10 Things I Miss From Finland

Filed in: about | destination | Finland | Top Ten | travel25 comments
I find myself missing my family, friends and my country a lot lately. It’s been a while since I was last there (well ok 5 months..but still). I make sure to go to Finland every summer because I just love how the nature is so wonderful and the weather is at its best. Last summer I spent almost the entire summer there with the baby and this year we’re going to be there many weeks as well. I cannot wait to go to our summer house by the sea! Now that my daughter is almost walking she will surely enjoy the wonders Finnish nature has to offer and playing with her cousins on the beach. swan. finland

There are some things that I absolutely LOVE about Finland in the summer and here are my top 10:

1. Sauna. What can I say? I simply cannot wait to get in a hot sauna and totally relax! Especially the one at our summer house which was built over a hundred years ago and has very traditional style with views out to the sea from the windows and the best “loyly” you will find! Afterwards eating some delicious sausages we grilled in foil on top of the sauna stove, teamed with HOT Finnish mustard and a nice cold drink..bliss..For pics from this old sauna plus how my husband came to experience it for the first time go to this post.

2. Forest. The forest has always been very important to Finns. We connect with the forest and live beside it as friends. That’s maybe where our environmental awareness ultimately comes from. Finland is basically covered with forest, I mean you can walk into a forest anywhere. Best thing is some government dudes (or royals lol) didn’t hoard and close it all up from the public. On the contrary, everyone is allowed. There is even a law of “freedom to roam” which gives everybody the right to enter forests, pick wild berries and mushrooms, camp and make fire as long as they don’t disturb anyone with noise, litter or destroying nature. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freedom_to_roam

3. Midnight Sun.

There is something magical about the long midsummer nights in Finland!

midnight sunset finland4. Sea

I love going out to the sea for sailing, fishing, swimming or even water skiing! The Baltic sea is not that salty so swimming in it feels very nice and refreshing!

5. Food. Ahh, another thing I can’t wait for! First thing I want to eat are rye bread with cottage cheese (NOTHING beats the Finnish cottage cheese folks), fresh strawberries (same thing goes for these sweeties and my husband’s favorite) mom’s blueberry pie, baby potatoes with butter and dad’s smoked whitefish :) My mouth just started to water! Oh and not to forget all those ice cream flavors! It’s crazy how people from such a cold climate love ice cream this much.

6. Festivals. The Finns really go all out and enjoy the very short summer we have and you can see this best from the ridiculous amount of festivals we have going on all summer around the country. For every weekend there are literally hundreds of festivals, events and exhibitions going on. There is something for everyone from small kids to seniors to choose from. Apart from some seriously awesome concerts with some big names performing each year, there are some pretty peculiar events such as the “Eukonkanto” (Wife Carrying World Cup) http://www.eukonkanto.fi/en/,  “Ilmakitara MM” (Air Guitar Word Championships)http://www.airguitarworldchampionships.com/en/event/agwc-2012, or “Suo Jalkapallon MM”(Swamp Soccer WC) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-10675003 and believe it or not one of the most popular events of the summer is the Tango Festival http://www.tangomarkkinat.fi/en/index.html Finns love to Tango!

7. Peace. Finland is a country with only five million inhabitants but a large area so we have plenty of space for everyone. People in general don’t like to cause lots of noise and will respect others privacy. It’s easy to find your own quiet spot out there and just enjoy the sounds of the nature.

8. Bonfires. Especially during Midsummer Festival lots of people will be putting up huge bonfires by the sea and lakes. I haven’t been able to enjoy this tradition for a long time so am looking forward to it this summer.

9. Sunsets. I’ve been around the world but still I attest to the fact that some of the most beautiful sunsets can be seen during the summer in Finland!

10. Flowers. I love how I can just go to my backyard at the summer house or any forest and pick up a beautiful colorful bouquet of flowers.

 

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  • IldiMay 10, 2012 - 6:26 am

    Ooo I adore your writings! You made me upgraded-courious (again) to put Finland into my travel destinations in 3 years! :) KIITOS :*ReplyCancel

  • NoorMay 10, 2012 - 9:05 am

    Its so pretty your home really sounds like where I am from in the South so much. I love reading about it. I have a friend who is a Finnish Sister as well online and I just adore her mothers Summer house while its not by the sea its in the country and just so serene and like something from a novel. Love it and I hope you all have a great time I imagine your ready to GO PLEASE TAKE ME LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLReplyCancel

  • swedemomMay 10, 2012 - 10:35 am

    I have never been to Finland, though I lived in Sweden for many years. Many of the things you miss are things I miss about Sweden. Hope you have a wonderful summer! It sounds wonderful!ReplyCancel

  • Om Lujain©May 12, 2012 - 8:02 am

    I must go on a vacation to Finland WITH you one of these years enshallah! <3ReplyCancel

  • JeanMay 13, 2012 - 4:25 am

    I’m sure the midnight sun summer time makes it special in Finland. I’m still trying to get used to the sunlight streaming into home at 9:30 pm here in southern Alberta.

    Therefore yes, your sunsets should be terrific because you are further north. Maybe you see alot of stars on a clear night?

    I’m actually more homesick for Vancouver, more lush vegetation, bigger and brighter flowers, etc. The ocean, etc.ReplyCancel

  • FarooqMay 13, 2012 - 8:21 am

    Lovely pictures Laylah, finland does look like a lovely place. my wife studied for a while in sweden and she cant stop praising it as well.ReplyCancel

  • LaylahMay 13, 2012 - 9:47 pm

    Thanks everyone!! Om Lujain and Noor welcome to Finland and our summer house anytime :)ReplyCancel

  • KatjaMay 13, 2012 - 8:25 pm

    Hei

    Ihania kuvia Suomesta! Sinä saat mainostettua hyvin ja totuudenmukaisesti Suomea muulle maailmalle. Hyvä Suomi!ReplyCancel

  • Susie of ArabiaMay 14, 2012 - 8:15 pm

    Take me with you – PLEASE!!! It looks and sounds wonderful!ReplyCancel

    • LaylahMay 21, 2012 - 10:32 pm

      Sure why don't all the Saudi wife bloggers have a meeting up there, you Noor and Om Lujain, who else wants to join :)ReplyCancel

  • AnonymousMay 14, 2012 - 9:10 pm

    Hieno blogi. Voisit kertoa perheestäsi eemmän…ReplyCancel

  • AnonymousMay 14, 2012 - 9:57 pm

    Fabulous post Layla.
    AnnReplyCancel

  • avaMay 16, 2012 - 8:52 pm

    Lovely!! This post made me miss Sweden…and the food!! I spent bits of my summer there at a lakehouse too. No sauna, but I did manage to "swim" in the lake. Man it was freezing! Will you go dancing round the maypole on midsummer day? Have a blast! :)ReplyCancel

    • LaylahMay 21, 2012 - 10:34 pm

      ava-wow you swam in there without a sauna back-up! I wouldn't even do that :)
      We don't have the maypoles in Finland, it's more of a swedish tradition :)ReplyCancel

    • avaMay 26, 2012 - 6:02 am

      Hardcore then :) But it was in the shallower part of the lake that opens up to a beach, so it wasn’t as cold and as hardcore as say plunging from a plank and into the deep. Anyhoo, looking forward to your midsummer post :)ReplyCancel

  • DanielletriniMay 19, 2012 - 5:21 pm

    I love Finland as well. That's why I am a naturalized Finn. Finnish summers are the best. My dream is for my Family to some how be able to live in Finland during the summer months and live in Trinidad and Tobago in the winter.ReplyCancel

    • LaylahMay 21, 2012 - 10:34 pm

      Hi Danielle! Your dream sounds like a fantastic idea!ReplyCancel

  • LaylahMay 21, 2012 - 10:35 pm

    Aiketa-I have family living in Oulu so it has special place in my heart too!
    Hope you get to go back soon!ReplyCancel

  • AnonymousMay 21, 2012 - 9:07 pm

    Ihanaa kun tuutte!! Ikävä on teitäkin jo kovasti!
    T.Oulun poppooReplyCancel

    • LaylahMay 21, 2012 - 10:36 pm

      Oulun poppoota on myos meilla ikava :)ReplyCancel

  • AnisahMay 31, 2012 - 3:47 pm

    I’m curious as to whether you wear niqab or hijab when you go back to Finland. How is your husband treated when he goes there? Are there many Muslims in Finland?

    You might have a post about that, if so just point me to it.

    Thanks!

    AnisahReplyCancel

  • Gone Fishing in Finland » Blue AbayaAugust 9, 2014 - 1:53 am

    […] what my Finland looks like. If you’re not that familiar with Finland as a country, check out 10 things I miss from Finland, and you will understand why we want to visit every […]ReplyCancel

  • Ten Amazing Things from FinlandSeptember 22, 2014 - 9:53 am

    […] country with a population of just 5.4 million. For more awesome facts about Finland, check out this post! 1. Sauna All Finns love sauna! We have over 2 million saunas in Finland, that’s on […]ReplyCancel

  • 185 Things to Do in KSA- The Ultimate Saudi Arabia Travel Guide » Blue AbayaFebruary 17, 2015 - 4:16 pm

    […]  22. 10 THINGS I MISS FROM FINLAND […]ReplyCancel

  • Aaqib MalikJune 11, 2016 - 8:47 am

    I stayed in Helsinki, Finland back in 2012 when I was working with Nokia (in Espo).
    I can truly mark it as one of the best place and finns (specially). You name any good quality that a human should have, you will find in finns.
    Summary: if someone wants to see an ideal society please visit Finland (I can actualy write alot of incidents that happened to me and to my colleagues to justify my stance.)
    I miss suomenlinna island, icehockey discussions, helsinki city and Nokia office in espo. I still remember i used to buy one monthly travel card with unlimited travel option in buses, trains, trams, metro and fairies. the best thing was you can check online the timings and co2 emission with each travel option :)ReplyCancel

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