UMK25 Song Review: Nightmares

3 X

While living in Lisboa I’ve been reading this blog called ”Visual Diary” written by Finnish woman living in Lisboa. She writes about design, finnish and international but most of all life in Lisboa. She has nice pics and good point of views, tips about the city. And since I’m lacking inspiration and activity here copied this 3 x idea from one of her posts.

3x HAPPINESS

1.       My job.

2.       New WORKING bank account

3.       New friend(s)

I’ve been rolling in this cicle of negativity lately so here come the positive topics! Nevermind how depressive and hit down I get at the end of the day I’m always happy that I do what I do. It ain’t perfect and it has its down sides but I like the things that I work with and people I work with. Besides I have a new bank account, it’s portuguese and it works! No more need to transfer my money to my finnish account to have access to my funds. I’m also slowly starting to feel like having friends here. People who know this takes time. Good friends. Nice friends.

3x FEARS

1.       My parents dying

2.       Failure

3.       Addiction

And we move on straight to the other end. These are top 3 fears. The number one is obviously inevitable and realistic one. They are my only family and reason why I’d even go home in these days. And they have been good for me, been there for me when I’ve needed. Number two has clearly happened multiple times but still it’s one of the things I keep avoiding and fearing the most. Awful every time. Aaaaand I’ve had my share of alcohol and nicotine used by other people in my life so I hope never to be in a situation controlled by substances.

3X ARTISTS

1.       Laura Pausini

2.       Melanie C

3.       Gianna Nannini / Céline Dion

Gianna Nannini - Fenomenale 2017. 

I love music! I don’t know how to play it or sing it or anything else but boy do I love to listen. These are my favourites, some I’ve mentioned before here in my blog. Discover them if you already haven’t and don’t let prejudices control your mind too much.

3X LISBOA LOVES

1.       Colours/details

2.       Coffee shops everywhere

3.       Glasses and fanny bags

It would take a lifetime to discover all the details that are all over in this city… in the walls of the buildings inside and out. The windows, door and balconies. Equally interesting are the people who live here. Everything is rich in colours and shapes. Never have I ever seen a city filled with so many coffee shops. Besides of actual cafeterias – almost every book store and even car repair shop have a coffee maker and table for you to enjoy your afternoon espresso!

3X EXPERIENCES

1.       Montréal

2.       Meeting LP

3.       Spain

When I was kid I used to go through the geography books at the local library and read every sentence they said about the French speaking Canada. Château Frontenac was a sanctuary and I was a pilgrim making my way to Québec. Even after three years after my MTL experience I think of it as my proudest moment, biggest achievement and happiest time of my life to have been living there. Meeting Laura Pausini, was not part of the plan. I used to listen to her songs, over and over again. But she was distant, it took me years to have courage enough join her official Fan Club and even longer to attend her concert. Now after 23 years of being a fan I’ve met three times, who knew! Spain was unexpected factor also where I ended by a sudden, impulsive, random chain of events. Twice. In the most distinctive areas of the country that gave me life long friends and experiences.

Montréal, the best place on earth. 

3X FINLAND LOVES

1.       Ice cream

2.       Lakes

3.       Sauna

Here are the things that I adore in my country and that I always miss when I’m abroad. The most important obviosly there at number one. Finland is so under estimated as an ice cream destination. We do consume it almost the most in the world, you know! And coffee! Finland is obviously a summer destination with lakes and sauna on the list even though they’re great in the winter time also. But nothing is better than swimming in a finnish lake. The best sauna is at my god parents summer place.

Lahti, my hometown and lake Vesijärvi. 

3X HOBBIES

1.       Music

2.       Photography

3.       Gym

Music subject has been covered up there so let’s move to the photography. I’m not an arty person but I’m fascinated by the world through the lense. You can capture the big scene or focus on the small part of it. Afterwards change colours or bring out the shades to process what I’ve seen and maybe help people to see the beauty in ordinary things around us. Physical exercise is often seen quite shallow thing to do but for me it’s almost the same thing as sitting at a therapist couch. You go through things. You challenge yourself. And most of the times you return lighter home. Emotionally lighter for sure. 

Laura Pausini.

Here’s the Visual Diary blog for any Finnish speaking people who’re interested: http://www.lily.fi/blogit/visual-diary

Pics from magical Sintra! 

Random shots, many faces of Lisbon. 

This video is so tacky but how I remember watching this thinking that "un jour" and now I've been living here for six months already! Loving every #mtl moment

15 years ago since one of the biggest success story of Finnish music was released :) #nostalgia #helsinki

EUROVISION!!! THIS SATURDAY! 

Took my time going though the Coruna trip photos from last September. I saw so many beautiful places! These are from my first 2 days :) 

Lisbon / Portugal blogs

Lisbon and Portugal isnpire hundreads of travel posts, bloggers and videos but there are a few that stand out for me which I check out regurarly. 

HERE TO GO TO

http://www.wheretwogoto.com/category/around-portugal/around-lisbon/

A travel blog for Portugal and outside of it. Good tips for day or weekend trips from Lisbon. Written by expat couple in English.

SALT OF PORTUGAL

https://saltofportugal.com/about/

Mainly about Lisbon and Portugal. Different themes you can search for posts produced by small group of posts. I like that concept how they create this thing together. Nice artwork. They also have their own voicemap tour of Lisbon! And scarfs inspired by Lisbon tiles.In English.

LISBON BY LIGHT

https://www.lisbonbylight.com/lisbon-stories/

This is lovely even though more like a design blog. I love the idea of ’stories of Lisbon’ as locals of the city, often artists. Great strories and inspirations.  Great way to discover portuguese brands and artists. Very ’arty’, very Lisboa.

THE LITTLE UPSIDE DOWN CAKE

http://www.littleupsidedowncake.com/category/lisbon-stories/

Like the name tells you already this about eating in Lisbon and elsewhere in the world. Another not a travel blog. You can look for recipes according to the time of the year, which is a fun idea. Love the posts of different cafés of Lisbon. Also stories behind the counter. Amazing photos!

LISBOA COOL / LISBON SECRETA / TIME OUT

Available in Portuguese as in English. These are all quite similar, commercial websites about Lisbon. Tips for visiting and learning more of it but also events, restaurants, cafes… Time Out comes out as a magazine once a week if you prefer.

VISUAL DIARY

https://www.lily.fi/blogit/visual-diary

In Finnish. Written by a graphic designer living in Lisbon for over 3 years. She writes about life, in general but especially in Lisbon. Great lists. Also about design. I love her photos. She also has a great instagram account worth following if you speak Finnish.

instagram

LISBON ME PLEASE / LISBOA LIVE / LISBOA COME

https://www.instagram.com/lisbon_me_please/

https://www.instagram.com/lisboalive/

https://www.instagram.com/lisboa.come/

Do you follow blogs about your home city /country? 

I'll let the time tell me..

Hey all..

Still unemployed, I’m afraid. Never been this eager (read: desperate) to find a job. Totally new experience, this one.  For me having a job is so much more than just a source of income. Going to work has always been a very social thing as well. It gives some sort of meaning and structure in your life.

I guess it’s hard for the local employers to understand that I can really work for free during my practical training thanks to the Finnish social insurance and despite the fact that I study management at the university level, the ordinary customer service work is really what I wanna do at the moment. If it’s -my far from perfect- French – no one has said it out loud yet. Not sure if I’ve been looking for the right places though. Have widened my search and looked for jobs outside of MTL as well though leaving this city is the last thing I wanna do. Though in a way it’s interesting and exciting to see where I’ll end up.

(from this exhibition: http://www.mosaiculturesinternationales.ca/en/ )

Summer has ended and besides the weather you can see the season’s change in the streets of Montreal. Don’t mind really. Fall has always been one of my favourite times of the year. In here it’s especially beautiful with all the maple trees.. I do love to live in this city and even though it didn't work out in the end and I’d have to leave I try to celebrate every moment I get to spend here. I’m so lucky.

Also I’ve lived in my new room for a week now. I’m so loving it! I mean how happy can you be for having one simple window! The window itself looks quite dirty and the scenery ain’t impressive but having that fresh breeze.. :D

(my new room, messy I know but otherwise it wouldn't be mine)

Otherwise not much new with me. My days are filled with the job hunt, going to the gym, some school stuff and new friends. Met my first Finnish person here btw! Worth mentioning for! Though I’m perfectly comfortable speaking in English and it’s not like I miss home or anything but I gotta admit that speaking in your own language is quite a luxury when you’re being this far away from home. 

(my new room - look at all that space!)

Palace of Ajuda, the last resident of the Portuguese Royal Family. Not a tourist in sight!