Finland is a country where people work hard to build large, clean and organized cities with lot of big spaces for very few people. People work hard to save money for their homes that are some of the most expensive homes in the world. Yet they choose to spend most of their free time at primitive cottages that cost almost nothing compared to their homes. When finns have the first chance to get away from the city, the city is deserted immediately. They open the door of the work at friday to leave and while the door is shutting they have already driven 200 miles to some lonely place in the middle of nowhere. Usually the cottage in some dark forest has only flies, sauna, outhouse, darts and then some more sauna to keep them entertained. There could be a really small TV but that is reserved only for rainy days. A big TV on a sunny day would probably be ideologically extremely unhealthy idea. Also listening to the faint noises of some pestering neighbour far away is a popular hobby. A neighbour they saw the last time in 1993 or was it 1989? All suspicious intruders with a car or a boat who enter their heaven within 1 mile radius of the cottage are frowned upon. These dubious intruders usually include relatives who are persona non grata due to some 50 year old fight over the ownership of some part of the forest that nobody has visited in the last 10 years.
Finland is a country where a building gets a lot of criticism before it´s build. After it´s completed it´s accepted. After 20 years it becomes an architectural masterpiece. After 40 years it´s a monument of finnish history that can never be altered anymore. After 60 years it´s an artefact that can be compared to the temples of ancient Greece and India. It doesn´t really matter if it was done cheaply in a hurry using corrugated iron in the 50´s after the war. Meanwhile during all those years nobody has bothered to remove the grass, weeds and small trees growing on the roofs of these masterpieces. It might be in a really bad condition but that doesn´t matter. It´s always perfect in the memories and there sure is lot of memories.
16 comments:
Liked the way you described the buildings of Finland.
Terrific shots.
There's a lot of memories in Finland and the present is based on those memories.
This always amazes me. A nation should go on, not cling to the memories, I think.
Finnish architecture and building skill...it also amazes me, and not in a good way.
Your photos show the soul of Finns, who build homes where they have no time to spend, because of work and cottages.
I like to stay at home.
Sorry about the long comment. Your text inspired me.
Beautiful skies and captures.
Regards.
Thank you for sharing your Finnish perspective! I got such a kick out of your wry humor... made my day :>)
thank you for the humourous insight. Although portuguese are very different from the finns we do have something of the sort: portuguese emigrants build huge houses with dinner room, living room, sometimes salon, a big kitchen and as much en-suite bedrooms as possible. however they spent most of their time in the kitchen...
Beautiful clouds and skies and terrific captures as always, Pietari. And your wonderful, quirky sense of humor always makes me smile and/or laugh out loud. I guess the people of every country have their peculiar ways -- they surely do here, I know! Thanks for you visits and comments, it's always good to hear from you. Enjoy your weekend!
Sylvia
yea, i never give them further either.
First's the pictures, then your post... Finland sounds like a heaven to me ;)
LOL! This is so TRUE!
We Finns are one of a kind...
Great post!
BLOGitse
Well, I would say that these fins are very sympathetic to me yet. You have the most improbable monuments in their own country, a lot of lonely forest with moss fantastic - as in fairy tales, rather go in the sauna than in the cinema and what is best - they obviously have a wonderful sense of humor. Great country, I can only say - and the sky has cream puffs
Thank you for your visits and your wonderful comments, it was my perfect start in a perfect summerweekend
das wünsche ich dir auch!!!
isabella
I like your description of what People in Finland do-very amusing. English people like to get out of the city too and can often be seen spending their weekends in queues on motorways, near seaside resorts or in shopping centres. Maybe staying at home would be the best thing for everybody!
Thanks for your lovely comment too-it really was a beautiful morning!
Being able to get away like that is a great thing. I gotta get me a cottage in the woods. Cheers!
I LOVE your insightful comments about the Finnish culture...and your photos!
Ehhehhee! White clouds in a blue sky. It's like one of those sentimental finnish songs.
You had me in stitches when i was reading your description of how we finns are.
Here's one who'd rather be out at he cottage tending to the gardens there.
Wow you are back, or more like I am back lol. Thanks for the info about Finland, and nice sky photos as usual. Anna :)
Great character description. I don't know any Finns, but we do know Swedes who are passionate about their sommar stuga.
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