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...

Sattasvaara or Sattas-hill The name translates to sand-hill, as "satta" comes from sami-language and means "a place where is a lot of sand". Highest point 515 meters from the sea level, according to my tracker. I visited here first time last winter, when it was cold and shiny day and there was a lot of snow everywhere. And have to say, that it was definitely easier to climb up there in winter time, when all the rocks where under a snow. Now the paths were really tricky and we had to look where we step instead admiring the view.  The northern wind was same as last time, a bit cold. But the sun was shining from the south, as in the last time. So we dicided to eat our sandwiches and drink tea on the door step of the old fire watchman's hut. Hut covered us from the wind and the sun warmed our bodies and souls. And of course the view is better to the south, as there is a big and not so beautiful mine on the northern side of the hill.  ...