These photos were captured using the Sony Mavica MVC-FD91 Digital Camera or the Aptek Mega Cam. All images are © TomSettle.Communications.
Saturday June 22 2002
Another day by the lake with Antti’s family. We played Monopoly…I won the first game and Antti the rest. Snapped this pic of chef Antti and nephew Sami.
Sunday June 23 2002
Went by motorboat to nearby Puumala, where we had a drink at a local cafe. Antti and I played hide and seek with the kids. Here Antti’s daughters Ella and Lotta, along with their cousin Janina, scrub some rocks in the lake.
Monday June 24 2002
Said goodbye to Minna and her family, then Antti took me back to Harri’s house. We had some coffee and sandwiches before Harri went to work.
Mirja and the kids came home later. She and I went shopping at Anttila and Citymarket (two popular chain stores). Watched some movies with the boys.
Tuesday June 25 2002
Harri had to work all day. Mirja and her girlfriend went on a day trip to Russia. Minna was sick with a stomach virus. Terttu arrived in Alapihlaja this morning.
The boys and I went to Pizza Buffet…it was all-you-can-eat for 5.50 euros…about $5. That included 3 bottles of Koff low-alcohol beer! I love this place! Mirja returned home and we stayed up til about 3AM, talking and consuming adult beverages LOL.
Wednesday June 26 2002
Got up late morning and went to Mirja’s new office. Harri met me there and drove me back to Alapihlaja. I visited with Teuvo and Meeri. Liisa and Terttu went to nearby Virojoki to shop and see some friends. Terttu came to our cottage for dinner.
Thursday June 27 2002
Went to sauna this morning. Our friends Raimo and Raija picked us up and we went to visit Eva and Mauri (my grandmother’s cousin) in Siikasaari. They have a great summer place, including a nice old cottage and a great view of the water.
Here the group poses for a photo in front of their newer cottage. R&R invited us to spend the night at their home near Kotka. We went shopping at Prisma, cooked makkara in the fireplace and watched a DVD I made of our family trip to Florida.
Friday June 28 2002
Went shopping at Anttila and Citymarket in Kotka. Ran into my cousin Jouni and his wife Teija, who works at Citymarket. Raimo and Raija’s granddaughter Saara came by bus from Helsinki.
We went on a tour of Kotka, stopping by a local fishing spot and an old fort which is now a beautiful garden. I also snapped a photo of an old watertower.
No tour of Kotka is complete withput the requisite trip to the city park, Sapokanlahti. Raimo, Liisa and Saara enjoyed the park, as did some of its residents.
Raimo and Raija drove us back to Alapihlaja, where Mirja’s friend Marja picked me up to go back to Lappeenranta…confused yet?
Minna and her boyfriend dropped Mirja, Marja and I off at Monrepos, a popular dancing place in town. We got home around 4AM and had something to eat. I was exhausted and went to bed, while M&M stayed up talking until 8AM.
Continue to Week #3
