Summer at Finnish cottages

Summer 2022 was rather interesting. When we thought the majority of covid restrictions were over, we have a conflict in Europe with a variety of sanctions and whatnot. As a humanitarian lawyer, I of course have lots to say about that, but since this is mainly a travel blog, it's not the place. I had spent most of the previous summer in southern Europe and I was craving a proper Finnish summer. I've always loved going to summer cottages: our family used to have one as well, but sadly it was sold so now I make due by cherishing my friends' cottages.

My epic nearly six-week cottage tour started on the midsummer week in Karvia. We spent the most chilled midsummer with six people, two dogs, a fabulous 30-degree heat and lots of cold drinks. Midsummer has always been important to the Nordics and I recently read a Danish book that said that it seems the Finns are the most passionate about it. I definitely am, it's my favourite festival of the year. We left nicely on Wednesday evening not to miss a second of it. We arrived late, but nothing is better than waking up in the sunshine to have a proper brunch with some bubbly and start off the absolute relaxation.

Midsummer isn't a festival where you would have to do much: the essence comes from the fact that the sun doesn't set in the North for three months and the white nights as they are called are their brightest at the end of June. One day, I would love to go to Lapland to enjoy it. In the South, you can still see when the dusk and dawn high five and exchange places even though it doesn't get dark.

One of the main things about midsummer is to have a bonfire, it's definitely a pagan holiday. Unfortunately, summers have been so hot lately that bonfires have been prohibited due to the high risk of forest fires. We even had to tempt the puppies into the stream to cool them down, they both love water but aren't so keen swimmers. Regardless, all of this just made it more enjoyable and I can't wait for the next one (I might go interrailing this coming summer so unfortunately, I might miss it).

I continued my countryside tour with a traditional music festival which I hadn't done in Finland in a while. I went to Seinäjoki for the Provinssi festival. We have a friend who is originally from there so her parents were kind enough to host us. While I love camping, I definitely prefer to stay in a house during music festivals: they last for days and the weather is too hot to properly sleep in a tent. Provinssi was great! A good old-fashioned summer festival with decent music, lots of people, amazing weather and fun. I would recommend it.

I continued my journey South to the archipelago near Dalsbruk where I spent another week sitting outside, playing cards and barbequing food. Some fishing and epic sunsets later, we had to return to the capital to participate in a Triathlon. It was amazing! It was our first-ever try and it went well. We got a little competitive about it and are having another go at it.

Finally, I headed to the Eastern side of Finland to the shores of Saimaa where I visited two more cottages. The same relaxation continued: some stand-up paddling, lots of swimming and a little time in a jacuzzi.

It was a very chilled, super enjoyable summer that I was in need of. I topped it off with a short trip across the Baltics, but I'll share that in the next post!

Best wishes,

Mira