Back from Finland

It was very quiet on this blogspot for the last couple of weeks... Just as calm and peaceful as in Finland where we have spent our family holidays!

We had a great time in Finland and it was very nice to visit Bob and Leila (my brother and his wife) in Hanko and their children and grand children who are also living in this nordic country!

I have been to Finland twice before (holidays with my parents, approx. 25 years ago - the last time with Lydia!) and it was good to be back. I remember that the Finnish people in the northern part of this big country were still under the influence of the Soviet empire. It was hard to buy vegetables and fruit for a normal price back in those days and near the border you could sense the tension between the Finnish people and their big neighbour. I remember that we have visited a family that had to move twice because of a Russian 'border correction'!

Robin, Sosha and Pascalle with Leevi at the entry of Bob and Leila's house in Hanko (click picture to enlarge).

Now the situation has completely changed. The economy is quite strong; the people are free and prosperous. We have seen truck loads of new cars driving from the harbour city Hanko (where my brother and sister in-law live) to Sint Petersburg. It is really an unbelievable sight! Hundreds of shiny new Toyotas, Kias, Nissans and Volkswagens are exported to Russia, day and night - uninterrupted. This is a clear sign that the Russians are doing quite well these days (at least some of them) and that the car market in this enormous country is booming. This is just one of the remarkable things that we have seen. It was also good to see young Russian couples spending their holidays abroad - just like all the other tourists from Europe. We take this for granted now, but we must never forget that millions of people used to be prisoners of the communist regimes before the Berlin wall started to crumble and fall.

Student house at Santala International School of Bible and Missions (ISBM)
(click picture to enlarge)

The first couple of days we spent in one of the student houses of ISBM where Bob works as a teacher. We loved Helsinki - the only place where we did end up in a traffic jam - but most of all we loved seeing our brother and his wife and our nephews and nieces and their little kids. We went to Vaasa, where Paula and Thomas invited us to stay in their beautiful new house. We liked the house and we loved seeing (and hearing!) Vanessa. Robin, Sosha and Pascalle had a great time in Wasalandia on this first sunny day of our vacation (it had been raining continuously since we'd arrived in Hanko!).



Left: Robin in Wasalandia (click picture to enlarge).

Below: diner in a traditional Lapp reindeer restaurant in Helsinki. Left to right: me, Lydia, Robin, Leila, Bob and Kari

It was also good to meet Kari and Helmi - just before they left to England where they will stay for the next two years with their little son Patrick and his cute little sister Kiara. After a great lunch meal we travelled on to our holiday house 'Lehi' near Kotka. Susna helped us to get settled and she was also able to spend some time with us in and around the house. Later we met her husband Ansi and their lovely boys Simo and Panu. Unfortunately we haven't met our nephew Jonathan, but hopefully we will see him next time - maybe in Holland!

Left: Ansi with Panu and Susna with Simo. Right: Thomas with Vanessa and Paula (click pictures to enlarge)

We all loved the peaceful, quiet atmosphere and the beautiful scenery. The lakes and islands are just stunning! And of course I have to mention the great sauna experiences (100+ degrees Celsius!) I still can't believe that we have survived this (or do they manipulate the thermometers?) Anyway, it was really cool to be in the sauna! Well sort of. Ok, not really.

We especially liked visiting the picturesque coastal city Porvoo and the old 'industrial' town Fiskars (the place where the famous tools and scissors come from!) In Fiskars we have visited several shops and studio's were local craftsmen were showing and selling their art work.

Robin, Sosha and Pascalle at Hanko beach

We've spent our last day in Finland at the beautiful Hanko beach. The pictures will tell you the story better than I am able to describe it!

It was nice to travel by Superfast ferries (a 21 hours sea journey!) and to travel with our very own family car (a not-so-new but very reliable Mazda 626 wagon).

We are thankful for all the love and hospitality that we have experienced. Robin, Sosha and Pascalle told us that they want to come back to Finland next year. I guess that will be a bit too soon (and too expensive) but I am sure we will visit this beautiful country again in the future!

Click on the Flickr badge (see right) if you want to see all pictures - or click here to start the slide show directly!