There aren’t many places in winter which are also breathtaking by night, but Lapland definitely is. I have never felt so excited just because it turned dark. The view out of the glass igloo turned into a dreamy and magical winter fairytale. Just watching those snow-covered trees and hundreds of stars makes you feel calm, but also thankful and entirely happy. And then, all of a sudden, there was a light spectacle in the sky. Yet visible, although very weak a long-cherished dream came true. It actually makes you forget the cold and all you want to do is to get outside and get closer to the northern lights. Yes, now after I have seen the aurora borealis, all I want to do is go back there one day and watch them again.
Lago di Fusine
Last week we went to Italy and came across the Fusine Lakes which are surrounded by the Mount Mangart mountain range. I have been there a few times before and it was always worth visiting. While I was taking a walk by the lake the weather changed from cloudy to sunny and later on to foggy. Not only the weather, but also the colours of the lake were changing. Those unique shades and the beautiful reflections made this place even more magical.
Arboretum
My last Tampere related blog post is about the Hatanpää Arboretum which is a city oasis located two kilometres from the centre. If you love roses as much as I do, you should definitely go there: Hundreds of beautiful roses can be admired in the rose garden at the arboretum next to a collection of gorgeous trees and plants. Yes, the arboretum is definitely a gem of the city.
Mix and Match Tampere
Whenever I get asked why I like to travel to Tampere I always answer I love to go there because of the great mix of nature and city life. These two elements perfectly complement each other and for someone like me who needs both aspects to be completely happy, it is a great possibility to combine them. Depending on what you would like to do, it is easily to get around and it only takes a ten-minutes-walk to reach the city centre or some great outdoors.
One of my favourite places in the city is the Finlayson art area which is always worth to check out. I must admit I also fell in love with those little design shops like Forget-Me-Not, Taito, Seele, PikkuPutiikit or Uhana Design and I bought some really lovely Finnish handmade products there. This time I also visited the reopened Moomin Museum which can be found in the Tampere Hall. There would be so many interesting museums in Tampere, but unfortunately my stay was too short to visit them all. I can promise you that you will never be bored in Tampere – there are so many possibilities waiting for you to be grabbed.
Dreams of the Future
One day. Me and this beautiful little wooden house. In the north. My beloved home in the future. Dreams.
On the 4th floor
Alma’s apartment has always been a place which inspired me. Also this year her home felt like a great source for refreshment and spirituality. During sunset the apartment turned into a magical stage with shadow shows and light effects. It is sad to know that the apartment is sold now and I can’t come back there anymore. I will miss it, but those great and lovely holiday memories will stay forever.
Spotlight the Forest
When you are in Finland walking through the forests is an absolute must. I personally spent the majority of my time in the Finnish forests or near the lake. I figured out that I can relax the most when I walk somewhere alone just listening to the birds and my feet hitting the ground. Also the sound of the waves makes me feel grateful. I absolutely loved experiencing the calm.
Tampere | Travel Film
Holidays are great to try out something new. I spent ten days in Tampere and wanted to capture Finland’s beauty in a bit more vivid way – so I decided to make a little film. It was my first time using my camera not only for taking pictures, but also for filming. The film is far from perfect, but it was so much fun to do it!
In the video you can see the districts Pyynikki, Pispala and Rauhaniemi as well as the lakes Näsijärvi and Pyhäjärvi. I visited the brandnew Moomin Museum at Tampere Talo, the Amusement Park Särkänniemi and the wonderful Arboretum. One of my favourite places was the Finlayson Art Area with the colourfully painted streets.
In the next couple of weeks I will also post my travel photographs, but until then I hope you will enjoy this video!
Vagabondo
One highlight of my holidays was the visit of the Vagabondo Resort in Buttrio, Italy. The resort looked a bit like a fairytale home – no wonder that many couples get married there! The atmosphere and the rustic style of this pleasant place were just amazing.
Trieste for a day
On Thursday we were heading to Trieste to discover this very charming city. Our first stop was at Castello Miramare where we joined a guided tour through the chambers and the throne room. We had some time to stroll around the park along its numerous paths which leaded to a little castle, beautiful botanical species and old greenhouses. In Trieste we took a walk through the town where we unfortunately just had a short time to admire the architecture, take a look at the beautiful sea view, get some food and enjoy the lovely atmosphere in the city. All in all it was a really nice trip and I hope to return there soon.
Großglockner
A month ago my family and I decided to go on a hike close to the Großglockner – the highest mountain of Austria. It was really impressive to walk the road near its peak and the scenic glacier that supplements it. We had a magnificent view on this sunny day and enjoyed the gorgeous panorama the whole day.
Pyynikki
All kind of magical adventures take place in the Pyynikki forest. For me it’s the place where I can rest, explore, breath and enjoy. No day without a walk and happy feelings.
From Pyynikki to Pispala
Whenever I am in Tampere and I am looking forward taking a walk crossing my all-time-favourite districts Pyynikki and Pispala. Pispala is definitely the cutest and probably most romantic village in Tampere to discover and as far as I know it’s already widely considered as the most beautiful district in town. The unique urban design of this area is very inspiring and could be featured in every housing or home decor magazine. I discovered a great circular route where you come along those beautiful restored wooden houses and additional get magnificent views towards the two large lakes. If you are more into industrial charm the city centre of Tampere with its brick buildings is the right place to be. There are also lovely local shops to find - in case you want to add a little shopping tour to your walk.