Where to sleep
How often do you fall asleep to the sound of silence? Or do your morning routines in a lakeside cottage listening to birds twittering? In Finland, pleasant wake-ups are the norm. Whether you start your day in a wilderness cabin, ice hotel or glass igloo, the surroundings will make it one to remember. Fancy something more urban? Pamper yourself with breakfast in bed in a design hotel before a tour of art galleries. The choice is yours.
Summers in Finland are all about relaxation and quality time for yourself and your loved ones. With drastic differences between all four seasons, Finns have adopted a mentality of working hard through the harsher seasons and totally letting loose when the weather is at its nicest.
The scale of light during the summer is a phenomenon in its own right: Bright days turn into nightless nights, and in the northern part of the country the sun doesn't set at all. In the south the air is coloured a warm shade of orange at dusk, and it lasts through the night. Whether sitting on a lakeside jetty or walking home across town from a party, the atmosphere will touch you profoundly.
Endless days flick a switch in your head – in a positive way. You'll want to live life to its fullest, relax and get active at the same time. It sounds crazy, but it is possible; the light will fill your body with energy while your mind is at peace.
In the Finnish summer, anything usually done during the day can also be done at night, and no one will think it weird. Sauna and swimming, cycling, hiking and fishing are all that little bit more exciting on a summer night, in the silent cosiness that only the Northern sun can provide.
|