Finland

We’ve been in Finland for about a week, and we have crew!

Ian and Mary joined us in Porvoo, Finland’s second oldest town, and at one time an important port.

It is full of pretty painted wooden houses, lined along a peaceful river.

Lots of tourists visit on day trips from Helsinki, some by bus and some in the old JL Runeberg passenger steamer.

JL is Finland’s national poet, and a native of the town.

We arrived on Midsummer Eve, and discovered that the Finns take their holidays VERY seriously. So on the biggest holiday date of the year, in one of the biggest tourist destinations in the country, almost everything is shut – tourist souvenir shops, bakeries, cafes, restaurants, museums, ice cream stalls, the lot. Because everyone is on holiday!

Luckily, the harbour office was open, and selling Salmiakki ice cream – salt liquorice flavour – honestly, the most utterly delicious nectar of the gods.

Instead, the locals dress their houses and their boats in birch branches, and head for the islands, for a big party round a bonfire to welcome in the longest day.

We too headed for a little anchorage where we took the dinghy ashore to explore, and even had a swim.