Photo. Entrance at Zetor - located in Helsinki
down town.
To have real fun in Helsinki, I could not think of a better
place than Zetor. The discothèque is decorated with humorous interior and has a
countryside style. Here the locals show what the Finnish word "Sisu" means.
Soumi Rokkia is really great!
Helsinki is the beautiful capital in Finland. The life in Helsinki is quite
pulsating and this is the city where you really feel alive, especially in one
discothèque, the Zetor Bar and Restaurant. It`s the most distinctive and funny
in the city. This is the place where you can soak up the real "Sisu"-atmosphere
in Finland. Sisu is like an invisible power that the Finnish is equipped
with.
The term Sisu characterise the inhabitants more than anything else. In the
Finnish culture Sisu refers to good guts. It means more precisely special
strength, stubbornness, encouragement and stamina.
I have been to Zetor several occasions the last years enjoyed tasting Finnish
food, homemade ale and special drinking hot shots. I have also had the pleasure
to dance to the powerful Finnish rock`n roll music - SOUMI
ROKKIA!
In addition I have tried to drive old Zetor tractors, which are parked inside
the discothèque. Fortunately for the happy guests' safety, none of the tractors
started.
Photo. Trying to drive a tractor inside Zetor. It
was real fun rocking the tractor in Zetor. I guess I frightened many of the
guests.
Zetor is located in down town Helsinki, but with all
special decorations, I sometimes felt was in the countryside. So by soaking up
all the impression here, I got imaginations about Finland's agriculture,
farming, thousands of lakes, endless forests, snow white winters and light
summer nights, and not to forget the bloodthirsty mosquitoes, wild reindeers and
the Santa Claus himself. The Finnish claim that Santa Claus is from Finland, but he is of course from Norway. Anyway
it's not so important where he comes from as far I got my presents (well
deserved???).
Unique decoration
Zetor is an example of that the
Finnish are unique innovators in design and architecture. Since the bar and
restaurant was first established in 1992, its unique style has made it to one of
the most popular nightclubs in Helsinki. It has also become an popular tourist
attraction, and many tourists from abroad enjoying visiting this place.
In addition to the dancing floor, Zetor comprises two bar areas, two
restaurants and the tractor tables. I assume that the barn dancing floor had
been hardly exposed after so many years with wild dancing to Finnish (Soumi
Rokkia) and International Rock 'n' Roll
music.
Photo. Wall decorations in Zetor,
Helsinki.
 |
 |
As mentioned, Zetor is like an agricultural place. The discoteque is full of
farm machinery as furniture, tractors for tables, old buckets, cheese graters
for lampshades, milk bottles and milking machines. Malto Valtonen, who has the
lead vocal in the popular Finnish rock group, Leningrad Cowboys, is the
architect behind the unique design. In the men's toilet, there are more or less
naked women, who decorate the walls. Absolute nothing is missing in Zetor.
Dance and singing along
Guests at Zetor are both men
and women in all ages. The place is always full pack in the weekends, and
sometimes it's so hot that it feels like being in one of Finland's many saunas.
One time I was there for two years ago (2001) the atmosphere was extremely
great. The sound from the music was very energetic. The disc jockey played
mostly Finnish music, and people danced and sung along. I had a really good time
on the barn dancing floor, and so did the other guests too, but it was not
without little bit extra action.
Photos.
Dancing and singing along at Zetor - keep your balance!
 |
 |
First I got a hard elbow in my stomach. For the second girl stamped my foot
with a sharp shoe. I screamed out in pain, but the girl didn't notice. She just
continued her happy dance. Later I got a glass in my face. Fortunately it was
without any cuts or spelling. Suddenly a big "bull" broke his way through in the
dancing acrobats. He started to jump and whirled wild around on the dancing
floor. I suspected him for being overfilled with Finnish "Sisu".
After a while he went totally amok. He waved and shouted as it was bullfight.
He pushed away the other dancers. I tried to dance little bit, but it was not
possible so far the bull continually staged me. Due to "health" reasons", I went
to a safer place where I could view his incredible dancing show from a far
distance. I had never seen a break dance like this before. I assumed that this
man had taken something stronger than alcohol.
He had two small friends with him who looked little bit
tamer. They took it easier and didn't see to harm anyone so much, but they back
up their friend's wild dance. The other dancers started to be fed up by the
crazy big bull, so they moved away from the dancing floor too. Few minutes
afterwards three "matadors" (guards) came to carry him out. They took him by his
horns and feet, lifted him up and carried the evil looking bull out of the
bullfighting area. The bull didn't like this treatment, so he turned wilder, but
he didn't have chance to escape. I never saw the bull and his bull calves
afterwards, so it ended happy for us all.
|
Photo. The discjockey was great. He played
Soumi Rokkia whole the night.
This man really knew what kind of music he
should play to rock the guests. |
 |
I know that Finland have good jumpers. Just as the crazy
bull, also the other guests jumped around, but it was more like wild reindeers.
Actually Finnish people are very good at jumping. In addition to be world
trendsetters in design, I could now also see why Finland has the best ski
jumpers in the world. The locals lifted their hands and song along Finnish songs
filled with strong passion. Especially when the excellent disc jockey played the
song Bombasa, song by Taiska, their voices rose up to big heights. This has to
be what the Finnish call "Sisu" when they have a great time like this. It shows
the Finnish character as it best and they really
love to have fun!
Traditional drinks
The "gasoline" Finnish people
use when they are partying is Koff beer, Salmiakki and Finlandia Vodka. These
national drinks lift people up to great heights, and Finnish "Sisu" would be
showed in the best way. Koff is the best bear in Finland in my opinion. It's a
light bear that make you even thirstier because it's so good. Salmiakki (sal
ammoniac) is absolute one of the Finnish specialities. It is a salty liquorice
candy with 32 % alcohol percent. Salmiakki is a black candy with a sweet and
sour taste, also used as shots. You will either love it or hate it! One thing is
for sure; you will never forget it even though the drink probably make you
forget other things if you drink too much.
One of the best songs ever in Finland is called Kevat, song by
Tavaramakkinat. It's a sad song about lost love and Salmiakki. When the
beautiful song is played, loving couples dance very tight, and strong emotional
vibrations fills the Zetor. Other national drinks are Kosenkorva Vodka and
Finlandia Vodka, is pretty strong and also lightening up the Finnish mood. Just
to let you know: Zetor also offers own strong shots that almost blow your head
off!
Helsinki, is the centre of cultural, financial and economic activity in
Finland, but it's also the centre for the best party activities. Zetor is one
great alternative if you want to have a real good time. There are also several
other great places for having great fun here. The Finnish people are opened
minded and easy to get in touch with. They just love the party life. "Sisu" is
something I really admire about the Finnish. They really make the atmosphere
Sisu-great!
Stein Morten Lund, 27 august 2003
Additional information
Helsinki 's green parks, waterways, nice harbour area,
fresh sea winds with seagulls flying over the busy market square, and many
open-air cafés, make the city a pleasant place to visit in summer. The Finnish
are famous for design and architecture.
| Photo. Hard workers in Helsinki`s city
center.
You will find evidence of that by walking down the main street
Esplanade and other places around in the city. The city is characterised
by small buildings. The market square is still surrounded by 19th century
architecture.
Finnish design on its best is also shown on Marimekko clothes and Nokia
mobile (cellular) phone, some of them with Marimekko design. |
 |
Built on a peninsula, Helsinki is linked by ferry to Suomenlinna Island in
the Gulf of Finland, which is perfect for picnicking
day-trippers.
Some useful phrases that can make your stay more
pleasant in Finland:
Finnish language could be very difficult for
foreigners. For example: the language has few prepositions. Therefore some of
the words are extremely long. Take a deep breath, and just blow the words out.
The Finnish people would be totally charmed!
Kiitos saunasta - thank you for the sauna. The sauna is an important
institution (Finnish hot bath) in Finland as the pubs are in Ireland.
Kiipis - toast, cheers (for drinking)
Olutta - a beer
Vodkaa - a
vodka
For more information about Finland:
Finnish Tourist Board's
official travel guide to Finland - website: www.visitfinland.com.
On this site you'll find information about how to make the most of your trip,
whether you are visiting for pleasure or business.
Finnish Tourist Board
Head Office: P.O. Box 625, Töölönkatu 11,
00101
HELSINKI, FINLAND Tel.: +358 (0)9 4176 911
Fax: +358 (0)9 4176
9399
E-mail: mek@mek.fi
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