Summer Cottage

As mentioned in an earlier post, in celebration of the chairman's birthday Elk's Street arranged for a short stay at a summer cottage - a very Finnish pastime. Traditionally, summer cottages are quite spartan and a place where Finns go to relax from the stresses of modern life. In our case, we had a 'luxury' cottage with all the comforts of home - in fact, it was in much better shape than Elk's Street's normal home.

We were very lucky to have excellent weather and the holiday was a great success.

Somehow Elk's Street hasn't quite grasped the concept of travelling light.

After setting off relatively early, Elk's Street stopped for lunch at Kenkävero, a former vicarage that has been developed as a handicrafts centre and restaurant. There is also a small museum about the marttaliitto.

Kenkävero - the garden with the vicarage in the background.

After a leisurely lunch we continued to Anttolan Wellness Village, the site of our cottage.

View from the cottage.

With a lake on one side, forests on the other side, and a restaurant close enough to be able to walk there for breakfast, Elk's Street was able to enjoy luxury eco-tourism.

Keen blueberyy pickers.


Thomas with some freshly-picked blueberries.

Of course we didn't live off blueberries (and raspberries) alone, as we had fisherman Henry with us.

The boys fishing off the end of the jetty. (When unsupervised they had to wear life-jackets as neither of them swim very proficiently.)


Henry with some of his catch. (Two bream, a fish only suitable for making fish stock.)


Grillmaster Henry hard at work.

Not far from where we were staying was the Anttolan Hovi Manor House, a restaurant and site of the HoviArt modern art exhibition. While we didn't get to check out the restaurant, it had peculiar opening hours, we did get to see a little of the art.

A cow made from car parts.

The main reason for our trip was H-M's birthday - a so-called 'round' birthday - and the great event was celebrated with a special birthday dinner.

For the foodies among you, the menu was:

Starter: Thin vegetable soup with beetroot ravioli
Main course: Warm-smoked rainbow trout with stewed mushrooms
Dessert: Classic baked ice-cream

Elk's Street at table.

Henry helping to serve the spruce-tip champagne.

Warm-smoked rainbow trout with stewed mushrooms.

Classic baked ice-cream.


Henry, who enjoyed the 'pudding'.


The birthday girl

On the final evening we were treated to the beautiful sight of a summer moon rising over the lake.

Summer moon.

Although our stay at the cottage had ended, as The Cat in the Hat says:

"But that is not all!
Oh, no.
That is not all..."

There was still more fun to be had and on the way back home we stopped off in Visulahti theme park.

Thomas in a paddle boat.

The highlight for Henry was getting to drive a go-kart.

Before the race.

In the heat of the competition.


It's all over.

After so much excitement there is not much to look forward to, except in one week's time - the start of the new school year!