“There is a way that nature speaks, that land speaks.  Most of the time we are simply not patient enough, quiet enough to pay attention to the story.” 

–Linda Hogan

Before moving to London, my friends Kim and Emily and I spent four days in Helsinki with Saana, a Finnish friend from our university. She met us at the ferry terminal and drove us to the lake house she and her mother live in half an hour outside the capital.

Their tiny cottage was something straight out of a storybook. It was set right on a lake, with a goldenrod exterior, white trim and a single peaked roof. There was a wooden ladder attached to it just next to the chimney and ivy climbing up its walls.

An overgrown path led from the drive to the house, stepping stones from the house to the sauna, and from there, the lake.

Nature in Finland

Nature in Finland

Our time there wasn’t so much about going places, but about rest, a sort of storing up of energy before the big move. We tried reindeer meat for lunch, cooked dinner with Saana and her mother each night, and roasted ourselves in their sauna—only to shock our blood systems back to life with a dive into the frigid lake.

On other days, we explored a nearby national park and sailed across the Gulf of Finland to the island fortress of Suomenlinna—and throughout it all, kept breathing in that rich pastoral air, somehow knowing we’d need it for the move.

When I thanked Saana’s mother for the time we’d spent in her home, she hugged me and said, “Good luck in London. I hope you get the opportunities you need.”

And as fearful as I was about the unknowns awaiting us, I walked away from her fairytale cottage feeling ever so slightly reassured we would make it.

Nature has a way of doing that sometimes, doesn’t it?

Nature in Finland

Nature in Finland

Nuuksio National Park.

Saana’s house was a short walk from this beautiful national park, a mere twenty miles from Helsinki and filled with an equal number of trekking trails. For more information about Nuuksio, check out this Official Visitor’s Guide to the region of Espoo.

Nature in Finland

Nature in Finland

Suomenlinna.

We spent one of our days in Helsinki visiting this 18th century maritime fortress, now listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Learn more about the site’s history and how to visit on their website…the ferry ride alone is worth it!

Suomenlinna, Finland

Suomenlinna, Finland

14 Comments

  • It looks very peaceful! Is that last photo at Suomenlinna? We visited there while on a Baltic cruise but we didn’t have enough time to explore thoroughly – would have loved to see buildings with grass growing on the roofs.

    • Thanks, Lisa! Yes, it was taken at Suomenlinna–and I believe the grass roofs were part of the old fortress, a kind of half-underground building. Was that the same cruise you visited Tallinn on as well? Sounds like an amazing trip 🙂

      • – Perfect in every way. The light airiness to these is mngeatic. Your skills and vision just keep on inspiring me every time. Don’t know how you do what you do, but just keep doing it! •••

        • Thanks for your comment and for your kind words, Deva! I always enjoy hearing from readers around the world – I appreciate you taking the time to check out The Great Affair and hope to see you again here soon 🙂

    • They are truly lovely, aren’t they? Even my few days there were enough to give me a similar dream 🙂 They’d also make for the perfect writer’s retreat…as you say, one day perhaps!

  • Today in the mail I received the journal that three friends and I are keeping. We met when we did our training in Expressive Arts, and have since stayed in contact despite living in different parts of our province (and now world).

    The journal and this blog entry remind me so much of one and the other. The space you shared with your friends at this country retreat is similar to the time we spent on Pelee Island. I really miss that.

    x JR

    • Hello, my dear friend. What a great story–I love the idea of having a sort of travelling diary to share between good friends. I don’t think I’ve heard about this Expressive Arts training, please tell me more next time we catch up! And the similarities between our retreats are pretty cool, aren’t they? See you soon, mon ami x

  • Fantastic job! I felt like I was right there with you!!! I have just discovered your fabulous website and I wanted to see if you’d be interested in looking at mine which is quite similar but different. I just got back from a year in Australia and blogging about it, and my blog is about traveling, photos, and anything that inspires me or makes me happy.

    Your on my bookmarks & I can’t wait to see what’s next!
    Keep in touch Xx

    Summer

    http://www.passportsandprada.com
    <3

    • Hi Summer! Thanks for your lovely words and for saying hello…your site looks fantastic as well! I love all things travel inspiration and will definitely be checking it out again. How was Australia? I spent a year in NZ but unfortunately never made it over to Oz–one day, though 🙂 Thank you again! x

    • Thanks so much for your comment, Ace. It’s always fun to hear from readers 🙂 Really glad you enjoyed the photos, and I hope to see you again here soon!

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