Midsummer 2016

Hello, hello!

And warm greetings from Finland. Summer is here and I'm loving it. We have had quite a many sunny days and few rainy ones. So as you can imagine, I have not spent any extra time on my computer but outside enjoying the weather.

Today's post is from a week ago when we celebrated Midsummer. The three day Midsummer weekend gets all the Finns to escape to their summer cottages. And what's not to love about it; sun, swimming in a lake, hot sauna, good food and relaxing. That's what we did too.

We were so happy to be invited to spend Midsummer with our friend who turned 30 years old. He hosted a awesome party at camping site at Rautalampi (*about an hour from Kuopio down South*). Since it was just our group of friends it was a blast. We all had our own cabin rooms and there was a gorgeous lake right next to us. Jinx also had plenty of room to run around. It felt like we all were on a summer camp (*bunk beds and everything*).

Jinx chilled at the train station like a pro traveler.

16 years old and still ready to travel with us.

Camp site that our friend had rented.

Sauna building.

For some odd reason Finns like to make these things called "vasta" and then hit themselves with them in the sauna. It is a bundle of birch tree branches tied together. Sounds weird but feels really good with the steam and heat of the sauna. The oils of the leaves make your skin really soft.

You could run straight from the sauna to the lake for a quick (*skinny*) dip.

Yey! Bikini season!

Our bunk beds.

So peaceful.

Main building.

Partners in crime (*and in all the fun stuff too*).

Summer time in Finland can be warm and sunny. And I love it!

We had three days to look at these views. Pretty awesome!

I love these hot dog buns! You just stick the hot dog in the hole of the bun. Yes, it sounds and looks perverted but it is the easiest way to eat a hot dog. These buns were bought from Lidl. Notice Jinx begging on the background (*haha*).

Spiderweb gleaming in the evening sun.

White sangria and one very thirsty camper (*giggle*).

Cheers!

Boys swimming.

Lake water was pretty warm.

Toesies.

Birthday boy getting presents.

Cakes and sangria.

This cake was so good! Dark chocolate with fresh cherries.

Happy Birthday Tatu!

Tatu is also known as "Ahnold" because of his muscles (*giggle*).

Midsummer hugs.

What's cooking here? Witches' brew?

Scott and Tatu by the bonfire.

Herring-potato soup. I guess this is a local Midsummer food.

Hmm, what was the saying about too many cooks...

Herring! It actually tasted pretty good.

Midsummer is also known as nightless night due to the fact that the sun barely sets (*it doesn't set at all in the Northern parts of Finland*). I took this picture 7am and it was already this bright and sunny. 

That was our Midsummer. What did you do?