The ScandiTrip: Day 5
Savonlinna to Oulu via Kuopio (approx. 444km/275mi traveled)
We had a long drive ahead of us today, about 275 miles north to a city called Oulu. We decided to stop in Kuopio to break up the trip. But first, we were “intercepted” by the Airbnb host’s dad, who met us at the top of the hill while we were loading up the car. He chatted with us a bit but kept staring at me all googly-eyed. He then asked me for a hug before we left! I laughed out loud at that. Not very Finnish of him, but I must applaud him in his excellent taste in women.
Before departing Savonlinna, we went back to the city center so I could take a dip in the lake. The weather was overcast and cool - not exactly swimming weather. I made my way into the water, and it wasn’t as cold as I thought it would be, but it was still COLD! Even the locals were surprised that I was swimming, and a few stopped to watch me. I know it sounds ridiculous, but cold water (and ice baths) really do refresh you. My lake dip gave me the shot of energy I needed to make this long drive.
A little stop in Kuopio
Kuopio is a convenient spot to stop about halfway between Savonlinna and Oulu. We needed to stretch our legs. When we arrived, we strolled around the harbor, which had some neat restaurants (located inside docked boats!) and … a carnival! There was a giant Ferris wheel, go karts, carnival games, food, and music. What a nice surprise! It was great for people watching. We walked to the end of the harbor, where we came across a little park and playground. It couldn’t resist dipping my toes in the water … it was even colder than the lake water in Savonlinna!
Some Delicious (and Funny) Things Happened on the Way to Oulu
Even though we had a bite to eat in Kuopio, we pulled over for coffee and a snack at a truck stop … somewhere. I don’t even remember the name of the place where we stopped, but I do remember they had some excellent pastries. The riisipiirakka (sweet rice pie) blew me away. It was rice-y, cheesy, savory, and sweet all at the same time. Tasting riisipiirakka jogged my Bonus Mom’s memory because she remembered eating it as a child, and hadn’t thought about it in decades. I wish we had pastries like these at truck stops!
After a couple more hours of driving, I had to face the inevitable: filling up the gas tank. I was anxious about that from the day we picked up our rental Opel at the airport. What if there was no English-language option at the gas pump? What if I needed to communicate with the person inside the gas station … and failed? Heck, what if I couldn’t even figure out how to get the ****ing gas cap open? (Remember my embarrassing gear stick ordeal from Day 1?)
As the fuel level neared E, I resolved to pull over at the next gas station and just figure it out, gosh darn it. My anxiety was unwarranted, as I was able to pay at the pump and the computer system had English, Finnish, Russian, and Swedish language options. I also managed to locate the switch to open the gas pump from inside the car. Success!
I Ate Rudolph
With our gas tank full but our stomachs empty after some more time on the road, we reached Oulu in desperate need of dinner. Our evening meal turned out to be unexpectedly good, considering that we were both exhausted and chose a restaurant - a pizzeria - at random. I had a reindeer pizza with bleu cheese, and it was probably one of the most delicious pizzas I’ve ever tasted. It was huge, and I ate the whole thing. I paired the pizza with a very Finnish concoction: a grapefruit and gin cocktail known as a lonkero (“long drink”). More on that later.
Sew Patches on Your Pants … and Start a Convo?
Oulu is a university town, and Bonus Mom and I enjoyed walking around the downtown area after dinner. It was full of students out for a night of bar hopping, clubbing, and just strolling around wanting to see and be seen. Many of them already had adult bevvies in hand - probably a smart move, as I’m sure it’s cheaper to just buy a drink from the store instead of at a bar!
We noticed many students were wearing oversized pants covered in colorful patches. My stepmom, ever the curious extrovert, stopped a group of young people and asked them what the different patches meant. It turns out each patch represented a particular field of study, hobby club, or other extracurricular activity. Someone could look at your pants and tell which college you attend, what you study, and what your interests are. I thought that was so neat and also a great conversation starter (maybe that’s the point, given this nation of introverts?) It worked, too — Bonus Mom and I had a good 20-minute conversation with some students and they were so excited to talk about their studies and future plans. That conversation was one of the most memorable things I experienced today.
I might sound like the elder millennial that I am by saying this, but it was so refreshing to see people out and about, not staring at their phones, laughing with their friends, and just living in the moment. Maybe we won’t all turn into screen-addicted robots after all.