EXTRAORDINARY FAMILY LIFE IN THE ARCHIPELAGO

Henri and Riitta spent a couple of years renovating this nearly century-old establishment. And just when everything was almost ready, a devastating fire broke out in the building and burned it down. Undeterred even by this calamity, Henri and Riitta rebuilt the establishment entirely as it had been, though Riitta insists that they still had no intention of relocating to Nagu at that time.

“Running a café and boarding house was supposed to be more of a hobby, but one thing led to another… The holiday season is quite long, so we were here almost all the time anyway, and we found that there was really no point in keeping a home in town.”

Tourists from all over the world come to the Finnish archipelago because of its unique and unspoiled surroundings. It’s also a very safe destination. These same reasons also enticed Riitta to leave city life behind: “I like the peace of the countryside, and the fact that it’s really close by at all times. Even though there are plenty of beauty spots in Helsinki, the feeling is not so all-embracing in the city. Everyday life still always revolves around a hectic urban environment, amidst all the office buildings and traffic.”

Neither Henri nor Riitta had any prior experience in the hotel and catering sector, but they made up for this with an upbeat attitude. “We built this concept squarely on the idea of what kind of place we would personally like to visit and what kind of service we would enjoy. All ingredients are sourced locally, and we personally prepare all dishes and pastries from scratch. The appreciation that people express shows that this approach is worthwhile.

The large log house includes its own restaurant, an apartment for the Talvitie family, and a few guest rooms for rent. Many holidaymakers stay here while touring the 250-kilometre Archipelago Ring Road that traverses the Turku Archipelago and its charming little villages.

Nagu (Nauvo in Finnish) is a small village of 1,500 residents, and even though this figure swells greatly during the summer season, it remains entirely remote from the busy metropolitan world. It didn’t take long for Henri to grow accustomed to the general tranquillity of the place. The aspects that had exerted such charm when on holiday have proved an effective recipe for regular living as well. “Nothing is hurried here, and we waste no time in commuting. The children also enjoy the freedom to go wherever they like. Obviously there are fewer structured recreational opportunities than in the city, but we build our lives in harmony with the natural world and pursue our interests accordingly.”

Nagu has been a veritable paradise for the children of the Talvitie family. Their friends all live within walking distance and the beach is only a couple of minutes away. There are admittedly some challenges involved in harmonising parenthood and running a business.

“The café, restaurant and boarding house business demands so much attention during the summer season that there is hardly any chance to take a break, but we are fortunate to have the grandparents living nearby and able to help with childcare. Au pairs have also been a great help. And we naturally have more time for one another in the off season when we can head for the ski resorts of Northern Finland and similar destinations.”

There are as many as 20,000 islands in the Turku archipelago off the south-west coast of Finland. They can be explored using ferry connections and taxi boats. Henri Talvitie calls Nagu the Riviera of the North.
“Though this may superficially resemble a quiet backwater, there are plenty of opportunities for various activities and our small village has a great guest marina.”

Riitta spent her childhood summer holidays here at her parents’ chalet, and the Talvitie family still enjoys evening sauna at the chalet, which is only about 10 kilometres away from their home. You never get tired of the seaside surroundings, and for this family they have literally become an entire way of life.