Scandinavia

The next day we got up around seven o'clock because we wanted to leave early. We didn't manage to leave early, we left at approximately 9:15. Aura had advised us to take the coastal road instead of going through the inland. We had planned to stop several times among the way to see some sights. Our first stop was in Vaasa at the coast where we arrived around noon. First we went to the Tourist Inform to inform about the must-see sights in Vaasa that can be visited in one hour. It turned out there were not that many interesting sights in town so we ended up in a park by the sea where we had our lunch. While sitting there we heard a thunderclap and shortly after we felt the first raindrops. And even before we had packed our things the rain poured down. We were rather wet when we arrived at our car, although it was only a short walk (run actually). We threw our things in the car and left. After a short ride we stopped in a tunnel to re-pack our things and to strap Ciska. In the meantime it was still pouring. Incredible, the amount of water falling down in such a short time. Quickly the small tunnel started to get flooded. The feet of pedestrians and cyclists sheltering in the tunnel became wet. So we left, heading for the E8, the coastal road towards Oulu. The streets in Vaasa looked like rivers. And we couldn't even enter one of the streets we had to take to leave Vaasa, due to the height of the water and water squirting out of the sewer like a fountain. Other cars were turning around, as they couldn't go any further. So we had to take another route to get out of town. But as soon as we left Vaasa, it had stopped raining. We headed for Nykarleby, but when we drove through the main street it didn't look very appealing so we continued without stopping and headed for Jacobstad. In Jacobstad we first went to the Tourist Info to inform about the sights in town. There is an old part with small, winding roads and old wooden houses and there is also the harbour. We drove through the old part, but as we had just seen Rauma, and it is just like that, so we went to the small harbour. On a terrace we had an ice-cream and we had a view over the sea. From Jacobstad we continued via some local roads and we ended up at the E8 again. It is a two-lane highway with maximum speeds of 100, 80 or even 60 kmph through towns. When you are behind a truck it is sometimes difficult to pass them because of all the curves in the roads and the hilly terrain. About 90 km before Oulu we had a short rest break and from there we continued for the last stretch. Around 6.30 pm we entered the street in which Aura, Pekka and their children Veera, Pekka and the newborn baby (without a name, he'll receive one when he is baptized) lives. We had a very warm welcome. There was also a niece, Susanne, staying in the house. The remainder of the evening we spent with eating, drinking and talking and admiring the new world citizen.