm or a leg.)

Through the kindness of some Greek God, I was spared the indignities of the Ukko Pekka this evening. After soaking the Dad in the Baltic Sea, we fed, watered, and sauna'd the heck out of him at the Oikarinen Naantali abode. Leo went nuts with the gas-grill and wowed us with his marinating skills. Tossed in some strong coffee, chocolate, and amaretto for boot...I suppose to keep everyone's eyelids peeled open tonight.

While visiting the Sila (big boat dudes) office, I sold my parents on a trip to Aland. Aland is the island between Sweden and Finland. Our trip will be longer, but I can seek shelter in a many an activity, instead of watching bad folk dancing. Yay! I count my little successes and this one is a blessing.

The best part about the cruise will be the duty-free shopping. (And the flamingo dancers which apparently hang out in the disco club.) We shall see the archipelago, but from a significantly larger boat. I voted for the Silja line over the Estonian one, as the first time I was in Finland the Estonian line sunk over 800 people. No thank you. (Having the Estonians recently withdraw their latest ship also helped convince me.) Hey - I'm talking about two cruises and jumbling it all together. The cruise to Talinn is relatively short. About an hour and forty five.

Oh, and the hotel we're staying in Tallin is Finnish owned. Everything will be organized! And I might even get a private sauna in our accomodations. Plus, note this down, it was the former headquarters of spy activity. (And who, I wonder, was responsible for cleansing the building of surveillance equipment?)

Er. So that's the scoop. I'm watching my mother pack for my dad. Amazing how the old school not only allowed, but fully encouraged, the man to sit while being tended to. Why? How hard is it to keep track of your own socks, undies, and toothbrush? What should be a 10 minute packing job is turning into a saga. And my mother refuses to understand why I'm "waiting until the last minute". (Our train leaves tomorrow at Noon. N O O N.) It's 11.30 pm. I have oh, i don't know, 12 hours or so. Better hurry!

Besides, if I forget something, that's what stores are for.

I have also learned that minimizing the amount of unsupervised Dad time significantly reduces unnecessary aggravation.
And more importantly, cleaning.

And on that note, must go see what he is hollering about.
(Does he think I can hear through walls?)

Have a fabu weekend!

posted by irene @ 8/15/2002 04:39:00 PM