Hello
And happy June to everyone! Summer is finally here and we had the pleasure to enjoy the first warm summer days with our friends in Joensuu. We also went hiking together at Koli national park and spent the night at Break Sokos Hotel Koli. We had so much fun!
The best part about Koli area is the pure nature that surrounds you everywhere. A good way to get to know there area is hiking. You can choose trails varying from 3km up to 60km. There are many resting spots along the way, so make sure to bring some food along with you. It is also good to dress in layers as well as wear good shoes. There are quite many hills you'll have to climb up to, so be prepared.
Break Sokos Hotel Koli is built right in the middle of Koli area and it has amazing views to the lake Pielinen. It is also a pet friendly hotel, so you can take your cat or dog there with you. Jinx was so happy to be able to go along with us. We stayed at standard room for two. It was small but comfy with an awesome view through a french balcony.
I absolutely loved the hotel's Koli relax spa. It is an interactive spa where you get a bucket full of Lumene products to use at the spa along with a bottle of bubbly or wine. The idea is to match each skin care product with a place at the spa. For example moisturizing body butter that is designed to treat your skin extra soft in the heat of a sauna. They also have awesome aromatic showers with light and sound. My favorite one was Siberian shower that got you wet with cold mist above you but kept you warm with hot water coming from the side nozzles, plus aromatic menthol oil sprayed around you while noise of wind whirled in your ears and blue lights flashed in the ceiling. Super cool!
To top of our stay at Koli, we enjoyed a superb breakfast in the morning. As you might know I have a major sugar tooth, so when I saw a chocolate fountain at the breakfast buffet I was in heaven. They had so much good stuff like eggs, bacon, karelian rice pies, oatmeal, a smoothie, fruit, marshmallows and lots of melted chocolate (*yummy*).
Anyway, here's a lot of pictures from our trip. I hope you like them. I had blast taking them.
Some non-alcoholic bubbly to celebrate summer, our friends' recent nuptials and their baby to be born. So many reasons to smile!
Perfect evening to grill burgers and hang out.
Yummy!
More yummy!
Driving to Koli.
Yey! We're there!!
Checking out a map of the area.
In the beginning of our hike. Say hi to Scott, Reetta and Sami!
So many blueberry flowers. I hope they all turn into berries.
Which way to go?
Greener than green swamp lands.
Haha! We're here and you are not.
Just married.
Happy smiles and gorgeous views.
Huge ant hill.
Lunch time. We had ham and cheese sandwiches with sausages that we cooked on an open fire.
You only need mustard to go with the sausages.
Jinx got to have one too. Lucky dog!
Little pond in the woods.
Old barns and a field that were used by farmers in the area back in the day.
Common wood sorrel.
Land of thousands of lakes and islands.
Time to go check out the Devil's church! Yikes!
Devil's church is a long cave in the woods.
Here's Scott and Jinx in the cave.
It was really hard to get good pics because there was either too much or too little light in the cave.
Ferns and moss growing on the rock walls.
Sami climbed up to see how far ahead he could get into the cave.
Time to head to the Break Sokos Hotel Koli.
Jinx was a happy guest.
View from our window.
Would you like to have tea or coffee?
Jinx got a goodie bag from the reception. He loved it!
Our room was small and very red (*giggle*) but the view was great!
Our little french balcony.
Scott in part of the lobby on the second floor.
Reception area.
Before the spa and dinner we went for another little hike. Here's Sami and I enjoying the view.
Perfect summer day!
Walking up the rock.
Taking a rest.
All smiles once again!
Group selfie time.
Reetta and I.
Visit Finland (*smile*).
Back at the hotel. Spa time!
No pics from the spa because they wouldn't make justice to the lovely relaxing experience you get there. Just my toes after hours of pampering.
One happy spa goer.
An evening walk after a huge dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Sami is a goof head.
Sun was setting and everything looked so calm and soothing.
Good night!
Good morning and great breakfast. I started with savory treats at first.
Then it was time to enjoy the chocolate fountain and all the trimmings (*heaven*).
One can only smile with a breakfast like that and view like this.
After our huge breakfast we took yet another little walk before heading home. It was so serene to stroll through the trails and listen birds sing.
As you can guess... Jinx was super tired after a busy weekend. He slept all the way back home (*laugh*).
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