Shortcut. Day 32 - 45

Monday, 05 July 2010 23:03

Two weeks and I have travelled through almost whole Finland. Im writing this  sitting near Sodankylä, a small village in northern Finland, just above the Arctic Circle.

Im closer and closer to the first objective of my trip, the most northern point of Europe - Knivskjellodden. Due to the growing problems with
hitchhiking, awaits for me a little more walking in the coming days ... no 15 to 20 km per day, now it is time for30-40km. Overcoming such a distance, even carrying
30 pound backpack is not a big problem. The day lasts 24 hours here, so there is a lot of time to walk. I do not remember the last time when it was really dark.
However, the main problem in these regions ane not distances or polar day, the biggest nightmare of every hitchhiker is: thousands of mosquitoes and flies,
who attack from every side

About Finland I can speak only in superlatives. A modern country, excellent infrastructure, beautiful landscapes, clean water and what is most important ... wonderful,
helpful and openminded people.
In addition to Helsinki and Turku, about whom I wrote earlier, I visited the village yet Jyvaskyla, Oulu and Rovaniemi.
That looks like the center of the Finnish city of 130 thousand

thanks to people who host me I had something to eat, and even "little" drink I found..

Jussi - a typical representative of the local community (photo taken around 01:00)

So the last few days, or rather nights, or rather something which we call night and  looks like a day ... in each case it is light and late. I have spent doing:

- geting new skills, here are: hairdressing

- getting to know nearby places of meetings (pics available only to the initiated)
- getting to know barmen-fireman

- watching matches  (pictures available only to the initiated)
- talking about Polish history from the perspective of Finland, Russian and German (pics available only to the initiated)
-  visiting Santa Claus, the saint patron consumerism and unplanned shopping

- preparing pancakes  for a nice host

- Or fighting with local women

In any case, I wasnt sleeping a lot

For those who want to visit  Finland
- left the south, and arise immediately to the north
- Give yourself peace of mind with a visit to the cities, because there nothing you will not see. Look like built 30 years ago and in total were built then:)
- Not avoiding contacts with the local because having fun with them is the best what you can do
- Do not fear the locals - as quiet as lambs, although sometimes they dont look at these
- Do not talk too much, who knows me knows that I have a problem with that, so all think that I a little crazy

The rest of the trip I will spend a tent,  nature and I comming back to bread, water, onions :)