Best places in Oulu

It's a shame that I have been living in Oulu for more than two months and I didn't write anything about it. Well, there are two reasons. The first is that I don't like the city in general. The second is that I've hardly spent a weekend in Oulu, i was rather traveling than staying here.

If you're waiting for the usual guidance which tells you what is worth to visit as a tourist...Well, you'll be disappointed. The following things just made my day once, twice or countless times! So here comes a very subjective and, i guess, unusual list! :)

1.: Toppilan kierrätyskeskus (Toppila's recycling center)
Address: Oulu, Paakakatu
Open: Tuesday-Friday 10 - 17, Monday and Saturday: 10 -14
Website: http://www.ouka.fi/jatehuolto/toppilankkeskus.htm
Toppila is a one of Oulu's districts. As far as my eyes are good this is not the richest part of the city. The seaside is very close but in Finland this isn't such a great thing...a strong chilly wind blows all the time!
And there's an ugly brick building, the walls have been darkened by the smog of the industrial area.
Yes, you're right! We are in front of the true treasure box of Oulu. People or companies give them item which they don't need anymore. Furniture, kitchenware, ice-skates, stuff for skiing, blankets, small machines, tires, books, everything what you can imagine. And they sell it in a very reasonable price to help people. They really save all the exchange students!:)You can find there valuable old teaspoons with porcelain inlay for 20 cents!
Special thanks to the chief, Mika Inkala for caring about me, for making me a table and for the nice conversations! Sometimes I really went there just to hang around although it's not so warm in the shop...:)

2.: Never Grow Old Pub
A little reggae bar with perfect music in general and parties in every Wednesday in the very center of Oulu!
You get the second cup of tea with new filter for free!;) So Tupsu get a rival!:)
Unfortunately they usually they open around 18:00.

3.: Nallikari
Ok-ok, you'll get some real tourist attraction! You can walk along the seaside or during winter on the see!:D The place looks very nice, wintertime you can see some crazy Finns digging a hole though the ice, making fire and doing ice-fishing. If there's plain ice which is not covered by snow, you don't wanna miss dropping huge piece of ice onto the surface of the frozen sea and listen to the dropped piece breaking apart and sliding on the surface making an unbelievably relaxing sound! We were throwing the pieces for 20 mins!:) And of course hard to forget how the wind was blowing into our face in the -15!:)

4.: Ice-skating
There are several outdoor skating possibilities in every area of Oulu for free. There are the prepared fields but you can try to go and enjoy the lakes nearby (3 minutes far away from my apartment! Lucky!!!) as well!:) Even cooler if you have a nice view to the northern ski. You can hope for northern lights!:)

5.: St. Michael's Irish Pub:
Not far away from NGO Pub, the address is Hallituskatu 13-17. Not a big bar and on every second Sunday there's live traditional Irosh music. You can have real cider, Irish coffee and delicious Irish beer as well.
More: http://www.irishmusicsocietyofoulu.org/happenings.htm
If you like Irish music You shouldn't forget about the Irish music festival of Oulu which takes place traditionally at the very beginning of October. More info: www.irkku.fi

Pictures later because i left my camera in Helsinki. i'm waiting for it to catch up to me!:)

P.S.: I decided to write a mixed language blog because a lot of people was asking for English.