"Finland at Expo 2000" a Finland Travel Page by sabsi

This pavilion which is called "The Wind Nest" was my favourite one. Inside is a Finnish birch forest and 3 different rooms to explore.

It was not only my favourite - It was one of the most popular pavilions on the whole Expo ground, maybe even the number one! Queies were normally around an hour to get in. I still went in 4 or 5 times!

It was located on the east ground at the 12th Boulevard

In the first room you could see Finland through children's eyes. It was so cute, there are birds which are made of Nokia cellphones, an elk that you can lure and shoe away, skijumpers, Mika Hakkinen, bears that watch television and even a small sauna.

If they filmed you at the entrance you saw yourself and what you sadi in several places while walking throught the pavilion. The most embarrassing moments for me ;-)

These birds were s(r)inging all day! Another cute idea!

...see, the cars are driving from the ferry directly into the sea. Well...maybe not ;-), we got scared though hahaha!

After the children room you walked over a wooden bridge through the more than seventy Finnish birches standing on real forest ground - with moss from Lapland, bilberry bushes, wild strawberries and big stones it even smelled like Finland!

In the next room there was some technology, films of Helsinki and the biggest guestbook in the world. I think I signed it with Fiinish sentences a hundred times ;-)

The third room was incredible. There was a huge video wall on one side that showed a Finnish nature scene. From time to time animals appeared there. It was amazing how everyone who entered this room was quiet suddely! The smell was lovely, too!

Send Photo to a Friend

A sauna on Expo Plaza

The Finnish national day

The 19th od June 2000 was the hottest day of the year in Hannover - and also the Finnish national day ar Expo. The build up a sauna on the Expo Plaza - luckily they had a pool next to it because with 33C noone wanted to stay in the suna for long I suppose.

In the morning the gave everyone a free drink or two - Finnish lake water. Really refreshing!!

Send Photo to a Friend

Lenni Kalle Taipale on Stage

They had an excellent cultural programme too on their national day. The night before I watched the Kaurismäki silent movie "Juha" - with the original film orchestras playing along. Very good!!! On the day itself there was Tango & Music ... like the Lenni Kalle Taipale Trio, very young and very good Jazz musicians from Finland (picture).

Finland's pavilion will stay in Hannover. It is called the [f]inbox now and several companies have their offices in there. The cafe which sold "Pirogge" during Expo will open again and it is even called "Pirogge" now.

I found parts from the pavilion in a Nokia shop in Hannover recently and it was great to see all these cute things again!