CELEBRATING J.L. RUNEBERG - THE SUPERSTAR OF HIS ERA Each year on February the 5th Finland celebrates Johan Ludvig Runeberg (1804-1877), the national poet of Finland, by raising flags and eating ”Runebergin torttu” (Runeberg's Tart). This cylindrical pastry is flavored with almonds and arrack punch or rum and decorated with raspberry jam in a white sugar ring. Picture above:J.L Runeberg in 1863. Picture by Alfred Ottelin.Historical Picture Collection, Finnish Heritage Agency. Legend tells...

WINTER WONDERLAND– ONE MORNING PORVOO OLD TOWN WAS COVERED WITH SNOW. The town looked like it was made of tiny little ginger bread houses. Christmas lights started popping up everywhere in this pretty little town, still quiet. All of a sudden there were lots of people around.Porvoo is a real Christmas town withthreeChristmas Openings and many different markets and events.But there is a sense of calm and peacefulness in the town, even when there are people gathering...

A STEP BACK IN TIME– INTO A FAIRY TALE WHERE TIME STANDS STILL. There I was. Sitting in the dark. Just enjoying the darkness and the silence. I could hear a pin drop. I was absorbed in the ambience of this old house, built in 1780 by master tailor Johan Gestrin, 20 years after the Great Fire of Porvoo. We had just moved to Vuorikatu, Porvoo Old Town. This was to be our home for the next 15 months. We got this amazing and rare chance to experience Porvoo Old Town in a very unique...

LEAVING HUVILAKATU HOODS– BEFORE A NEW BEGINNING THERE MUST BE AN END. Southern Helsinki has been always my soulscape. The sea, wind, parks and beautiful houses create a peaceful mindset that has made me come back to live here again and again.But in a few weeks we, my husband and I, will be leaving our pittoresque Huvilakatu hoods. This area has been very inspiring for me as a designer, the four seasons offering different wonderful treats for photography and design. But I am not...