Continuing our exciting Hitchhiking Summer 2015, things became even more spontaneous in Finland then before. One day before we arrived in Helsinki, we noticed that we didn’t have a host yet. So I sent a message to some couchsurfers in Helsinki:
“Hi, we are a group of 12 hitchhikers, arriving in Helsinki tomorrow. Could you host us?”
About 5 minutes later, Veera accepted us:
“Yeah sure! You are very welcome if you do not destroy my flat too much. See you tomorrow”
About 23 hours later we were sitting in the cozy living room of Veera and Rebecca, two absolutely relaxed, generous and open-minded Finnish girls. I think we spent 3 nights there... (Personally I lost a bit track of time during our stay.)
“Hi, we are a group of 12 hitchhikers, arriving in Helsinki tomorrow. Could you host us?”
About 5 minutes later, Veera accepted us:
“Yeah sure! You are very welcome if you do not destroy my flat too much. See you tomorrow”
About 23 hours later we were sitting in the cozy living room of Veera and Rebecca, two absolutely relaxed, generous and open-minded Finnish girls. I think we spent 3 nights there... (Personally I lost a bit track of time during our stay.)
Helsinki is a beautiful city with many attractions and possibilities for young people. We also visited some of the small islands around the city and enjoyed the sun.
After an “illuminating” time in the finish capital, we moved on towards Turku, where we spent the night at Ilkkas peaceful place. We had delicious burgers and a little moonlight walk through Turku. Early in the next morning, six of us (Eline, Kayo, Paula, Andi, Kübra and Phil) hitchhiked north towards the Lauhanvuoren National Park. Diederik, Shane, Luuk and Markus stayed another day in Turku and took the ferry directly to Stockholm.
After an “illuminating” time in the finish capital, we moved on towards Turku, where we spent the night at Ilkkas peaceful place. We had delicious burgers and a little moonlight walk through Turku. Early in the next morning, six of us (Eline, Kayo, Paula, Andi, Kübra and Phil) hitchhiked north towards the Lauhanvuoren National Park. Diederik, Shane, Luuk and Markus stayed another day in Turku and took the ferry directly to Stockholm.
The trip from Turku to the national park was the first real hitchhiking challenge. We had many small rides and it took us quite a while. At the end Kübra and me were lucky, because our driver offered us a lift directly into the park. On the way there, we made a little stop at his house to pick berries from his garden. The two largest berries (which we picked up on the road to the national park) were Kayo and Eline ;-). Andi and Paula arrived at the national park an hour after us, when dinner was almost ready. We camped at a small lake for two nights. We had a camp fire spot, a camping kitchen and a jetty to jump into the water. During the day we hiked through the beautiful, changing finish landscape. During the night we played cards and shared deep thoughts at the fire. This was definitely the natural highlight of the whole trip!
After the time-out in the park, we traveled further to Vaasa, where we planed to take the ferry to Umea. Getting out of the national park proved to be challenging already, because the amount of cars there in the morning is obviously limited. We were already walking for 45 minutes towards the park entrance, when a van came our way and stopped. The peaceful smiling driver agreed to bring us the 7 km out of the park. Kübra and me took the front seats while the rest climbed in the back of the van, trying to find a comfortable spot inbetween all the fuel cans, chain saws and other tools. The driver made a friendly impression on me, constantly nipping at his “good-morning-beer”. He told us we were lucky that he was already so drunk this morning, because usually he is afraid to talk to people. What a fortune!
The main road, where he dropped us off, was also not very busy. We played cards on the road and waited for any kind of vehicle. A tractor with a mower stopped, but the driver didn't want to let us sit on the mower blades for same reason. It took about 2-3 hours until all of us had a ride.
The main road, where he dropped us off, was also not very busy. We played cards on the road and waited for any kind of vehicle. A tractor with a mower stopped, but the driver didn't want to let us sit on the mower blades for same reason. It took about 2-3 hours until all of us had a ride.
Arriving in Vaasa at the evening, we realized that the ferry only goes once a day in the morning. Therefore we camped another night in Finland inside a little blueberry forest nearby the harbor. The next morning we managed to get a ticket to Sweden and said "Good bye beautiful Finland"...
Finland was the first Scandinavian country I have ever been. It was a very different experience compared to Poland and the Baltics, since hitchhiking turned out to be much more complicating. Communicating was easier, because the Finns speak better English, but people seemed more closed and reluctant to me. What I really liked was that we have seen the life in the city as well as natural environment. It gave me a very multifaceted perspective.
Finland is definitely recommended!
Cheers, Phil
Finland was the first Scandinavian country I have ever been. It was a very different experience compared to Poland and the Baltics, since hitchhiking turned out to be much more complicating. Communicating was easier, because the Finns speak better English, but people seemed more closed and reluctant to me. What I really liked was that we have seen the life in the city as well as natural environment. It gave me a very multifaceted perspective.
Finland is definitely recommended!
Cheers, Phil