I met Konsta at Helsinki Tourist Expo last January. His outlook was everything but Finnish: dark complexion, greekish eyebrows, clean and glowing look. I really giggle in myself about the general Finnish man stereotype: blonde, cold, reserved and rather shy. Perhaphs all the non-typical Finns are rarely seen around as they live at the countryside :). Konsta created with a simple but marvelous invention: pellet heated smoke sauna, a well-behaved stove, a real tamagotchi. It can be fed from cell phone and never gets itself burned down. An invention simply ahead of its time.
A few months later he joined my Transylvanian tour with his wife, Kristiina. I am blushing again on my mind, how I created secreatly this Finnish leader stereotype in my mind of all females from Finland. Kristiina is just like a Finnish version of Meryl Streep, who has been way too busy to be nomitated for an Oscar. So far :). I week ago I had the honour to pay a visit with friends to Loimaa (Western Finland). They invited us to their home. When Finnish people invite you in their households and home sauna, it is a clear sign that you gained their friendship. If I was lulling myself before with the image, that country life in Finland in less demanding in work and persistance, than in Transylvania, here I quickly changed my mind. They work from daylight to dawn, earn their living from different incomes. Recicle, invent new things from dismantled stuff, save where they can. Their smoke sauna (amazing!!) was chosen the best smoke sauna in Finland 2015. Later on we tried our the ice pool and the hot tub made from an old dairy milk tank. Rarely encounter such a happy couple in the materialistic everydays. Their balance and harmony made the whole atmosphere calm and radiant. And in the pleasant smoke and moist heat of the sauna we emptied our busy minds. Honest, delicious local food served at the the end. Go and to try out their hospitatlity. But take the risk to get enslaved by their company and sauna. Hearty thanks Kristiina and Konsta and namaste :).
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The happiest surprise ever in my horse riding career was riding without horseshoes in North Norway. In Romania I could never have imagined a trail ride without that pit-a-pat sound of the iron shoe, and though the ground usually swallows this harsh noise, you just simply feel from the saddle, your horse is standing on iron sole. The simple idea that a horse can also run barefoot, and it does so well, even better than when is wearing shoes, made me really laugh on the flash, when we catch ourselves barefeet or clothless and enjoy enourmously the feeling of nakedness. Try to put sometimes yourself into the shoes of your horse and if you have the chance, try out the barefeet horse riding.
The second day of the new year 2017 started with sparkling snow, bright sunlight and icy breaths on the western hills surrounding the town of Odorheiu Secuiesc. We were on horseback, the horses on snowback. The tiny stable dog, Vakarcs was our guide through the white landscape. Wish all of you a slow start of the new year 2017!
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