As a Finn in Chile

Finland, you are far away
Far in the cold North
Finland, you are close
Very close
Deep in my heart
I think of you with warmth
Here in the beautiful summer of Chile
I miss you a little
A little because I will be back soon
Otherwise I would miss you a lot
I have it good, very good
As a child of free Finland
Even when I am far away in the world
As a Finn everywhere
I love you, Finland
Happy Independence Day
Happy Finland's Day
Dear Finns

Again to Chile

I will leave the fall behind
With Chile on my mind
The spring will be mine
With its beauty divine

In Mexico City

My day in Mexico City
Was very pretty
Zigzagging in the Historical Center
In late December

Millions of feet
Filled its sunny streets
So crowded everywhere
Especially at the Zócalo square

The Metropolitan Cathedral was huge and nice
Both outside and inside
A big national flag was flying on the pole
In a predominant role

The National Palace was extensive
And very impressive
Zócalo was full of action
With various attractions

I walked in Zona Rosa in daylight
And again at night
It was lively with bars
And many restaurants

I saw some parts
Of the Palace of Fine Arts
There were monuments here and there
Something to see everywhere

The Monument to the Revolution
Was magnificent in its illumination
The Independence Monument had feet
It was an angel above the street

The people were good-looking and nice
They were helpful and kind
It was an excellent day
I would have liked to stay

But Depression and Loneliness found me
Without prior notice, they were around me
They followed me all the way to Mexico
And took me back home

In Madrid for a while they left me
On the plane again they joined me
My trip was short like a sunrise
So fast it went by

Miners Underground

The miners underground
Are now daylight bound
Chile, I am happy for you
And for Bolivia, it is true

Chile is Quaking

Chile is still quaking
When its people are celebrating
The new president
On the tremulous continent

I look into my heart and what do I find?
Chile, you are on my mind
I wish you all the best
Let the trembling take a rest

Earthquake in Chile

The earth is quaking

Chile and its people are shaking
The country so big and fabulous
Now very tremulous
Needs our support and aid
I wish them strength and faith
I'm waiting to hear from my friends
From the world's end

Chile is fabulous

Chile is fabulous
So miraculous
Its rich nature appeals
So good it feels
I like its art
Its people are in my heart

Happy New Year 2010

Happy New Year 2010
My friend
Greetings from afar
From Chile and Viña del Mar

Greetings from Chile

When flying to Chile last week   

I saw the gorgeous mountain peaks
The beauty of Chile was reflected
In the Andes nicely erected






Santiago was enormous
The mountains around were gorgeous
The sun was shining a lot
Thirty degrees felt hot

La Calera is where my Christmas went by
Thinking of the ways of life
In a humble little home
Where internal richness was their own

Viña del Mar with a seaside spirit

I came to dig it
A terrain fire was out

Ashes from the sky came down



Valparaíso by the Pacific
It was good to see it
The peculiar slope architecture
Was a wild and colorful mixture






In less than two hours I flew down
To Puerto Montt, a coastal town
I walked on its seaside street
Before the time to eat

I saw Puerto Varas by night
Delighted by its lights
Before returning to Puerto Montt to sleep
To my hotel near the sea

Chiloé was a pretty isle
In Ancud I spent a while
Puñihuil was the penguines' home
I watched them in their zone

In the south, it began to rain
I shortened my stay
Went to Viña del Mar, my dear
For a sunny new year

To Chile for Christmas

My winter will change to summer
It will be a pleasure
To spend my Christmas in Chile
Where it's midsummer and not chilly

New Year In Peru

Yellow was the color of the New Year

In Peru, to me so dear

The music was cheerful

The atmosphere was wonderful

At midnight we hugged everyone

Walked over fire one by one

Ran up and down the street

For good luck in traveling, you see

The generations danced together

With everyone around its always better

The Latin style and music

Are really fantastic

Greetings from Bolivia

From Peru to Bolivia I flew

First the capital I knew
La Paz to the mountains extends
Close to four kilometers its altitude ends

The high plateau was cold
During the day, the temperature rose
In the shadow, it was cool

Even at noon

The streets full of poverty
Appealed to my sensitivity

Nearly everyone was indigenous

And I felt adventurous

They sold merchandize on the street

Many things to eat
All kinds of stuff

Life seemed tough

Tiwanaku was quite a sight

A great archaeological site

We had pyramids in our view
And posed by a statue

Valle de La Luna was a rocky place
In the Moon Valley you could burn your face
Its peaks and holes were exciting

And the dangerous path was inviting

Even more we saw
Watching the colorful mountains with awe

The Andes with peaks covered by snow

Offered quite a show

In the pretty alleys of the city
It was nice to walk without pity
But when I returned to Peru today

I felt at home without delay

Christmas in Peru

On Christmas Eve in Peru we danced

As the Latin rhythms advanced

On the patio we drank and laughed

Our spirit was enhanced

More than twenty people around

Everyone felt close in the crowd

The music was loud and clear
So were the fireworks quite near

We started the buffet then

Twenty after eleven
We had turkey and pork
And many things on the fork

No dessert, coffee or tea
But many delicious things to eat

You should've heard the scream and joy
When the clock stroke twelve, oh boy
"Feliz Navidad" everyone would say
Men were hugged in a manly way

Women were kissed on the cheek
Each person separately would greet

Then a prayer was said out loud

And presents were shared in the crowd

Christmas peace was internal

Shouting and screaming were external

That Christmas was quite a sight

We danced until two at night

That Christmas was different
It was more than excellent

Peru and Ecuador

I made South America my own
It was my vacation home
Its beauty pleased my eye
And Spanish captured my mind

Its people are handsome and kind
In all the colors that I could find
I met many new friends
Friendships that will never end

I made entries
To two beautiful countries
With Peru I fell in love
Ecuador fascinated me in the north above

Their three forms are terrific:
The coast of the Pacific
The mountains of the Andes
The Amazon jungle in the north and east

In Lima Peru the sky was grey
The weather was cool all night and day
I felt the winter in my bones
It was cold inside the homes

The Inca capital Cusco was gorgeous
Its beauty was enormous
I rode a horse in the mountains
Bought some Inca art near the fountains

Machu Picchu is the best in the world
Indescribable with human words
Inca ruins abound
With steep mountains around

I saw the Nasca lines
The astronaut and monkey with my own eyes
I saw mummies, their faces and hands
In their tombs in the desert sand

The city of Arequipa was neat
Its pre-Inca cuisine was a treat
The mummy Juanita was frozen
Quite a death for her was chosen

The Peruvian mountains had awesome shapes
With colors painted with excellent taste
Watching through the bus window
I enjoyed nature's excellent show

I went to Puno in the east
To see Lake Titicaca and its feasts
At the lake in a high altitude
I heard stories in their multitude

The Uros Islands were floating
Beautiful handicraft its people were showing
The natural Taquile Island
Was gorgeous with its highlands

Then I wanted to see more
I flew north to Ecuador
Its awesome mountains were green
And sceneries some of the best I've seen

I viewed the capital from a height
And liked what I had in my sight
Quito was founded on the sixth of December
Finland's Independence Day, remember?

I stood on the Equator
With zero on the GPS indicator
I viewed a volcano from a high place
With clouds below my face

Baños was good for sports
I rode a bicycle wearing my shorts
Saw breath-taking waterfalls nearby
Because of the rain I kissed the town goodbye

So I went south to Guayaquil
The heat on the coast could kill
The riverfront was a thrill
I viewed the city from a hill

I spent a week on the Galápagos Islands
On the coast and in the highlands
The volcanic lava stones
Gave shivers to my bones

The colors and shapes were great
Giving the islands great fame
The animals were not afraid
They were always very tame

I swam with sea lions in the sea
And followed a penguin that I could see
The fish had gorgeous colors
The birds were beautiful in their feathers

The blue-footed boobies were hatching
They raised their legs when dancing
Frigatebirds were in action
When we watched their satisfaction

Iguanas were everywhere
Except for in the air
The turtoises were huge
They were given some refuge

I returned to the continent
The sunny route was excellent
I went to Puerto Lopez on the coast
Saw two whales from the boat

I quickly went to Manta to eat
Seafood was a healthy treat
I took a bus down south
Spent a night in Cuenca on my way out

There is action on the buses in Ecuador
With salespeople coming through the door
New passengers come from every curb
Cheerful music can be heard

I took a night bus from Loja Ecuador
In kind of a rush, I stepped on its floor
I was in Piura Peru the next morning
Then at night, Chiclayo was calling

The Independence Day was near
People in Chiclayo were out to cheer
I left for Trujillo before noon
And saw the pyramids of the moon

Then I took a night bus with a bed
Woke up in Lima with a light head
I went to a party in a home
Had dinner and beer with a foam

I had seen mountains and coast
Many people young and old
I had to see the rest:
The tropical rainforest

I flew to the city of Iquitos
But didn't see any mosquitoes
Mototaxis filled the streets
They are practical in the heat

They provide a city sound
While rivers surround the town
The clothes are always wet
Because of constant sweat

The jungle was impressive
Huge and so expressive
We saw and heard its life
Only the guide had a knife

People lived in their humble homes
Bathed in the river foams
I swam in the Amazon
Saw some dolphins and moved on

Soon it's time to fly back home
But I would like to stay and roam
Some day I will return
There is so much more to learn

Iquitos Peru 4 - 5 August 2008

From Summer to Winter

The summer will soon be here

In the northern hemisphere

Just a while later

I'll be south of the equator

Having fun

Out in the winter sun

Peru

Peru is my destination

On my summer vacation

South America is on my mind

It will be mine

South America

South America, here I come

To see your beauty and soul
To learn and to have fun
To make you my own