Finland and Lapland--2013
Diane Smith
18-19 Jul:Our flights to Helsinki from Nashville via JFK were long but uneventful. Neither of us slept on the planes; so, being active that first day was a challenge. Helsinki is a city of contrasts: glass buildings next to art-deco designs, both interesting. There is water on three sides, and it freezes in winter. There is a fleet of icebreakers that work to keep the shipping channels open. The main square is called the Senate Square. It is surrounded by ornate neoclassic buildings, including a 19th-century Lutheran Cathedral. In a nearby park there is an interesting sculpture honoring Finland's most famous composer, Jean Sibelius. The Rock Church is an unusual structure built into a large granite boulder.
As an unexpected treat, there was a "tall ship" event going on in the harbor. There were many styles from all over the world.
The main open-air market had lots of displays of various fruits and vegetables. Several kiosks offered huge grills with large pieces of salmon and other fish, small potatoes, and mixed vegetables; all were served on paper plates. The food was good, but a bit salty. Some stalls had baked goods and fried sugar donuts. If you bought anything to eat, it was best to eat it while under an awning or tent. Otherwise, there was a high probability that you would have it stolen by the ever-present and agressive Seagulls. PrIces for everything were VERY HIGH. At a hotel cafe we paid almost $70 for a small salad with about 3 oz of chicken, a club sandwich, fries, a pot of tea, and a bottle of water.
20 Jul: Today we flew north to Ivalo, gateway to the Lapland region of Finland. Ivalo is the largest community in the area with 3000 people. It is 170 miles north of the Arctic Circle. There are lots of trees: silver birch, pine, etc. Tonight there was a program of traditional music and dancing at the hotel. It reminded us that we needed to dance in Finland before we headed into Norway on Monday; so, we took advantage of the opportunity. Tomorrow we visit the Sámi museum and a traditional community where there will be reindeer to pet, feed, and eat--just not the same animals for all three activities. Had some reindeer with dinner tonight. Flavor and texture were okay, but it was prepared with too much salt for my tastes. We had hoped to see our first Midnight Sun today, but an overcast sky kept it hidden. We took the picture anyway; you just have to imagine the sun sitting on the hills just above the water.
21 Jul: The Sámi museum (Siida) was very informative; lots of pictures and objects that told us about the Sámi culture. The Sámi (also spelled Saami) have different ethnic roots from the other people in the Nordic countries. Genetic studies indicate Mongol, Japanese, Siberian, and maybe distant relatives of the Eskimo people. They settled across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, and they speak one of several different languages depending on the region. Reindeer husbandry, fishing, and tourism are the principal sources of income. Their traditional costumes are lovely. Our dinner with the Sámi family was great, and the grown daughter sang several traditional Sámi songs beautifully.
So ends the Finland portion of the trip. Tomorrow morning we board our coach for the drive to Norway along the shore of Lake Inari.