These photos were captured using the Kodak EasyShare DX4900.
All images are © TomSettle.Communications.
Monday July 7 2003
Overcast and rainy day. Hung out at the cottage and worked in the woods. Liisa and Terttu went to Virojoki for the day, later Terttu came to our cottage for dinner.
Visited Teuvo, then went to Leena’s. Leena’s grandaughter Juuli was shy at first but was soon playing and having a good time. Juuli’s dad Jorma showed me his homemade guitar and played a few tunes. Said he had reserved a new domain name where he planned to build a family website.
Liisa called her cousin Raija and arranged for us to visit their cottage in Savitaipale tomorrow (Raija’s husband Ville’s birthday).
Tuesday July 8 2003
Visited Teuvo in the afternoon, then went to Virojoki for their Tuesday market. Liisa and Terttu bought some happanveli, a popular local dish.
We were then on to Savitaipale to celebrate Ville’s birthday. Gave him wine, cognac, flowers and some of that happanveli.
Went to sauna. Neighbors came to visit and share some birthday cake. There were more visitors: a family of ducks.
Wednesday July 9 2003
Another rainy day, which Raija’s flowers seemed to enjoy.
Ville rowed out to check his fish traps. There were two fish (pike I believe) which were fried up for lunch.
Played some cards before departing late in the afternoon. We stopped in Taaveti for groceries, then cooked dinner at Teuvo’s.
Came back to the cottage and weather was rather cool. Liisa started a fire in the fireplace, but something was wrong with it. Smoke started coming out all over and we wound up airing
out the cottage for a few hours. Planned to call the chimney sweep tomorrow.
Thursday July 10 2003
Hung out at the cottage. Slept until 1130AM and much of the afternoon.
Found out my cousin Maraike and her son Alex were coming from Germany on the 22nd. Talked to Antti about going to Puumala tomorrow.
Teuvo came over for dinner, later went to his place to check email (laptop wound up crashing). Liisa arranged for chimney sweep to come on Saturday the 19th. Played some games.
Friday July 11 2003
Went with Liisa and Terttu to Hamina. Bought some furniture (chest of drawers, computer desk) and had some coffee in the marketplace.
Took a 2.5 hour bus ride to Imatra where Antti and Ella met me at the bus station. Stopped in Imatra for groceries then on to Puumala. Went to sauna…lake water was still cold. Cooked salmon outside on the grill.
Saturday July 12 2003 to Monday July 14
Tried to jot down diary notes from memory and some info was a bit hazy, so I’m combining these 3 days together.
We went by motorboat to a nearby island and did some exploring. Here Lotta and Ella wave to a passing boat and Lotta poses for a picture with me.
Took another boat trip to Puumala and stopped for a drink at a local bar. Played many games of Monopoly and did lots of swimming with Antti and the girls. Water temp got up to 24 degrees Celsius.
Some more photos: a view of the sauna from the lake, Lotta close-up and Minna’s father relaxing after sauna.
