The Metso Library is one of the most beautiful libraries I have ever seen. It is very close to our house and we go quite often. They don't have every book in English that I might want, but they do have quite a bit. Last night Kate and I went there and took these pictures:
This bar, Kerho is a really great bar that is on the way to the library. If I have enough time, I can get some books and stop here for a beer on the way back home.
I asked the bartender to take our picture, which was pretty nice of him considering he got no tip and we didn't order a beer.
I like this shot a lot. The library looks like a spaceship of some kind from the outside. It is on Hämeenpuisto. In the backgrouund you can see the Särkiniemi tower. Even though it looks like a part of the building, it is about one mile away and is the tallest structure in Tampere.
Kate thought it would be interesting to take a picture of a pay toilet. I suppose if you gotta go, then you gotta go. If you think this is interesting, please leave a comment below.
This is a statue that commemorates the Civil War in Finland between the Reds and Whites. The Reds lost. This statue celebrates the White victory by basically saying "NEVER AGAIN WILL THE REDS PREVAIL." This guy is facing the old part of the city where the REDS lived.
In front of the Metso Library.
There is acutally a Muumin Museum in the library. The Muumin are weird, hippo-looking cartoon characters much beloved by the Finns. When I go to the musem, I will post to the blog about it.
Renewing a book with the patient library staff.
Kate returning books in the automated system (in which you get a receipt).
Up the stairs in the library is the music library and a really nice coffee shop.
This picture does small justice to the height, expanse and grandeur of the entryway to the library. But you can see the interesting architectural features and curves here.
Checkout
The architectural theme and curves permeate the entire building.
I am browsing this total hottie while she peruses the reading materials.
On the way home I asked these people if I could take a piture of their interesting hairstyles. They said yes, but were very shy about it. Why would someone with this hairstyle be shy about having their picture taken? Maybe only in Finland. Later on I will devote a blog to the Finnish personality.
Here is Kate in front of the one of the worst Mexican restaurants on the planet. The service is almost non-existent and their idea of salsa is ketchup. Surprisingly, Pancho Villa is a franchise all over Finland and has been in business for years.
Yes, you are adapting very well to Tampere :-D.
ReplyDeleteSome stuff, maybe you know it but just in case:
1. Metso means capercaillie in English (for once, I prefer the Finnish name). If you see it from the air, looks like one.
http://www.vastavalo.fi/albums/userpics/12625/kirkko_ja_metsovv.jpg
2. OK. I always looked that bar-restaurant from outside but never went inside, maybe I should go there. In Finland, you don’t need to let tips, and in many places of Europe neither. Maybe you have been before, but I recommend you Plevna that is in Finlayson. It is a German style brewery that makes with its own beer and cider, in the city center of Tampere.
3. During the Finnish Civil War took place the biggest battle in the history of Scandinavia, the Battle of Tampere, and some parts of Tampere were totally destroyed. Tampere was a “Red City” so the whites conquered it, and erected that statue. The leader of the whites was Mannerheim, quite important guy in the history of Finland, in almost all the cities of Finland the main street is called Mannerheim something (tie, katu …) but there is one exception: Tampere. I suggest you go to the Vapriikki museum to watch the exhibition about the Finish Civil War, and discover the reason. It is quite good exhibition. http://www.vapriikki.net/tampere1918/en/
4. Other museums: Amuri http://www.tampere.fi/amuri/startpage.htm, not far from Metso. Wooden yellow house. The museum it is closed right now, only open in summer, but the café has very good pastries and is one of the best bakeries of Tampere.
Lenin Museo: Do you know the place were Lenin was living for some time hidden and he met Stalin first time? So it’s actually not far away from were you live. http://www.lenin.fi/uusi/uk/index.htm
Haha Alberto - while looking at this I was thinking at the commments to post here but you said it all ;)
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of fact - tonight is an "october fest" at the Plevna Restaurant...
In Siperia is also the very interesting Spy Museum. The pictures are real cool and i like this idea of keeping a blog - hope you keep it up!!!!
julia