HELSINKI HONEY

It would have taken me a long time to post this little city guide fromHelsinki from my teaserit's because I needed to digest this trip, which took me far beyond my wildest dreams. Let me explain, it was the middle of August in Paris, the weather was magnificent and with Mai a little break from our studious summer. We arrive, the weather's unbelievable, it's raining non-stop and everyone's apologizing for the weather!

We later learn that the 4 days of rain we had in Helsinki that summer, well, they were for us, during our 6-day trip! Ahah, so it was in the rain (I'm cursed, I'll come back to that later) that you set off to discover this city, and well, it was a change of scenery, because at first sight it wasn't easy to project yourself into a city where it's grey, and learning to love a city in the rain isn't easy.

The days passed and with them Mai we've done nothing but laugh - this girl is a walking antidepressant. We met some great people, full of talent and so thoughtful. We saw some crazy things, including the Marimekko factory, which remains my number-one memory, and the house of architect Alvar Aalto.

This city made me want to do things, to throw myself into color, and to go for the essential. And one very important thing: how well we eat! I'm still not over it. Organic food is second nature here: local culture, fresh food, healthy food and responsible cooking are the watchwords of this city! I've rarely taken so much pleasure in eating simple, fresh things. It's as if the flavors and tastes have increased tenfold.

 Today, as I look back on this trip and prepare this little notebook, I realize that this destination has enabled me to learn to travel differently, to find pleasure in things that are true and essential, but also less immediate, such as inspiration: doing good to the spirit (so important) and discovering another way of eating and consuming: doing good to the body (the sauna is also the basis here!).

Now I really want to go back and see the Aurora Borealis...