Mom and Dad's First Visit to Finland (part 1)

Wednesday 14th July
We have had such a hot summer here but today there's a thunderstorm. It lasted a few hours mostly just fork lightening with a the odd rumble of thunder. It did rain but not really for long just a very heavy shower.

We left for Helsinki around 6pm and stopped off at Hanna and Antti's in Helsinki. Then we went to the airport to fetch mom and dad, it was cloudy but still 30C! tropical almost... While we were waiting for mom and dad I heard a man say "Go, I wished it was this hot at home but it was raining when we left"... I smiled, happy we were getting the best weather! We didn't have a long wait until they left the arrivals door. We had a 2 hour drive home so we put the suitcase in the car and started for the services where mom, dad and E could get something nice to eat. It was a quite ride home with mom just looking at the amount of trees and lakes (she thought we exaggerated I think!).

Thursday 15th July
So on their first proper day we decided to stay local, show them Ahvenisjärvi and get a little something for lunch. We brought the ducks some bread and we all went and feed them later on in the evening. Kirsti and Perti were coming for dinner Friday so we baked two cakes for the occasion. It was hot and sunny.

Friday 16th July
Another hot and sunny day. We had another walk around Hervanta then we cooked two quiches and homemade a pizza. Early evening and Kirsti and Perti arrived, it was a great night and everyone got on great and talked and talked and talked! Went so well they planned their next meeting for a few days in the holiday.

Saturday 17th July
Hot, hot, hot! We went into city on the bus. We walked around Finlayson and the library side of town. Dad and Eero had an ice cream, Dad had pear flavour and Eero had mango. We then went into the Kauppatori (indoor market) I had some wild Finnish river salmon and dad got some smoked reindeer. In the afternoon we went for a swim and sunbathe in Suolijärvi, the lake was full of people but the water was warm too. Even mom went in!!!



mom in Suolijärvi



mom and dad on Suolijärvi beach

Sunday 18th July
Jouko came to fetch us to take us to the summer cottage. They then met Kati when we got to Orivesi. Today was warm but cloudy, threatened rain but it never came. We ate reindeer and goats cheese burgers (omg food heaven)herring in sauce, smoked perch fresh from the lake. It was the start of moms eating week (she doesn't normally eat much like a sparrow!)

Suolijärvi walk

Sunday was a nice day. It did get as hot as Saturday so we went to sunbathe and read on Suolijärvi's beach for a few hours. I still didn't feel great so we came home and I ate. Eero then finished off painting the chairs on the balcony. I got all restless so we decided to go on a walk... so squirrel lake was decided. I didn't pack any water or anything just my camera as squirrel lake is small and we normally walk around the streets and small parks after. Alas came the funny part, Eero decided squirrel lake was Suolijärvi (4.5km walk).



Though I had a headache in the end walking 4.5km in 50 minutes over very rough ground, including picture stops. It was a bit dark to get any good shots as the sun was in the wrong place! Suolijärvi is a strange walk, it doesn't feel like you are going around the lake, then all of a sudden you are back at the swimming pier. There is even a small cliff to climb and the views are beautiful. I loved it and I want to walk it everyday! (with water)

Still didn't feel to well on Sunday evening after the walk so Eero cooked dinner, roasted vegs, mashed potatoes and grilled pork. I was drinking water.

It's odd we have been in the hot sun a lot the weekend and neither of us have burnt we have got the start of a good tan though!!

Also we applied for my student accommodation for the intensive course in August. My school is based over the "pretty" side of the lake so hopefully we get an apartment that side of the lake.

We found a new squirrel to feed too

Sunshine

Saturday was another hot day, no breeze most of the time so you could feel the sun burning you!

I didn't feel too bad in the morning yesterday so we went shopping for food (my rice wafers which were almost out of stock!!!). We also got some Rice ice cream I tried some at Hanna's it's not bad, if you can't eat dairy it is a very good alternative... I don't tolerate Finnish milk only Luomu doesn't cause much problem.

We decided as I felt a little better we would go picnic at Suolijärvi (everyone else in Hervanta had the same idea). So off we went armed with drink, rice wafers and some chips. We also found a nice blanket we used to sit on. We lay by the lake talking and reading for a few hours. We even braved a paddle (omg the water was sooo cold, not helped by the scorching temperatures)and lost feeling in my feet when the water got half way up my shins.



We then went for a walk around Ahvenisjärvi which is where we took some photos and found the last of a snow pile.



We came home and ate and I didn't feel too good so I canceled going to Nina's (which I was looking forward to all week!!!) lay on the sofa and watched some 24.

Today (Sunday) I slept better than Saturday night. Got up and finished the women pain of leg waxing (lol) I also managed to get wax on the sofa (not a good move). I was ill again today but I have my suspicions to what caused it and if it's right then it should get better from today.

Warm today, not as hot as yesterday. There is also a breeze and some clouds. Leaves are on the trees now and it looks like summer!

Hopefully we get the basket on my bike today and then I will take a photo =D Not much planned today; a walk, film and chill out!