Patricia in Finland June 15th to 22nd 2008
We had Patricia here for
one week and I can tell you that she was very pleased with all the things she
experienced here. The Finnish summer weather was not the best possible but
despite that I believe Patricia got some unforgettable memories of Finland.
On the first day of
Patricia's trip she visited at a pet store Sello's Faunatar in Espoo. After that we went to a mall,
Stockmann, in Helsinki City Centre, to check out its pet store section. We had
also booked an one-hour body treatment in DaySpa for Patricia.
The Monday afternoon and
evening we spent in Nuuksio national park near Helsinki. Several friends of Pro
Animals' had gathered up there to meet Patricia. The atmosphere was very
joyous. Also half a dozen privately adopted dogs from Tg-Jiu shelter were present.
A reporter and photographer of the newspaper Kaleva came to Nuuksio to
interview Patricia and spent a good 1,5 hours on the spot. The peak of the
evening was a smoke sauna in which Patricia spent quite a while enjoying.
In the brightness of a Finnish
summer night we drove to Kaisankoti located by Lake Bodom to spend the night. On our way
there we saw some beautiful roe deers on a field nearby, as if waving
"goodnight" to us with their whisking tails.
Tuesday's schedule included
a visit to Viikki's shelter for homeless animals. At that moment there were
many cats, a couple of dogs, an iguana, a snake, a couple of exotic birds, two
turtles and five young rabbits. When Patricia arrived to the yard of the
shelter, she inhaled deeply and said: "I love this scent." The scent
was like in a barn.
During Tuesday afternoon we
drove to our home in Heinola. In our home Patricia met the ex-inhabitants of
Tg-Jiu shelter; Surda and Tasha. Tasha went immediately to Patricia to kiss and
hug but it took a bit longer for Surda before she was ready to let Patricia pet
her. Eventually the "common language" was found again!
On Wednesday we visited a
dog trimmer, Ritva Merta, in Lahti. Ritva has trimmed dogs for over 30
years. She gave us a long lecture about all the things related to trimmer's
profession and Patricia was very flattered to learn things from this
experienced professional.
During Wednesday we also
checked out Maikin Lemmikkikellari on the outskirts of Lahti City Centre and
Jokimaa shelter for homeless animals that had about 240 homeless cats and about
half of dozen dogs. Patricia was quite surprised by the fact that the shelters
we had visited had so many homeless cats but only few abandoned dogs.
On Thursday I took Patricia
to Riitta's beauty salon in Nastola to have a facial treatment. We drove there
through some beautiful countryside and Patricia couldn't help but wonder how
much there are forests and lakes in Finland. She also wondered how the Finns
want to have a lot of space around them. In Romania people want to live near the highways
and main roads and close to each other because it is safer that way.
Friday was Midsummer's Eve
which we spent in the Sysmä countryside. We had the opportunity to show some
Finnish horses to Patricia. These horses had won (third time in a row) Finnish
championship in the sumpter horse series. Patricia admired the beauty and
gracefulness of these horses. We told her about the methods of how these Finnish
champions are trained and when we got the part when we told how the coach takes
a rowing boat to a lake and the horse follows it by swimming Patricia was
shocked and asked if the horse would drown. We told her that the first time we
saw those horses being trained we were, too, about to call the police to tell
that they are trying to drown a horse in the lake! However, as we asked the coach
just what on Earth was he doing to the horse, we found out it was only training
for the horse race and these horses were not forced in any way to do something
they didn't want to - there was no animal abuse going on. After having spent
four summers at our cottage and seen how well these people at a farm next door
take care of their horses, cows, dogs and cats, I can't help but admire how
much love and care they give for their animals. The animals are the contents of
these people's lives every day, year round.
Besides Finnish horses
Patricia got to pet tens of cows and at some point she sighed how she would
love to live in the countryside surrounded by several animals.
On Midsummer's Eve we had
some time to "climb" to the top of Kammiovuori which had a great view over the
shores of Lake Päijänne. Our "mountains" are very
small compared to e.g. to the Carpathian Mountains in Romania but anyhow, the view was breathtaking and Patricia really enjoyed this small trip we made to Finnish
nature.
During the afternoon and
evening of Midsummer's Eve we found the time to enjoy the peace of Lake Tepoonjärvi. There was also a pair of swans
with their offspring and these proud parents would come to show us their babies
on many occasions. On the opposite side of the lake a smoke sauna was getting
warm. Suddenly Patricia pointed out what wonderful peace surrounded us, only
the sounds of some birds and jumping fish in the lake could be heard!
When we were getting close
to the midnight, a beautiful bonfire was lit up on the opposite shore and we admired
the fire and also drank to the Finnish summer. Sure we had hoped for a sunny
weather for Midsummer so Patricia could've witnessed the magnificent power of the
midnight sun. Of course Patricia couldn't help noticing the brightness of the
Finnish summer evenings and nights since in Romania the day darkens at 9 pm the
latest also in summer.
When driving to the airport
on Sunday to escort Patricia on her way back home she told that had enjoyed the
trip to Finland very much. She was hoping that the
next time she comes to Finland she would really like to go
horseback riding. I'm sure we can fulfil this dream and of course, we hope to
see Patricia again soon. But before Patricia's next visit, we will have Carmena
to Finland as our guest. Patricia and I agreed to
schedule the time for Carmena's visit and also book the flights for her. Patricia
hoped that her mother could be examined by a professional dermatologist here in
Finland so I promised to arrange it one way or another.
Patricia asked me to send heartfelt,
loving thank yous to all of you for the support you have given all these years.
If it wasn't for you, there wouldn't be any Tg-Jiu shelter or would Patricia
and Carmena have had the strength to fight for the homeless and abused animals
all by themselves.
On my behalf I want to tell
that I enjoyed Patricia's company enormously and the fact that we had time to
talk together without any hurry. I was
also very happy that Patricia was able to rest on her holiday since I'm sure
she really needed it.
Pictures of
Patricia's visit I
Pictures of
Patricia's visit II
Patricia took with her to
the shelter antibiotics (100pcs) and dewormers and tick and flea treatments for
25 middle-sized dogs. We gladly accept donations to cover these costs.
-Kiia-
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