FABLES FROM FINLAND
Getting across the Arctic Circle… on a Recce to Rovaniemi
This impromptu summer sojourn happened to be a precursor to helping plan a more elaborate winter adventure to Lapland.
It was a hot Sunday morning, and we were just outside the center of Rovaniemi. Google Maps tends to confuse more often than not, so we decided to trust our instincts as we ventured further. Most of the shops that we passed by were closed, and there was not a soul in sight. Then we saw a middle-aged woman crossing the road, two bags in hand.
We waited to ask her a question or two, once she had crossed. She was kind enough to respond to our queries and also give us an overview of the city she was born in. We thought we were bothering her a bit too much, and attempted to excuse ourselves and let her resume what she was doing. She remained unperturbed.
“I don’t have much to do anyways,” she said, before going ahead to help in every way possible. From giving directions to our hotel to helping us with the only supplies store that would be open on a Sunday, to suggesting the better restaurants and also a checklist of things to do…she went out of her way to help us out. Even as we expressed our gratitude she responded in a tongue-in-cheek manner.
