Blogger’s info and about this blog

Hello. I am living in Finland and I am senior citizen and amateur photographer. Few years ago I retired from airline business or more precisely, I was forced to retire with other 999 employees due to the company’s productive and financial reasons in 2004; so I was told.

First: The aim of my blog is to present my Finland thru my photos. Every post tells a story thru the set of photos with related text.

I worked for our national airline Finnair about 38 years. I did all kind of jobs one can imagine, like airline officer, IT instructor, Excel work sheet specialist, boss, chief of Ramp Control, manager of Load Control, making rosters, quality reports and programming. These are some examples of works I did in my airline. I started my career at checking and did my best.

I also calculated Balance Charts and made Load Sheets for all kind of airplanes types. I was specialized to Pan Am. That is Pan American Airways or PAA as it was called also, which does not exist no more. As You saw, I was so called ground staff, but I also flew during five years as flying officer.

I was lucky when I saw how airplanes were developing from 1966 to 2004. When I started my job we had in use DC3, Convair Metropitan 440 and Super Caravelle. in 1968 we got our first DC8, then some Fokker, DC10, MD11 and Airbus. Air traffic had huge development during these years. Of course there were some setbacks as Supersonics airplanes and huge collision of two Boeings 747 at Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain). It happened in 1977 and 583 people were killed in that accident.

Before leaving my career, I received the decoration due to my merits and services which I made for my company. Medal was granted by our president. I maintain my fitness by walking daily, eating healthful food, vitamins etc.

Look at how I was flying in Flight simulator of commercial airplane DC9-51.

Spanish, not literally language, I learned to speak when I worked on Canary Islands few months. French I learned by reading French books during 45 years which I have about 1500. I also make video films. Many of them can be seen in my YouTube site.

Serious photographing I started in 2004, but as an amateur of course. I try to find different interesting things to be viewing. Because I worked in travel business, I can easily compare what kind of things are not generally found abroad. One example from this is our bell towers which are mainly from wood or stone or combining both and in many cases separated from church building. Also ships inside churches are not so general and wooden poor man statues.

I love reading and that is why on my bedside table there is always a book, mainly in French or Spanish. My music style differs generally speaking from that what people in Europe are listening. I love most of all South and Central American music and especially Cumbias. Cumbias are originally from Colombia. The music style of Cumbias is happy, danceable, tropical music that makes you feel good and what is the best, its has distinct rhythm. I like most of from those coming from Chile, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia. Elvis is my favorite singer yet today. Example of Cumbia music

I love fast cars and especially I love driving fast, although I am senior citizen, on German “Autobahnen”, where are no speed limits. Maybe I am some kind daredevil. I have driven since 1972 since 1300000 kilometres / 807783 miles. So, as You can notice I am fond of cars and photographing. Also I love being in the nature, getting my strength from there, feeling myself free and feeling part of it.

If You say that You do not have any idea about Finland, then on Monday, November 13, 2021, I had more 20000 photos and 428 posts which help You to get information about Finland, its people, landscapes, hobbies (stained glass, 3D Origami, porcelain painting, icon paintings, quilting and patchworks, beading, bobbin laces, shopping bags and evening from empty coffee bags), culture, history, historic buildings, bear carving contest, memorials, world’s biggest cruise ship made in Finland (Allure of the Seas), cruises on our lakes onboard more than 100 years old steamboats, national parks, castles, art, buildings, monastery, design, habits, travel destinations, museums, carved animals, secrets of Finnish Sauna, Mobile Saunas or Saunas on wheels, summer cottages, rock paintings, giant kettles, semi precious stones, vintage cars, vintage, vintage steam ships, air planes, vintage post cards, Christmas traditions, Christmas markets, Christmas decorations, Himmeli Finnish traditional Christmas decoration, church chandeliers, pulpits, altar paintings, Hanami / Sakura, Hobby horses, lakeland area, ship passing thru narrow canal, holiday log cabins, traditional carpet washing, hobbies by ordinary people (Orthodox icons, Porcelain paintings, Glass paintings), traditional colorful vintage windmills, traditional hay-making, Kantele – Finland’s national instrument, rivers and rapids, rafting competition standing on log in white water, unique wooden pauper statues in the world (57), road side art, DC-3, flight simulator, gazebos, riding, horses, handicraft, matchboxes, church scale models from matches, world’s oldest surviving diving suit, outdoor activities, walking, biking, marathon, ice hockey, old tractors, garden, flowers, Arctic hills, tall ships, Votive ships inside our churches, jousting, Samba in Helsinki, best places to visit, towns with old wooden houses, 32 towns in Finland, peculiarities in Finland, reindeer driving competition, laces, crochet, wooden churches included world’s biggest one, beautiful bell towers which are separated from churches, ice art, sand statues and not forgetting to present Arctic Circle, world’s biggest snow castle, winter wonders, winter fun, snow and ice photos, hiking, reindeer races open for everybody and our road trips in the Northernmost part of Finland which is called Lapland etc.

My visitors came from 212 (September 4, 2020) different countries around the world. Number of visitors November 13, 2021, 682096.

All these You find when clicking “select categories”. Welcome and to make armchair trip and to explore Finland as I see it thru my photos!

Beneath there are some of my photos to get better idea of these items on one page which I just mentioned above. Your comments are appreciated highly.

En español:

Hola! Vivo en Finlandia y soy jubilado desde 2004. Mira mi mundo através mis fotos.

En francais:

Salut, je vis en Finlande et j’suis retraité depuis 2004. Bienvenu à connaître mon monde à travers mes photos.

Em português:

Oi! Eu moro na Finlândia e sou aposentado já desde 2004. Moro em Mikkeli desde 2013, mas nasci em Helsínquia. Eu falo inglês, espanhol, francês, sueco e também alemão mais ou menos. Agora estou aprendendo portugues que é uma linguagem muito interessante.

Toda a minha vida eu trabalhei no aeroporto de Helsinque cerca de 39 anos. Quando eu era jovem, meus sonhos eram me tornar ou o piloto de vôo ou o piloto de rall e por isto eu gosto conduzir o meu carro rapidamente, pero só em Alemanha em suas rodovias, mas hoje não é possível. Os meus hobbies são por exemplo a fotografia, o ciclismo, a caminhada, a música e a leitura. Eu viajando com minha câmera aqui e ali na Finlândia fotografando a natureza, as igrejas, os campanários, a arquitetura, nossa própria cultura e muitas outras coisas. Umas coisas peculiares que eu encontrei perto das igrejas são as estatuas de homen pobre. Eu gosto da natureza da Lapónia e isso e porque vamos visitar lá com minha esposa de vez em quando.

Os ritmos da Cumbia são a música que aquece a minha mente e faz meu coração bater mais rápido. A Cumbia e uma música tropical alegre e é originalmente da Colômbia. É tocada no Equador, no Peru, no Chile e também na América Central. Eu ler muito e eu gosto de ficção científica relacionada ao espaço em francês. Na mesa de cabeceira eu tenho sempre um livro que eu li antes de dormir. Para conhecer melhor o que acontece em nosso mundo moderno, eu li as revistas de tecnologia e revistas de informática.

Olhe o meu país através das minhas fotografias. Bemvindo!

Welcome / Bienvenido / Bienvenue / Benvenuto / Bem-vindo

Visitors came from these countries

What I achieved in my work employed by Finnair nearly 40 years? Two letters.Every aircraft, just like cars, has its own Aircraft registration name. Normally they can be seen on the both side of aircraft at the rear part. The registration name for this airplane is: OH-LZO. The Finnish country code is OH. Above the cockpit there are two letters ZO clearly visible. So, they are two last letters of this aircraft.

Why there these last two letters of the registration name are painted above cockpit and who got the idea that they must be painted them there? It was me who got the idea. It was in the mid-1970s when I suggested this to the Finnair technical department this. The reason was that the person approaching straight ahead the aircraft did not know what its registry was.

This was a problem for several departments, for example for me, who worked in Ramp Controller and for aircraft maintenance technicians working in hangar. Without these two letters, one had to walk to the either side of plane to find out the correct aircraft’s ID, because it was not seen directly from the front. My suggestion was examined and found good.

Since then, my handprint has been visible every day around the world since I left Finnair in 2004! In other words. These two letters are only things, which I achieved nearly 40 years working for my company. Not so much! LOL.

Alien from outer space? No, World’s oldest surviving diving suit in Raahe, Finland

Reindeer driving competition in Oulu, Finland

Frozen sea and sky meet in wintry Kemi 2015, Finland

Beautiful ice sculpture in Mikkeli, Finland

Sacrada Familia in Ice, Juuka, Finland

Matti, when employed by Finnair

Finnish forests are beautiful to walk. Photo from Otava, Finland

Midsummer sunset at Koli National Park in Finland

Inside photo from World’s Biggest Snow Castle in Kemi, Finland

Bear carving contest

Gathering of mobile Saunas

Rafting competition standing on log in white water

Votive ship inside of the old wooden Church of Merimasku

Crazy statues in Parikkala

Amazing dancing dolls made in Finland

Brewster BW 372 – only one in world

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Astuvansalmi rock paintings in Ristiina

Karelian style scale model church made of matches by a war veteran

Crazy clay art made made by citizens of Helsinki

Potholes of Askola

Peaceful life by the river in Finland – Rio Kuvansi

In Finland we have 187 888 lakes, here is one of them

Flying saucer house in Espoo, Finland

Sand sculptures in Lappeenranta

Winter sky thru my window January 2013 Mikkeli

Iris pseudacorus is very common in my new home town – Mikkeli

Iris sibirica is also very common in my new home town – Mikkeli

Wanna dance Samba in Helsinki – yes of course – so natural

Lake Pielinen. Photo from our summer holiday in Finland.

Christmas candle in Snow

Shadows in the snow garden

Autumnal Sunrise in Finland

In the simulator of commercial airplane DC-9 at Helsinki-Vantaa airport

Silent people in Suomussalmi

Carved ice in the world’s biggest Snow Castle in Finland

Our pulpits in churches are beautiful, or what do You think?

Jousting in Finland – yes

Opera / theatre bag made from empty coffee bags by my wife – not for sale in Paris, London, Rome, Milan, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Melbourne

Bag made from empty coffee bags by my wife – not for sale in Paris, London, Rome, Milan, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Melbourne

These beaded bracelets are made by my wife. She has nice hobby!

Road side art -She

Road side art -He

Made in Finland: World biggest cruise ship Allure of the Seas

Wintry old Porvoo Finland

Helsinki in winter. Do You recognize the car model?

Michelin man says: Drive carefully!

Tsasouna in Klaukkala

Church of Iitti. Even in winter our countryside churches can be beautiful. Note that the bell tower is separated from the church.

Cottage in a tree

Saku and me

Saku – my best friend

I have been using computers since 1970!!! Here I am checking weight and balance for Super caravelle (at background)

I still like driving car. Nowadays I have a little newer car | Childpower 1. Horsepower 0.

61 years later from my first car photo | Manpower 1. Horsepowers 280.

On German autobahn at speed of 242 km/ h

Do You like my wooden car?

I like Karting too.

Please help me! Who is in charge for shoveling snow here?

I knew it first: There is water on Mars!

My grandson in 2005 – Can You do this better?

Carpets can be washed on roads too!

Snow and Sunrise where I live in January 2010

Help, my feet are sinking!

Landscape at Winter Moonlight Dec31 2009

Traditional Finnish fence and a shadoof

It came from outer space and landed in Helsinki

Someone has a very nice mailbox in Northern Finland

Carved huge bear

Bomba house (Karelian style) in Nurmes

Langinkoski Imperial Fishing Lodge

Wooden house in Ilomantsi

Ice skating in the center of Helsinki (Finland)

Helsinki port in March 2006

Hunter and his dog – both carved by chainsaw

Hat

Garden lamp or Snow hat?

Quilting is very popular in Finland. This example is one which You find in my posts

My wife has a hobby – making bijous from beads

Chrismas tree made from beads by my wife. Actual height 5 cm / 2 inches

Fish made from beads by my wife. Actual lenght 5 cm / 2 inches

Fish made from beads by my wife. Actual lenght 5 cm / 2 inches

My hobby is to drive fast on German highways. My Vectra with 280 horsepowers

Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi in Finland

On which side You want to be?

Do You see anything special in this altarpiece of the church of Inari?

My backyard in winter

Making ice art in Helsinki

My homeway in Winter

Melting Ice

You do not know what this is?

Old wooden church of Petajavesi

How do You explain this? Got any idea?

Ice Sculpture in Helsinki 2009

Snowball lantern

Ruka fell in 14 May, 2008

Ember

Fire

Castle of Olavinlinna

Castle of Hämeenlinna

Castle of Turku

Ruins of the castle of Raasepori

This is the entrance road to the snow castle

Inside photo from snow castle 2009 in Kemi

Chapel inside the world\’s biggest Snow Castle in 2006

Winter in 2004

Helsinki cathedral in 2005 before sunset

After blizzard

Royer my first camera from 1952

Castle of Turku

Cemetery of Kellokumpu at sunset

Rose Westerland in my garden

Rhodorendron in our garden

Azalea in our garden

My car / Mi carro / Ma voiture

I had an oppoturnity to test drive this car. Opel Insignia OPC with 325 hp

Helsinki skyline seen from sea. Helsinki market square at foreground.

Historic wooden Poor Man statue in Kuortane, Finland.

I and the Historic Wooden-Poor-Man statue in Veteli Finland

Historic wooden Poor Man statue in Pomarkku, Finland

Humorous wooden carvings at Parppeinvaara in Ilomantsi, Finland.

Sunset beyond the Arctic Circle in Muonio

Hiking beyond the Arctic Circle in Lapland

Old steamships in Savonlinna are waiting for You for a cruise on a lake.

Koli National Park and Lake Pielinen in Finland

Photos from abroad:

Paris, Versailles 2014

Celebrating 70-years birthday in Paris, Versailles 2014

Pompeii

Vesuvius

Sorrento

Capri

Reindeers chilling in a tunnel on our trip to North Cape

Azores

Papa Benedetto XVI

Colosseum – where are gladiators?

Rome – yong boy and the fountain

Rome

Coffee break in Germany. All the seats were occupied, but no problem, Opel Vectra has solution for coffee table

I love these German beach chairs (Strandkorb), but most of all I love the Lady beside it

I love these German beach chairs (Strandkorb)

Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Sinsheim, Germany

Russian supersonic TU-144 in Sinsheim in Germany

On the way to the North Cape by car

North Cape

Me in Germany

Wakeboarding in Gemany

Brussels in 2005

Patong Beach, Thailand

Patong Beach, Thailand

James Bond Island, Thailand

Temple of Luxor, Egypt

Newest post:

Sartenada’s photo blog.