This year, Lonely Planet ranked Finland as a place you can’t afford to miss in 2017.
This is what they wrote:
Fought over by Russia and Sweden for 800 years, Finland finally gained independence in 1917. The Finns will celebrate their centenary with gusto, with events planned in every region. Expect everything from al fresco concerts and communal culinary experiences to sauna evenings and vintage-travel-poster exhibitions. There’s even a new national park, an 11,000-hectare chunk of land in Hossa, studded with pine forests and crisscrossed with rivers. With the country also playing host to the World Figure Skating Championships and the Nordic World Ski Championships this year, there’s never been a better time to discover Finland’s proudly unique culture and landscapes.
(https://www.lonelyplanet.com/best-in-travel/countries)
Proudly unique is a word I would also use when describing my Finland. What I truly appreciate in my home country is its beauty. Above I list three of the most beautiful things in Finland. (in my opinion of course)
1. Nature
There are four seasons in Finland and every one of them has its unique beauty. Winter is probably the best known – and I don’t doubt why. Lapland’s mountains, white forests and frozen lakes are something you can’t beat in beauty.
After a long, dark winter spring’s first sunshine makes Finnish people crazy. Animals and nature woke up from hibernation and starts to prepare themselves for summer.
In summer people have their holidays and many families travel around Finland. One of the most wonderful places is archipelago in the Southern Finland.
When fall is coming trees dye their leaves with red and orange. Finnish ’Ruska’ is wonderfully colorful phenomenon and great time to hike around Lapland.
2. Design
Finnish design is famous all over the world. It’s not just pretty objects but more like a way of life. Everything is designed with care and every little detail is considered well. Finns take inspiration form their nature and you can see it in prints like as in architecture.
Probably the best known Finnish design brands are Marimekko, Iittala, Arabia, Samuji, Minna Parikka, Artek and Finlayson. I bet that every Finn has at least one those brand’s products at home.
3. Food
No words needed.
Well, every summer I can only admire the abundance of fresh fruits, vegetables, mushrooms and herbs we can get. Forests are full of awesome ingredients you can just gather for free.
The Nordic diet is not only one the most healthiest but also one of the most delicious globally. Rye bread, sour milk, herring, salmon, root vegetables, oat… The list of our deliciously healthy foods is endless.
We also have great restaurants – some of them granted with Michelin stars, too. Current trend is to serve dishes that are prepared from fresh, near produced ingredients.
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