Today was the first full day of the Lapland Adventure 2008, which we have organized with Busabout. We started off by doing a sightseeing tour in Helsinki and visiting all the ‘must’ sights: ice breakers, Sibelius Monument, Rock Church ect. At the Rock Church I made a blunder and said it was designed by brothers Timo and Tuomo Suominen. Well, it turns out that our driver Makke’s mother is a cousin of these famous architects and they happen to be call Suomalainen, not Suominen. Oops. Well, I’m sure it won’t be the only time that I’m going to say something slightly off on this tour!
In the afternoon we headed to Tuusula for a traditional Finnish sauna party. First a few rounds of hot steam followed by a dip to a frozen lake! The guys took super well to sauna and ‘avanto’ as we call ice swimming in Finland. The record of going into the freezing water was held by Gary. He went in 12 times and probably spent more time in the water than in the sauna. I bet he’s got some Viking blood in him!
Of course, after a swim and sauna you start feeling a bit peckish. So, we had a taste dinner followed by a quiz and some dessert. And after that it was time to catch the train to Lapland. Only it was delayed half an hour, and the station was already closed. Luckily, we were all still warm and cosy from the sauna. Now in the train it’s time to get some snoozes, since tomorrow we will be enjoying the pleasures that Rovaniemi, the capital of Finland has to offer…
