You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Finland’ category.
Oh boy, talk about pizza. This is something I look forward to every trip and there is no substitute. It’s the crust that makes this pizza. Thin and soft but a little crispy. Cheese is subtle and not overpowering. It’s so good! I recommend anything with chicken and pineapple such as the Pollo Americana or Mozzarellapizza (with chicken). Ever had reindeer on a pizza? That’s an option here in Rovaniemi (I’ve never tried it myself).
Be a real Finn and try it with some milk
We ate at 1pm today and I haven’t been hungry since! Kotipizza is a must!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I threw on my “tourist” hat today and ventured out to capture some sights from downtown Rovaniemi. It was quite “sunny” so I took advantage of some good lighting (it’s sad but today was the equivalent of “sunny”). Beautiful day!
First up, Lordi Square. The middle of the city. Sampokeskus shopping center is behind me.
Here’s a video from the same spot, circling the area
This is Sampokeskus shopping center
Here’s a little “covert” walk through of Sampokeskus
Arnold’s- great place for doughnuts!
Outside and further down the street here are two photos facing opposite directions. The first toward Sampokeskus, the second toward Revontuli (the newer shopping center in Rovaniemi)
A video from this middle spot of the above two photos
R-Kioski (below) is kind of like a 7-11 or similar corner market in the U.S.
You can get the basics but nothing substantial. And you can place your bets here for sporting events and buy tickets for the lottery. Oh and they sell candy too 
McDonald’s is here too.
Fun fact- Rovaniemi, Finland is home to the world’s most northern McDonald’s! I’ve never found it to be greasy enough though for my American tastes though- I think they actually clean out the french fry vats every night- tastes way too healthy.
Hope you enjoyed a little view into downtown Rovaniemi, Finland. More later!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
I probably make a similar post every trip but it cannot be overstated how much Finns love their candy. The primary desire in Finland is salmiakki, a salty black licorice type NOT to be confused with black licorice (two different schools of candy). There are literally dozens of different types of tastes, consistencies and sizes of salmiakki. Also found in chocolates and liquer!
But even candy as a whole is a huge staple in Finland. Below is a photo from a nearby grocery store of the “irtokarkki” (piece candy)- where you pick and choose individual pieces. The pre- packed aisle is twice as big. You’ll find this site in all grocery stores, video rental stores, and any other place with space to sell. It’s heaven for me (I have a big sweet tooth
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
The photo really speaks for itself! YUM!!
Reindeer, mashed potatoes, pickles, berry sauce.
How is it made? Check it out: How to make sautéed reindeer in Finland (link)
For anyone traveling to Finland at any point ever in the future there are a couple of things to be prepared for. ESPECIALLY if you have plans to visit family and/or friends or become an invited guest to a person’s home. Finns put a lot of emphasis on hospitality and the cultural norm involves providing guests a full plate of freshly baked goods with coffee or tea throughout the day (finland is the largest coffee consumption country in the world so opt for coffee if you can). Below is a photo of the type of spread of treats I’m referring to
It should be noted that this is for just out of bed, morning coffee for five people AND, when my partner’s mother wakes up it will no doubt be added to with cakes and cookies that I could not find this morning (I’m an early riser so do the best I can to put the pastry plate together.) this happens every morning. around the holidays, the spread is of course bigger than usual but it isn’t too far off from the norm. And like I said, somedays, the goodies will spread two, even three plates depending on the number of guests at the table. We sig, we talk, we read the paper. It’s a Finnish ritual. If a friend stops by your house one day in Finland it’s automatic to put on a cup of coffee, pull out the cakes and pastries you have on hand and serve them on a platter to have a chat.
For us younger types during work weeks, our coffee treats for us and a partner at home resemble more like a couple Oreos, sugar cookies, snicker doodles, doughnuts, muffins, just something sweet to enjoy with our coffee while we read the paper and prepare to start the day. We wake up early to be able to enjoy this morning ritual whenever possible.
Oh and in Finland, be prepared to drink at least three sometimes five cups of coffee a day! Maybe more…and turning someone down for coffee or at the minimum tea, puts a target on your back as being a little “strange.” You can probably get away with asking for tea. I can manage coffee and water nicely. And if you want to make good impression, try a couple pastries but know that you are by no means expected to eat them all- Finns just want to offer a wide variety to guests so at least one might draw interest
Oh and quick followup, I was right, second plate of pastries just added to the table (photo below)
Want to get a live shot of Rovaniemi at any time of the day? They have great webcams that refresh every 3-5 seconds. Not full streaming but good still images that can give you a glimpse of some of the main sights and people.
http://rovaniemi.fi/suomeksi/Webcam.iw3
For views of downtown Rovaniemi select Lordi Aukio and Rovakatu for two separate views.
To view the ski slopes check out Ounasvaara.
Below are the views you will see during winter time. These were grabbed from the web a couple days ago at full “sun up”. If you are viewing these in the early morning or evening during winter you’ll see much darker photos as the sun as either set or yet to rise. During the summer you will always see sunlight!
Lordi Aukio, Dec 24th, 2011
http://rovaniemi.fi/layouts/rovaniemi/includes/360/lordi-aukio.asp?sek=10
Rovakatu, Dec 24th, 2011
http://rovaniemi.fi/layouts/rovaniemi/includes/360/rovakatu.asp?sek=10
Ounasvaara, Dec 24th, 2011
http://rovaniemi.fi/layouts/rovaniemi/includes/360/ounasvaara.asp?sek=10
I went out for another run today to celebrate the Christmas holiday and in keeping with the time of year decided to trek up towards Santa Claus Village. Finns observe all Christmas festivities on the 24th (e.g. Opening presents, Christmas sauna, big meal, and leaving flowers on tombstones at cemeteries. But for me, being an American and as most Americans do, we always did Christmas on the 25th so I guess I was hoping to be around something holiday related today. Enjoy the photos and videos from my journey below! I know I did.
1. It was a dark and cold start to the arctic circle
2. Santa Park signs helped me make the right turn (after I ran past it- no entrance this way, had to keep going to find the pedestrian road)
3. I arrived at the entrance. Still about a quarter of a mile to go but Santa looks welcoming to me
4. I made it. I never get tired of this place no matter how many times I go. Guess there’s a big kid in me.
Santa Claus’s main post office is at Santa Claus Village.
And Santa’s office is here too of course (he lives further north in Finland)
That dark line of string above those poles in the photo below is the arctic circle line. And yes, those snowmen are made completely out of snow!
And don’t forget about the reindeer!
Enjoy a video, listen to the music and everyone have a very merry Christmas!
The resolution of the photo isn’t great but below is a Finnish Christmas tree. I decorated it myself this year! Nothing too flashy and made to look like trees in nature but always full of ornaments, candle like lights and tinsel with a star on top.
Finns dot put their tree up until the 23rd of December (fake and real in most cases). Then it stays up until New Years when all Christmas decorations come down.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
This is the table setting before we eat. Some of the extras including cheeses, beets, smoked reindeer and berry sauces for the pig.
This is my Christmas plate. Just pig and mashes potatoes for me this year with two different berry like sauces. And of course a side of milk. Milk or wine is the typical drink for Finnish dinners.
And fir dessert, a traditional plum mousse and cognac. I go nuts for the mousse but pass on the cognac. I’m not Finnish and won’t even try to drink like one
- Posted using BlogPress from msy iPhone
Some photos from my run. Out and about in Rovaniemi, Finland. This is the darkest time of the year here being on the arctic circle. Local time of these photos is about 11:30am. This is “sun up.” I enjoy what I can get. But it isn’t near as cold as it might look. Right around 30 degrees.
