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ᖇOᗩᗪTᖇIᑭ ᖇOᑕKᔕTᗩᖇᔕ 🏎🏍️

@666places

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➖Roadtripping as much as possible 🏁
➖Travelling, photography, petrolhead 🏎️
➖Photodiary 📸
➖More pics & stories coming up (page under construction)🔨

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➖ KGB Tallinn ➖
Tallinn has lots of sights, museums, shops, historical places, bars but it also has darker sights.

Last year we went on the KGB tour at Hotel Viru.
Viru was purposely built by the Soviet tourism organisation to attract Western tourists and their money.

During the Soviet era, it was a window to the West for Estonians who could not freely travel to capitalist countries.
Western stuff was valuable, especially jeans.
Employees bought a pair and sold them for 100 roubles, same as their monthly salary.

The hotel was important to the KGB because of foreign guests and its strategic location to the centre and harbour.

Hotel had over 400 rooms and about 60 had listening devices, besides the restaurant and bar.
They were hidden inside vases, phones, lamps, bread plates & ashtrays.
There is a famous joke that the hotel was built with microconcrete: 50% microphones & 50% concrete.

Politicians, diplomats, priests, journalists and guides were considered interesting.
There were around 1000 employees and getting a job at Viru meant your background was checked too.

We heard also about an employee test.
If an employee found a wallet, it was supposed to be handed to the manager.
If they opened it, an ampoule inside burst and left a stain on the skin that didnt go away with soap.
They were also punished.

We were told that a bartender was sentenced for 3 years because he had a few Fin marks in his pocket, received as a tip from a customer.

Hotel elevator shows only 22 floors. But there was a 23rd.
This was where the KGB’s were located.
1991 the KGB left quickly and much of its equipment was left behind and you can see them during the tour.

Viru wasnt the headquarters though, which was close by on Pagari street and called Tallinn’s darkest place.
For decades, its basement housed the feared interrogation cells.
Prisoners were kept in small, dark cells and harsly interrogated.
Some were sent to the Gulag, some were shot in the basement..

Today those basement cells are part of an exhibition,
you can also walk through the corridors,
see the original cells, read prisoners stories and see the bullet marks on the wall..
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📖 viru.ee/en
📖 vabamu.ee/en
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• taken in Tallinn, Estonia by @666places

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19

2 days ago

⤵️
Today was one of those days I always dread-annual inspection.
You never really know what they are going to find, especially when your car is old and has over 250 000 km.
But it passed! What a relief 😅

For some people, car is just a car, a way to get from A to B.
For me, it has always been a little more than that.
There has to be something about the looks and the feeling of the car.

I have been interested in cars for as long as I can remember.
I even subscribed to a car magazine (GTI oslt.) over 20 years ago, long before I even knew Jani and long before I even had a driving licence and was just dreaming..

I have been lucky to have such a great and similar minded partner in my life for so many years 🖤
We have had few cars together over the years,
some sensible, some less sensible - that turned out to be very expensive mistakes 💸

But this one is something else.
Yes, it has taken a big chunk of money over past 5 years but it is easier to forgive because it is just so damn fabulous to drive.
Even going to the grocery is such a joy.
Normally doing groceries in Finland is not my thing but with this car it is 😂

And despite being 18 years old already, this car still doesnt feel old at all.
It is absolutely brilliant and so comfortable.
We can go over 1000km in a day with only two stops and without any problems.

It also uses noticeably less fuel than our petrol car, which is another reason why I love driving it 😆
Of course, diesel comes with its own downside in Finland.
Diesel tax is ridiculously high and fuel prices are crazy here and just going higher & higher 😡
Personally I think the diesel tax should be abolished but that’s another story..

But in a nutshell, I am really happy this car passed the inspection.
Needed some good news this year.
This car brings so much joy into my life and just want to keep driving it for as long as possible (before winter) and as long as we can keep it 🙏🏻

There is a funny coincidence I noticed its date of first registration is 19 May - the same day as my birthday.

Last two photos 📸
Do you see any similarities in my taste in cars?!
That is our very first car and also pic from our first Via Baltica trip 2011 😅
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• taken in Croatia by @666places

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28

5 days ago

After several days of absolutely pouring rain (again) Sunday turned out sunny, beautiful and dry!

We took Jani’s other bike away for the winter and did a few things in the yard but weather was just too good to stay home, so we decided to go for a ride.
Days like yesterday - you just have to take advantage of them and hit the road.
Never know when it might be the last chance this season 🏍️

Didnt really have a plan, just to drive a little and maybe stopping by for a coffee.
We started on a familiar route and then followed an American car because it was going at a good pace and the road looked good ahead.

There was nobody else around-just the two “American- motor machines” and a freshly paved road.
The weather was still warm with a little breeze, but not cold at all with two layers of clothes on.
The sun was getting lower and everything was glowing golden.. 💛

These are the moments when I really wish we had helmet cameras.
Would love to capture these moments and share them too, because sometimes the scenery is just woow 🤩

American car went back to the garage and then we were the only ones hitting the road - enjoying every minute!

And then we spotted this place.

We had actually driven past here once before, but back then the road had been under construction for several kilometres, so we never went back until now..

Jani stopped to the parking area and said the place looked like the kind of place I would want to stop at and he was absolutely right!
Forget the coffee - the place was so pretty!
And it was even better in real life than it looks in the photos and videos.

There was more water because of all the rain and it was really loud.
Original sound is removed because otherwise you would have heard our talking 😂

This water reminded us of the couple from New Zealand
we met on a buggy tour in Croatia a few years ago.
They were wondering why we were admiring the
Croatian waters and taking many pics, because we have thousands of beautiful lakes back home and such a pretty, clean water..

We tried to explain that yes, we have those lakes but it’s just different what you visioned and not something you would call beautiful or wanting to dive in.. 🤎😂
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• by @666places

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35

8 days ago

Autumn: I really do love autumn, but somehow it always arrives too soon..

It is hard to fully enjoy it when you know what is waiting around the corner: cold, dark, endless winter with astronomical electricity bills, shoveling snow and so on 🙄😅

Still, I try to find something beautiful in these days, crispy air, nature colours and these sunsets.

I was out walking with the dogs last night.
It gets dark so early already, but the sky was absolutely beautiful.
And for a moment, I didnt think about the months ahead,
I just stopped and enjoyed the view 🤩

I suppose I either stick to the same routes/times or just have specific sunset spots around here, because I found photos from other evenings taken at the exact same locations.
I havent posted them before so here they are.

It’s been raining so heavily today, and I mean absolutely pouring!!
So heavily that you could barely hear people talking indoors; it was insane and I really hope our roof is still ok.. 😬

There was a brief break though so I took the dog I’m looking after out for our daily bike ride.
Since it was the only short window without rain, it was quite busy; ran into a lot of dogs, horses and people, even new ones.
Running into a lot of people is relative for me, since usually there’s no one around.
Seriously, there could be days when you see no one even though we have quite many ”neighbours”.

Anyway, it was such a nice non-rainy moment: still green, a golden oat field, nice wind breeze, sun shining on the right and dark clouds coming back on the left..so of course I needed to take some photos before pedaling home before the crazy rain 😆

I have so many photos to go through and travel stories to write, but meanwhile I hope you enjoy these and have a happy weekend 🍁🥂

PS
Check out also my story today, there is a video clip about these fall moments too.
I wanted to post it here, but the size was wrong so it looked odd.
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#sipoo #sipoomoments #myneighborhood #autumnvibes •
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• taken in Sipoo by @666places

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31

18 days ago

It’s about time to wrap up this summer or not?! 🍁🍂

Some are already taking winter preparation very seriously: firewood is stacked, summer stuff is put away, winter clothes are out, vehicles are in storage etc.

Others are still lying on the sun lounger and refusing to accept that summer is ending..
Honestly, our dog may not always be the smartest one, but I think I’m going to follow his example this time 😂
So, I’m off to enjoy the sunshine with a cup of coffee and a homemade apple pie ☕️

Last two days has been amazing, up to + 20 during day but chilly nights.
Im definitely not ready to give up on summer - not just yet.
Still wearing shorts - with a hoodie & wool socks, sometimes blanket too on our deck (and a blanket) 😂

Dressing up to motorcyckle ride is another thing (hate it)
but it is kinda magical sitting on the backseat, feel the wind in my ponytail, enjoy the colourful view, golden fields, blue skies and see hot air balloon floating above..

How about u, are you already in winter mode or are you like me: enjoying summer until the very last minute?!

PS
Fuel is bloody expensive these days, at least this kind of refuelling is still free.. 🌞

We also have a friend’s dog staying with us.
She basically has a Duracell battery built in and apparently sunshine is her charger, she is from Spain, so it is kinda obvious😂
But seriously i could borrow that dogs energy sometimes.
After this photo she was up & running already😂

Here are also few photos from our visit to Porvoo yesterday.
I dont remember honestly how many times we have been there, it is not too far away, has nice roads to ride there and it is so pretty.
Too bad everything closes early and there are some major renovating ongoing, but still nice to stop by.
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#autumnvibes🍁 #autumniscoming #enjoyinglife #rescuedogsofinstagram #sipoo
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• by @666places

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27

21 days ago

The touch of fall has reached us again… ugh 🍁

This summer was crazy rainy once again and went by so fast - blurry fast even?!
Where did those summer weeks go.. 🧐

Monday was one of those perfect days:
had sunshine, a nice walk with the dog and also had a chance to go for a motorcycle ride and enjoy the open roads once more 🏍️

Absolutely love living here through spring, summer and autumn.
Winter not at all.
But those other three seasons make me want to spend as much time outside as possible:
cooking, dining out, just taking pc to the deck, coffee breaks.. anything (even those boring maintenance stuff) and riding the roads on the evening with JP.

Here are a few shots from the walk and our yard plus some summer moments.
There arent many bike ride photos unfortunately.
I have so many memory pictures saved in my head, but would love actually to have some real ones too 🤳

I am seriously thinking of getting a helmet camera, of course for safety reasons but also to capture the rides:
curvy roads, small hidden gem places in the middle of the countryside,
farmers harvesting the fields,
trees swaying in the wind,
birds flying overhead, sparkling rivers, sometimes funny animals (like a laughing fox we once saw and both still feel amused by)..🦊

Autumn, it is still one of my fave seasons, even though sucky winter is knocking on nature’s door..
I have stubbornly kept the pool up, thinking there might be one more hot last hurrah..
But I suppose I’ll have to give in soon and put it away before the frost comes..

Yesterday and today have been rainy but im hoping it will end by the weekend so we can start using the wooden grill, so something nice to look forward too.
Also planted multiple new flowers, really hoping they’ll show up next spring 🙏🏻

Now just enjoying coffee on the couch, listening to the rain (and dog snoring and rolling next to me),
watching my garden enjoying the rain (I have few flowers standing still - surprise!) and
emptying my brain for a (travel blog) writing session 🤓☕️
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#autumniscoming #finland #summermemories #gardening
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• taken in Sipoo by @666places

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24

a month ago

A little video from today’s medieval fest.
More photos from today in my previous feed post!

Have a relaxing weekend ☀️
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#sipoossatapahtuu #kaikenkansankeskiaikajuhlasipoossa #sipoo #nikkilä #sibbo
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• by @666places

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28

a month ago

A couple of days ago, while coming back from a motorcycle ride, I spotted a sign for an event and today we went to see this medieval festival in Nikkilä, Sipoo.

There was a lot going on: guided tours, archery,
sack racing (we did that as a kid and it was fun),
sword fighting shows, riding, rabbits and chickens,
kids getting knighted and made into ladies, among other things.
Sausages, candy and also really good looking dishes..
Too bad we had already planned our dinner menu,
otherwise we would have definitely eaten that pork there!
Now we just had coffee and wandered around this free event while the sun was nicely shining ☀️

The weather for (motor)bike riding has been great all week, so had to make the most of it and go for a bike ride every day when possible.
And we went for a little ride after this fest too 🏍️

We have ridden around Keravanjärvi, Tuusula, Järvenpää, Porvoo and Sipoo many times during these last 6 years (living in the area)
but still keep finding nice new routes and nice places.

During our rides we have also tested Biltema’s meatballs which were cheap and good, but today we made a proper dinner (as we usually do on weekends).
Made beef steaks, potatoes and veggies on the grill of course, plus a quick chanterelle sauce and sugar-free apple pie (the best recipe I created so far) from our own apples and had some yummy Lambrusco too 😋🍷

The plate photo doesnt do it justice.
I always have to take really quick food photos: before Jani gets his fork into it and/or the food gets cold 😅

Also check out today’s video in my next feed post!

PS
I said that white, fluffy rabbit looks like JP on Monday morning and apparently that brown rabbit looks just like me when im about to wake up and right before I get my morning coffee 😂

PPS
Our fancy pants dog, for him it is getting too cold so he wears his hoodie and sleeps under two blankets nowdays…

PPPS
Have a lot of catching up to do, so stay tuned - im still here😅
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#medievalfestsipoo #keskiaikajuhla #kaikenkansankeskiaikajuhlasipoo #sipootapahtumat #nikkiläsipoo
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• taken in Sipoo by @666places

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13

a month ago

Sometimes there’s just too much of everything and you dont have the energy for anything extra, like making posts or anything else, even if it’s something you genuinely enjoy doing - that’s when you know you’re overloaded.

I already said back in January–February that this year has been rough and you know it’s been rough when only a tiny piece of the year has passed and it already feels like a lifetime. And I mean this really.

It’s annoying how some people write things like “there’s been a lot going on but cant talk about it” and I’ve always wondered why even write anything at all, but now that I’m in the same situation, I actually get it now.

Some things are exhausting, some are hard to explain and some you simply cant share for different reasons (like NDA and common sense).

What I can say is that work has been so stressful, the world situation isnt exactly ideal for mental peace either, been dealing with Fed’s (not as a suspect), there have been health-related things: own and other’s and over 1500€ has gone into the car because someone basically blew up our AC during servicing and guess who ended up paying…

The car was in pieces the week before we meant to leave for holiday and since money situation, it was genuinely uncertain whether we’d be able to go anywhere at all.
But we made it.
JP drove over 1700 km in under two days.
We have now spent a few days in Hungary trying to reset a little.

Yesterday I got to celebrate my birthday in Eger which was wonderful!
Visiting the castle, dining out, had some icecream, sparkling and a relaxing bath too.
And it was actually pretty warm day, finally!
We have had gloomy skies, rain, wind and thunderstorms but hopefully the holiday weather improves here too.
Meanwhile Finland apparently has hot summer weather 😂

PS
My brain is still running at full speed and it’s honestly a bit hard to even process that we are on holiday.
Maybe it’ll sink in at some point by the Sea - where we are heading today..

Have like a zillion photos and stories from last year’s trips too, more travel memories coming once I’ve recharged 😅
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#viabaltica #viabalticaroadtrip #autollaeuroopassa #summerholiday2026 #hungary
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• taken in Eger, Hungary by @666places

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18

5 months ago

The pool is almost full, it takes about a week cos well and pump restrictions.
Water is so icy, so it'll be a few weeks before we swim.
Hoping it's not as bad summer as last year so we can really enjoy this 💦🌞

Some new & old stuff are already blooming here, great timing!
If only in a few days the apple trees and all the rest would blossom…

Oh yeah and Happy Mothers Day ❣️ by @666places

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11

5 months ago

Winter is finally over - got my car back 🖤

Happiness level:
#happybeyondwords
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#springishere #mycar #bmwlife #bmw6series
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• by @666places

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6

6 months ago

🇪🇪
When you walk through Tallinn’s (Estonia) Old Town, you surely notice the city walls and towers.
They’re impressive from the outside but if you have time,
it’s worth spending a few hours exploring museums inside / beneath.

Museum complex is over 500m long.
It comprises four medieval towers:
Kiek in de Kök, Neitsytorn, Tallitorn and Lühikese jala väravatorn.

The massive cannon tower Kiek in de Kök, built in the 15th century, means “peek into the kitchen” because from the tower guards could supposedly seen into apartments.

The exhibitions tell the story of how the city walls and defense systems were built, the weapons that were used, military history and what life was like inside the protective walls through different centuries.

Neitsytorn (Maiden Tower) originally built in the 14th century as a defensive tower, hosts various exhibitions from café culture to the Moomins and it hosts also a popular café with lovely views.

From there, you can continue to the next towers:
Tallitorn (Marstal / Stable Tower) which is said to be one of the most haunted spots in Tallinn and Väravatorn (Gate Tower) at the top of the city wall.

Our tour continued also underground to the Bastion Passages.
Built in the 17th–18th centuries, these tunnels run beneath the bastions and allowed soldiers to move safely out of sight of enemies.
The tunnels are full of stories from different eras, been used storages, shelters, hideaways..
We even found something related to JP’s buddy down there!

Connected to the tunnels is also the Carved Stone Museum, a small museum displaying decorative stones, coats of arms, columns, and architectural details from the 16th–18th centuries.

The museum and tunnels are open year-round, except on public holidays.

Tickets are available for the whole complex or individual sections, with guided tours, audio guides or self-paced visits.

Special offers: entry 1 € on Tallinn Day (May 15) and Museum Night and free on International Museum Day (May 18) or for Tallinn Card and Museum Card holders under certain conditions.

Check the website for details & more info
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www.linnamuuseum.ee/en
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#visittallinn #visitestonia #tallinnsights #tallinnmuseums
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• taken in Tallinn, Estonia by @666places

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33

8 months ago