It’s been a hot summer…
And as our tiny flat doesn’t have air conditioning (very few flats or houses in Finland do), staying at home has been unpleasant, to say the least. The windows (and a huge balcony) facing west and south turned the flat into a sauna and made sleeping practically impossible.
So, Professor M and I finally had enough.
We escaped our suburban hell and checked into a cool boutique hotel in the centre of town for a couple of nights. It’s a bit crazy to stay in a hotel in your own home town, for sure, but extreme circumstances require extreme measures.
Besides, we often go this particular hotel for drinks, and I was curious to see if the rooms were as stylish as the bar was…
Yes, the room was incredibly stylish. And we were staying in one of the poshest neighbourhoods (where we couldn’t afford to live in, even in our dreams), with dozens of fantastic restaurants at our doorstep.
But I couldn’t have cared less. The air con was just divine. What more do you need?
And did I mention that the sea was just a mere 10 minutes’ walk away?
Right, two nights in the cool hotel was enough for me to develop serious envy towards all the lucky people who get to live in the southern parts of the city (i.e. close to the sea) and I decided it was time to start playing the Lottery again…
And one night back home was enough for Professor M. He loves sauna, just not in his living room. So, he told me, in no uncertain terms, that our heatwave exile would continue: he got us a room for another two nights in a big, resort-like hotel in a quiet residential neighbourhood on the other side of town.
This is were Southern European tourists escape the hot and crowded beaches of the Mediterranean, to enjoy the cool Nordic summers… Except that this time they probably got temperatures they’re used to back home. Hell, even the sea was warm! And I’m talking about the Baltic Sea here, just to clarify…
I love August because the nights are getting darker (though not necessarily cooler), and sunset is earlier. That’s why you’ve seen me post so many sunset pictures on Instagram lately. Now that sunset is before 10 pm, I might still be around to snap a photo (but I couldn’t be bothered to wait till midnight in June…)
In case you’re wondering, the tiny black square on the water in these pictures is a sauna boat.
And now it’s finally cooling down a bit. Not a minute too soon, if you ask me. However, according to the weather report, there’s another heatwave just around the corner…
What do you do to cope with the heatwave?
Tiina
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well, I understand that you escaped to a cool hotel in this heatwave!, we have not AC in our flat and I miss it totally, even if nights are not so hot and we haven't many problems to sleep (well, this is relative, because we have had 39ºC and 18-20ºC in the night, which feels like 'pleasant')When hot is beating down hard in the afternoon I run away to the swimming pool with a book, and spend some time swimming or lounging (in the shadow) until it's time for dinner. I'm very privileged to enjoy a quiet pool surrounded by trees and gardens. Very Privileged!!Glad that it's cooling now!besos
Oh, I remember when I lived in Granada, in an old house. It was very hot outdoors, but the indoor temperature was really pleasant, it was always nice and cool in my flat (and that without air conditioning). It was wonderful. But the downside was the winter: I don't think I've ever been so cold in my life (again, talking about the indoor temperature), and I kept the heating running all day long and the monthly electricity bill was about the same that I would pay in Finland for the whole year…A pool sounds wonderful, and relaxing is probably the best thing to do in this weather.
Oh that looks very beautiful! Sleeping had been a bit of a….uh nightmare!
Oh yes, sleeping in this heatwave, forget it…
Oh Tiina was a brilliant idea. That hotel room looks heavenly. We did the same one Winter when our boiler broke down. The kids still lived at home and at first we all slept in front of the fireplace. It was fun for 2 nights, then we all headed to the local posh hotel. We didn't even leave our rooms – just had hot showers and room service haha. The sunsets look gorgeous! xx Maria
A nice room and room service… You know, I think I could just live in a hotel, full time. If I could afford it.
That sounds like a brilliant way to cope with a heat wave! Such beautiful pictures too.
Thank you. It was great, like having a holiday in my home town.
Hello from Indiana, USA ! I just found your blog through #NotDressedAsLamb link up. I’m not a blogger I’m just a reader (for now anyway).
I have what may be a silly question, I’m going through your past posts and you’ve mentioned a sauna often enough that either it means something different there or you all just use them more often? For “regular” mid class people a sauna is a steam room and only used at a gym after a work out. I thought I saw in one of your posts that you have a sauna in your bathroom?
Do you all use them a lot? And what is a sauna boat? Thanks and I’m enjoying your blog and your writing!
Author
Thanks, Susan! It’s always nice to hear from readers.
And to answer you question(s):
Yes, sauna is a big deal in Finland (after all, we invented, and named, it). We estimate that there are over 2 million saunas in Finland (and 5.5 million people). So, it is almost impossible to find a house without one, and even most apartments have a sauna.
Saunas come in all shapes and sizes. There are not only private saunas but also communal saunas, public saunas (with or without the gym), smoke saunas, sauna-restaurants, mobile saunas (= on wheels), and sauna boats. A sauna boat is simply a boat with an inbuilt sauna. Or a sauna that is also a boat. They are quite common here in summer, and can be hired for special occasions (parties etc).
And yes, my small apartment has a small sauna (fit for two people), as does every apartment in this building.