Atlantica - 01.01.2006, Page 40

38 AT L A N T I CA
VAPPUa
senses
of Finland
5#
ALL FIVE SENSES IN FINLAND
SEE Lapland through the eyes of a
local. Pick up one of the novels of
Arto Paasilinna, one of Finland’s
most celebrated authors and
Lapland’s native son.
SMELL the eucalyptus essence heat-
ing up in the sauna. Try the one on
Lake Anneljarva, in the middle of
Levi, or go 8km out of town to the
village of Taivaanvalkeat, where
there is a 100-year-old log sauna on
the banks of the Ounasjoki River.
FEEL the icy water hit your skin
when you go for an ice swim to cool
off after you heat up.
TASTE the land around you. Eat
locally gathered cloudberries, pota-
toes, wild mushrooms, fresh fish,
and reindeer. Then learn how to
make them yourself on a Lappish
cooking course in the village of
Taivaanvalkeat.
HEAR the party. Halavatun Papat,
a Lappish moped club gone band,
performed on the slopes at last
year’s Vappu festival in Levi. The
club unofficially holds the world
record for sitting in a sauna fash-
ioned out of a moped chassis: over
29 hours. Beat that.

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