Helsinki, Finland

Work has given me another great opportunity to travel, and this time it's Helsinki for 4 of the next 8 months. I've been here 4 weeks so far, and enjoying the loooonng summer days (almost 19 hours when I arrived). The first challenge to face = sticker shock. Everything costs about 2x that of Austin in this socialist country, and the tax rate is 23%! Employment taxes are approx. 50%! Do we really want government provided healthcare? :)

Helsinki is north. I'm talking Anchorage, Alaska north. You can really feel the earth turning up here! The sunset has changed from 12 midnight to 9p in 4 weeks. With such cold, dark winters the summer months are full of activity. The parks are full of skateboarders, basketball games, and soccer practice and the city is full of outdoor concerts, food markets, and flea markets. Most Finns enjoy the long evenings with a picnic blanket and a bottle of wine. My apartment is just a few blocks from the southern coast, and I have a beautiful view of the water on my walk to work every day. This picture is taken from Kaivopuisto Park. I'm off to Tallinn, Estonia for a day trip on Saturday, so more pictures to come soon.

hei nyt, Chris

Mexico City Recap

I'm sorry to say that I didn't post one entry while I was in Mexico! I'll list a few highlights of my 4 months here, as a brief summary, and for a reference for anyone who may visit for a short while.

Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world, with 24 million in the greater metro area. Behind the scenes of this crowded, polluted, bustling place are some wonderful people, food, and

culture.

Most Chilangos (locals) leave the city limits on the weekend to enjoy the temperate local climate. I visited the cities of Puebla, Valle de Bravo, and Acapulco during my weekends. All are cheaply

accessible via Mexico's extensive bus system. Taxis are very cheap as well, with a full 8 hour day trip in a personal car available for $100

USD. I was fortunate enough to see the Monarch butterfly migration near Valle de Bravo, and plenty of old beautiful churches like this one located in Valle de Bravo's Zocalo.

Inside the city, there is also lots to see. Bordering the Zocalo in el Centro Historico, is one of the finest collections of murals painted by the fa

mous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. He adorned the interior of the constitutional palace. From a historical perspective, it's interesting to trace the history of the city before, during, and after Spanish rule. Mexico City was formally an island surrounded by a huge lake. The Spaniards helped route the water away from, and under the city to create the modern day landscape. Most of the city is built on a dried lake bed, and the city continues to sink as more and more water is pumped from the ground.

Growing up in Texas, my love for Mexican food is strong. There's nothing like a plate of rich, cheesy enchiladas, a chili relleno, or a bowl of queso with chorizo. However, us Texans have truly been missing out on some simple, delicious flavors in nearby Mexico.

1. fresh made corn tortillas

2. fresh pork, chorizo, or beef tacos wrapped with #1, and served

with onion, cilantro, and lime

3. soups! traditional tortilla or pozole (hominy stew)

4. tamales (they are infinitely better here. Pork, Tomato,

Chocolate, Green Chile, and the list goes on.)

5. The flan, tres leches cake, and many other sugary treats

That's all for now. SO many other things to share, so please ask if you have questions! :)

~Chris