I live close to Helsinki city centre, by the sea, about 2 km from most passenger ports. My home is also close to the design district with many vintage and second-hand shops, and to Hietalahti flea market. For more exact location, see my nearest tramway stop "Munkkisaari" (line 6) in your favourite map application.

I don't always no my availability for long time in advance. You can send a request a month or a week before, if you wish, but sometimes I know only a day or two before whether I will be able to host or not.

I like to socialise with my guests somewhat, even go together somewhere if I have time and if it fits my guests' plans but I also completely understand if you are tired when you come and need some rest and time for yourself. Just tell if that is the case. Even if you just come in the evening, have a shower and sleep overnight, and then leave at morning, that's fine (in some cases – particularly when I am a bit exhausted after hosting many guests – I actually even prefer such guests).

Late arrivals and early departures are usually fine, I try to be flexible when possible. You can come even in the middle of the night.

My home is just one room and it is not big but I have a bed for guests. I have sometimes a dog or two here - and if not, at least there is dog hair somewhere. I hope you are not allergic to or afraid of dogs.

Apart from my mother tongue Finnish, I speak English and French rather fluently. I also speak some Spanish, Russian and Swedish but not that well. I don't mind if you speak bad English, somehow we will be able to communicate.

I am Christian (Lutheran) but guests can be of any denomination or religion or of none at all. I will not proselytize and I hope that you will neither.

LGBTQ (and any other letter) people welcome: I may not always be up to date with all the vocabulary but I am friendly to everybody.

I am fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

WHAT SHOULD YOU WRITE IN YOUR REQUEST?

First, if you want to get hosted, please send a request and not a message. Requests get neatly ordered on the dashboard while messages get easily buried in the inbox as I get a lot of them.

If it is a last minute request, just tell date and time when you would be arriving and if you come alone or with other people. I know you probably need to send many requests so don't bother making too personalised one. Oneliner with all the relevant information is fine, I can read more about you in your profile.

If you are sending the request early you can tell a bit more about what you are planning to do while in Helsinki but please notice that sometimes I only know rather late whether I will be able to host you or not. And even in this case, no need to repeat things that you tell in your profile.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I mostly host. Particularly I like returning guests. Hence, if you have stayed with me before you are the most welcome again.

Interests

• dogs
• environment
• sauna
• christian
• geography
• tea
• vaccinated

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I have hosted 400+ guests on different hospitality exchange networks, mostly here in CouchSurfing.

Teach, Learn, Share

If you get hosted by me you might end up in my Instagram @nlipsane. I hope that you don't mind.

Tea is always available, and maybe something with it. We can cook together, if you wish, or go to have dinner in some of the many restaurants nearby (but beware: restaurants in Helsinki are expensive).

Wi-Fi available.

If we cook together, I eat almost anything but not mushrooms or mustard. Also, I don't like very cheesy foods. I eat meat but not every day so vegetarian/vegan cooking is good too.

SAUNA!
I recommend trying Finnish sauna. There are plenty of options. Prices range from completely free to cheap and to damn expensive. It can be mixed, females/males only, or private. With swimming pool, swimming in the sea (any season), or no swimming. Wooden heated or electric. In swimwear or naked. Available options and combinations may depend, however, on the season and on the days of the week that you are here.

Countries I’ve Visited

Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Italy, Kenya, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Martinique, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State, Åland Islands

Countries I’ve Lived In

Dominica, Finland, Spain

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