Web Cam at West Harbor

Did you know that Port of Helsinki has installed web cameras in all its harbors - so anybody can have a look at the harbor view and which ships are entering and/or leaving? And since this blog concerns itself with Helsinki & Tallinn, we are mainly interested in the camera at the West Harbor, i.e. Länsisatama. Nevertheless, all the web cams are to be found in Port of Helsinki pages. You can download Port of Helsinki app from App Store or Google Play to view webcams and arrival times on your mobile device.

The West Harbor web cam link is on the blog right - this neat thing will be a permanent fixture on the front page. You can also have a look at - from different angles - the Länsisatama parking area. 

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
joka tapauksessa = igal juhul = nevertheless
ladata = laadida = to download
pysäköintialue = parkimiskoht = parking area
saapumisaika = saabumisaeg = arrival time
webbikamera = veebikaamera = web camera

Helsinki Day 2013

It is June the 12th and Helsinki Day today! Like always, a lot of things to partake in and look at (check this link) all around the town! One of them, a drama walk at the city center takes you through Finnish history - a bit like the blog article Helsinki Statue Walk. You can rent a bicycle for free at Kamppi, watch Helsinki voluntary fire brigades competing at Hakaniemi, listen to music in many places around the town, and enjoy numerous other activities. Be sure to check that first link and enjoy your day! Hopefully it won't rain too much!

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
Helsinki-päivä = Helsingi päev = Helsinki Day
musiikki = muusika = music
palokunta =  tuletõrjet  = fire brigade
polkupyörä = jalgratas = bicycle
sataa = sadada = to rain
vapaaehtoinen = vabatahtlik = voluntary

Fully booked

Going to Tallinn or Helsinki and the ferry is fully booked? No worry, there is still hope! Ask if you can have a järjekorranumber, and remember to tell how many you need (usually one per person). 

About half an hour before the ship leaves, there will be kuulutus in the terminal loudspeakers about the possible available places*. Be sure to have your passport & means of payment ready as time is of the essence now! The queue numbers will be lower than those in the picture for sure, but still -  it is always a good idea to book your journey in advance. Then you are guaranteed a place and at a (more) reasonable price as well.

*Most terminals have this type of system.

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
etukäteen = ette, enne (midagi, kedagi) = in advance
Haluatteko jonotusnumeron? = Kas te soovite järjekorranumbrit? = Would you like to have a queue number?
jono = järjekord = queue
jonotusnumero  = järjekorranumber = queue number
kohtuuhintaan = mõistliku hinna eest, vastuvõetava hinnaga = at a reasonable price
kovaääniset = valjuhääldi = loudspeakers
kuulutus = kuulutus = announcement
kuvassa =  pildis = in the picture
Laiva on loppuunmyyty = Laev on väljamüüdud  = The ship is fully booked
loppuunmyyty = väljamüüdud = sold out, fully booked, booked solid
maksuvälineet = maksmisvahendid = means of payment
matkan varaaminen = reisi broneerimine = booking a trip
Meillä ei ole vapaita paikkoja = Meil ei ole koht = We don't have any places vacant
paikka = koht = place, vacancy
puolisen tuntia ennen = umbes pool tundi enne =  about half an hour before
Varatkaa matkanne mielellään etukäteen = Palun tehke broneering varem valmis = Please, do book your trip in advance
varata matka = reisi broneerida = to book a journey
Vielä on toivoa = Veel on lootust  = There is still hope

Friday Phrase 15

 Are you mayhaps  one of those people who are always late? Wherever you go? To a meeting, a job interview, aboard a ship? Have you  heard the expression "Time and tide wait for no man"? Time is of the essence.  Life will not wait either - even if you may be offered opportunities to catch up. People will not bother to wait to hear your excuses. Things will not wait for you when you are late, and even the tiniest ship will leave without you if you are - late. The blog's next article will be about just that...

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
aika = aeg = time
Aika rientää = Aeg lendab = Time flies = Tempus fugit (Lat.)
Aikaa ei ole paljon = Aeg on sisuliselt = Time is of the essence
Aikaa ei voi pysäyttää =  Time and tide wait for no man
Anteeksi, että olen myöhässä = Vabandage, et ma hilinesin = Excuse me for being late
myöhässä = hilinenud = late
nousu- ja laskuvesi = (merevee) tõus ja mõõn = tide
Se on vain tekosyy = See on lihtsalt ettekääne = That's just an excuse
selitys, tekosyy = vabandus, ettekääne = excuse (for being late)
tapaaminen = miiting, koosolek =  meeting, date
tilaisuus, mahdollisuus = võimalus = opportunity, chance
työhaastattelu = tööintervjuu, töövestlus = job interview

Onboard & offboard



Port side of the M/S Tallink Star

Let's get familiar - in the three blog languages - with ships! Do you know for example what the front of a ship is called - or the right side (seen from the rear)?

You might also want to know that at night, the port (left) side of a vessel is indicated with a red navigation light and the starboard (right) side (yes, there's your answer!) with a green one. This is of course to indicate for other ships how the ship lies, but may also be of interest for anyone standing on deck at night looking out at the sea - which everybody should do at least once in a lifetime!


Autokansi - Autotekk - Car deck

Car deck is of course to transport cars and other vehicles aboard the ship. "Other vehicles" mean e.g. trucks, trailers, lorries, buses, vans, motorbikes and bicycles. Some car decks provide electrical outlets. Passengers need of course to vacate the car deck  during the voyage, but you can usually leave your pet in the car if the trip is short enough - summertime with a window open, and a water bowl nearby.

 

This picture was taken from inside the bow of  M/S Superstar just entering the Port of Tallinn. Port here means of course the harbor area and not the ship's port, i.e. its left side. The port of Tallinn consists of several harbors, one of which is the D-terminal where this particular ship enters. Read more about the harbors here.

A passenger ship has cabins of all sorts and sizes. Cabin is a must with overnight trips, and handy on a shorter trip, especially returning home from a day-cruise.
 


Last but not the least - the first part of a ship that touches the water as the ship moves forward - the bulb. Sometimes submerged and unseen. It is there to reduce the ship's drag, and thus increase speed, fuel efficiency and stability. It does of course break the ice a bit as well, but that is not its primary function. Bon voyage!

 

 

laivasanasto = laevasõnastik = ship vocabulary
bulbi, keulapaksunnos = bulb, bulbous bow
hytti = kajut = cabin
kansi = tekk = deck
keskiosa = midships
keula = bow (the forward part of the hull of a ship)
keula = prow (the part of the bow above the waterline)
laita = parras = board
laiva = laev = ship, ferry
paapuuri (aluksen perästä eteenpäin katsoen vasen laita) = pakpoord = port
perä (ulkoa katsottuna) = pära = stern (the rearmost part of a ship seen from outside, i.e. offboard)
perä (sisältä katsottuna) = ahter = aft (the rearmost part of a ship seen from outside, i.e. onboard)
potkuri = sõukruvi, laevakruvi = propeller
runko = kere = hull
tyyrpuuri (aluksen perästä eteenpäin katsoen oikea laita) = tüürpoord = starboard

Estonian visitors in Finland

The distance between Tallinn and Helsinki is a mere 83 kilometers. This plus the fact that many Estonians work in Finland makes for lots of trips between the two cities by Estonians. Or as Postimees wrote on the subject the other day:

"Eesti elanikud käisid eelmisel aastal Soomes 758 000 korral, mis on seitse protsenti enam kui 2011. aastal ning moodustab kümnendiku kõikidest Soomes käivatest turistidest, teatas Soome statistikaamet. Kõige enam käis Soomes turiste Venemaalt (3,58 miljonit), teisel kohal on eestlased ja kolmandal kohal rootslased (0,7 miljonit turisti)."

Anything there you didn't understand?

Consult the vocabulary below :)

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
eestiläiset/virolaiset = Eesti elanikud, eestlased = Estonian residents
etäisyys = distants = distance
ja = ning = and
kaikista Suomessa käyneistä turisteista = kõikidest Soomes käivatest turistidest = of all the tourists visiting Finland
kaikkein eniten = kõige enam = most (visitors)
kolmannella sijalla = kolmandal kohal = in third place
kymmenesosa = kümnendik = one tenth
käydä = käia/käima = to visit, go to
mikä on = mis on = which is
muodostaa = moodustab = makes (for)
ruotsalaiset = rootslased = the Swedes
seitsemän prosenttia enemmän kuin = seitse protsenti enam kui = seven percents more than
Suomen tilastokeskus = Soome statistikaamet = Statistics Finland
Suomessa = Soomes = in Finland
tiedottaa = teatada = to report
toisella sijalla = teisel kohal = in second place
turisti = turist = tourist
Venäjä = Venemaa = Russia
viime vuonna = eelmisel aastal = last year
vuosi = aasta = year

conjugation of "käydä = käia = to visit, go to"
Present tense: FIN: käyn, käyt, käy, käymme, käytte, käyvät =
                       EST: käin, käid, käib, käime, käite, käivad = I visit, you visit, etc
Past tense:      FIN: kävin, kävit, kävi, kävimme, kävitte, kävivät
                       EST: käisin, käisid, käis, käisime, käisite, käisid = I visited, you visited, etc

Pancakes in Tallinn

Are you fond of pancakes and have some time and euros to spend in Tallinna Vanalinn? Then head for the legendary pancake house called Kompressor! A few steps from Raekoja Plats you will find the street Voorimehe, which takes you to one of  the longest streets in Vanalinn, Pikk. Turn there left and after just a few meters you will see the (rather  unnoticable) entrance to Kompressor at Rataskaevu 3.

 

Get in, grab a menu and take a seat. Go through all the numerous options. Whether you want something sweet or something salty, rest assured that one pancake is enough for most of us since the pancakes come with ample filling! Prices vary, but most pannkoogid are around 4,50 € (May 2013).

When you have decided what you want, go and pay at the counter. Be prepared to wait for a quite a while for your pancake if the place is jammed -  which it often is. Kompressor is well-known among young adults, and the entrance reflects this as well as there are posters and adds to different events in the city.

After Kompressor you may want to climb - with renewed energy - the Pikk jalg towards Toompea for a nice view of Tallinn! Directions: leaving Kompressor turn right, then after a few meters, sharp left!

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
hinnat vaihtelevat = prices vary
lätty, lettu, ohukainen = pannkook = pancake
lätyt, letut, ohukaiset = pannkoogid = pancakes
makea = magus = sweet 
Pidätkö letuista? = Kas sulle maitsevad pannkoogid? = Are you fond of pancakes?
suolainen = soolane = salty
voit olla varma, että  = võid kindel olla =  rest assured that... 
useimmille meistä = enamikel meist = for most of us
yksi lettu riittää = ühest pannkoogist piisab = one pancake is enough
 

Icehockey in Helsinki

Helsinki. The IIHF Icehockey World Championships 2013. Now being played in Helsinki (and in Stockholm)! And although there are still tickets to buy, don't count on getting istumapaikka in the host country Finland's matches as this sports is extremely popular over here. There has been lots of upsets already , and more are likely to come. Mitaliottelut will be played in Stockholm - kultamitaliottelu on Sunday May 19th!

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary 
istumapaikka = istekoht = seat
isäntämaa = host country
joukkue = meeskond = team
jääkiekko,"lätkä" = jäähoki, hoki = icehockey, hockey
Kansainvälinen jääkiekkoliitto = Rahvusvaheline Jäähokiliit = International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF)
kulta = kuld = gold
kultamitaliottelu = kuldmedalimäng = gold medal match
maailmanmestaruuskisat = maailmameistrivõistlused = world championships
mitaliottelut = pronksimäng + finaal = medal matches
ottelu = võistlus = match
peli = mäng = game
pääsylippu = sissepääsupilet = entrance ticket
semifinaalit = poolfinaalid = semifinals
sunnuntaina = pühapäeval = on Sunday
toukokuu = mai = May
Tukholma = Stockholm = Stockholm
yllätys = üllatus, ootamatus = upset, surprising turnout

Friday Phrase 14

How do you suppose that All roads lead to Rome? Well, they used to! Even the tiniest roads lead to a bigger road (and maybe an even bigger road) that lead to Rome. These days this fine phrase is used when we want to tell that it is okay to make your own, different decisions about a matter since in the end it will all be fine - you will be where you want to be, where you need to be. For Kaikki tiet vievät Roomaan. Kõik teed viivad Rooma. Believe it.

To see how this phrase translates into some other languages, click here. And in Latin? Omnes viae Romam ducunt.

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary
erilainen = erinev = different
kaikki tiet = kõik teed = all roads
lopussa = lõpus = in the end
nykyään = tänapäeval = these days, nowadays
pienimmätkin tiet = even the tiniest roads
ratkaisu = otsus = decision
Rooma = Rooma = Rome
suoraan = otse = directly
tie = tee = road
uskoa = uskuda = to believe
viedä, johtaa = viia = to lead
(Fin: vien, viet, vie, viemme, viette, vievät)
(Est: viin, viib, vii, viime, viite, viivad) = I lead, you lead, etc.

May Day in Finland

May Day is known in Finland as Vappu. It used to be celebrated as the International Working Day, a bit like today's Labor Day in the United States. But not so anymore. These days, especially on May Day Eve, it is a carnival-style festivity where people merely have fun and at the same time - weather permitting - have a fine opportunity to welcome the summer in city parks. In Helsinki perhaps the most prominent part of this celebration is the 'crowning' of Havis Amanda by students with a white student cap. And most everyone who owns one - regardless of age - crowns his or her own head with it. The white student cap used to be the mark of the working class people about to improve their social status. 

Vappu is also a day of special treats. Many Finns brew a drink called sima - made from lemons, brown sugar and yeast (and containing just a little alcohol so that even children are allowed to drink it). Sold in stores as well. We also make munkkeja and - to a lesser degree - tippaleipiä - crispy pastries fried in oil made from liquid doughnut dough. So if you wish to take part in the celebration, just get yourself a nice ilmapallo, wrap yourself in serpentiini and holler

            Hauskaa vappua!

sanasto = sõnastik = vocabulary 
ikään katsomatta = vanusest sättumusest = regardless of age
ilmapallo = õhupall = balloon
kesä = suvi = summer
munkki = sõõrik = doughnut
nykyään = praegusel ajal, tänapäeval = these days, nowadays
serpentiini = a kind of confetti, strings of colorful paper packed in rolls
sima = drink made from lemons, brown sugar and yeast
tippaleipä = crispy pastry made from liquid doughnut dough and fried in oil 
Vappu = volbripäev = May Day
vappuaatto = May Day Eve
vastaanottaa kesä = to welcome summer
vähemmässä määrin = vähemal määral = to a lesser degree
Yhdysvallat = Ameerika ühendriigid = The United States
ylioppilas = üliõpilane = student
ylioppilaslakki = student cap