First impressions

On our approach to Helsinki airport, looking out the window of the plane we were greeted with views of lakes and forests. This was just a taster of what was to come.

We were only transiting in Helsinki, so the best views of the country were still to come. On our 80 minute flight to Oulu we were treated to wall to wall views of some of the 187,000 lakes of Finland, and it seemed that all of the land between them was forest!

Oulu is a fairly small city as far as we can see. So much of it is woodland that it's hard to see where the boundary of the city might be. In the lovely suburb where we are staying, your neighbours' house can be seen through the trees, and more than likely, easiest reached by a cycle or walking path through the woods!

When I think of the wonderful network of cycle paths, I'm impressed of course, but also I reflect that in olden times people had to travel on foot (or skis) through the forests, and it's likely that the paths were in existence long before urbanisation, so it must have been easier to plan the road network around them, than vice versa.

Nowadays, you start your cycling days in your parents' bike trailer until you get your own set of wheels, and you cycle until your old bones give up!

Just this evening two little lads aged about 5 and 6 passed me on their way to the lake, with their fishing rods and box of bait attached to their bikes! I'm sure there was an adult nearby, but they had the freedom to cycle around in complete safety.

The forest floor around here is covered with blueberry bushes. Just go and take what you want! A bit like blackberries at home, but way more plentiful.

Alice Taylor went to school through the fields, but here the kids go to school through the woods. And there are no fences around any of the schools I've seen. The playgrounds are equipped with climbing frames, swings and various wooden structures. And then after school, there's the public playground just outside!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MFwd65cmbVNUmeU66