Monday - 10.09.2012 a day of work for the volunteers

We woke up and the day wasn’t looking very good – it was foggy and dark…

… our fridge looked alright – meaning, no animals had tried to get to our food…

… we finally got to the place where we were supposed to be working at – VARKHANMUKKA a nature trail and the log houses of the Hiking Association, we had first a guided tour around the whole place.

My job?... – To start a fire, keep it going for the others to get warm, after they had done their jobs, get the water from the well to put it out at the end, the other Isabel’s job was to help me out and then help Seppo chop wood, carry it over to the Kotka and put back some wood for the next users… interesting concept. I’ve learnt to start a fire the Finnish traditional way with the forest rules – quite nice!

Other volunteers' jobs were to paint and repair windows...

We then picked up the others from the road, while we worked and had lunch they had gone for a walk on the forest and followed some trails.

We kept on to Ketomella at the Pallas-Yllästunturi, left the bus and had a walking tour to lake Hietajärvi, where we had coffee and sausages, and then back home.

On the way back… some more visitors greeting us.

…and beautiful nature

… and of course, Taking Care…

SUNDAY – 09.09.2012

Once more and on our day-off, we had a great day – beautiful scenery and a special encounter with reindeers crossing our path…

In reality, we walked for a while and we had a wonderful day at the Jyppyrä fjeld nature’s trail, we had a great view to the Ounasjöki, which led to the Ounasjärvi and the island Karjalansaari, the Ounastunturi at a distance; we admired nature at its best.

At the visitor’s centre in Hetta, we learnt about the Sámi’s reindeer herding and lifestyle; saw an artist’s exhibition – quite interesting, and bought a few souvenirs.

It all ended with a traditional camp fire, sausages and coffee; and a visit to the church (Kirkko)

On the way back… some more reindeer grazing by the road.

Saturday 08September - Lapland at last!

We finally arrived in Lapland with the beautiful nature to admire, after some hours by bus and a few stops on the way. Someone woke me up - we are getting to Rovaniemi... and indeed we were I recognized the Artikum - a museum about Sámi and their way of life and all related to Lapland and how it evolved economically, and what have been their sources of income throughout the years.

On Saturday, we just enjoyed the scenery, the different species of plants, mushrooms and berries – the most amazing view was to actually watch reindeer grazing by the side of the road: white, brown and grey ones. After walking for 2 Kms and spectacular views were ahead:  ponds with clear waters; brown, green, yellow and red leaves – just so beautiful! 

A wonderful day in the Lappish nature with a camp lunch – coffee and sausages, 2 more Km and a bus ride back to our cottage at Raattama where a wonderful dinner, sauna and evening coffee awaited us.