I just had the most surprising adventure in my backyard. I was taking garbage out to the dumpster, and it being such a bright and windy day, I decided to take a walk.
The earth was rocky, but not in the sense that it was filled with pebbles. It WAS rock. There were just a few licks of soil on top of a massive formation. I started up a path, and I got about half-way when I decided that my slippery-soled dress-boots were hindering more than helping me. Naturally, I took them off. At the top of the promontory, there was a large open area of exposed gneiss about the size of a city block.
I don't think anyone saw me, but if they did I would have appeared a bit eccentric-- a barefoot foreigner in a blazer hopping from rock to rock in the woods.
In a dip between outcrops, I stumbled upon a large blueberry patch. I couldn't believe it. I pulled my boots back on and picked blueberries until my fingers were purple from juice. Finland has "jokamiehenoikeus", meaning "every-man's right", which allows you to walk, harvest wild berries and mushrooms, and even camp on open countryside as long as you aren't close to someone's house. This includes private lands.
As I was scampering around the rocks I could smell wood smoke, and I felt as far from Helsinki as DC is from the Shenandoah. It boggles my mind that there is a park like this >5 miles from downtown. Finland seems much more natural than the rest of Europe. They still have bears and wolves in their northern lands.
If I get up early enough, I'll go for another walk before work tomorrow.
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I LOVE THIS STORY. I wish I was there frolicking around with you in the woods. Please take photos of your bare feet on large slabs of rock and berry covered fingies next time :-) loving the blog. and good call on the taters in the beef stew, clearly. wish i could try your tarts!!!
ReplyDeletePS. My favoriteeee artist is Finnish. His name is Klaus Haapaniemi - he's the one who did the art for the Owl cup I bought and that is now tattooed on my back. See if you can find anything by him!! He's the man but I can't find anything here in the US. Actually, why don't you see if you can find HIM and bring him back as a souvenir?
I was so psyched to see a cellphone store employee with our mug-- he had his name taped to his. I love how ubiquitous that whimsical style is here!
ReplyDeleteI also love Klaus, and will nab him if I spot him on the street. If you get a large box from me with holes punched in it... please open promptly.