Exploring the country: August 16

After we left the Korhonens, we drove around the Heinavesi area, which is a very attractive part of Finland. First we drove up a tall hill, which had lovely views of the surrounding lakes. Here we are in front of it:

Right behind us was the Heinavesi Lutheran church. 90% of Finns are Lutheran, so there is usually only one big church in town. This was the biggest church in rural Finland:

We were going to look inside it, but the official tourist season had finished the day before, so we had to be content with a walk around and a peer within. We could hear someone practising the organ within.

On we went, to look at some rather rare rapids and a lock system for boats. (Pia and Kari go sailing a lot in the summer, so they were checking out future options as well as the scenery.)

There was a museum near this set of locks that Kari was interested in, but, again, it had closed yesterday. It was very warm, but apparently summer was over!

We then went to an outlet selling rag rugs and table runners and other handicrafts. Riita Korhonen had told Pia about this, as the crafts were very cheap, being more a social project for the handicapped rather than a straight-out business. There was some very good stuff in there, but Pia did not buy anything this time. Kari bought a wooden fly swat with a leather flap...

On we went, surprisingly to a monastery. The other 5% of Finns are Orthodox, and this was their headquarters. Bearded priests with black robes could occasionally be seen. It was very interesting looking at the heavily ornamented churches, and peaceful buildings. There was a very good restaurant there, where we stopped for lunch. There was an excellent fish soup, and I particularly liked the fried herring and the mushroom mashed potatoes. There was an excellent 'home beer', non-alcoholic... something like root-beer, I think. It is made on site. Several wines are made here too, but they were not in the restaurant! There was a shop too, where I bought some 'forest tea', which should be interesting. Anyway, the monks seem to have found a good way to supplement their income.

We finished our tour by driving to the big tower in Kuopio, to look at the surrounding land. Here we are on the observation deck:

Some people managed an icecream here; I don't know how after our large buffet lunch! I didn't.

Back we drove to Iisalmi in the evening sun.