On my recent trip to Finland: a tour of Vaasa

In 1992 I lived in Vaasa, Finland with a wonderful family. Amazingly, we've kept in close touch ever since; we've seen each other several times in the States, in Finland, in England. Talked on the phone, emailed, text messaged, and shared tragedy and joy with each other.

Over the course of 16 years, we have become family.

I went to Finland a few weeks ago for my dear Finnish sister's (Pia) wedding.

On the first full day I was there, the younger daughter (Nea) and I went to run some errands. We first went to the university where she is currently studying...

Please note: there is snow. There is ice. There are bikes. And people ride them. On the ice? And the snow? You've got to be kidding me.

The answer: snow tires. I don't know if you can see it from this photo, but there are studs (metal studs) on the bike tires.

I want some too.

This is student housing (don't you want to live here?)

And these are some shots from the center of Vaasa.

The next images are: a Lutheran church where I once went to Christmas Eve service, a government building, and the last image is of a pharmacy.

This is very similar to my Finnish family's house (it's right behind it - I took this photo from the kitchen window). The building to the right is the sauna.

This is an old church about a block away from my Finnish family's house. It was built in the 10th century? and burned in the 17th century. There are the ruins of an old school and other buildings near this church. I have been sledding here, in a black garbage bag. Good times.

This was an old church which became a town hall (or vice versa, I can't remember now). It's at the end of a long street lined with birch trees. It's really beautiful.

Next time I'll talk about the wedding...

Hope you are all well.

-- The Single Gal