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http://www.doteurovision.com/phpnews/news.php?action=fullnews&id=1405

"Ok, Congratulations Finland, I have arrived!!!

Now then, this Broad takes a whole lot of impressing, she is known to be picky at the very least, and highly critical at her very worst and Eurovision usually brings out the very worst when it comes to organisation and the way things are run.

Well, here goes nothing!

This Broad is chilled!!!!! Chilled to the core!!! Why? Because already, this Eurovision is the best organised, best staged and most friendly Eurovision she has ever been to!!!! Hard as I try I can find nothing, absolutely NOTHING to find fault with. The hall is magnificent, the stage spectacular, the press centre is the most innovative ever, every single thing has been thought of and accomplished. There is a warm Finnish welcome at every turn, a smile, a helpful attitude and an efficiency completely unprecedented. Instead of crowing about how great they are, instead of bombarding us with every minor detail of what to expect, instead of telling people what hospitable hosts they are, the Finns have just got on with being all those things and making sure our every little whim is catered for. All done with the attitude of consummate professionals who have been on every single customer care course in the world! But they have been doing it with minimum fuss and maximum impact!

As you will have seen from the many photos, the central area of the press centre is scattered with rocking chairs and bean bags. What better way to make everyone relaxed? One could fall asleep there quite easily and everything here is so easy that sleep is a distinct possibility. The laid back-ness of it all is something to behold! So much so that many of us have expressed a desire for Eurovision to come from here EVERY year!!!!

Well, OK, the one drawback is the weather but I can cope with a cold exterior when there is such a warmth in the heart of those inside!!!

So what have we been up to in this sea of tranquillity? Well the Montenegrin party was Friday night so we headed for an alcohol rich Euroclub where Stevan and his team had laid on plenty of free booze and entertainment. We chatted to the Macedonians, Bulgarians, and Andorrans (watch Andorra, it is good, very good) and were treated to some great performances by these, along with Alenka from Slovenia.

Euroclub itself is a very grand affair with old pictures and balconies and chandeliers all over, and not a hint of a token anywhere ;-)

There is a well stocked bar which is free till midnight and having been up since five, the witching hour is when I headed back to the hotel. Only to encounter the Icelanders who had just arrived and were having their own party in the lobby. We chatted to Eirik and the gang and as you know, I then called our very own Ladybug in Iceland so she could feel part of the merry throng. I am not sure she will recover from this!

Saturday morning at breakfast Feeeeeleeeeeep Kirkorov was around (not a pretty site at that time in the morning but he livened up later). Rehearsals for the day have been widely reported, as have press conferences so no need for me to re-iterate.

Saturday night was Doteurovision night off so we have not been socialising. Today starts the second round of semi rehearsals and I cannot wait, such is the allure of this serenity and downright air of utter capability. This isn�t work, it is a pleasure to be here!

Thank you Finland, for restoring this Broad's faith in the Eurovision experience!"

http://akoe07.livejournal.com/

"What a beautiful morning. The sun is shining, the air quality here is amazing (especially after Athens and Kyiv) and you can be in the press area 20 minutes after walking out of your hotel. This is just a dream compared to the last few Eurovisions. Taklen as a total package, this is the best organised most friendly Eurovision I remember. Other broadcasters have done some elements better, Turkey had the most interesting city and the best welcome party, Kyiv the best press centre food and location for the arena and Euroclub, Athens had a nice stage and easy access between the arena and the press centre, but in total nothing beats Helsinki."

Oikeasti, hyppää mereen jos et osaa muuta kuin kitistä.

Ahaa. Oletko kenties koskaan matkustanut Suomen rajojen ulkopuolella? Pariisissa? Lontoossa? Amsterdamissa? Missään Euroopassa? Jos todella olet, ja jos olet vielä uskaltautunut turistikatuja kauemmas niin tiedät, että Helsinki ei siisteydessään häpeä yhtään. Ja voin kertoa, että kyllä niitä hölmistyneen näköisiä ja tyylittömiä vanhuksia on muuallakin. Ja kysyisin vielä, että MIKSI on niin tärkeää mitä ulkomaalaiset vieraat ajattelevat Suomesta? Suomi on mitä on ja täällä on hyvä asua, minkä takia ihmisillä täällä on jatkuva tarve yrittää olla jotain muuta kuin mitä on, parempi, hienompi, sivistyneempi? Olisitte perkele edes joskus ylpeitä, meillä on ihan hieno maa, ei sitä aina tarvitse mollata.

toivottavasti susta ei tuu kaskaan vanhus, ja teini aikaa et varmaan elänytkään.