For a one week, our days has been starting at the pier and ending at the pier. The heat wave has been hanging in Finland for many weeks and the best way to cool down is to swim in the lake and let the summer breeze and the rays of sun to dry the skin. We are back to our favorite pear in Kainuu. Early morning breakfast by the water and late evening dip after Sauna are our daily highlights. The Simple things are the best.
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| Sunset at Nuasjärvi |
The bigger the children get, the more challenging and more important it is to show the beauty of lazy, creative summer days surrounded with basic natural elements. We did not choose the 0% tolerance with electronical devices, but we chose a location without too much modern luxury. The water seems to be the most interesting place for play, at any age. The presence of Nature is making us more calm and more attentive for the details. The dragon flies, the rabbits, the bees, the fishes, the butterflies and even the annoying mosquitos are here with us, no matter what. We also have had our fun at the local activities like adventerous climbing park Seikkailupuisto and down hill car racing, still some sup boarding in our plans.
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| Memories |
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| Sunset and GT at the pier. |
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| Therapy for the tired feet. |
Paltaniemi
I want to see something traditional and learn from the past of Kainuu during our yearly summer visits. I can recognize my earlier pre puberty self when the kids are demonstrating against visiting another road church or museum. But even in the presence of that noisy or quiet protest, I am happy to give a flash of history for them. I know they will remember that and maybe get more interested in their Finnish roots later on. I remember many the places I visited as a kid, even just the atmosphere or the smell of the old wood can be a lifetime memory with importance.
We drove today to Paltaniemi, which is a little village belonging to the town of Kajaani by the Oulujärvi lake. It is a nice location with a few interesting spots to visit. We went to see the beautiful, old wooden church called Paltaniemen kuvakirkko (Paltaniemi church of paintings). The church was build in 1726 and the characteristic ceiling & wall paintings were made by Emanuel Granberg during the years 1778-1781. I really like the interior and the nice light toned peaceful feeling in this church.
Paltaniemi is a green village with charming old houses, rural landscapes and a cute museum road near the lake. The local boat harbor and the swimming beach is very nice with small children. It seems like you can walk a huge distance from the beach before you really can start to swim. Lake Oulujärvi is the fifth biggest lake in Finland and called as "the Sea of Kainuu" by local people.
One of the nicest thing in visiting Finland is that the water is never far away. The only thing I miss sometimes is a nice cafe or a good restaurant near the summer nature. In Paltaniemi you can visit the home of poet Eino Leino (1878-1926)and have a coffee in this historical house. In the summer time there is also a summer theatre and you can listen some poetry in the glow of summer evenings. Also some local artists have their exhibitions in the barn of this lovely garden of Eino Leino talo
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| an Art exhibition of a local painter Heli Jauhiainen |
And as the sun goes down
it's time to do the last dance on the pier
As I'm walking the path in the woods
in one of these Summer nights
walking in my thoughts
and my chest is pumped with joy
and I am singing...just singing
(my free translation from Eino Leino poem:))
