Sep 8, 2010 - Finland - Melanie Dekker Here and Now Tour 2

Finland #1 country to live in according to Newsweek magazine

Cities: Espoo, Vamalla, Tampere, Helsinki, Porvoo, Pori, Vassa, Oulu Counting 1 to 4: yksi , kaksi, kolme, neljä,... (Also the beginning of a new song we are writing) It seems: Tourist season is over, though temperatures are still 8 to 15 degrees, some hotels seem almost deserted.

Regretfully: Didn't get to visit the ice hotel...it was too far north and our schedule couldn't... http://www.icehotel.com/ (what would it be like to do show there!?), Mike's sunglasses were left on the roof of the car & the car behind us turned them into a million sorry pieces, Mel's sweater suddenly has too many holes to keep it any longer.

Items lost: Mel's phone stopped working, Mike's coffee mug was left behind 'somewhere', Mike's iphone was lost in a club called Sky...so it's up in the sky maybe now, Mel's tweezers (OMG, How will I live without!!...borrow Sam's for now!), left USB flashdrive in a hotel computer, Mike's little video camera called it quits.

If you are from Finland it is not unusual for you to know about or have some of these classic characteristics: You own a fishing pole, you are welcoming and warm in character, you like to have fun with slot machines (they are irresistibly everywhere), you've been at a local bar till closing (4am here folks!), you spend lots of time in saunas (local news link : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/aug/08/sauna-championship-russian-dead ) , you are educated (government paid), you are likely in the logging, hospitality or electricians business, you have seen a moose, you have eaten deer meet, you have picked berries or mushrooms, you obey the law, you are healthy (we don't see alot of drug stores or any clinics), you dress sensibly with fashion not being your number one concern, you have had a few different colours of hair at one time, you listen to Metal music, you are curious, you likely have a tattoo & have eaten at Hesburger, and your wine is served by the millilitre or ounce (as it's not permitted to be served by the glass).

Tampere, FI concert photos: http://www.klubi.net/gallery2_eng.php?gid=344

Helsinki Concert photos by Aija: http://bit.ly/aRQAFm