http://www.finnlines.fi/

http://www.rovaniemi.fi/?deptid=17958

http://www.cityhotel.fi/

http://www.rocktaurant.com/

http://www.arktikum.fi/

http://www.ranuawildlife.fi/?deptid=18397

http://www.outdoors.fi

http://www.kajaani.fi/

http://www.vuokattihusky.com/

JPFreek - Index

JPFreek - Spring 2008 - Index

At around 3:15 in the afternoon, it got dark, so the day ended with the same
ritual: wood chopping, stove filling, heating the sauna and then entering it,
followed by a snow dive (a great and awakening experience!), then doing
some cooking, and reading in the evening. This was one of the most relaxing
things we had done up to this point.
Kajaani, which is in fact the closest city to our cottage, at around 20 km, is also
a good starting point for excursions and activities: we visit a traditional
reindeer farm, and help with grooming and feeding the animals. We learned
that every reindeer has a unique marking in its ear, indicating its owner. The
markings are personal, so father and son have different ones, and are also an
indication of the family who herds the animals. We also took a course in
sleighing; the kids were thrilled with the wild and enthusiastic Husky dogs as
they started pulling us faster and faster through the snow-covered plains.
These are truly unique and recommended experiences!
The end of our journey was near. We had some distance to drive through the
lake district in Central Finland to Jyväskylä before continuing further down to
catch the ferry back home from Helsinki, which is, by the way, the nicest capital
we have ever visited. Whoever fancies Finnish design should really book a
shopping trip here.
The stay on the boat back home left us with a lot of time to play with the
overwhelming impressions Finland and the Northern regions left us. To know
that even today, in modern concrete-filled Europe, similar experiences and
nature can be found, was a heart-warming thought. Soon, plans will be made
to come back to Finland. Next time, it will be in the summer.
Links:
Finnlines ferry company: http://www.finnlines.fi/
Rovaniemi: http://www.rovaniemi.fi/?deptid=17958
Rovaniemi City Hotel: http://www.cityhotel.fi/
Lordi Rocktaurant: http://www.rocktaurant.com/
Arktikum: http://www.arktikum.fi/
Ranua: http://www.ranuawildlife.fi/?deptid=18397
http://www.outdoors.fi
Kajaani: http://www.kajaani.fi/
Husky farm: http://www.vuokattihusky.com/
Resting stop near Oulujärvi.
First Husky sled runs …
Cargo Vessel Finnlady waiting
to be loaded.
Last sight on Helsinki.