These photos were captured using the Kodak EasyShare DX4900.
All images are © TomSettle.Communications.
Tuesday July 15 2003
Antti, Minna’s mother and I drove to the village of Puumala where I met my cousin Tytti. She took me to (her brother) Harri’s house in Lappeenranta.
Checked my email. A friend of Harri’s drove us downtown to catch a bus to Helsinki. We’re going on a cruise to pick up Tytti and Harri’s mom (my aunt) Meeri in Sweden. Harri’s wife and sons are on the same cruise right now, coming back tomorrow.
My cousin Merja and her family (husband Mika and their three young boys) met us in Helsinki and are taking the same cruise with us.
The ship departed late afternoon and will arrive in Stockholm tomorrow morning. We enjoyed the dinner buffet and later went out for drinks.
Wednesday July 16 2003
Arrived in Stockholm around 9 o’clock local time. After breakfast, went to visit Merja and her family in their cabin.
Took the shuttle bus downtown and then walked to the train station. Meeri arrived around 11. We put her bags in a storage locker and then walked around Stockholm for a few hours.
Snapped some photos of an old church and Tytti with a new friend . Passed Ahlens, the largest department store in Sweden.
We shopped a while and stopped for a drink at an outdoor cafe. Tasted especially good on such a hot day! We took the 2 o’clock bus back to our ship. We had another drink out on the deck, Harri and yours truly looking especially serious today!
Went to an early dinner (loaded up on the roast beef!) and shopping at the tax-free store (bought beer, booze and souvenirs). We hit the Fun Bar later in the evening and all had a nice time (including Merja and Meeri).
Thursday July 17 2003
Passed the famous Suomenlinna island on our way into Helsinki harbor.
We arrived around 930AM, then boarded our bus back to Lappeenranta. Harri’s neighbor Risto picked us up downtown.
Hung out at Harri’s house, watched movies with his son Timo and had dinner. Harri’s new washing machine was delivered.
Tytti left for her home, Harri and Timo took Meeri and I back to Alapihlaja. Took some photos
of Meeri’s flowers and her cat Iines.
Liisa, Timo and I went for a swim. Had coffee and cake at Teuvo’s.
Friday July 18 2003
Assembled the furniture I bought last week.
Went to afternoon sauna, played a new wood pin game outside. Snapped a photo of Liisa’s “chorus”.
Leena and Juuli came to visit. Terttu returned from her trip to Estonia.
Saturday July 19 2003
The chimney sweep came in the morning to clean the chimney and fireplace.
Terttu stopped by for lunch and we played some games. My second-cousin Anna-Leena arrived in the afternoon and we went swimming. Our neighbor Leena and her family came along to the beach.
Later we heated up sauna and cooked out on the grill. Liisa finished painting her chorus.
Sunday July 20 2003
Another H-O-T day. Hung out at the cottage most of the afternoon (Anna Leena, Terttu and Liisa enjoyed some desert).
Got a ride to Helsinki with Anna-Leena. She had to drop off a canoe trailer at her rowing club. Walked around the area and took some pictures: the evening sky, famed artist Sibelius and his work (from the front and down under.)
Stopped for pizza at a local pub called Michelangelos, then took the bus to Raija and Ville’s house in Malmi. Watched the movie Stripes and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not on TV, then called it a night.
