it's Thursday, right?
So, seriously, guess who I met tonight? Or, rather, guess whom I had a conversation with?
The prime minister of Finland. Yes, indeed, I'm currently in Finland, just outside Helsinki, listening to fairly riotous Finns and others (I suspect a fair number of Swedes are there) in the conference center restaurant just outside the room I'm writing in. No, not my room, which has a double door, even, to protect against hallway noise. OH! And, a heated bathroom floor, which is the height of loveliness, I have to say.
My whirlwind three days in Paris were lovely, with literally nary a cloud in the sky until about 5 pm the third day. My trip to Helsinki was smooth, my paper went well, and I've now been told BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF FINLAND that Warren Beatty filmed much of Reds in Helsinki because it was a good stand in for St. Petersburg (totally true, by the way).
Pictures to come (and, wow, I've taken a lot of them), but for now... an interesting trip.
You are so cool.
We (the entire CO clan) are planning a trip to your hometown in June. Maybe you could come for a visit when we are there. I wrote to your Mom about our plans. We are going to take the train - crazy adventure!
Have a great rest of your trip.
Posted by: amanda | February 22, 2008 at 11:04 AM
"an interesting trip"? - sounds like an understatement! Can't wait to see the pictures!
Could you talk to your new friend Matti about improving the $ to € exchange rate?
Posted by: Oncle Jean | February 22, 2008 at 11:25 AM
She's very nice! (this of course assumes the PM hasn't changed since oh...last year? two years ago? which I'm pretty sure it hasn't) She visited my University and actually took time out of her schedule to meet every student who was studying Finnish. And to take photographs with them.
Posted by: Elizabeth | February 22, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Elizabeth, my guess is that you weren't talking to the PM, you were talking to Conan O'Brien. ;-)
Posted by: Ken | February 22, 2008 at 09:22 PM