Do they have McDonald's in Lithuania?

Although I have so many things to talk about since I wrote my last last blog, I didn't find the time yet to amuse you all with yet another episode in my amazing Finnish adventure.

Sanne, you asleep?

Last week we made a great trip to Estonia and Lithuania. We left on Friday morning quite early, and because I'm  not yet very familiar with the "actually making homework for school" system, and my assignment had to be finished on Friday, It became a very short night. Nevertheless, we got up at 5 and headed off to Helsinki. Fortunately we we're able to catch some sleep in the car.

Hannes saying: "Oh there's no wifi on
the boat, that sucks, let's go back !

We arrived in Helsinki quite early so we had to wait a little bit to get on the ferry which would sail us safely to Estonia. On the ferry everyone could take place wherever they wanted, and when we realized that with our still half-sleeping faces, the only place left was a uncomfortable table in the middle of the bar with horrible 80's music. But we explored the ship a little further and watched to beautiful Helsinki harbor and its gorgeous small islands from the deck.

Sanne saying: When god created Finland,
he gave them lots of useless islands!

Of course it also didn't take us long to find the ferry tax free shop.


After singing loudly and making some stupid dance moves on the lower deck where the car was parked we entered the Estonian harbor. Markus, an other exchange student, born and raised in Tallin took us under his wings and decided to spend the day showing us this beautiful Estonian City. It was really nice knowing where to go (or not to go) and having someone guiding you around. Tallin surprised us again every single minute with its magnificent buildings and culture and definitely not to forget its (recent) history.

Old city - new city - old-Soviet-city

 When we talk or learn about history back home or at school, we study about the World Wars and French, German, Italian, American, etc history, but less or even never about Baltic countries. It was then very shocking, but astonishing to learn something more over this beautiful, young country and its recent past with the Soviet-Union. Hearing a 22 year old talk about the foundation of his country that's even younger than himself, and having it hard to control him emotions was very touching.
After the short and great history lesson we went to a pancake place and enjoyed a real Estonian diner.

Estonian pancakes, with meat

When we went back to the hostel, 3 other students, who hitchhiked there way to Tallin arrived as well. We then got ready for the music concert of Chase and Status. (That actually was our main reason for the trip). After missing Chase and Status myself two times during the summer holiday, I was very much looking forward to eventually seeing them. We then arrived at the concert hall and saw a few thousand people standing outside and in line to get in. After 30-45 minutes of pushing and pushing nothing changed and people started to get angry with each other and trowing a kinds of stuff. The entrance was maybe 8 meters wide and doors kept closed the whole time, entrance and exit, same way in and out. Eventually some people came out saying it was a madhouse inside. All together we decided not to wait any longer and to not take any more risks, and went safely back home.

Vilnius sleeping place

The day after we had a nice breakfast and visited the old town again. In the evening we took the night bus 700 km south to Vilnius. After not sleeping for almost the whole night we arrived in Lithuania. Of course the first question was: "Do they have McDo in Lithuania?". Luckily for us, they did, and with a menu costing only half the price you pay in Finland (or Belgium), we had a decent, real Lithuanian breakfast!

Do you where your teenager is at 5am
in the morning? Mac-MacDoncald's !

Diana, a girl from Lithuania, guided us around in Vilnius and provided us with an awesome sleeping place a little bit out of the city center. We could sleep with a guy who build his own music studio in his house, fully equipped with music instruments, a true heaven for 7 Music and Media students! That night he invited us to an incredible Raggae-DnB party in the underground scene of Vilnius. Afterwards we took the taxi home, but first stopped at the Mcdo drive-in (open 24/7!) and spent our last "Lollars" (how we called the Lithuanian money) on cheap burgers, without thinking about having to pay the taxi. That of course leaded  to a hilarious situation, but still we managed to get home safely. the day after we took the night bus again to Tallin and headed back home.

The same day two Belgian friends arrived, and still very tired from the sleepless last 7 days we started partying again in Jyväskylä. Wednesday we were able to catch a match of the Jyväskylän icehockey team. It was the first time in my life and definitely not the last!

JKL icehockey ring (© Michel Aubroeck)

But every amazing and good story has to come to and end... After my friends leaving back for Belgium, I started to feel a little bit sick and tired.
Must be the combination of to much sleep, not enough partying and not enough alcohol!


ps: For those who have a lot of time: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WpS5o9by70
the first day of our trip in 15 minutes
Thanks to Sanne Rogier !