Weekend in Inari (North of Finland) - Discovering finnish culture

August 4th and 5th

(this is under the city of Rovaniemi because I couldn't select Inari from the list)

During the EILC in Rovaniemi we had so many activities and this excursion was right on the first weekend in Lapland. We went to Inari, where the third largest lake in Finland is located.

During the bus trip we had a few stops to go tho the Santa Village, attend a watercross competition (snowmobiles racing on the water) and go to a Sámi market.

Starting out in the Santa Claus Village, we went there to take a picture with Santa! The place was really nice, but we didn't stay long. Continuing our trip we watched a watercross competition. It was expecting it to be boring, but it was really cool. The place was nice - grass, food, music, chilling under the sun. And the races were great! I liked it a lot.

Next, we went to a Sámi market (Sámi are indigenous people who live in the north of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia), everyone was wearing their sámi colorful outfits, had karaoke (the finns love it, apparently) and just overall living and showing their culture.

Finally we got to our destination and the scenery was beautiful (well, the scenery is always beautiful in Finland, but in Lapland is different because there's high hills). The accommodation was really nice, we put our things away and went to have dinner. Well, it was reindeer (the finns love reindeer, not only to eat but they also keep the fur and bones - the sámi people make shoes with them - everything! ), but I didn't like it at all! Reindeer meat smells and tastes bad.

The dinner was over and it was time to go the sauna! We had a small lecture about it and it was really interesting to know that the sauna it's like a sacred place for them. Women gave birth there and it's the place where finns are confortable enough to talk about their problems eheh. The finns love it and now I love it, too. Then we went for a swim in the lake and i was super cold! We were screaming the whole time, but it was so cool! I loved the feeling. Went for a second round.

I love the finnish summer - the midnight sun, the never-ending brightness - it just lifts up my mood, unlike the winter, in which I suspect will be very depressing...

The next day, we went trekking in finnish wilderness. The nature, the trees, the lakes, the pure air! Oh my god, the finns should be proud of their country (well, they are). The walk was long, but when we got to our spot to chill and eat, there was an old church (more than 300 years) that survived the second world war because it was in the middle of nowhere so no one could find it to burn it down. Then, we went to eat the so traditional makkara (sausage) by the fire, stayed there for a bit just hanging out and then got back. It was a nice day in finnish wilderness.

Getting back to our accommodation, we made smoked salmon - oh god the finns know how to eat (except for the reindeer) - the salmon was delicious. Plus potatoes, broccoli (why don't poeple like broccoli? ) and some kind of sauce. We spent the evening together and going to the sauna and swim in the lake again.

The day after we had to go back, but the tutors still had some activities for us to get in touch with the finnish culture even more. We stopped in a really nice and beautiful museum where we learned more about the sámi people and then went to a reindeer farm. We fed the reindeers, listened to some more about the sámi people while having tea and then left.

It was a great weekend. We learned a lot about the finnish culture and I really appreciate that our tutors prepared all this and more for us.