Finland

Finland is one of the most northern countries in Europe and one of the rare ones that was able to escape Russian sphere of influence, even though it needed a couple wars to do that. It has also one of the more distinct languages in Europe that we try hard to understand during our visit in 2012. Given the number of wars that happened here or Finland was involved in there are many castles to visit and there is a lot of unspoiled nature especially if driving north towards the Arctic Circle.

We made one visit to Finland in 2012 exploring the southern area, including Helsinki and Turku, up to the Arctic Circle that we really wanted to cross at least once in our lifetime. Driving was easy throughout with lots of speed cameras, food was good and people mostly friendly though reserved.

Map of Travels

Trips

• 
  Last day exploring Helsinki including the Parliament areaJuly 22, 2012
  Not being able to visit Tallinn we spend the day in Helsinki revisiting places and exploring the Parliament area for the first time
• 
  A day exploring Helsinki’s Senate Square and a lot moreJuly 21, 2012
  Today we spend the day exploring Helsinki visiting between others the Senate Square and the Uspenski Cathedral
• 
  Olavinlinna, a beautiful Unesco WHS castleJuly 20, 2012
  Our major stop today is Olavinlinna an Unesco World Heritage Site and a major beautiful castle in the middle of a lake that can be visited as part of a guided tour
• 
  A short tour of KuopioJuly 20, 2012
  We start the day with an exploration of Kuopio with a focus on the docks the cathedral and then finishing with a row of preserved wooden houses called Pikku Pietarin
• 
  Going south to Kuopio via the Kajaani CastleJuly 19, 2012
  Continuing south we see our last reindeer, eat lunch at Hesburger and then visit Kajaani Castle before stopping for the night in Kuopio
• 
  Rovaniemi, the home of Santa Claus, maybeJuly 19, 2012
  The first major stop for today is Rovaniemi with the focus on the Santa Claus villages in the self proclaimed home of Santa Claus
• 
  A crashed plane in Pallas Yllastunturi National ParkJuly 18, 2012
  We return from Sweden to our accommodation via a very roundabout route stopping to find a crashed plane and seeing lots of reindeer on the way
• 
  Tervetuloa Sompasen hiking trailJuly 18, 2012
  First stop today is a short hike on Tervetuloa Sompasen to explore the Lappish forest and enjoy some great views of the area
• 
  Staying on the Arctic CircleJuly 18, 2012
  We stay a couple nights on the Arctic Circle exploring the area viewing reindeer and also taking a short jaunt to Sweden for a few hours
• 
  Looking for birds at Liminganlahti Bird SanctuaryJuly 17, 2012
  From Jakobstad we go north to the Arctic Circle meeting our first reindeer with only a few stops on the way with the major one being Liminganlahti Bird Sanctuary
• 
  Jakobstad, the Swedish town in FinlandJuly 17, 2012
  After overnighting in Jakobstad we spend the morning exploring the compact but nice old downtown area before continuing further north
• 
  The interesting but closed Wolf Cave (Susiluola)July 16, 2012
  The last stop for today is the largest cave in Finland, Wolf Cave or Susiluola, that can be accessed via a short trail but is closed for entry unfortunately
• 
  Sammallahdenmäki, a burial site that is also an Unesco WHSJuly 16, 2012
  After Rauma we stop at Sammallahdenmäki a bronze age burial site that is an Unesco WHS because it is the largest and most varied burial site on the Gulf of Bothnia
• 
  Rauma the wooden houses city that has become an Unesco WHSJuly 16, 2012
  Leaving Turku we spend a rainy hour in Rauma an Unesco WHS due to the well maintained wooden buildings and a short time at Untamala Archaeology Center
• 
  Exploring downtown TurkuJuly 15, 2012
  We spend the evening and a rainy morning exploring Turku before starting north towards the Arctic Circle
• 
  Forum Marinum, an interesting maritime museumJuly 15, 2012
  While exploring Turku we pass the impressive ships part of the Forum Marinum museum
• 
  Turku Castle, another major Finnish castleJuly 15, 2012
  Turku Castle was the former administrative center of Finland during the Swedish occupation and is still an impressive fortress today
• 
  Raseborg Castle, an impressive ruinJuly 15, 2012
  On the way to Turku to meet our relatives we stop at Raseborg Castle an important fortress before Helsinki superseded it
• 
  Suomenlinna, the Castle of FinlandJuly 14, 2012
  Suomenlinna is an impressive fortress that was built by Sweden as protection against Russian expansionism and is now an expansive outdoor museum and Unesco WHS
• 
  Arriving and exploring HelsinkiJuly 14, 2012
  After a long flight and a good night sleep today is a day for exploring Helsinki before meeting up with relatives the next day