Life in May

MayDay, a.k.a. Wappu, went. And we survived it. Barely, though.

That first of May is probably the ONLY (semi-)real carneval day up here where it's usually arctic, freezing and otherwise miserable. But. This year was an exeption - as the case has been for several years now... because it wasn't cold or gray. It was sunny, funny and out-of-control! :D

Our "first of May" took off actually already in April 27th with a jolly mood and a laid back party night. On Friday we took off from good old Tampere - by bus - and toured neighbouring counties and towns; or more specifically the crummy pubs & bars of those places. Tampere was reached again after dark - and somewhat intoxicated. As expected.

Saturday was supposed to be filled with action, but we didn't get our selves out of the house until around 3 PM. There was a day-sauna, a beer rally and sing-along-drinking-night (sitsit). Later we headed to a bar called Ruma (=Ugly), which turned out to be detrimental for us: that bar served drinks in jugs - and the rumour tells that we did scoop through few too many. I myself can remember 4...

Sunday, the main day for festivities didn't dawn nicely - as one can probably imagine after "hearing" about our saturday. Olli had a semi-deep wound on his cheeck, I had forgotten my jacket in Ruma - and ya, both of us were pretty heavily hung-over (krapulassa!!). Anyhow, one had to go, since the rest of the gang were also going to a cottage in Nokia (= a small town by Tampere). So, there we were, in sunny Nokia, drinking bubbly & cider and enjoying the LOVELY weather. But. As we headed back to Tampere, the fatigue caught up with us - and we headed home early. Actually after getting some food and picking my jacket up from Ruma, we plonked ourselves to the couch around 7 PM.

Monday, the official First of May, we spent in Jyväskylä. Catching 9 AM train from Tampere was just as hard as it sounds. Especially after 4 days of drinking!! The Kujala family tradition, the 1st of May lunch buffet in one of the biggest restaurants of Jyväskylä, was abundant, delicious and actually healing. It brought Olli and I back to life - or at least at the extent that it was possible. ;)
After lunch Olli took a train back to Tampere while I acted as the designated driver for my bigsister Nanna and her family. In other words: I headed to Helsinki - and started getting adapted for my new life as a working woman.

So, to make a long story short: Wappu was just as wild, wet and wearing as it can be. At it's best. And I'm grateful that I survived it!