Norway Once more, I forgot to mention dinner—potatoes and beer, who would have guessed. I stayed up late and watched Australia lose in soccer. If there is a more boring sport, I have yet to see it. “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.” John Muir We wake up late with…
Stöllet
Sweden “I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy.” Sylvia Plath Addendum – Rachelle took pictures of last night’s dinner and was unimpressed that they were not featured in yesterday’s post. This has been rectified below. I had high hopes…
Hammarstrand
Sweden “if you don’t try at anything, you can’t fail… it takes back bone to lead the life you want” Richard Yates I wake up to sunshine at 3.00 am and need to go to the toilet. Rachelle is awake. We dash into the hive of insects and relieve ourselves next to the cabin. The…
Rentjärn
Sweden “Do you not see how necessary a world of pains and troubles is to school an intelligence and make it a soul?” John Keats We sleep in. There is no walk or morning calisthenics. This is as close to a hangover as I have had since arriving in Europe. I cook some porridge and…
Aavasaksanvaara
Finland We take an early morning walk and stop for coffee at Café Khavipuu. The morning is chilly, and the coffee is OK. We head to the top of Finland today for two nights. A five hour drive to Lapland. The drive is uneventful and we arrive at Aavasaksanvaara around 3.00 pm. Our cabin is…
Kokkola
Finland We sleep in, but not too late. I am starting to think the sleep experts may be on to something when they suggest alcohol impacts sleep. The jury is still out. We take our morning walk. Past our hosts’ wonderful horses. On the right, dressage and jumpers. On the left, thoroughbreds for riding, not…
Mäntsälä
Finland “Your purpose in life is to find your purpose and give your whole heart and soul to it” Buddha We sleep in. There is not enough time for a morning walk. Calesthetics are out of the question. For the first time since arriving, we are on a schedule. Having to be at a certain…
Tallinn
Estonia “His whole future seemed suddenly to be unrolled before him; and passing down its endless emptiness he saw the dwindling figure of a man to whom nothing was ever to happen.” Edith Wharton Another sleep in before an invigorating walk. Latvia does cemeteries well. Not a plastic flower in sight. It is like a…
Rubene
Latvia “In the great cities we see so little of the world, we drift into our minority. In the little towns and villages there are no minorities; people are not numerous enough.” W.B Yeats We sleep in. There is only time for a walk. No calesthetics this morning. Kuchmistrai is providing our breakfast. After lasts…