Hail to everyone ... since many of you are really curious to know how was Marta and mine's week in Helsinki , I ' m ready to tell you everything...

The reasons why we decided to leave was to see Helsinki (I've been there in december for Norther's Xmass Party and couldn' t wait to see it again; for Marta it was the first time and she was waiting for it since ages) ; to see Norther in concert, since we never managed to do it: they played in Italy only once, on 14 october 2003, and  i wanted to go - actually more for Dimmu Borgir at the time - but couldn't, and then didn't have other chances... so we decided to see them in their country=P And i was also looking forward to see the band again after they 've been so great at Xmass Party. I wished a lot expecially to see Tuomas and i also brought him a present for his upcoming birthday, but unluckily I didn't have the chance to give him by person... you'll read!

We left on the 1st morning, after one night awake at the airport... well, at least this time there was Marta with me, while when i left from Norway i spent the night at the airport alone...but still it was so tiring ! Ahh, Finland, how many things we do for you XD btw, after Milano-London and London- Tampere, other 2 hours of bus , finally we were in MAGIC HELSINKI ! and actually, we were expecting to find it way colder... since until a few days earlier, the temperature was about - 20 degrees... but now, during the day about 0 degrees... actually i would have like to experience a colder temperature, but since i managed to get sick maybe was better so XD It was also snowing and raining XD  and the atmosphere was very different than when i went in december: that time the city was crowded and excited for Christmas, the main street was filled with St. Thomas Xmass market... while now, it was all much more calm and still...but i liked it the same=P

The first day, we went in our hostel, we bought the ticket for the festival at Gloria, and we found out the venue was so near to our hostel... this was luck ! And then, we went to sleep at about 22 - we were too tired!

The second day was the big day... We just spent the morning sleeping and preparing for the gig... and then, at about 17, we went outside the venue. We always forget that for concerts in the Northern Europe you don't need to go there hours before=P ... There was none... but we called Ilkka, the merchandise guy from Norther, so to give him some bottles of wine we had brought for Norther and one for his birthday. He was so nice with us ! He brought us to take a beer, but i took a coffee - the barman couldn't believe i didn't want alcohol XD Well, it's not my fault if i am coffee- maniac !

We talked to Ilkka, but after some time he had to go back to the venue... we went with him, and Heikki , the drummer from Norther. came out to take the wine XD and he kept asking if it was for them :D He looked quite happy !

Then Ilkka told us we could wait until the gates to open since there wouldn't have been much queue... so, we went back to the hostel and then we went to the gig at about 20.30. The bands playing:

Pe 2.3:
-Norther
-Codeon
-Dead Shape Figure
-Insert Remedy
-Farmakon

They were good, but unfortunately i was in the first terrible day of my period, and i had also pain at my feet for the high heels, so only Norther's music could make me enjoy the show - and they did, ahh if they did, they made me forgot every pain!

Here there are all the pics i took during the concert

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26927163@N00/

 

It was just amazing, they played all the songs from the new EP except Close your eyes, and No Way Back was just ... incredible, you really can feel that song, and both me and Marta were about to cry for the emotions !!! And she risked her life twice, once for a bad thing and once for a good..P the bad was that a terrible guy in the 2nd row (as me...she was in the 1st row) took her and was strangling her... and the good one was that Petri sang with her the whole chorus of Frozen Angel... i was really worried for her to faint=P but she's strong, hehe !

I loved the first seconds of "Omen", when the keyboards' part was recorded, so Tuomas didn't have to play and he waved his hands smiling at the public... and later, i also had my part of angina... before the beginning of the bis, Tuomas threw 2 balloons that layed on the stage from the previous bands 's exhibitions, and me and Marta took it... we still like to believe he really threw them at us as a thank for the wine, since he really seemed to give them in Marta's hands (i was in the second row)... in this moment starts my odissey for my balloon to come home safe XD and i succeeded !

By the way, the song Norther played where one from the first album (and my fave, but well nowaydays it's right they play the new stuff) that was Released, one from MoM: Blackhearted, than 2 from Solution 7 EP - Day Zero and Hellhole ; Death Unlimited , and the whole new ep except Close your eyes.

A hell of a show=P

 

After the gig, we went outside the venue, thinking that if we waited long enough we could see the band coming out... but it was sooo cold =/ so we wrote Ilkka, and he replied that they were doing an interview and probably someone from the band was going to Inferno. I would prefer to wait until morning, i really didn't mind about the cold... but Marta said it was better to go away and see if they came at Inferno... from there, i wrote another sms to Ilkka, sayin we were there and that i also had a birthday present for Tuomas. After some time we were drinking, i was quite sad for not managin to meet the band - at this moment i put my nose on the window, 'cause i had seen Tuomas and Jukka outside coming to Inferno !!! So i started being so happy, because they would surely enter and we could meet them, and i could give Tuomas my present. But at the same time, destiny decided it was not the case... the terrible guy that had bothered Marta at the concert was still there, and she was trying to get free from him; and then she was stopped by a woman asking her telephone number, 'cause she's making movie. In the meanwhile, i had finished in one second my drink and i had taken my jacket from the wardrobe, ready to go towards Tuomas and Jukka - i could have done it !!! but i was waiting for Marta, and when she came, they disappeared !!!! I asked to the security guy if he knew where the guys from Norther had gone, but they said no. So i went out to see, and saw none. This was the time when i realised we had lost them, and it was like i lost 10 years of life - well i am not joking, try to understand me, it was only my fault if i let them go since i had all the time to go to them when i saw them... I was cryin desperate in the cold outside the Inferno=P and from that day i have some kind of gastritis XDDD better not to think about this...

At the end we went to sleep, thinkin of the concert. At least for that, it had worth the trouble of everything :D

The following day, we met my friend Elisa, she's from Modena but lives there... and she's sooo nice XD I met her for the first time when i went in Helsinki in december and told me lots of gossips... same this time, and i love her Modenese dialect XDDD

Then we went at the second day of the festival, with Entwine... actually, i enjoyed only the first band...

La 3.3:
-Entwine
-Rytmihäiriö
-End Of You
-Omnium Gatherum
-Mensura

I liked a lot the first band we saw... Mensura perhaps... they were playing great metal with use of keyboards and violin... the violin player was a girl with incredibly long and blonde hair... their music was really particular and nice !

But i didn't like much the other bands... i was specially disappointed by Entwine... they told me they were good, but i really didn't find anything special in them !

Edit: and i forgot to mention, that at both gigs there was a guy behind the mixer, which looked so much like Tuomas. He could be his brother Lauri... (not Jukka, 'cause in the pic he's different...) we have to indagate=P

At some point, with saw Heikki, but he was with his girlfriend, so we didn't disturb him... but then, Marta got a message from Ilkka, saying just "Heavy Corner!" ... Marta and I, tired of the concert, ran towards the pub - i remembered a little bit where it was, the rest was done by the map=P - well i think it was during this "quest" that i got sick... but finally we arrived ! and we saw at a table Ilkka and Kride !!!!!!

 

they were with their girlfriends and other friends. We sat and start chatting with Ilkka, that was already a bit drunk XD and we drank a lot of Lonkero, my fave finnish drink... this time i found out there's also with cranberry=P Kride thanked us for the wine, he looked so kind with us ! And we told him congratulations for "No way back" Ep number 1 in Finland !!! 

After lots of drinks, we went to take another drink, and Marta said "Lola...that one is Jukka!!!" and me "you are right!!!"... so, we went to talk to him also XD he also thanked us for the wine, but he was quite drunk... and we had such a great time... he tried to teach Marta the right pronunciation of "Hyvaa yota" or "good night"; and he did us such funny autographs XDDD ... at the end of the talk, i gave him the present for Tuomas,should i trust???=P he also told us "don't try to understand these autographs tomorrow morning" ... and we also kissed him on the cheek and hugged him... at the end, Marta said God is Jukka XDDD

 

We came back home a little earlier than 5 , and we went to sleep, 'cause the following day we had to meet another Jukka; a friend of Marta from Heinola...

he was very shy, but also very very nice !!! We went to eat something and talk, and then we visited the Senate square with Tuomiokirkko and hanged around in the city... How i love Helsinki !!!!

On monday, we went to take a tea with Elisa and my friend Niky, who lives there also... and still we talked of gossips... Finland seems to be a very small place ! We had a lot of fun with them ;)

Ah, the second time we went to Inferno, we were approached by 2 short haired and 30 years old metalheads... but they were nice and when they told them we were too young or had boyfriend, it was not a problem for them... In Italy surely they wouldn't leave us in peace=P

Well by the way i guess i told you the most important things that happened to us during this holiday... I really cannot wait to finish my studies and try to move to Helsinki... or well, at least, i cannot wait to see again Norther in concert and to go back to Finland ! Marta sais i am totally different when i m in Italy or in the North ... and she's right... I dont have a satisfatory life in Italy, but in those place i always have great time.... everything is better XD

Well btw, hope you enjoyed my report, cheers !

 

Ah, and not to forget XD Thanx Norther for being the best !!! Thanx Ilkka, you are great - sex and metal XD!!! C ya at Ensiferum gigs !!! Thanx Elisa and Niky, Metal spie! XD and thanx Marta , great collegue of a great holiday !!!