Back from Holiday Again (part 4)

Leaving Savonlinna, we were heading to Espoo via Kotka and Porvoo. Here's the route. You'll notice that we came within spitting distance of the Russian border. When we did this same journey in 1981, we noticed that many of the trees along the road had the Finnish flag colours painted on them, presumably in case anyone got lost?

First stop was Kerimaki, home to the largest wooden Church (pause, Jeremy Clarkson style)... in the World. It could well be the biggest wooden building in the World. The risks with mixing wooden buildings with candles are obvious. Once again, the belfry is a separate building but on the same scale as the main building.

This building isn't big, it is **HUGE**.  Rumours abound that there were errors in the plans with feet and metres being muddled, but this it seems wasn't the case. Instead, the idea was to allow for everyone from the surrounding area to meet on market days and so a building that was substantially larger than the local population would suggest was built.

Inside, looking up to the pipes of the organ

 Onwards to Porvoo for a wander around the old town, preserved as originally built in wood. A selection of images from wandering around are below. Although it was a bright and sunny day, the blue skies are a little enhanced as I had a polarising filter on the camera.

Stand by for part 5.