My first weekend in Jyväskylä! It is now Sunday and, no surprise, I will be working most of the day to get a head start on the week but let me tell you about my Saturday.
It was cold! Temperatures started at -5 C and hovered around 0 C for a while. The wind chill factor made it feel colder of course, especially when I walked down to the Jyväskylä harbour (lakeside).
First up a morning nature walk – 5 min. from my apartment is a lovely loop walk alongside a river. Crisp air, birds singing, with trees and plants just starting to bud. Still some ice on the pathway so I didn’t finish the loop due to not wanting to slip over.
Then, a walk to the harbour that took me across the railway line and past the performing arts centre ‘Paviljonki’ (no photo yet – but I am attending a symphony orchestra concert there this coming week).
Images below reveal the icy harbour water, trees on the far bank waiting for Spring, boats moored, and white buildings of the university across the water. I stopped at a restaurant / sauna facility right on the water called Sataman Viilu and thawed out with a hot chocolate!
In the afternoon I cooked Salmon for lunch and read a book for a few hours – something I never do at home these days. My ‘bookclub’ (friends!) is reading ‘Butter’ by Asako Yuzuki, and I am a little behind. We will likely meet online this week to discuss. I highly recommend this book.
A wander around the shops, exploring a different supermarket and then I met friends at the ‘Thai Street Food’ restaurant for a quick meal before our evening event. I had Chicken Penang Curry, very tasty. This is popular restaurant near to where I live run by a woman who seemed to be doing everything – serving, taking orders and money, cooking etc!
To finish the day, my first Jazz Club event in Finland! I live literally 100m from ‘Poppari Jazz Bar’ (translates to ‘swinger…?’). A few of us went to see the Helsinki Cotonou Ensemble. The joint was jumping, as they say. We managed to squeeze into close seats but to the side of the stage so my pics are not great. I loved the African rhythms and mixed-cultural influences on the music and performance approach. They are on Spotify as well – make sure you listen! Without sounding like my real life is boring…..hmmm….I cannot remember the last time I went out to enjoy jazz like this. The international context of band and audience was inspiring to interact with.
Just a note to say that I’m following from afar. Looks fantastic albeit chilly!