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I met with Marjo in the morning for a trip around Savonlinna, and to see the magnificent Olavlinna castle. Having studied English translation, I found her fluent English and friendship a welcome change from my disheartening experience in Jyväskylä. 

A very kind and intelligent girl, Marjo spends most of her time away from Savonlinna, residing in a small village with her fiancée. Marjo knew a great deal about the history of the castle, and of the town, and I enjoyed her tour enormously.

Later that afternoon, after it had gotten dark, I made use of the hotel's spa and heated pool. After some relaxing in the warm water, I stepped outside into the -15c weather, and hopped into a small outdoor heated pool. Here I stayed under water, periodically stepping out to waist level to be chilled by the cold night air. The most amazing part was when it began snowing. I felt the delicate flakes fall on my face and body, while being warmed by the water.

After a while I went back inside and made use of the hotel's regular and Turkish sauna. The Turkish sauna differed quite a lot; the air was thick with water vapour, and visibility was limited. This was perhaps a good thing, being the only both-sexes sauna I'd come across, and that the hotel was populated by 50 year old's, I was thankful for the lack of visibility.

Later that evening Marjo came around and we went for a walk along a nature path. It was cold, dark and isolated, but a beautiful experience; I hadn't walked through the snow-covered woods of Finland before. That night Marjo gave me a small going away present, a classical CD of Sibelius music (a national hero). Such a sweet girl, her fiancée is very lucky. Tomorrow I fly to Kemi for some adventure backpacking.

Olavlinna Castle

Savonlinna woods at night time