The trip north brought some 'fun' roads! This is in Rovaniemi. We stayed in what amounted to a youth hostel, (a lot of youth from France were there) down on the right where the 2 big trucks are parked. It was such beautiful winter weather. You really were glad you had 'long johns' on. We visited Santa's Village, several times. We went back and then back to buy more postcards and Santa stamps etc etc. Took our pictures on the Arctic Circle and saw the reindeer. What more do you want??
We ate at the world's most northern McDONALDS!!! wahoo!
We left Rovaniemi and went to Sweden! Just over the border. But we enjoyed our Swedish vacation. No stamp in our passport because it also is an EU country. We got out at the round about in the middle of town and took pictures of the 3 ice sculptures there. Wayne talked to a woman going by on her kick sled. (There is a picture of Grandmother Mae Johnson on her kick sled in the family histories) We saw some children in Rovaniemi using them to go to school.
On to the Snow Castle. COLD. That's the word that totally fits. VERY COLD. A 'fine dining' area with ice tables and a sheet of plastic for the table top. The stools were tree trunks covered with fur. The bedrooms all had ice beds covered in fur. The place is booked up all the time. A fun place but VERY COLD
That night we stayed in Oulu. We all participated in a Temple Fireside. The Fuller's spoke and the rest of us introduced ourselves and spoke a few words about the temple. It is amazing to visit these branches and recognize a few people everywhere you go as members you have visited with in the temple. Love it.
The next day we drove to Seinäjoki. We stopped in Larsmo/Pietarsaari on the way!! This is where my Grandfather Johnson designed and built the 1st chapel in Finland! It is now a private home. We took pictures and the owner came out and wanted to know what Americans were doing there. Wayne told him and he went to his garage and showed the original church sign he had found inside the house when he bought it. It was very awesome to see this bit of family and church history.
Later when we went to the current church building there were the pulpit and pump organ original to the Larsmo chapel!! My grandfather was height impaired so that pulpit probably fit very well. There were a lot of words spoken from that piece of wood. (They were in the classroom area).
The Branch President, Leif Back, met us and took us to the spot where Finland had been dedicated by Ezra T. Benson, in 1946, for teaching the Gospel. It wasn't just a walk through the forest and up a small incline. Pres. Back went earlier and stomped a narrow trail for us...then he even had boots in his car for everyone!! There is a plaque but we will have to go back when there is no snow to read the words. It was so interesting to be there. The reason that spot was chosen is because it was the highest spot in the area. There are many Swedish people in this area of Finland so at this Branch everything is done in Swedish and Finnish. Even the name on the building is in both languages. Swedish is an official second language in Finland. All street signs, throughout the country, are in Finnish and then underneath in Swedish. The Johnson ancestors are from this area...can't wait to go back in the months with no snow and visit some cemeteries and city registers.
We did another temple fireside and renewed some acquaintances and made new ones. This branch president invited the press to the fireside. The reporter who came was more interested in Mitt Romney than the temple. But we weren't. Had a very nice time. The video made for the temple open house in 2006 was shown at both firesides. Grandmother and Grandfather Johnson were even in the video in a picture taken of the first missionary group in Finland! (It also is in the Johnson histories!)
This branch rents a building that used to be a bank. It has a sauna (which everyone was quick to point out is only used for a storage room) and the most amazing room, in all of the world wide church, for the LIBRARY!! The VAULT!!! hahaha Now it is not just a key but a combination. So funny.
This picture is of Hämeenlinna Castle. It was begun in the 13th and 14th centuries as a Swedish forttress. It was most recently used as a women's prison. Currently it is a park and tourist site. There is also a military museum there which houses canons from several wars.
This the beautiful Tampere Finland Orthodox Russian Church. We could not go inside because there was a funeral in progress.
We had a great
time on our 6 day trip with 8 people in a 9 passenger van!
From this picture you can see that we are entering the sunset of our lives.
Sunset at 4:46 p.m.
Rovaniemi, Finland
