SEASON GREETINGS

I want to wish everybody a wonderful Christmas if you are celebrating it and to the others enjoy the Holiday Season...I am so grateful to have all of you following my blog(s)...
This Holiday Season has been really cold in Finland, we have lots of snow and yesterday morning it was
-22 Celsius here in South West of Finland... This photo was taken few days ago and as you can see the sun is not very high but this is the midday sun...And here in this photos you can see the frozen sea, we actually can walk on the sea...

Warm Greetings to everyone from Finland
Jaana

WINTER SWIMMING

In Finland some people swim in the sea or lake even in the winter time. You have acces to a change room and most of the people goes to water with out the heat of the sauna... The swimming water area is kept "open" with a help of the pump that makes the water swirling around so it does not get frozen... This place is situated just by the city centre of Naantali...

ON THE ICE...

Family fun on ice... The town of Naantali organised on the 14 of  February a sport day for the whole family. The sea is frozen, so the town had cleaned icy roads on the sea, and many families spent the day ice skating, skiing, sledging, walking or fishing.

THE ONLY WAY OUT

                                   This the only way in and out from the chalet...

                                                  Beware of ghosts

WINTER GARDEN

        

Yes I know again some snow photos...But what can you do when you sitting in the chalet in the middle of this beautiful surroundings alone, enjoying the view and bliss of the sunny winter day...Just imaging being in this white wonderland all by yourself... The snow is shining like millions of diamonds in the sun shine... walking is difficult in the neighbourhood, we have 40-50cm of snow, only way out is just one road which luckily has been cleaned... Inside in the chalet it's nice and cosy, the fire place brings a warm atmosphere to this, when -15 degrees Celsius outside... I was thinking just now that while my husband is cycling in Africa, it is not just the distance of thousands of km's that separates us, there is also more than 50 degrees between us...have a look of his journey http://www.africanride.blogspot.com/

THE SEA...

The sea between the islands gets frozen very quickly in a cold weather, the large areas takes few days more but during the winter time it is possible to drive your car on the ice if the ice is thick enough.

WINTER WONDERS

Winter can be so beautiful with some snow and sunshine, this was taken 1.30 this afternoon so notice how low the sun is...The sea is frozen and our summer table on the pier has a shiny snow napkin and on the table a icy bowl with a candle inside...

FINALLY IN FINLAND

After 3100km driven through Europe and the night on the boat we finally arrived to Turku in Finland... The day we arrived it started to snow... The days are really short so what ever I want to do at day time have to done between 9.30 -14.30 after that it will be too dark...So these two day I have been here I have been busy decorating my holiday house for Christmas... So for two weeks no travelling only Finnish Chritsmas traditions, decoration and good food and wine...

ON THE BOAT...

We were lucky to have a place for the car on the cruise boat between Stockholm and Turku...and a nice cabin too...This time of the year lot of people have Christmas parties on the cruise boat... After a nice dinner in a Russian restaurant on board we did some serious wine shopping in the wine bar of the boat... Lot of excellent French wines at tax free prices for our Christmas meals... These  two photo were taken while waiting to get in to the car deck...

STEAMBOAT "UKKO PEKKA"

Hustle and bustle in the sunshine and living idyll can be found in the lively guest harbour; the gently swaying sailboats, the whistle of the steamboat "Ukko Pekka", the narrow lanes of the old town, the boutiques and galleries, cafes and restaurants offer experiences each more pleasant than the next. Naantali offers accommodation in the luxurious Spa Hotel or in the charming wooden houses of the old town. Those who enjoy the tranquility of the archipelago can choose a high-grade cottages any time of the year.

LAST DAYS IN FINLAND

Our last summer guests arrived yesterday from France by car via Stockholm on a Cruise boat. You can arrive by two different cruise companies to Turku from Stockholm, Sweden. So in the late morning we decided to visit the town of Naantali which is situated between our chalet in Merimasku and the town of Turku in the south west of Finland.

NAANTALI -the sun of the archipelago

In Naantali there is something to do and see for all ages, families, adolescent, single people, couples, for boaters, those coming by car or coach, those who stroll by the seaside, those who walk the Path of Love, the bikers, the golfers -in short for everyone. Small children even bigger ones will all enjoy the Moomins and older children can test their boundaries on the adventure land Väski.

THE SEA...

The Baltic sea can be very calm especially between the islands in the archipelago of Turku.