SAUNA, SISU, SIBELIUS: Our move to and life in Finland Galleries

Stéphanie visits us
18-21 September 2008

FINLAND -

Updated: Aug 15, 2008 12:33am PST

Wesley & Morwenna visit us
8-17 September 2008

FINLAND -

Updated: Aug 15, 2008 12:32am PST

O'Briens visit us 27 August -7 September 2008 : FINLAND - Paul and Catherine (of Cardiff, Wales) stopped in Helsinki on their way around the Baltic sea.

O'Briens visit us
27 August -7 September 2008

FINLAND - Paul and Catherine (of Cardiff, Wales) stopped in Helsinki o ...

Updated: Sep 04, 2008 1:13pm PST

Rozbroj family visits us 15-26 August 2008 : FINLAND - Winfried, Sujimas and Boris (our neighbors in Paris) paid us a last-minute, surprise visit. Highlights: chasin the sun in Hämeenlinna and Tampere, shark-feeding at SeaLife.

Rozbroj family visits us
15-26 August 2008

FINLAND - Winfried, Sujimas and Boris (our neighbors in Paris) paid us ...

Updated: Aug 26, 2008 2:20am PST

Finland full circle 30 July - 14 August 2008 : FINLAND - I drove 4600 km/2900 miles around the country, including stops at the Susi family's cottage in Keuruu and at Raija's (Ria's godmother) in Rovaniemi. Ria met up in Oulu for her cousin's wedding. Highlights: visiting Kristiinankaupunki, my first lakeside sauna in Keuruu, dodging reindeer on Lapland's roads, hiking Pyhätunturi, feeding bears pulla at the "giant beast center" in Kuusamo. Disappointments: Santa's village in Rovaniemi, Savonlinna.

Finland full circle
30 July - 14 August 2008

FINLAND - I drove 4600 km/2900 miles around the country, including sto ...

Updated: Aug 16, 2008 10:09am PST

US Midwest '08 12-29 July 2008 : UNITED STATES - This was Ria's first trip to the US. We spent the first few week in the lakes with the Dahlin family in Dent, MN and with the Platt family in Brainerd, MN. We spent our second week with Jorge and Lydia in Minneapolis and in Chicago. Highlights: riding the flying couch on Dead Lake, canoeing on Gull Lake, being back on campus in Minneapolis, the Twins game, jazz in Chicago and simply getting to see all of our old friends. Disappointments: none whatsoever.

US Midwest '08
12-29 July 2008

UNITED STATES - This was Ria's first trip to the US. We spent the firs ...

Updated: Jul 31, 2008 11:46am PST

Land of the midnight sun 2 June - 11 July 2008 : FINLAND - No need for sleep, as it barely gets dark this time of the year. I celebrated my first Juhannus/Midsummer in Saarijärvi.

Land of the midnight sun
2 June - 11 July 2008

FINLAND - No need for sleep, as it barely gets dark this time of the y ...

Updated: Jul 10, 2008 5:33am PST

First wedding anniversary 31 May - 1 June 2008 : ESTONIA - We celebrated our first anniversary in Tallinn, a mere 2-hour ferry trip from Helsinki. Ria's father passed away here in 2002 and this was her first time back since; understandably, an emotional trip too. Highlights: the sunny weather, buying a bus ticket in Estonian and just spending time together.

First wedding anniversary
31 May - 1 June 2008

ESTONIA - We celebrated our first anniversary in Tallinn, a mere 2-hou ...

Updated: Jun 05, 2008 10:10am PST

Flowers & babies in May 13-30 May 2008 : FINLAND - It's nearly summer! Flora, fauna and Finns alike wake up after 6 months' hibernation.

Flowers & babies in May
13-30 May 2008

FINLAND - It's nearly summer! Flora, fauna and Finns alike wake up aft ...

Updated: Jun 05, 2008 9:58am PST

Fabrice & Céline visit us 9-12 May 2008 : FINLAND - Our friends Fabrice and Céline from Paris, freshly sunburned from a first few-days' stay in Stockholm, paid us a surprise visit. Highlight: grilling sausages after hiking at Nuuksio National Park.

Fabrice & Céline visit us
9-12 May 2008

FINLAND - Our friends Fabrice and Céline from Paris, freshly sunburne ...

Updated: Jun 01, 2008 10:23pm PST

Springtime in Finland 3 March - 8 May 2008 : FINLAND - Not entirely sure whether there is such a thing as springtime in Finland. Went swimming on May 1st. Ice still covered the lake the day before.

Springtime in Finland
3 March - 8 May 2008

FINLAND - Not entirely sure whether there is such a thing as springtim ...

Updated: Jul 26, 2008 9:42pm PST

Winter break in Gstaad 28 February - 2 March 2008 : SWITZERLAND - We spent our winter vacation with my grandmother and uncle in Saanenland. Highlights: going back to Hüsi's, fondue and spending time with Grandma and Brooks.

Winter break in Gstaad
28 February - 2 March 2008

SWITZERLAND - We spent our winter vacation with my grandmother and unc ...

Updated: Jul 26, 2008 9:45pm PST

Winter in Finland 3 January - 27 February 2008 : FINLAND - Winter is dark and looooong. The sun rises at 10:30 am and can set as early as 2 pm. And things get worse when there's no snow!

Winter in Finland
3 January - 27 February 2008

FINLAND - Winter is dark and looooong. The sun rises at 10:30 am and c ...

Updated: Jun 05, 2008 10:00am PST

Noel & Liz visit us 30 December 2007 - 2 January 2008 : FINLAND -

Noel & Liz visit us
30 December 2007 - 2 January 2008

FINLAND -

Updated: Jun 02, 2008 12:42am PST

Christmas in Monaco 22-29 December 2007 : MONACO -

Christmas in Monaco
22-29 December 2007

MONACO -

Updated: Apr 15, 2008 11:49am PST

Our new home in Helsinki 1 September - 21 December 2007 : FINLAND -

Our new home in Helsinki
1 September - 21 December 2007

FINLAND -

Updated: Jun 02, 2008 12:44am PST

Pancakes in Åland 30-31 August 2007 : FINLAND -

Pancakes in Åland
30-31 August 2007

FINLAND -

Updated: Jun 02, 2008 12:46am PST

Looking for jobs in Turku 14 July - 29 August 2007 : FINLAND -

Looking for jobs in Turku
14 July - 29 August 2007

FINLAND -

Updated: Jun 02, 2008 12:55am PST

Last stop in Paris 10-13 July 2007 : FRANCE -

Last stop in Paris
10-13 July 2007

FRANCE -

Updated: Apr 13, 2008 10:58am PST

UK '07 Honeymoon 14 June - 9 July 2007 : UNITED KINGDOM -

UK '07 Honeymoon
14 June - 9 July 2007

UNITED KINGDOM -

Updated: Jul 31, 2008 12:06pm PST

Packin' up 11-13 June 2007 : FRANCE -

Packin' up
11-13 June 2007

FRANCE -

Updated: Apr 13, 2008 7:46am PST

Third wedding in Gstaad 6-10 June 2007 : SWITZERLAND -

Third wedding in Gstaad
6-10 June 2007

SWITZERLAND -

Updated: Apr 15, 2008 2:35am PST

Daytrip to San Remo 5 June 2007 : ITALY -

Daytrip to San Remo
5 June 2007

ITALY -

Updated: Apr 13, 2008 6:09am PST

Waking up married 3-4 June 2007 : MONACO -

Waking up married
3-4 June 2007

MONACO -

Updated: Apr 13, 2008 12:18pm PST