My Northern Home

It took me a while to decide what I want to write about my summer trip to Åland. The whole experience was just amazing and it is really hard to pin point something out there above the others. I will keep posting to instagram about the places I visited during my stay, but the one thing I can't put in couple pictures, is the one experience I have no pictures at all. On the first evening in the Saltvik viking village we had an opportunity to take a part in Bolt-ritual. It is a viking ritual, where we gathered on the old burial mound with the old gods. We stand in the stone circle with statues of Odin, Thor and Freya. There in the darkness of southern evening, in the light of the burning torches, we had an opportunity to ask something from the gods or thank them and give offer to them. One  by one people stand out to the middle of the circle and spoke out to the gods and us. As I stood there, I could feel something open up inside me somethin...

I actually decided to take my own advice quite literally. So on my way to work I stopped the car next to this small river, which I cross every day on my way. I started to walk bushy track, that was following the river. The place weren't magical or exceptionally interesting, but I was smiling. Just being outside. For stopping. The river is called Vaiskojoki I found a lot of beautiful plants by the river and nearby swamp. Maariankämmekkä or Heath spotted-orchid  (Dactylorhiza maculata ) is actually very common in the north, and yet it stands out from the other vegetation as an exotic Orchid family member.  Suopursu or Wild rosemary ( Rhododendron tomentosum ) is one of my favorite plants. I love the strong smell which always welcome me when entering to a swamp. Metsätähti or Arctic starflower (  Trientalis europaea ) is surprisingly common here in the north. I think it's really beautiful.  Mesimarja or Arctic raspberry (...