Two years in Finland

On Friday, we celebrated 2 years in Finland. As I knew it would, time has flown by. As we look back on an adventure filled 2 years, we also look forward to returning home in less than half a year.

We have had many highlights in the last year:

A visit to the historical Finnish town,Porvoo.

Having a visit from family and showing them the sights and tastes of Helsinki.

Seeing the beautiful cherry trees in Roihuvuori in blossom

Discovering and making repeat visits to my favourite place in the city: Helsinki City Winter Gardens

2 Visits to London including a trip to Bath (and here and here), Hampton Court Palace, Victoria and Albert Museum and many more places!

Flood-lit views of the Tower of London on our first night

The Pump Room!!

lions outside the gate at Hampton Court.

A trip to the Finnish city of Turku on a rainy but fascinating day with a medieval market and a trip to the open air museum.

A restored sign-makers workshop at the open air museum.

The best of Finnish summer with short trips to friends’ homes and kesämokis (summer cottages) in Lahti, Heinola, Vääksy and Urajärvi and Rauma and Kiukainen.

Sauna and then the refreshing lake outside! (near Lahti)

Blueberry-filled nettle-pancakes at Anianpellon market – washed down with a cup of red currant juice

Relaxing outside of Kahvila Soppi after ice cream in Rauma.

Foraging the forests for berries and mushrooms.

Sorting the berries from other forest debris in Kiukainen.

A wonderful trip to Paris (and here) and La Semnadisse in the French countryside

An unusual front door in Montmarte

A misty morning at the La Semnadisse camping site

Exploring with Annette and Thomas.

Our first ice hockey game.

And of course the great Arctic adventure – dog sledding in Lapland.