friends, travel

Finland: Sauna

Posted by katelaity on

What could be more iconic than the Finnish sauna? Helka asked me if I wanted one the first day I arrived. After a long day of travel it sure sounded good. Oskari and Antti got the fires going, one for the hot water (to wash afterward) and the other for the sauna itself. I had a sauna each night I was at Helka’s talo. Luxury!

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The beautiful wood: where every sauna begins.
2013-08-05 06.10.20
Wood benches, the bucket and ladle, and of course, the birch whisks; Jussi made these in the traditional style.
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My bed was right outside the sauna.
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If you’re adventurous, you can cool off by running down to the river and jumping in. Refreshing! So I’m told…
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But after a sauna, most enjoy the fine taste of a Karhu beer. Well, I did.
2013-08-04 22.22.28
Late night twilight; at over latitude 65° N, night is brief in August.

8 Comments

  1. Margrét Helgadóttir's avatar Margrét Helgadóttir says:
    August 16, 2013 at 09:46

    Love sauna! 😀

    1. katelaity's avatar katelaity says:
      August 16, 2013 at 10:02

      It is a wonderful thing!

      1. Margrét Helgadóttir's avatar Margrét Helgadóttir says:
        August 16, 2013 at 10:19

        Yes, you feel so cleansed. A must when in Finland. Have you seen the Finnish documentary “Steam of Life”? Interviews with Finnish men in sauna. Very strong. See here: http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/12/10/us-film-steam-idUSTRE6B90Y020101210
        We have sauna in Norway too, but not the culture around it as in Finland.

        1. katelaity's avatar katelaity says:
          August 16, 2013 at 10:38

          Ooh, no — haven’t seen that. Thank you!

  2. Margrét Helgadóttir's avatar Margrét Helgadóttir says:
    August 16, 2013 at 10:44

    You’re welcome. It’s very strong. I cried my way through several handkerchiefs. 🙂

  3. Marja-Leena's avatar Marja-Leena says:
    August 16, 2013 at 11:32

    Saunas, yes! I love the wood fired ones and the jump into the lake or river after. The ‘city’ kinds that are electric-fired don’t do it for me, even though we have one. I was going to mention the same film! We’ve seen it twice and cried too… a must see!

  4. Sartenada's avatar Sartenada says:
    August 18, 2013 at 08:07

    Our Sauna in our previous home:

    Finnish Sauna.

    1. katelaity's avatar katelaity says:
      August 18, 2013 at 08:23

      Nice!

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