Finland Fun - a Suomi Summer!

Our trip already feels so long ago, but I just had to put up a few photos from our time in Finland this July. It was Clay's first time! Ostensibly, that was our reason for going - to introduce him to the land of my mother's birth. But, really, my mom will use any excuse to get back to her homeland :) Can you blame her? It's a beautiful place - Clay could see that in spite of a somewhat chilly summer and some cloudy days. The photo above of the sunset on the lake was taken around 11pm. Every time I go, I have to get used to the short nights and long days again - it really messes with your head and sense of time! When the sun sets, it seems to hang on for hours and then it only gets to be like dusk before coming back up again. It's great for long days to play in the summer sun (when it's not cloudy :) We visited the castle in Savonlinna for Clay's birthday.
Did you know that Finland has castles? I think I've been to all of them at some point or another.

Also on Clay's birthday, we rented a little motor scooter and toured the town of Savonlinna. The best part was when I got to drive (on back roads, far away from traffic - good thing, as my driving was a bit shaky :)

On the island where my mom spent her summers as a kid, Clay is building the fire, my mom and sister in the background are setting the dining table, and my father is surveying on the porch while my aunt Rimpula orchestrates the coming meal.

On the way to the island - the only way to get there, unless you're feeling up for a good swim.

Samantha, with the island behind her. She's still smiling because she hadn't yet been eaten alive by the mosquitoes.

My friend Susanna and her uncle and aunt were gracious enough to invite us onto their boat for an evening tour of the Helsinki Harbor.

Above, Susanna and Clay at the dinner table on board. Below, Susanna's husband Miika rock climbing (no, that wasn't done on the boat). Amazing how rock climbing photos look the same around the world. Clay got to experience his first international rock climbing with Miika :) Thanks, Susanna and Miika for letting us stay with you and for taking us boating and rock climbing! We're waiting for you in the States - come any time!

Fun with family - my aunt Rimpula gave Clay the formal handshake and welcome to the family. She's quite animated and can't sit still long enough to get a photo, thus the "in action" shot.

My cousin Maria led Samantha, Isi, Clay and I on the cruise to Tallinn, Estonia for our first day in country. Kinda ironic that for our first day of our trip, we left Finland to see another country. But it was great! Thanks, Maria, for serving as the ever-willing tour guide and host!

Ancient meets modern - a crossroads of globalism and McDonaldization of cultures.

Samantha, Maria and I enjoyed the cute little shops in Tallinn. Blessedly, it was one of our sunny days!

And, lastly, check out our video of the sunset, on the way to the island (where we were to sleep that night) at 10:30 at night: