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 place at a certain time.

It is not for me.

The place is Tallinn ferry terminal. Terminal 6, to be precise. The time is ninety minutes before departure. Departure time is 10.30 am. If my maths is correct, we need to be there at 9.00 am.

A rushed breakfast at the hotel.

Apparently, there is a different loading location for vehicles. It was quickly sorted, and an easy check in to board through gate 4.

The Gulf of Finland is calm and quiet. The passengers under the age of 10 make for a turbulent crossing.

We are in and out of Helsinki in twenty minutes.

A quick stop at a supermarket for some dinner and breakfast supplies.

Our place is called Pinewood Guesthouse. It provides agistment for expensive thoroughbreds, has an aging Labrador, and is in the middle of nowhere.

There is nothing to hear except the breeze in the birch trees and the singing of birds. The occasional demand for an Earl Grey tea is the only exception.

While Europe swelters in record heat, it is a beautiful, sunny 24C here. It will remain sunny until after midnight. Before the sun emerges at around 2.00 am. A total of 44 minutes of darkness.

We make an early dinner and sit on the deck and read all afternoon.

“Tell me the story..
About how the sun loved the moon so much..
That she died every night..
Just to let him breathe…”

Hanako Ishii