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What a week! It started with some work (only little since thursday was a bank holiday) and ended in the Opera. Really amazing stuff in between in the cold weather of Dusseldorf. The highlights of the week were as follows:
Wednesday after work I had a chance of excersising some target practicing with a stick and some balls.  A nice night of pool with a collegue. Its really been a while since I last played but I still know the basics and apparently you can get quite far with the basics. My opponent was a bit better but as he says, "Its the tools that get you to the goal".
Thursday was a day of relaxation. I managed to sleep late and spend most of my day reading. The late evening ended up in the movies. I went to see the latest edition of the Robin Hood. This time made by Ridley Scott and starring Russel Crowe as the Hood. I kind of think I had seen that movie earlier but at that time it was called Gladiator. The basic entertainment you would expect from those two, quite enough for me (due to lack of english movies in the region).
Saturday was another day of complete relaxation. It started in the Claudius Therme in Cologne. Really good Saunas with a German twist. 1st of all you are not allowed to throw water in to stones (like you do in Finland). 2nd commandment: No talking! 3rd: have these strange events during your Sauna experiment where you rub salt and honey to your naked body in front of everyone. Now visualize the same thing you just did but with a fat 60+ woman!
After the Sauna it was time for entertainment: Cirque del soleil - Verakai! It had been quite some time when I last visited a circus. This time it was different and well worth it! Seeing how amazing acrobatic movements the circus folk did got me really excited! No special effects, no computer animation - real life people with complete control over their bodies and the ability to do things you could never imagine. Circus is in the town and I really recommend that to everyone!
The weekend ended up in the Opera. I went to see Rigoletto by Verdi in my local operahouse with a group from RhineBuzz. Around 10 opera lovers from the expat community. The opera was great from the singing point of view. The stars really did know how to use their voices. The only downside of the event was that the acting part was modernized. Instead of having these beautiful surrounding with old fashion clothing the guys were in jeans and girls had normal (grey) dresses. The only things on the stage were dummies - the once you see in shops displaying clothing. I really dont like this type of stageing. Unfortunately it seems to be fashionable at the moment so it might take a while before I see something that pleases the eye as much as it pleases the ear.
As a wrapup: it is really good to have weeks of culture and sports (oh jeah, I did that too: badminton and jogging) instead of drinking and partying. I feel so much more energetic at the moment!

Aparently there has been quite a few  busy days and some other distractions on updating my blog.  Last I remember it was a sunny weekend in here that ended up in a fantastic openair club - Kiesgrube in Neuss, just out of Düsseldorf.  The afternoon started with barbequeing with the Finns and ended sometime late night dancing to Loco Dice in a very nice atmosphere. I think so far the best 'club' night in here! Lots of nice people enjoying the sun and nice music. The Party is a regular event, every 2nd Sunday so I think I know where to go on Sundays to have some fun.
And then there was Vappu. The reason to go to Helsinki and see all my wonderfull friends. Vappu is one of the best events in Finland and I think one of the most famous ones. Even though it might be (and it was) bit cold, people go out, have fun, drink a lot and end up in Kaivari on the 2nd day to meet friends and drink some skumppa (sekt). The veterans continue trough the weekend going from one party to another. I managed to host one of those at my apartment in a way that you just could not fit any more people in! Lovely and intoxicating
Last weekend I took another experiment on the local Sauna culture. Münser therme, my local Sauna / swimingpool offered me a relaxing Sunday morning. It was a decent versio with one strange exception: no water to throw on the stones, I mean really: no way to carry any water to the Sauna! It was a 'bit' dry but atleast on this version people talked in the Sauna. Something I have not seen that often in here.
Next weekend is culture weekend with Cirque du Soleil and Rigoletto but more on those on the next update.