Return to the roots / Volver a las raíces / Retour aux racines

November 9, 2012

Return to the roots / Volver a las raíces / Retour aux racines

Filed under: Return to the roots — Sartenada @ 07:33
Tags: Halila, Uusikirkko

In English:

Part one – Uusikirkko / Halila.

In summer 2012 we visited my wife’s roots in Karelia. With this Karelia, I mean that Karelia, that we lost to Soviet Union in WW2. My father-in-law (when he was alive) gave very good instructions (exact address) to my wife how to find his former home house. His home house was in the area called Uusikirkko (New Church) in the village called Halila.

The Finnish people are “odd”, because the young generation visits their parents’ home on the other side of the border. First their parents visited and now their children. The majority of those old houses do not exist anymore in our days, but descendants have heard hundreds of stories from that Finnish Karelia we lost in WW2. These stories are hidden in their hearts! Many offsprings have photos from their parents’ old house.

In WW2 we had two wars against Soviet Union. The first was Winter War (November 30th, 1939 – March 13th, 1940), then there came peace, but the war started again Continuation War (June 25th, 1941 – September 19th, 1944).We won many battles, but we lost the war. We are small country and in 1939 there were 3.7 million inhabitants in Finland and thus it can be said that the war was like the battle between David and Goliath . Finland had to pay War reparations to Soviet Union huge amount. What I mean with huge amount? Okay, one example: For rail transport to Soviet Union was needed 345000 wagons or we built 500 ships for Soviet Union. We were the only country which paid all war debts and at time. In addition to this we also lost big areas to Soviet Union and about 410 000 refugees had to relocate in Finland. So my wife’s father was a refugee. Nowadays the amount is not huge, but at those days it was.

Thus we took part of bus trip to the roots with about one hundred Finns, all nearly having their roots in Finnish Karelia. Some of them have visited their old “houses” seven times. My wife had a facsimile map from 1938 and it had great help to relocate my father-in-law’s home house. Believe or not the map worked yet today. My father-in-law visited his home house between these two wars and told that his house was burnt. Only the chimney was left from that burned house. We found my wife’s father’s old home; we are quite sure, because the address seemed to be correct and the description matched. Around the chimney there was now built a very small house. Photos 7-16 present the situation in summer 2012.

Our trip to Russian Karelia was like “Time travel”. That You can see in my photos. Other photos show what more we saw in this area called Uusikirkko / Halila. At the end, after my photos, there is short video presenting roads on the area. For those who are interested to get more official information from our wars, refugees etc, I obtained links for them.

In Next part we visit in Kronstadt driving on the Saint Petersburg Ring Road which length is 142 km / 88 miles. Free visits to Kronstadt were allowed since 1996.

En español:

Mis fotos muestran a Usted nuestro viaje a la zona de Karelia que perdimos en la Segunda Guerra Mundial.

En francais:

Mes photos montrent à vous notre voyage dans la région de Carélie dont nous avons perdu en Seconde Guerre mondiale.

Maps / Mapas / Cartes

Map of Halila / Mapa de Halila / Carte de Halila

Winter War, Guerra de Invierno, Guerre d’Hiver

Continuation War, Guerra de Continuacion, Guerre de Contination

Return to the roots / Volver a las raíces / Retour aux raciness

Return to the roots / Volver a las raíces / Retour aux racines

Return to the roots / Volver a las raíces / Retour aux raciness

There were many churches in Finnish Karelia and check how they were looking like thru my old post from 2010. Old WW2 veteran has made from matches scale models during 40 years and I had possibility to shoot photos from them. They are awesome, believe me or not!

Church scale models from matches / Maquetas de Iglesias de fósforos / Èglises maquettes d’allumettes

My video lasting one minute, roads in Karelia / Mi video de una duración de un minuto, caminos en Karelia / Ma vidéo durent une minute, routes en Carélie.

Day trip to Kronstadt / Viaje de un día a Kronstadt / Excursion d’une journée à Kronstadt

From Terijoki to Vyborg / De Terijoki a Vyborg / De Terijoki à Vyborg

Comments (58)

58 Comments »

I’m so glad you did this trip. I’ve wanted to do a similar thing but it’s too far to go back to the old world. I think about it sometimes though.

Comment by wordsfromanneli — November 9, 2012 @ 07:38 | Reply
- Hello Anneli.
  
  Thank You for Your comment. It was an experience which we do not forget for a long time. This post was the first part and yet there will be two more posts. The old world is far away from there You live. To us the visit was like to travel to “old” world.
  
  Have a great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 07:43 | Reply
Very interesting post Matti with some great pictures. I will look forward to the next installments.

Comment by Chillbrook — November 9, 2012 @ 10:00 | Reply
- Hi Chillbrook.
  
  Thank You for checking my post and leaving Your nice comment. In next part we visit Kronstad, which was opened for travelers as late as in November 1996. Interesting? In the third part we travel from Terijoki to Vyborg and seeing how this old Finnish town is looking nowadays.
  
  Have a great Day.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 11:36 | Reply
Great series of photo. nice touch with the video at the end.

Comment by traveller858 — November 9, 2012 @ 10:06 | Reply
- Hello Traveller858.
  
  I am happy that You did check my short video also. Thank You.
  
  Happy Friday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 11:37 | Reply
Thanks for sharing this experience. Great photos.

Comment by TBM — November 9, 2012 @ 14:29 | Reply
- Hello TBM.
  
  Thank You for Your comment. I am happy that my photos You like my photos.
  
  Have a great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 15:24 | Reply
What a beautiful and poignant journey back in time… And yet it’s an important journey too. The video about the roads is really interesting. Thank you for sharing this experience!

Comment by megtraveling — November 9, 2012 @ 14:54 | Reply
- Hi Megtraveling.
  
  Yes indeed, it was journey to be remembered. After my short video You understand very well that my little blue are is not intended for these roads. Thank You commenting.
  
  Happy Friday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 15:26 | Reply
Heartbreaking, heartwarming and absolutely breathtaking photos!!! Words really cannot adequately describe how beautiful! Hugs, D

Comment by treadlemusic — November 9, 2012 @ 14:55 | Reply
- Hello Treadlemusic.
  
  Thank You. Landscapes were little bit different than here where I live. Thank You for Your visit and comment. Hugs.
  
  Have a great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 15:29 | Reply
  - I had a super day….quilting tomorrow…woohoo!!!
    
    Comment by treadlemusic — November 10, 2012 @ 04:14 | Reply
    - I wish a great week-end to You and Yours.
      
      Comment by Sartenada — November 10, 2012 @ 07:57 | Reply
Qué fotos tan hermosas! Y qué provincia tan llena de historia y de arte!!! Me encantó La Paz y el aire puro que sentí al ver cada foto.
De mí, te cuento que voy de vuelta, gracias a Dios. Estuve muy malita de salud por metástasis.
Saludes cariñosos y bendiciones!!!

Comment by consueloq — November 9, 2012 @ 15:39 | Reply
- Hola Consuelo.
  
  ¡Qué gran sorpresa para recibir tu comentario! Muchas gracias. Nos estamos moviendo a un otro lugar mañana, pero voy a visitar tu blog algún día. Deseo de mi todo corazónque tú estes mejor hoy!!!
  
  Abrazos y besitos.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 15:47 | Reply
  - Hola amigo Sartenada! Estuve muy enferma pero ya estoy bien gracias a tratamiendo. Voy a retomar los blogs a ver si los termino. Lo felicito por sus blogs y fotos, todos siempre bellísimos. Bendiciones. Consuelo Quesada.
    
    Comment by consueloq — April 4, 2013 @ 00:40 | Reply
    - Hola consuelo.
      
      Gracias a Dios que estes bien. Estás en mi lista de oración cada noche antes de acostarme! Estaría muy contento si continuaras presentando tu tierra linda! Me alegro muchissíma tu visita y comentario. Saludos cordiales. Bendiciones.
      
      Abrazos y besitos. Matti.
      
      Comment by Sartenada — April 4, 2013 @ 10:55 | Reply
Great story and accompanying photos. I never knew this before. Love the church photos. Very interesting architecture. Have a nice weekend!

Comment by Bondseye — November 9, 2012 @ 15:57 | Reply
- Hi Lisa.
  
  I am glad that You checked my post. The church is Orthodox church and generally all of them are full of Orthodox icons and art. The same thing is valid here in Finland. We were lucky when we could get inside the church and were allowed to shoot photos. Sometimes they allow photographing, sometimes not. Architecture is so “different” in our eyes also. Thank You.
  
  Happy week-end!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 9, 2012 @ 16:04 | Reply
I know that these are not homes of very well to do people and yet they have such color and beauty surrounding them. The Russian churches are fabulous for a country that is mostly atheist. I think it would be very touching to see where one’s parents were raised. Here in America homes are not that important it seems. People start out buying small homes and keep selling and moving to bigger ones. I would have to take my kids all over San Francisco from home to home to show them where I grew up. I sure wished we had stayed put.

Comment by kareninhonolulu — November 9, 2012 @ 21:03 | Reply
- Hello Karen.
  
  Thank You. In Finland people start to buy small homes, but there is one excellent reason: they are expensive. After few years it is possible to buy bigger. So have both done also. Now we move to another town to smaller dwelling. New life is gonna start for us. Thank You for Your comment.
  
  Have a great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 10, 2012 @ 07:42 | Reply
Must have been an emotional trip to see to see where the family used to live with all the implications of the war and the loss that went with it. Fascintaing story

Comment by surfnslide — November 9, 2012 @ 21:07 | Reply
- Hi Andy.
  
  Emotional is the keyword indeed. Thank You commenting.
  
  Happy Saturday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 10, 2012 @ 07:44 | Reply
I think it is wonderful that you were able to take this trip. I very much enjoyed your photos, but I also enjoyed the history you shared with us. I’m not sure many of us here in the U. S. know much about the Winter Wars you fought as part of World War II. I’m glad your wife was able to find the chimney from her father’s old house. I also enjoyed that little wooden church you pictured. The larger church toward the bottom of your post is simply gorgeous.

Comment by seniorhiker — November 9, 2012 @ 21:30 | Reply
- Hello George.
  
  Thank You George. I appreciate Your words very much.
  
  Happy Saturday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 10, 2012 @ 07:47 | Reply
Amazing to go back after all this time. The churches are such fascinating shapes and so colourful within. Such an experience!

Comment by restlessjo — November 10, 2012 @ 00:23 | Reply
- Hi Johanna.
  
  When seeing something old, it creates new ideas and feelings to one’s mind. Thank You for visiting and commenting.
  
  Have a great week-end!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 10, 2012 @ 07:49 | Reply
It is so good that you and your wife were able to go back to her parents’ home and visit. That is heavily wooded country and we have some like it near here too. I can only imagine what it is like to have your country involved in a big war. My brother was in WWII, but far, far from here in the South Pacific. The churches are beautiful!

Comment by montucky — November 10, 2012 @ 05:26 | Reply
- Hi Terry.
  
  The trip was very important to my wife. When in work, we had never time to do this. My father-in-law told stories from war, but they were not so pleasant to listen them. I think that to him the experience never ended in his mind. On the contrary my father never talked about his experiences. I think that to him it must have been also hard experience. I remember a large scar on his stomach and wondered when I was child, how he got it. Thank You very much for Your thoughts.
  
  Happy Saturday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 10, 2012 @ 07:56 | Reply
That’s a nice trip, indeed. Especially I like the church because I’m an architecture engineer.

Comment by cocomino — November 10, 2012 @ 14:21 | Reply
- Hello Cocomino.
  
  Thank You. It was really interesting trip. Yet two more posts are coming and all differs from each other.
  
  Happy Sunday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 11, 2012 @ 10:45 | Reply
A beautiful study in contrasts – of what must have been a very emotional journey.

Comment by Elin — November 10, 2012 @ 16:41 | Reply
- Hello Elin.
  
  I am happy that You commented my post and liked my photos. Yes, there are yet today many things to be remembered.
  
  Happy Sunday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 11, 2012 @ 10:47 | Reply
hello Matti;

Humble beginnings.Glad you and Anne could make it. I love the lines and textures of the old buildings, especially the roof and chimney shot.And the church shots are always interesting.Thank you for taking me on a trip to a place I have never been to or imagined before. Jane

Comment by janechese — November 10, 2012 @ 19:22 | Reply
- Hi Jane.
  
  So nice to read Your comment. I am very happy that You did find my post interesting.
  
  Have a great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 11, 2012 @ 10:49 | Reply
I just love Russia and have travelled to Rovaniemi too…Pity you lost that area to Russia as I am sure it would be better kept. The inside of the monastery is beautiful…I have been to the Kizhi church in Karelia built with no nails..awsome…

Comment by Lisaman — November 11, 2012 @ 14:08 | Reply
- Hi Lisaman.
  
  Thank You leaving Your comment which is interesting that You have visited Kizhi. Kizhi is in our mind to visit someday and also the monastery of old Valamo. If You have not visited there, then take a look how the monastery of new Valamo is looking in Finland. It is also worth for visit:
  
  Monastery of New Valamo.
  
  Have great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 11, 2012 @ 17:24 | Reply
Love the return to roots series of images. It reminds me that simple things and lifestyle are beautiful with a charm that is unique and moving. I agree, it’s like time travelling . The post just exudes adventure and pure joy. Thanks for sharing this amazing trip. Have a great week.

Comment by island traveler — November 13, 2012 @ 06:43 | Reply
- Hi Island traveler.
  
  Thank You for Your great comment. It is a hundred times better than I could write ever.
  
  Happy Tuesday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 13, 2012 @ 15:43 | Reply
Thank you for taking us along! You visit such interesting places and always so enjoyable to see your photos..

Comment by Roberta — November 13, 2012 @ 18:47 | Reply
- Hi Roberta.
  
  I am very happy that You did visit this place thru my photos. Thank You commenting.
  
  Happy Wednesday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 14, 2012 @ 17:56 | Reply
What a contrast in places you saw: an opulent church vs. the run-down home site of your father-in-law. The countryside is gorgeous. Your photos left me yearning for more info: about the stone wall, the produce on the bench, the couple exiting the car…This had to be quite the emotional journey.

Comment by Minnesota Prairie Roots — November 15, 2012 @ 16:27 | Reply
- Hello Audrey.
  
  Thank You. Everywhere there were sold chanterelles and my wife bought a large bag of them. For example when entering Russia after customs, there were sellers of chanterelles every 200 meters / 656 feet en route of 10 kilometers / 6 miles after the border.
  
  Have a great day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 16, 2012 @ 14:02 | Reply
Quel voyage touchant et éprouvant ! Revenir au pays de sa famille, revoir ses racines est toujours émouvant. Je suis contente que vous ayez pu le faire, toi et ton épouse. C’est important dans le cercle de votre vie. Merci en tous cas de nous l’avoir fait partager. Je me demande de quoi vivent les gens qui habitent là aujourd’hui ?

Comment by Isabelle — November 15, 2012 @ 20:25 | Reply
- Bonjour Isa.
  
  Très bien parlé! Merci beucoupd d’avoir faite to commentaire. À partir duquel ces gens vivent est un mystère pour moi aussi. Comme t’as vu au cours de l’été, ils ramassent des champignons et des baies dans les bois, mais ce n’est pas suffisant même si elles peuvent attraper des poissons.
  
  Bon week-end!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 16, 2012 @ 14:13 | Reply
I’ve missed not seeing your posts! It was fun to be back here! What a trip….I’m so glad you found your father in law’s home house. The roads are crazy! But the churches are so interesting. I love the interior shots of the one church…so lovely. The flowers are beautiful too!
Thanks for a good post!

Comment by Judy — November 16, 2012 @ 00:10 | Reply
- Hi Judy.
  
  Thank You commenting. I am happy that You did like our trip to Russian Karelia which was an experience to us also. In third part, there are also churches, one Orthodox and one Lutheran.
  
  Happy week-end!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 16, 2012 @ 14:16 | Reply
This travel must be very important and interesting for your wife. And I find your story very interesting too!
So much loss and tragedy in your dramatic report – I did not know anything about Finland’s huge payments to the USSR. Impressive that Finland has done so well in spite of this.

Comment by Truels — November 20, 2012 @ 02:01 | Reply
- Hello Truels.
  
  Thank You. You are right. One thing is positive when talking about our war payments, is that we slowly started to change from agriculture to industrialization. In some areas yet today we have done success like building high quality boats, cruise ships (we made world’s biggest cruise ship – Allure of the Seas) and our Nokia. Nokia mobile phones have been going downhill long, long time. Now we wait that Nokia’s windows phone Lumia 920 will start Nokia’s path to the top again. It is selling quite well in U.S.A; it is sold out in many countries at this moment. These are some examples.
  
  Happy Tuesday!
  
  P.S. We have been using Nokia phones more than ten years, without any problems, even in hard cold and it is important when living in a cold country like Finland. To us it is important that they work reliably from year to year.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 20, 2012 @ 08:31 | Reply
Your story was bittersweet in a way. It started of filling me with sadness, because war is never good and of course, leaves many peoples lives tormented and in turmoil. I’m so glad that you found your father-in-law’s house, and that must have been such a special feeling. I love your photos, especially of the church and the flowers. Great post!

Comment by luchaniktravel — November 26, 2012 @ 20:43 | Reply
- Hello Davinder.
  
  Thank You so much for Your lovely comment. War times and years after war were hard times. In addition of hard war debts we took 410 000 refugees and to relocate them in Finland. They had to start their lives from empty. Our country was “full” of war orphans and war widows. I was born just after the war to this poor country, but we rose up like the Phoenix bird even so that we could arrange the Olympic Games in 1952 in Finland. The Olympic Games was canceled in 1940 due to world situation and was schedule to keep in Helsinki in 1940.
  
  Think this: first time we got Coca Cola in 1952 during our Olympic Games!!!
  
  Happy Tuesday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — November 27, 2012 @ 08:50 | Reply
The war continues to echo across so many years. I am glad you were able to do this trip and go back to the roots. I wish I knew anything about where my grandmother lived in Lithuania, so I could visit my roots. Seeing the roads in the video, I am glad you took the bus and did not torture your blue car trying to drive there!

Comment by Heart To Harp — December 1, 2012 @ 06:52 | Reply
- Janet,
  
  If You someday decide to visit Lithuania, then visit Finland also. According to my blog You know “best places” for visit. Thank You checking our trip.
  
  Have a great week-end!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 1, 2012 @ 14:07 | Reply
What an amazing place, especially when you have a personal tie to it. How fantastic that the house is still there (well, hopefully, given this is now a few years later).

Comment by hayley — April 30, 2016 @ 11:09 | Reply
- Hello Hayley.
  
  Thank You. Real life photos in the beginning. We knew that the area is poor, but to see it was a shock. This was the only and one trip visiting there. Road trip is not possible, due the bad conditions of roads.
  
  Have a nice day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — April 30, 2016 @ 11:15 | Reply
Fascinating post and photos Matti, so wonderful to trace your family roots.

Comment by Little Miss Traveller — February 2, 2020 @ 14:18 | Reply
- Thank you, Marion, taking your time to take a look at one of those parts, which we lost in WWII. My father-in-law, never returned to the other side of the new border! Big loss was the town called Vyborg. Nowadays man can visit it from Lappeenranta, by making a visa-free cruise. When we were, we saw some Iriadamants (so called life style Indians). Very cool!
  
  Happy new week!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — February 3, 2020 @ 08:03 | Reply