Today @ the beaches

Aurinkolahti in Helsinki, and Kuusijärvi in Vantaa. Today was a really sunny and warm day, it was quite perfect for beach time.

Sauna @ Syväjärvi

Having a few beers and enjoying good sauna at Kisko/Pertteli.

Midsummer @ Iitti, Finland

Iitti sure offers some beautiful sights in the summertime. Too bad I didn't have my cell phone with me at Hiidenvuori, a 60m high rock "mountain", with great views to the surroundings.

Winners sports bar @ Pirita

This is new area in Tallinn for me, Pirita. Winners is a nice bar near the Pirita (St. Bridget's) cloister ruins.

The hawk's trail @ Saari

When my kid is just a little bit older, we'll do this hike too. :)

Laavu @ Kotojärvi

As mentioned in my previous entry, there is "laavu" and a nature trail within a comfortable distance from where I live.

We are having a nice morning hike with my son there. Too bad I didn't bring any sausage to grill. :)

Somewhere around Mäntsälä

There was a nice list of nearby sights in the local newspaper, "Mäntsälä summer 2009 edition". I'm writing some of the stuff down here, mostly for my own reference.

For nature lovers, the paper advises to visit Huovila park in Kärkölä. The park is desrcibed to present unique English-style scenery.

Saari offers something for people who like to hike and wander outdoors - Haukankierros, a nature trail. Its' lenght is approximately five kilometers, so it's good to reserve about two hours of time for taking the trail. Difficulty level of the trail is desrcibed as "challenging".

Another nature trail worth mentioning is Laukkoski, in Pornainen. Difficulty or lenght of the trail are not described in the article in more detail.

There is "laavu" in Kotojärvi. This place is relatively close to Mäntsälä's city area, only approximately five kilometers away.

Near Järvenpää is Lemmenlaakso recreational area with three kilometre nature trail.

There are total of nine public beaches in the Mäntsälä area: Sälinkään ranta in Kilpijärvi, Keravanjärven ranta in Keravanjärvi, Nummisten ranta in Mustijoki, Onkimaan ranta in Isojärvi, Sääksjärven ranta in Sääksjärvi, Sahajärven ulkoilualue and Hautjärven ranta in Sahajärvi, Saaren ranta and Levannon ranta in Hunttijärvi. In all of these beaches are simple dressing cabins and toilets. The water quality is monitored and basic area cleaning is performed. Lifeguards are not on duty, however, so swimming is at one's own risk.

Within an hour drive from Mäntsälä is Kymijoki, the longest river in Finland. There are many places for fishing in Mäntsälä and Pornainen: Lukkokoski, Karjakoski, Myllykoski and Kirveskoski.

For kids, Kotieläinpuisto at Orimattila most probably offers a nice experience. There are for example pigs, bores, rabbits and cows. The park is open from beginning of June until the 16th of August.

In Hirvihaara are Jatila stables, for people who like horses.

Finland is a land of open air summer theatres. So for culture fans, Ohkola has open-air theatre having performances during the summer. Elsewhere in the paper there is also a mention about Jokelanseutu barn theatre(!), located near Järvenpää, open air theatres in Askola, in Pukkila and the Katinhäntä open air theatre in Mäntsälä. Also, in Tuusula is Krapi open air theare, probably most "professional" of these all with its' large 350-seat venue.

If Matti ja Teppo is your cup of tea, be sure to visit Mäntsälän lava, a dancing place.

A little further from Mäntsälä, city of Porvoo has a very nice wooden old town area. It's possible to take cruise to Porvoo with steam boat J.L. Runeberg.

In Askola are very nice "hiidenkirnus" (what's hiidenkirnu in English? "Big pits in the rock that have formed in the ice age").

Regarding events, hot air balloon flying Finnish championships will be held during 5th to 8th of August in Mäntsälä. The competition is open also for foreigners.

In June 13th there will be museum cars gathering in the centre of Mäntsälä.