Monthly Archive for August, 2009

Multicellular caravan concept Mehrzeller

Published
by
Tommi
on August 24, 2009
in Caravans
. 0 Comments

Mehrzeller multicellular caravan

Mehrzeller multicellular caravan

Multi-cellular caravan concept Mehrzeller is something that really stands out from the crowd. It can be argued if it’s beauty or the beast, but it definitely is unique. Mehrzeller is far from a typical mass produced caravan.

The caravan is manufactured from a mixed shaped sheets. This gives the multicellular look, which is something else than aerodynamic. The interior shape is really as wild as the exterior. Still standard kitchen appliances, toilet, etc are available. Mehrzeller can be tailor made for each customer with own measures. The concept is a result of a degree project in Technical University of Graz and it has been supported by many brands in the caravan industry.

Caravans with a personal look and feel have been popular at least in the smallest category. A good example of this is Tabbert’s T@B. The results of research projects are often very wild. It will be interesting to see if some of the ideas in Mehrzeller will end up into a mass production of some big brand company. Photos (c) Mehrzeller.

Mehrzeller multicellular caravan
Mehrzeller multicellular caravan
Mehrzeller multicellular caravan

Mehrzeller multicellular caravan

Rastila Camping, Helsinki Finland

Published
by
Tommi
on August 9, 2009
in Camping sites
. 0 Comments


Rastila Camping leirintŠalue

Introduction

Rastila Camping is located in Vuosaari in Eastern Helsinki. The entrance is only a couple of hundred meters away from a subway station. It takes 17 minutes to travel from Rastila to the downtown of Helsinki with the subway. Rastila has the best location of all the camping sites if you want to visit in Helsinki.

There are 165 pitches in 12 rows. I have always managed to get a pitch even during the busy season. The site will expand and use the nearest school yard during summer months if necessary. There are also cabins and tents are allowed too. The cabin price range is wide from 38 euros to 187 euros depending on the equipment level. Rastila is open during all the seasons.

There are two saunas, few grill cottages and a couple of leisure rooms to just hang out. Kayaks are rented next to the beach. The restaurant is right beside the road to the beach. Wireless Internet access is available, but the reach is limited. I have always stayed at the back of the area and thus out of the base station coverage. Service station, grocery store and ATM can be found near the subway station.

Prices

The basic fee for caravans and motorhomes is 13 euros during the summer time. You can have a wider pitch if you pay 2 euros extra. The narrower pitch is okay if you do not plan to set up an awning. The price per person is 5 euros. Electricity is expensive 4.5 euros per day and this is true also during the summer period. However, this is the nearest camping area to Helsinki, so there is no cheaper site to choose from.

Convenient city camping

The drive ways and pitches are paved, so parking is easy. Electric sockets are new CEE models. The area has always been clean, grass was cut short and the overall feeling has been peaceful during our visit. The area is right next to apartment buildings, which is not usually the case with Finnish sites. Dogs are welcome to Rastila.

There are four service buildings and some of them are closed in off-season. Toilets and showers have been clean even during peak periods. There could have been more hooks and places to put down clothes in some of the showers. A magnetic access key is used to enter the buildings. There has been no access to service buildings during the night time between 10 pm to 6 am in off-season. Some of the buildings have been open 24 hours during the busy season.

Contacts

Address: Karavaanikatu 4, 00980 Helsinki
Phone: +358 9 310 78517
Email: rastilacamping@hel.fi
web site

Gallery

Rastila Camping
Rastila Camping
Rastila Camping

Rastila Camping
Rastila Camping
Rastila Camping

Rastila Camping
Rastila Camping
Rastila Camping


ABC station, Toijala, road 3

Published
by
Tommi
on August 5, 2009
in Take a break
. 0 Comments
Akaa ABC station

Akaa ABC station

ABC station in Toijala or officially the town is called Akaa offers restaurant, cafeteria, and grocery store services.The best thing about the station is the backyard where you can find a caravan parking area. Parking is easy even with a large caravan or motorhome. There’s plenty of room and you can drive through the parking spaces. There’s electricity available for caravans. There’s also possibility to empty the toilet waste tank.

There’s an outside area surrounded with a fence for dogs. The station yard is surround by grass field, so there’s a lot of room to walk the dog anyway. An old locomotive called Risto is on display near the entrance.

If you are traveling between Helsinki and Tampere on the road 3 Toijala is a good place to have a break. It is about 40 kilometers to the South from Tampere.

Address:  Satamatie 43, 37800 Toijala

Toijala and Viiala formed a town called Akaa in 2007. Still the name Toijala is used in many maps and navigation devices.