Norway is a flat country of many lakes. During WWII
pretty much all the cities were burned down. After the war all those cities
were rebuilt in a very simple Scandinavian style. As a result, not leaving much
to venture there for a tourist.
Nevertheless, in the south, the capital city of
Helsinki is a great hub to take a ferry to Tallinn in Estonia, or to Stockholm
in Sweden, or to the surrounding islands. One of them and very nearby (10-15
minutes) is the Island of Suomenlinna with its Fortress (pictures above & below). ‘It was included in
the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 as a unique monument of military
architecture.’
In the north, the Lapland and its indigenous people -
Sami offer an exceptional experience, which guarantees you a true Finish
cultural experience. Traditionally, the Sami have pursued a variety of
livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. Their
best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Currently
about 10% of the Sami are connected to reindeer herding, providing them with
meat, fur, and transportation.
During the summer time, in the city of Rovaniemi, you can take a boat
up the stream to one of the reindeer farms, where a host with a great sense of
humor and his sister will welcome you. The experience includes shaman practice,
reindeer feeding, lasso lessons, and lots of laughs.
During the winter time, Reindeer safari offers
transportation by car to a reindeer farm to try reindeer sleighing. More info
at http://www.visitrovaniemi.fi/experience-rovaniemi/activities/reindeer-safari
In the east, Olavinlinna Castle is a 15th
century three-tower castle located in Savonlinna. Originally, it was built to
protect the strategically important Savo region. The castle was supposed to
repel Russian attacks from the east and to guarantee the control of the Savo
region for the Swedish Crown. More info at http://www.kansallismuseo.fi/en/olavinlinna-castle
