Today I realized how the days are slowly getting longer. For those who haven't experienced the northern winter, let me tell you it's damn long, cold and dark. I am lucky to live in the southwest, where the winters are mild, but in northern Finland, called Lapland, the winter's really harsh. In a way it is no surprise why we Finns are such heavy drinkers and melancholy; what else is there to do on those lightless nights except to open the Koskenkorva or Finlandia?
In summer it's a different story. The Midnight Sun! We celebrate Midsummer (Juhannus) in the end of June, millions of Finns escape the cities and go for sauna, swimming and sausages by the thousands of lakes (hey, that rhymes!!)
So the light is increasing, and the birds have started to sing a little, always a sign of the spring approaching, even though it's still quite far away. February's the coldest month of the year.
I'll try to carry my camera when I go out, and yesterday I took this shot of an ice sculpture. It was amazing to think how in just a few months I can go swimming to the exactly same place!
1 comment:
I consider myself extremely lucky because I can experience all the four seasons; sometimes I wish I lived someplace warm but I'm sure I'd miss the winter, because at it's best it is amazing, the cold and sunny days are magical. The spring often comes with such a violence, and the short but warm Finnish summer is full of light and flavours, followed by crispy and colourful autumn...
Post a Comment