Blogs from South Karelia, Finland, Europe
July 29th 2011
Day Nine July 29th 2011 Imatra to Kouvola Imatra is a town at the southern border of Finland and Russia in the region of Karelia, a large part of which was lost to Finland after World War II. In the 1800’s and early 1900's, it was the holiday playground of the Russian Aristocracy, and The Imatra Valtio Hotel is a spectacular reminder of those elegant pre-world war days. It is situated next to the Imatra rapids, now dammed for hydroelectricity, but then raging down the gorge outside the windows. The magnificent salons are richly decorated in an art deco style, and I could imagine the tsar and entourage spending time in the library room, and strolling down the edge of the rapids. A picture of Tsar Nicholas II and his Tsarina hangs in the formal dining ... read more
July 28th 2011
Day 8 Thursday, July 28th, 2011 The day was sultry, with little breeze as we headed off to visit places from my childhood memory. In Vuoriniemi, we stopped outside my grandparents old home where I had last visited as a seven-year-old. It’s funny how the memory of a child is so vastly different from that of an adult. My child’s memory remembered the house, a long way from the road, the enormous granite boulder down which we used to slide, the barn, red and huge to house the cow and horse, a long way from the house. The scale was totally out. I was surprised to discover that the house was right next to the road, less than fifty meters, the barn was right next to the house, and even the boulder had shrunk. They have ... read more
Lappeenranta. Imatra. Russia. Synchronized Ice Skating!!!
Published: January 27th 2008Europe » Finland » South Karelia » Lappeenranta
January 19th 2008
So this journal entry is the beginning of my LONGEST week in Finland. I bussed (is that a word?) to Turku this morning at 8:20 and met Rick at his host grandmoters flat. We hung around the city at a couple coffee shops, then went to search for some jeans. We both got our "American hug fill" then chased the pidgions in the centrum. My host parents came by to pick me up at 12:35ish and the traveling began. It was snowing the entire ride to Helsinki, where we stopped at a Hesburger for lunch around 2. I almost the entire way (it was wonderful) then we arrived in Lappeenranta around 6. We drove to my Hanna Aiti's aunt and uncle's house, said hello, unloaded the car, then I went and put my snow pants on. ... read more
August 22nd 2007
Hei, Olen muuttanut taas takaisin kotimaahan! Oli haikeaa jättää hyvästit Darmstadtille ja siellä olleille kavereilleni, mutta samalla oli kiva tulla takaisin Suomeen. Seuraavat matkat teen siis taas Suomesta käsin. ****************************************************************************************************************** Hello, I have moved back to Finland! It was hard to say goodbye to my friends in Darmstadt but oddly at the same time it was nice to come back and see my friends and family in Finland. So next trips will be done from Finland. ... read more
Another reindeer on the barbie
Published: August 23rd 2007Europe » Finland » South Karelia » Lappeenranta
August 17th 2007
Finland, the land of a thousand lakes (at least) and forest. This was our second time there and this time round we went in summer. We flew Finnair from Heathrow and discovered they are affiliated with BA which meant long check in line and one lost suitcase on our arrival to Helsinki. Never had that happen before so it was with a sinking feeling we resigned ourselves to life without clothing and clutching our complimentary Finnair toiletries bags made our way to Budget. Another line awaited us there with pushy tourists and by 5pm we had finally got our hire car. With an estimated 4 hour drive we were keen to get going. Nick had no problems as usual with the right hand driving and there were barely any cars on the road which helps. Without ... read more
