Like most, many, some folks I have a wish list in my head of countries around the world I hope to visit one day. There's always the question of getting the time off from work, not being committed to other projects at that time, and having the money to travel to and enough days to properly see the places you want to experience.
Last September I was lucky enough to see Italy and Monaco for the first time. I still haven't made it to Australia and New Zealand though. I want to see Japan, Russia and more of Alaska than I already have. India is at the top of my list but I want to wait until I've got about a month to attempt that one.
I am particularly drawn to the Scandinavian nations and have spent part of both a summer and a winter in Norway, one of my favorite places on Earth. The most fun vacation I ever took alone was my week in Iceland and I wouldn't mind getting back there either.
Next up for me though is Finland. In fact, I almost can't believe I leave for there on Friday night. I have about ten days to spend in country and plan to spend the first couple of full days and nights in Helsinki, a modern European capital of more than 500,000 residents.
After that I plan to hit the road and drive northward into the Arctic Circle and beyond. I have a rough idea of a few things I want to see, like the Sami reindeer herders and of course, Korvatunturi, the birthplace of Joulupikki, the Finnish name for Santa Claus. I hope to get really lucky and see some early Northern Lights too.
But here's where I need your help, dear readers. I know collectively you guys have been everywhere so I need to hear about Finland. Where else do I need to go? What else do I need to do, besides the obvious sauna with their Olympic women's volleyball team?
Thanks in advance for your advice and suggestions.
It's funny .... here is one of photos I found while poking around on some Finland sites. It's Lake Saimma in the eastern part of the country. Apparently I'm traveling thousands of miles to go to a place that looks almost exactly like Washington State's own Puget Sound!
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