1 Johanna and Amy at SEA TAC waiting for our flight to Finland
2 Johanna at the playground in front of Grandma's apartment in Nurmijärvi
3 Raasepori Castle on the southern coast of Finland. It was built in the 1370s and is officially mentioned for the first time in a letter dated 1378.
4 The castle was built on a rock that in the 14th century was probably surrounded by water.
5 The castle’s greatest importance was probably in the area of trade. It was constructed on a sheltered location on the south coast, presumably to defend Swedish interests against the successful Hanseatic town Reval (Tallinna). Both Danish and Swedish troops, as well as more undefinable pirate fleets, fought over the command of the castle, which shows that the castle was regarded as an important base. On the so called Galgbacken (Gallows Hill) north of the castle ruins, bishop Hemming Gadh was executed in December 1520. That was Christian II getting even with his political opponents. When Gustavus Vasa seized power and made Ekenäs the center of administration in the province in 1528, Raasepori lost its strategic importance. It was abandoned in the 1550’s and laid deserted for more than 300 years. Raasepori experienced its heyday in the middle of the 15th century when (the expelled) king Karl Knutsson Bonde kept court in the castle on repeated occasions.
6 In the castle's courtyard
7 Inside the castle
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11 A view out from the castle
12 The Muumi house in Muumimaailma
13 Inside the Muumi house
14 A view from the top floor of the Muumi house
15 Johanna and mommy coming back from the Muumi dock
16 Going for a visit inside the Muumi boat
17 It was very, very wet that day
18 Johanna gets to greet Muumi
19 Turku castle. It was founded on an island on the estuary of Aurajoki River in the 1280s as the administrative castle of the Swedish Crown. The castle was originally built in the form of a rectangular fortified camp. The fortified camp became a closed castle in the early 14th century, and the castle was divided into a main castle and bailey. Under the Swedish Duke Johan between 1556 and 1563, Turku Castle was renovated into a handsome renaissance castle; this is when its main features became the size they are today.
20 In the 1630s the bailey became the official residence for Pietari Brahe, the governor general of Finland. In the late 18th century, after the county governor and Higher Regional Court had moved from the castle to town, the castle underwent significant changes. The bailey became a prison and the main castle became a granary. The castle functioned as a prison until the 1890s after which the historical museum was placed in the bailey. Turku Castle was badly damaged by the bombings in 1941. The fully repaired castle was opened to the public in 1961.
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22 A model of what the castle may have looked like in the 14th century
23 Another model of the castle later
24 Mummi, Johanna and mommy standing at a window in the castle
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28 The church in the castle
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33 Map of south-western Finland showing the part of the Ahvenanmaa archipelago that we visited.
34 Our route from the mainland to our cabing on the island of Kumlinge
35 On a ferry going from Kustavi to Kumlinge. We had to take four different ferries to get to the island of Kumlinge.
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37 This is probably Brändö. We still had to drive through a long, skinny island and then take another ferry until we reached our destination.
38 Johanna and Esko going fishing and exploring the next day
39 On some little island we found
40 Esko trying to catch dinner
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43 View across the bay back to where our cabin was
44 Mummi and Amy in the cabin that we rented
45 Johanna asking for a story from mommy
46 Saint Anna's church in Kumlinge
47 The church was built in the 15th century and has gone through a lot of changes during its life.
48 Inside the church. The crucifix is from the 13th century.
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53 Waiting to get on the "ferry" to the town of Seglinge on another island
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56 Early departure from Kumlinge (around 5:30 AM) to get back to the mainland.
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58 Long line of cars waiting for the ferry
59 Back in Rimmi - here is the sauna building
60 View towards the lake from the Rimmi sauna
61 Amy, Minna and Johanna in the Rimmi front yard
62 Johanna with her aunt-Minna
63 Päivi, Minna and Amy at a family reunion in Kurikka. The red building in the background is the house that my (Mikko's) dad grew up in.
64 Going for a visit in the old house
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67 Mikko's "cousin-in-laws"
68 Matti and Laura, Mikko's oldest uncle and aunt.
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71 Mikko and his cousin Riitta
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83 Short visit to Estonia with Esko
84 Tallinna (Estonia)
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110 Jonathan and Johanna
111 Jonathan's sister Joanna
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114 Johanna playing with Eeva and Jussi at Jouni's cabin close to Lohja
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116 Johanna playing at the Copenhagen airport while waiting for our flight to Seattle
