We start the morning in our Helsinki hotel near the airport with a good buffet breakfast. Then it is time to check out and go back to the airport to rent a car. Unfortunately the car rental was not opening till 9 so we waited in the airport for 1/2h for the agent to open – most everything was closed as shops either do not open or open up late on Sunday.
Finally we get our Prius and before starting west we do first a short side trip in a nearby forest to get some pictures of flowers and finding quite a few tasty blueberries.
The goal here is to find the first cache in Finland which is close by in the forest. As we find it we also had our first encounter with the dreaded Finnish mosquitoes that make us retreat back to the car. Still one of the things that we enjoyed throughout Finland were the multiple separate hiking/biking trails near the main roads which made both driving and walking safer, fewer mosquitoes wouldn’t hurt though.
Starting west and avoiding what feels like hundred of speed cameras we make another longer detour to Raseborg Castle one of the better preserved and reconstructed castles in Finland. As a bonus there is a medieval fair at the base of the castle with lots of knickknacks for sale and other events nearby.
The castle looks imposing especially from the outside, we understand how any invader would have thought twice before attacking it. Its main purpose was to protect Sweden’s interests in southern Finland against the Hanseatic city of Tallinn.
The approach on a wooden bridge is impressive and soon we are on it with a nice view of the area. It is a good place to notice that not everything was reconstructed, some parts are left ruined and scenic.
And then we continue on the bridge entering the castle which is when it starts drizzling. Luckily there are many overhangs that we can hide under and continue to explore the castle while we watch the rain continue to fall down.
There is also a tower that we can climb into while avoiding the rain for a view of the castle interior from above. And then we run to the car avoiding the rain as much as we can as it is time to go to Turku and meet our relatives.
