Better late than never

So, it seems posting something everyday was a little optimistic, at the moment atleast. The wi-fi at the school won't be up and running until next month, so I only have use of the school's IT room, and by the time I've finished my evening tasks or taking part in whatever evening activities we have planned, I don't have enough time to get online before the school is locked up by Big Mikko.

Pyynikki observation tower in Tampere

We visited Tampere during the week, we had a little tour and checked out a few of the outdoor shops in town. I snapped a couple of pic's with my phone but they're pretty bad quality, I'll have my camera on the go next week.  

A view from the tower

The Pyynikki observation tower is located on top of the world's largest esker over 500 feet above sea level, offering a wonderful view spanning over two lakes and the entire city of Tampere. Unfortunately the sun was shining through the clouds in the opposite direction so I couldn't get a shot of the city with my phone. If you don't already know, a little task for you is to find out what an esker is? (Luke and John especially).
P.S. the cafe in the tower sell lush doughnuts!

When we got back from Tampere we found out that one of our teachers, Mikko, had been heating the smoke sauna all day. It would've been rude not to go, so we went for a sauna and swim, and grilled some sausages at the fire.

Friday we went to Seitseminen national park about 10km from school. The heart of the National Park is the old-growth forest of Multiharju, and is one of the oldest forest areas in southern Finland, some of the trees are over 400 years old.

Timo 'Henkka' Järvenpää telling us how to extract resin and tar from pine trees

Next week we will be in the forest! Obviously no computers, so my next post will be up hopefully on Friday. Looking forward to next week. It's gonna be the first proper week: setting up camp, which is a 3 sided shelter, is going to be my outdoor accommodation for the whole year (yes including winter!); orienteering exercises day and night; fire making; different fishing techniques; plant identification: edible and poisonous. And even though we're gonna be in the middle of a forest, this is Finland, so there is never a sauna far away. Im going to have loads of pictures from next week and they are all going to be here.

Laters