Merry Vappu!

There was a distant echo of loud hubbub from town, people celebrating the first of may, while I was having nice time with good food, wine and friends in Pikisaari, a little island near the city centre.

Baloons

Today at downtown was family event called Kevätväkkärä difficult to translate but spring-whirligig could be near. I counted at least 5 baloon-sellers only at pedestrian street.

Long and hard weekend is started

On Monday it is the first of May, a great Finnish party called Vappu. Students started already yesterday, and other enthusiastic ravers started today. But, as you can see, no ice anymore ;-) compare with 25th photo.

Copper and bikers

May I introduce you the market-place copper, kind of mascot of Oulu. The bikers are of course a sure mark of upcoming summer.

Artist who made this is not Botero :-) but Finnish Kaarlo Mikkola.

Centre of the centre

is this place. Ice-cream kiosks are already open.

Waterside of the marketplace

People enjoy evening sun and first truly warm day.

Last sunbeams

Not much a street photography as such ;-) but a nice light anyway. (It was 9 PM when I at last had time to go to the downtown and do my daily shooting)

The streets of Oulu, part 2

Sunday afternoon at pedestrian street Rotuaari. Reason to shoot this was all those funny yellows around.

The streets of Oulu, part 1

Sun is shining but a cold wind keeps a street café empty.
With this photo I start one week project of street shooting downtown.

The rose-red flour-mill

Again a last photo of the day is a selected one. I was already coming home from little trip to the seaside and end of the breakwater, and I was frozen and hungry, but just couldn’t pass this view.

Downtown at sunset

After a sunny (!) day it was a proper sunset for a long time, so I discarded my previous daily photo candidates and rushed with my camera to shoot romantic, pink sunset photos.

Spring greetings from Oulu!

Yet another gray day, but at least we didn't get wet snow today. Spring is definitely not any beautiful season here. My opinion is that we don't have spring at all, winter continues and continues until one day *tadaa* it's green and warm and flowers are blooming, it's summer.

Cafe interior

Today it has been a gray day and besides it started to rain wet snow at afternoon - still raining - so I had no inspiration at all to go out with my camera. But I had to go to my flamenco lesson to the Youth and Culture Centre. This photo I shoot from third floor balcony down to the cafe area.

Toppilansalmi (The Straits of Toppila) II

I begin to wonder what kind is the yesterday scenery without a fog. So I went and shoot this as today's photo. This neighbourhood is a former harbour area and red brick building and white bulding further has been a flour-mills.

Toppilansalmi (The Straits of Toppila)

This morning was foggy and calm, so the view at strait near by was quite a dreamy.

I'm in the ring, first blog from Finland! My humble hometown is on the list just before San Francisco :-D

Easter bonfire

City Library and City Theatre

and some ice cubes too ;-)

Rommakonselkä

Ice and snow theme continues, this photo is taken from a bridge just few hundred meters from the centre. Smokes in a horizon comes from Stora Enso paper mill.

Nallikari beach

About 3 km from the centre of city.
There should glimmer a blue sea behind those trees at this time of year, but it doesn't. Only ice and snow.

Spring is two weeks late, at least

I found citydailyphotoblogs just today and I was so exited about this idea that I had to start my own blog. This is my very first one, so it might take a few days that I learn how to modify it properly.

My home is in a new neighbourhood 2,5 km from downtown, this first photo is taken at my balcony. I notice that Eric is belonging spring to Paris. Here in Oulu the spring is also very late, still lots and lots of snow everywhere.