ESTONIA: I'm Tallinn you, its awesome!

This past weekend I went to Tallinn, Estonia with a few friends. It was amazing and we had so much fun....it is such an interesting city with SO much to do and see! To be totally honest, I am wayyyy too tired to blog much lately as I've actually been doing school work....so I'll post some pictures of my trip and perhaps update later!

...The ferry ride from Helsinki to Tallinn. (about 2 hours long)

I was SHOCKED at the amount of ice on the ocean....

..it was like something out of a movie!

No amount ice could stop our ferry...although our arrival was delayed about 15 minutes because of it.

Danny, Me, and Alex on deck! The wind was blowing so strong I had to hold my hat on!

Flower market in Tallinn

Old city gates

The beautiful rose Danny bought for me...

TULIPS! my favzzzz

The door to our hostel...such an awesome location and super nice staff!

Me and my friend

A cool little mini door in a cool little alley way

....from the viewpoint.

...the harbor from the viewpoint

...snow bar!

There were amber shops everywhere...bought myself a pretty little ring

...an old fortress walkway with a cafe uptop...HOT CHOCOLATE

..there was a display of Chinese symbol ice sculptures, this monkey was my favorite!

Everyone loves a man with a mustache!

..at the Beer House sippin' on a deeeelicious honey beer!

..don't be fooled, Alex and I later switched to the big mugs

...my kickass pancake stuffed with ham and brie

There were so many cool doors!

Oh blue skies, how I've missed you. 

..Alex and I went on a tour of the city wall to get a look from above.

On our last night we went out for a traditional Estonian meal...roasted pork, sauerkraut (which I normally don't even like but this stuff was baaangggginnnng) with potatoes and onions! and a nice glass of red wine :-)

I cannot wait to go back to Tallinn...I think mom and I might make our way through there for a night or two as we work back up to Helsinki to fly home at the end of June. I cannot wait for our bike trip through Italy...although she will probably kick my booty since she is miss bike rider and since "60 year olds RULE".

Tonight is a Moulin Rouge themed Stammtisch so that shall be interesting....unfortunately I did not bring my stripper outfits with me so I will probably just wear normal clothing, but I'm sure I will acquire some wonderful pictures throughout the evening regardless. 

I am heading to a Finnish cottage for the weekend and then leave early early EARLY Tuesday morning (1:30am) for Lapland!!!!

Au revoir! 

Time to get stuff done son!

The last few days have been pretty low key...my birthday night out Saturday was a lot fun and I can't wait to do it all over again for my pseudo-21st with all my peeps back home! We went to a bar called Ruma, which means "ugly" in Finnish....check out the picture of the bathroom stalls and the photo screens on the walls!

Twunnnnywunnnn!

I love you all for coming out!

This week and last week I have been taking my Russia and the Russians: Myth and Reality course at JYU. The course only lasts for two weeks, and then I have to turn in a paper by the end of March...and then I get a full semester worth of credit. The way they do the classes here is pretty awesome, I get to slack AND be finished with all my courses by the end of March. The professor who teaches the course is from St. Petersburg. The course is more politically and historically based than I usually enjoy but since I don't know much about Russia I find it pretty interesting. He is constantly asking me questions about America that apply to whatever we are talking about since I am the only American in the class. Usually they are political questions, and so I have nothing to contribute. I find politics totally frustrating and obnoxious and although I understand that they do affect me, I just cannot make myself interested in them at this point in my life. Maybe one day..but not tomorrow. Or the next! I am learning a lot about a country that I really never knew much about...and that is what I enjoy!

Speaking of Russia, I am going to St. Petersburg in the middle of March and CANNOT WAIT! Also, the Lapland trip is officially two weeks awayyyyy! Lapland is a once in a lifetime trip and I am excited to see everything it has to offer.

Alright..I'm OUT!

PS- I woke up this morning to a package at my door from the man I adore most (after Papa of course!)...filled with plenty of birthday surprises! I might just have the sweetest boyfriend ever :-)

PPS- I. MISS. RILEY.