"I never thought I'd need to pack sunblock for my visit to this Nordic country."
Granted, it was a summer holiday, and I was often told of the mild 20°C summers it enjoys, but I didn’t expect…. what’s Finnish for heatwave?
Yes, it was hot, searingly hot, and dry as well, but not unbearable—mostly because it wasn’t jam-packed with tourists. Also, the fabulous itinerary planned by ambassador Paula Parviainen from the Embassy of Finland in Singapore took me to the serene lakes and coasts, where I could completely enjoy what this beautiful country had to offer. For those travelling to this Nordic country in the summer, these two itineraries work well alone or combined into one longer tour.
(Related: When Dick Lee Visited Finland In Winter)
My trip began with a smooth journey on Finnair’s new A350 aircraft with single window lie-flat seats and Marimekko amenity kits and slippers. The almost 12-hour flight allowed me a good sleep after my supper of creamy salmon soup, and I arrive bright and early in capital city Helsinki.
(Related: How Your In-flight Meals are Prepared)
I say “bright” because it’s summer, and that means glorious long days of sunshine (sunset in July was around 10.30pm). One little gripe is that the Finns aren’t used to hot weather, so many establishments don’t have air conditioning. But at least they’ve mastered the art of installing effective blackout curtains in the hotels.