Our mintrip to Tallin!

We made a minitrip to Tallin, tuesday to wednesday, 36 hours:) Its amazing what one can do in such a short time! We( me, Nico, the girls and my dad)  left on tuesday morning by car at 11am, came to Helsinki at 17.30, drove onboard the Tallink Ship `Baltic Princess´ , went to our cabins and then just enjoyed the boatride, ate at the restaurant, went out on the deck, girls enjoyed the kiddies program/ activities. The boat docked at the Tallin harbour and then in the moning we got off and took a taxi to old town( 6€). We had breakfast in old town, not the best, as usually happens when you stop at the first place, but it was on by the market square so we thought it might be good. We walked around a few hours and then we went back to the boat and the journey back to helsinki started at 13.00. Again, food , tax free and kiddies activities and we where in Helsinki again at 16.30, into the car and the journey back home started, we stopped at Idea park, had dinner ,and back on the road again, home we where around midnight. It is a life saver to  have a dvd player for the girls in the car, as that keeps them in a good mood and not too restless:) Here a few pics from our trip, enjoy!

 Viivi loves making faces, difficult to get her serious on a picture..or just to make a simple smile:)

 My two loving princesses

 Liina the fashion model...

 And my travel outfit and Viivis:)

 Liina posing for the camera

 This is Viivi..one normal picture of her too!

 ..and here we go again with the faces...

 Liina showing her tattoo she got

 And here my dad

 Old town in Tallin....market square

 Handmade chocolate...could not resist:)

 Someone had some chocolate!

 Many cruise ships at Tallin harbour..and in town many tourist groups walking around.

 In the cabing on the boat, a favourite spot to sit...in the window:)

And after a busy trip on our way home, Liina sleeping and Viivi still going, but by the time we got home both where asleep:)

Love Jannika

My Dream!

We all have dreams, goals in life, and that keeps us moving forward. Sometimes we get the opportunity to fulfill our dreams or it brings us on a new track in life: ` The poorest man on earth is not a man without money, but a man without dreams´.  So lets keep on dreaming:)








My dream is....to one day have a guesthouse in South Africa,in the winelands,Franschhoek, and this is how it would be:
My guesthouse would be a world of small details,personal, stylish ,simple, a touch of africa, traditional elements mixed with modern design and earthy colours. These pictures visualize my idea better, but keep in mind that the setting is the winelands, even if there is some inspirations from  the bush:) And try to grap the atmosphere the pictures deliver,as for me, it is the feeling that a space creates that is of importance. When I look at the pictures below there is some details in the picture that is of interest for me.
















On this picture it is the way the table is set, with white porseline, cushions in the sofa, the plants..


And the view from the garden/deck has to be inviting..





Bedroom, simple and earthy colours, small details, white linen..


This is just to bring some colour elements in , cushions in the sofa, big pots of different shapes, relaxing chairs..add some blankets for chilly evenings


Big pots by the entrance and it has to  be inviting


Sunbeds along the poolside and towels laid out nicely for guest to use


Space where to relax, earthy and comfortable




Inside open space where to relax, read a book from our library, socialize

Earthy colours....

Inviting..


That just gives an idea what my guest house would look like.
Then the service, from the moment guest contacts the guest house and decides to come and stay , they will be looked after, and when they arrive, every detail will be in place, I will know what drinks they prefer, what food they like, allergies, activities they want to do,and when they come they will be warmly welcomed with a welcoming drink, and given their space to relax.

Myself I would go on wine courses and food courses to be able to prepare dinners and also to suggest wines as we would  have a good selection of wines( and other drinks), if guest prefers to stay in one night and not go to a close by dinner, we would prepare dinner.  I know myself that sometimes I do prefer to eat at the guest house where I stay, I might be tired or I travel alone and do not feel like going to a restaurant by myself, then it is ideal to just sit by the pool at the guest house and enjoy a dinner. We would offer small snacks/fruit/cake in late afternoon,with coffe and tea, as many guest do come back from daily excursions at that time. And breakfast, as I  have worked in a hotel when I was younger, I know how to prepare a breakfast for 20 people:) It would be fresh bread with ham and cheese, eggs, tomato and cucumber, yougurt, cereal, lots of fresh fruit, cake and coffe/tea, fresh juice...and to order bacon, mushrooms etc...all included of course.

Sometimes we would have evenings when a musician would come and play softly by the pool , for guest to be able to enjoy a few glasses of wine and just enjoy the moment.

We would also offer massage for guest,as some guest come to play golf and also, it is part of enjoying and relaxing after long travelling. Some early morning I would arrange yoga in the garden, for the guest to join in, as this would not disturb the rest of the late sleeping guests. 

That is a few thoughts about having a  guest house. I know it is a lot of work ,hard work , besides looking after the guest:) but when you enjoy what you are doing, not even hard work feels like work, your heart is in it, you don´t count the hours.

Now it is only a question of finding someone to invest in my idea, and usually when I do want something really bad, I solve the problem... so if you know somebody having a few millions ( €) and  not knowing what to do with it, please let me know, as I do know:)

Love to you all,

Jannika

Enjoying summer!

This week has been sunny and I have 2 weeks vacation. Besides working on my own tours I have had time to enjoy some sun, cycling with the girls, Power Park ( where I ended up in one of those machines that is for adrenalin junkies, Cobra...and I had no strength in my legs after the ride, next time I stick to the kiddies rides!),dinner with the girls at Solf Gästgiveri , swimming at Immos house in the pool, ice cream etc...it feels like summer. I think for us people living up here so far north , the few days of warm sunny weather  we have is when we recharge for the long winter ahead of us. Hopefully everyone has had time to relax and enjoy!

Enjoy the sunny weekend! Love Jannika