We are back in the north, staying with the family of our exchange daughter Aino. We have spent three lovely days exploring a bit of southern Finland.
Helsinki and Suomenlinna
On the ferry to the archipelago of Suomenlinna, we tried peas from the farmers market. They were fresh, uncooked, and sweet. The strawberries were also great! Suomenlinna served as a fortress guarding the harbor of Helsinki. There are no cars on the islands, which are connected by walking bridges. 
There are many Russian Orthodox Finns. We visited their beautiful cathedral in Helsinki.
We finished with a snack at a cafe overlooking the water. I had a traditional Karelian "pie".
Porvoo
We passed this old village church on the drive. A service was going on inside, but I listened outside the door to the organ and a hymn being sung. Porvoo is a charming old town, with a river running through it, stores selling handicrafts and antiques, and cafes. Soft ice was refreshing on this unusually warm day!
Aino's father Jukka is a proud member of the Finnish Sauna society. But on the way home he showed us the other extreme. At this spa, there is a cold room (-110 C = -166 F!). When we went inside, the room was below freezing, but not even close to the extreme (Aino was acting!). At home that evening, they turned on their sauna for us to enjoy before we went to bed.Järvenpää
In my sophomore year of high school my family moved to the Hague, in the Netherlands. In my German 3 class were two girls from Finland. Over the years, I lost track of these friends, until Facebook brought us back into contact. Both Hanne and Leila were free to meet us while we were here.
Hanne picked us up, and drove us to Järvenpää, where she teaches art. Leila and her daughter joined us at a charming restaurant. The buffet had a generous selection of fish (including pickled herring!), homemade bread, potato salad, and many other tasty dishes. Plus cheeses, pudding, and rhubarb cake for dessert. 
Järvenpää had been an artist's colony (Sibelius lived here, among others), and many of there homes have been turned into museums, which were closed on Monday. But we wandered the grounds, took pictures, and enjoyed views of the lake. 
We then stopped in downtown Järvenpää, which had this whimsical statue (that children of all ages love to climb).
It has been a lovely visit. Though many Finns love to talk, I have learned that it's also nice to just sit together, quietly, enjoying being together: quiet air does not need to be filled with words.
Kiitos! Thank you!
