[Closed] Oulu

You've never been then...

Not been but it sounds nice according to Lonely Planet:

Prosperous Oulu (Swedish: Uleåborg) is one of Finland's most enjoyable cities to visit. In summer the locals, who appreciate daylight when they get it, crowd the terraces around the marketplace, and stalls groan under the weight of Arctic berries and giant pans laden with all manner of delicious food.

The centre is spread across several islands, elegantly connected by pedestrian bridges, and the water never seems far away. This layout has made it very convenient for cycling, and Oulu's network of bike paths is one of the best in Europe.

Oulu, the largest city north of Tampere and the sixth-biggest in Finland, is also one of the world's foremost technology cities; the university turns out top-notch IT graduates and the corporate science and technology parks on the city's outskirts employ people from all over the globe. The centre of Oulu is even rigged up as a free wireless network, so you can check your emails from the terrace of the local pub.

But never fear, it's not all laptops and cycle lanes; this is Finland after all, and there's a good dollop of weirdness here, particularly in the summer season, [b]when the World Air-Guitar Championships come to town[/b]!

Isn't Oulu one of the professionals on Strictly?

I'll point out the key words in that promo blurb for you:

[b][i][u]"In summer"[/u][/i][/b]

In winter it's dark most of the time, and cold, very cold, and nobody goes out, and if they do they just sit in a bar and drink vodka not talking to anyone

I've worked in Helsinki, and Oulu has more wilderness so that can't be bad. I'll take the darkness in return for some snow and adventure 🙂

I once dated a Finnish au pair, and they are a very standoffish and strange group of people.

In a good way tho.

they are a very standoffish and strange group of people.

I got on with them pretty well. Not much smalltalk and banal pseudo matey-ness, which I seem to appreciate 🙂

I spent 3 days in Turku in winter and it depressed the hell out of me.

Bring us back a Moomin though, eh? 🙂

What was wrong with Turku? It's meant to be nice. EDIT Oh I see you said winter. I never had a problem with the 9.30-3.30 daylight thing.

I once dated a Finnish au pair

I once dated a Finnish au pair

Both of them?

I did have to read that several times though as I kept reading as 'I once dated a fine pair' - I couldn't work out what it was meant to be - fine pair of what??? Finish the sentence...or better yet, read the sentence properly!

Not much smalltalk

Reminds me of this joke I was told by a Finn

Mika and Peppe hadn't seen each other for ages, so they decided to get together for "one" beer. At the end of the first pint Peppe says "How have you been?" Mika just grunts in reply.

At the end of the second pint Peppe asks "So how's your family?" Again, Mika just grunts in reply.

After three pints Peppe asks "How's work going?" Mika suddenly stands up and shouts
"Perkele! Did we come here to talk or drink?!"

I was thinking of the same joke purist 🙂 except it was ice fishing and vodka in the one I heard.

Hmm looks like Copenhagen might be a possibility too.

Wonderful!

I have been to Oulu when I was invited by Nokia, when I was working at BT Cellnet. I can't say I saw much of the town as I was on business, but the business park is quite impressive. We also went to Tampere too. I have been to Helsinki twice, which was brilliant, again on business, but with a lot of corporate hospitality too. Not too sure I would want to be there for a long time, but if it a good opportunity for you then go for it.