Suomi - Finland

Terve,
As they say in Finland. Just back from one of my two native countries. I took the first picture when working on my tan at one of the beaches around Helsinki. I couldn't agree more. Sorry for all you Greece - fans, but for me it is way too hot in the summer, too touristic and too crowded.
The Finnish flag makes me emotional it means so much to me. Nature, trees, lakes, berries, blue skies and the sea.
Here I am enjoying the view on one of the thousand little islands around Helsinki. The sky is thick with smoke from Russian bushfires, you could even smell it, scary! Islandhopping on a little motorboat is just the max!
Nature is everywhere present and this horse reminded me of the fun I had as a teenager horsebackriding...
This little sparrow caught my attention with her little 'tjelp' how cute is that???!!!
Funny shadow of "Mannerheim" against Kiasma, the museum of modern art , the spell of the night!
Helsinki has a very distinctive architecture. I loooove to walk the streets up and down and marvel at the visioners who gave the city its look!
This picture is the summum of all Finland is to me in the summer; silence, nature, solitude, sun, fresh air, and lovely wooden houses.
As I lived my childhood years in Finland I do not see the place with the eyes of a tourist, to me it is ... home! Heippa!