| Finland is for the most part a quiet
land, where a ramshackle cottage by a lake and a properly stoked
sauna is all that's required for happiness. It's a vast expanse of
forests and lakes and more forests, punctuated by towns full of
people who are genuinely surprised to see tourists.
During the months of the midnight sun, coastal regions are a
sailing and fishing paradise. Inland, the largest unspoilt
wilderness in Europe attracts thousands of trekkers every year. In
the south, the capital Helsinki is a paradise for lovers of art and
architecture.
When the nights are long in Finland (and they can be very, very
long) it's tempting to huddle inside with a vodka, but it's much
more fun outdoors. You can ski across vast frozen lakes or relax in
a sauna, beating yourself ever so gently with a fragrant branch of
birch leaves to loosen the travel grime.
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