down the home stretch...

Ok, so the catching you up on Berlin and Prague is going to have to wait, because all i can even think about telling you guys about is how freaking awesome Finland has been. Started out in the town that Hanna goes to University, called Kajaani. I met her roommates and she made a delicious home cooked meal for us-steak and potatoes with a red wine sauce and marscopone and raspberry dessert....mmm its making my mouth water just thinking about it!! The next day we went to meet her fiance, Matti, at his cabin for my first Finnish sauna experience. The sauna is really popular here in finland, actually everyone has a suana or sometimes even two at their home! It was so relaxing and even cooler than i imagined. Hanna even made me do it the "extreme" way, which is running into the snow and throwing it all over your body and then running back into the sauna. I can't even explain how cool it was, and i decided that i am bringing the Finnish sauna tradition to the states when i have my own house...and the money of course. That night we cooked mini gourmet pizzas and tried Finnish beer and liquor. Day 2 we drove around the area where Hanna's family is from and went on a killer walk to this "secret cabin" in the woods. It was hanna's uncle's, which he built himself, and we checked it out, had some hot coco and soaked in the experience. I just kept telling Hanna that it looks like a winter wonderland....haha so cheesy, i know:) That night we went to Hanna's hometown and met her family-mom, dad, brother, nieces and nephew. All of them were so great, welcoming and warm. I practiced english with her nephew, who was quite adorable, and they tried to let me in on a bit of Finnish as well. Hanna's mom made a traditional finnish meal of rainder and mashed potatoes...although a bit skeptical of eating the cute raindeer, it was quite delicious!! We sang karaoke, drank some cherry beer, tried the sauna again and laughed loads.
I could go on and on and on and on with more stories, but to sum it all up...Hanna and Matti have been the most incredible hosts/finnish tour guides and i am falling in love with Finland with all that i have done, seen AND eaten!!
i'm thinking about you guys....love you all so much!
Thanks so much for checking in...jess