Post Finland thoughts...

It's now a few weeks since we returned from our 3rd adventure in Finland, and we have had some time to reflect and think about what it is that we love so much about this unique and special country.


In 2006, when we set off from here in Scotland in our car, bound for Kotka on the south east coast of Finland, I thought it was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so I made both an online blog and a real, paper diary, so we could show our children afterwards how the holiday had gone. We had no idea just how deeply we were going to fall in love with Finland itself.


When we came back again in the summer of 2008, this time both to Kotka again, and to Varkaus in the east of the country, we discovered more and more of the country and felt even more sad when we had to leave. Not only did we experience the joy of swimming in pure, clean (and surprisingly warm) lakes, but we again enjoyed lovely warm weather throughou our stay. 


This summer, having spent two weeks in two different cottages in the Juva and Puumala area of eastern Finland, we have returned more invigorated than ever, and feeling that Finland was simply unbeatable as a summer holiday destination! Our two children spent literally hours in the lakes each day, swimming, splashing, fishing and loving each and every minute. We relaxed in wood-burning saunas daily, and jumped or dived into "our" lakes afterwards. I say "our" lakes because we were the only people for miles around in each case- it was as if we owned both lakes!


Puumala, eastern Finland, July 2010

Since we returned, many of our friends and neighbours have marvelled at the photos and videos on this blog, and at the many posts I put up on Facebook when we were away. It's true to say that Finland really is a hidden and unknown gem in Europe, as many from the UK simply have no idea about just how beautiful, warm and welcoming a country it is. If you fancy a family holiday in a country that is clean, quiet, warm (and often hot) in summer, with many thousands of spectacularly beautiful lakes, wonderful landscapes and friendly and hospitable people, than look no further than Finland. And, the icing on the cake is that it's not as expensive as everyone imagines- indeed, from our experience, a family holiday here can easily cost less than a comparable holiday in France, Italy or Spain.
Sunset on "our" lake, Lentunen, eastern Finland, July 2010


It's exceptional! We've convinced quite a few of our friends and neighbours to try Finland, and we've already booked for 2011...