On September 7, 2017 we arrived in Helsinki, Finland. After a brief drive through the city of Helsinki, our bus took us out into the countryside.
Our first stop was in Sipoo for a visit to an old church build in the 15th century.
This church was across the street from the old church. It was picturesque but not nearly as old and quaint as the medieval church we briefly walked around.
Then we drove on through the countryside to a private home where a member of the family showed us around their operation and hosted us to some refreshment. As we drove down the lane to the home we saw piles of freshly cut logs all along the lane.
When we arrived and got off the bus, we were served fresh berry juice and greeted by a family member.
She told us that two weeks previously as they were hosting a wedding, a big storm blew through their farm and uprooted hundreds of trees. They had to continue the wedding without electricity and have been continuing the clean up in a major way ever since. That explained the piles of logs we saw at the entrance. They invited our group into their home where they provided more juice, coffee or tea and a slice of cake with Finnish berries and caramel sauce. The berries are grown at their farm.
Their treats were an interesting combination with the tart berries and caramel sauce. It was a chilly day but we managed to complete our tour without significant rain.
We were served in the house, but at on the back porch under a covered canopy. They were hosting a luncheon for a group shortly after our departure so they had a tight schedule.
For many years they ran a dairy farm, but all of the milk processors moved south and they didn't have anyone to sell their milk too. Since 6 related families depend on the farm for their living, they had to figure out new ways to make their income. They became a breeding farm which raises and trains riding horses. They also host groups in the home and yard, weddings, etc. It was a very interesting operation.
Some of the roofs were damaged in the big storm too so more repairs are underway.
Below is one of the arenas where they train riders and horses. They also host big competitions at their farm.
When we were ready to leave, we had to wait while they finished loading logs onto this trailer.
And another bus was on the other side of the trailer waiting to come down the lane to the farm.
The white mounds are hay wrapped in plastic to ferment it. That makes it easier for the animals to digest it.
Steve loves sighting McDonald's locations all over the world. He manages to find one almost everywhere we go.
Then we went to the picturesque town of Porvoo. It was an important trading center in the Middle Ages. It is the second oldest town in Finland, dating back to 1346. It is fun to walk along the cobblestone streets and see the old wooden houses. It is now a favorite of poets and artists and has quaint shops and eateries.
This candy shop willingly gave free samples. As you can see, I was a fan. They had wonderful chocolates and soft licorice. Yum!
Back in Helsinki, we were dropped off for a few minutes to explore the downtown area near the pier where they held a farmers market. We also enjoyed the shops with handmaid sweaters, hats, etc.
A company in Helsinki makes ice breaking ships that sail into cold seas. Helsinki is one of those harbors that needs ice breaking ships in the winter.
Here is the town square just a few blocks from the pier.
Being a harbor town, there were all kinds of boats including sailboats.
As these quaint houses are renovated, they become very expensive. In Helsinki, you are required to replace all of the plumbing pipes in your home every 40 years. This is a very expensive requirement. We were shocked that such a thing would be mandated by the government. They also have some small areas where city dwellers can plant a shared garden.
Finland was a beautiful country. We especially enjoyed riding out of the city and seeing the farm and the little village. We didn't think that we would like to move to Finland though. It has too many rules and too much cold weather.
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