North of Arctic Circle1 / Al norte del Círculo polar ártico1 / Au nord du Cercle Arctique / Ao norte do Círculo Polar Ártico1

December 27, 2013

North of Arctic Circle1 / Al norte del Círculo polar ártico1 / Au nord du Cercle Arctique / Ao norte do Círculo Polar Ártico1

Filed under: Arctic Circle,Lapland,Road icons,Road trips,Towns-Oulu,Travel in Finland — Sartenada @ 08:07
Tags: Arctic, Arctic Circle, autumn, Bobby, Carnet de voyage, Círculo Polar Ártico, Cercle arctique, cidade de Oulu, Diario de viaje, fall, Finland, Finlande, Finlandia, Icônes de route, Kiuruvesi, Lapland, Laponia, Muonio, Nature, Norte do Círculo Polar Ártico, Oulu, pallas, Photos, pictures, Reindeer, Road icons, road trip, Towns-Oulu, Travel, Travel diary, viaje por carretera, voyage de route

In English:

Day 1 (Friday, August 30, 2013). Distance from Mikkeli to Oulu 479km / 297.6mi. Temperature: morning 4.5ºC / 40.1ºF and evening 16ºC / 60.8ºF. Route Mikkeli –Varkaus –Iisalmi –Kiuruvesi – Pyhäsalmi – Oulu. Overnight in Sokos Hotel Arina in Oulu. Our first stop was in Kiuruvesi where it is maybe world’s unique Road Icon temple. Its total height is 6.5 meters / 21.325 feet. From Kiuruvesi we continued to the town of Oulu. It is nice town and worth for stopping when on way to the North. The main “attraction” of Oulu is the Bobby at the Market Place. Also the old granaries at market square are worth for a visit. The only “negative” thing to the tourist when driving in Oulu, are many one-way streets and it causes unnecessary driving around city blocks. Happily man invented navigators!

En español:

Día 1 (Viernes, 30 de agosto 2013). Distancia desde Mikkeli a Oulu 479 kilometros / 297.6mi. Temperatura: mañana 4.5 º C / 40.1 º F y por la noche 16 º C / 60.8 º F. Ruta: Mikkeli-Varkaus-Iisalmi-Kiuruvesi – Pyhäsalmi – Oulu. Primero alojamiento en Sokos Hotel Arina de Oulu. Nuestra primera parada fue en Kiuruvesi donde hay quizá el templo único con Iconos de ruta en todo el mundo. Su altura total es de 6,5 metros / 21,325 pies. Desde Kiuruvesi continuamos a la ciudad de Oulu. Es una bonita ciudad y vale la pena por parar cuando se viaje hacia el Norte. El principal “atracción” de Oulu es el “Bobby” en la Plaza del Mercado. También los antiguos graneros en la plaza del mercado valen la pena una visita. Lo único “negativo” para las automovilistas turisticas manejando en Oulu, son que muchas calles de sentido único cuáles causen para los turistas innecesarios rondas alrededor cuadras. Felizmente se inventó navegadores.

En francais:

Jour 1 (Vendredi, 30 Août 2013). Distance de Mikkeli à Oulu 479 km / 297.6mi. Température: matin 4,5 º C / 40,1 º F et le soir 16 º C / 60,8 º F. Route: Mikkeli-Varkaus-Iisalmi-Kiuruvesi – Pyhäsalmi – Oulu. Nuit à l’Hôtel Sokos Arina à Oulu. Notre premier arrêt était à Kiuruvesi où il est peut-être la seule temple de la route des icônes dans le monde entier. Sa hauteur totale est de 6,5 mètres / 21 325 pieds. De Kiuruvesi nous continuions à la ville d’Oulu. C’est une belle ville laquelle vaut de faire une pause dans la ville lorsque on est en route au nord. La principale “attraction” de Oulu est le “Bobby” dans la Place du Marché. Aussi les anciennes granges de la place du marché valent une visite. Le seul “négatif” pour les automobilistes touristiques en conduisent à Oulu sont nombreuses rues à sens unique pour les touristes qui provoquent des tours inutiles autour des blocs. Heureusement on inventé les navigateurs.

Em português:

Dia 1 (sexta-feira, 30 de agosto de 2013). Distância de Mikkeli a Oulu 479km / 297.6mi. Temperatura: manhã 4.5ºC / 40.1ºF e 16ºC / 60.8ºF à noite. A rota: Mikkeli – Varkaus – Iisalmi – Kiuruvesi – Pyhäsalmi – Oulu. Ficamos a nossa primeira noite no hotel Arina de Sokos em Oulu. Nossa primeira parada era em Kiuruvesi onde é talvez um templo maior original do ícone do mundo. Sua altura total é 6,5 metros / 21,325 pés. De Kiuruvesi nós continuávamos ao cidade de Oulu. É uma cidade agradável e vale a pena parar quando no caminho para o Norte. A “atração principal” de Oulu é o Bobby (polícia) no mercado. Igualmente os celeiros velhos no mercado valem a pena para uma visita. A única coisa “negativa” ao turista quando condução em Oulu, sâo muitas ruas de sentido único que causam condução desnecessária em torno de blocos da cidade. Felizmente o homem inventou navegadores!

Huge Road Icons / Grandes Iconos de carretera / Grandes Icônes de route / Ícones grandes de estrada

Oulu

North of Arctic Circle2 / Al norte del Círculo polar ártico2 / Au nord du Cercle Arctique2 / Ao norte do Círculo Polar Ártico2 Compare this road trip 2013 to that we made 2011. Different routes and places: Beyond the Arctic Circle1

Comments (71)

71 Comments »

Reblogged this on THE BLACKBOARD OF LASCANA.

Comment by isidorocgomez — December 27, 2013 @ 09:56 | Reply
- Thank You / Muchas gracias.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 27, 2013 @ 11:48 | Reply
Me parecio’ todo muy “unexpected”! Los colores fuertes, por ejemplo y los iconos en el camino. El Bobby es tan ingenuo,en su austeridad!
Sin este post tuyo, nunca hubiera imaginado semejante atmósfera , gracias, de todo corazón ! By the way, feliz año!

Comment by 76sanfermo — December 27, 2013 @ 10:01 | Reply
- Hola Anna.
  
  Esos grandes iconos del camino son impresionantes. Muchas iglesias ortodoxas en Finlandia tienen el arte hermoso dentro ellas y éstos demuestran. Ciudad de Oulu tiene mucho más ofrecer que eso aguí presentó. Algunas veces nos visitáremos allí. Muchas gracias por tu comentario y te y las tuyos espero Feliz Año Nuevo.
  
  Sí te gustaria ver más el arte ortodoxo, por favor, mira mi post: Monastery of New Valamo / Monasterio de Valamo Nueva / Monastère de Nouveau Valamo.
  
  Un fuerte abrazo.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 27, 2013 @ 12:09 | Reply
Clean and bright!

Comment by wordsfromanneli — December 27, 2013 @ 11:07 | Reply
- Hi Anneli.
  
  Thank You. Happy New Year 2014.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 27, 2013 @ 12:16 | Reply
I love your blog! Oulu sounds so fascinating i immediately went to my world atlas to see where it exactly is, and followed up with further research via google. Apparently there’s a booming high tech industry there, too? Seems quite a fascinating place! Thanks so much for sharing your country with us!

Comment by SmallHouseBigGarden — December 27, 2013 @ 13:47 | Reply
- Hi Karen.
  
  Yes it is indeed. We spent many years ago there, but then I had “poor” camera. In addition to high tech, it is a paradise for cyclists also. Thank You for commenting. Because my next post will be in 2014, I wish already to You and Yours a very Happy New Year 2014.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 27, 2013 @ 13:58 | Reply
A pretty outing, and those icons have the most expressive faces! Very best wishes for 2014, Sartenada 🙂

Comment by restlessjo — December 27, 2013 @ 14:40 | Reply
- Hi Johanna.
  
  I am glad that You love our road trip to the North. The story will be continued after two weeks with more impressive photos. Best wishes for 2014 to You also Johanna.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 27, 2013 @ 14:58 | Reply
Those icons are awesome! Loved the rose garden, too. I am sure there is a story behind the statues’ creation. I’m so glad you have a better camera!!!!! A Joy-filled New Year to you and your wife!!!!!!! Hugs….

Comment by treadlemusic — December 27, 2013 @ 15:18 | Reply
- Ho Doreen.
  
  Thank You very much commenting. I wished earlier that You see my Previous post. I am sure that You love it. Happy New Yyer 2014 to You and Yours.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 27, 2013 @ 15:20 | Reply
Thank you for taking us along with you on your trip North. I really liked to rose gardens in Oulu — it’s wonderful to see so many beautiful blossoms. The icons are very impressive as well.

Comment by seniorhiker — December 27, 2013 @ 17:11 | Reply
- Hello George.
  
  Those roses were some kind “urban installation”. The street called Pakkahuoneenkatu was reserved for 34000 roses. About one hundred citizen helped Kaisa Salmi who was the mother of this work of art.
  
  You might remember my old post in which 60 000 Gerberas were put on the stairs of our Parliament House in pots: Sunny day in Helsinki.
  
  Thank You for Your visit and kind comment.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 28, 2013 @ 12:04 | Reply
Bronze statue is wonderful!

Comment by harubocchan — December 27, 2013 @ 20:24 | Reply
- Hello Haruboccan.
  
  Very nice to read that You noticed those small Bronze statues. They presented our historic persons and life of near past. There were maybe 40 statues, but I decided to present in my blog only two photos of them. I and my wife loved them very much. Thank You commenting.
  
  Happy weekend!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 28, 2013 @ 12:14 | Reply
Nice to see the flowers bloom at this time of year. A pretty spot from the looks of it and a lot of character in those notched log buildings. Hope you both had a Merry Christmas and wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.

Comment by janechese — December 27, 2013 @ 23:44 | Reply
- Hi Janechese.
  
  Thank You. The red color of those log houses is very strong. In our history in Finland on countryside many homes were painted with red ochre paint (Fe2O3·H2O).
  
  Happy New year 2014 to You and Yours.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 28, 2013 @ 12:22 | Reply
Happy New Year for you and your wife with a good health for 2014

Comment by najlaa — December 28, 2013 @ 00:52 | Reply
- Hi Najlaa.
  
  Same to You – Happy New Year 2014.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 28, 2013 @ 12:32 | Reply
Great photos, Matti! Those bright red houses must look warmer in the cold of winter!
Happy New Year to you and your wife!

Comment by montucky — December 28, 2013 @ 04:09 | Reply
- Hi Terry.
  
  Thank commenting. I am glad that You loved those bright red houses. They represent the real Oulu and visitors must see them. Oulu is in the midway when travelling to our Lapland.
  
  Happy New Year to You and Yours!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 28, 2013 @ 12:41 | Reply
Road sign is unique !
Does it mean church ?

I think
Finland’s image color is sky blue roof. and good picture.
Lion’s is working in Japan, too.

Who is short legs boy ?

Comment by キース — December 28, 2013 @ 09:52 | Reply
- Hello キース.
  
  Road icons are said to be some kind of temple. When driving for the first time and seeing them, man must stop and shoot photos from them. We planned our road trip to pass them to shoot photos.
  
  The short leg guy is the famous Bobby of market square of the town of Oulu. Wikipedia in English tells its story very nice: Bobby at the Market Place. They must have been a little bit big-belled, so I think.
  
  Thank You for Your questions and comment.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 28, 2013 @ 12:55 | Reply
What a beautiful town! The rose garden and the old wooden buildings are lovely.

Comment by Ann — December 28, 2013 @ 16:01 | Reply
- Hello Ann.
  
  I am happy reading that You loved my presentation of Oulu. Thank You.
  
  Happy Sunday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 29, 2013 @ 09:30 | Reply
what a lovely place to visit and/or live! I love the Roses especially!

Comment by Gleaner Hall Ltd — December 28, 2013 @ 17:23 | Reply
- Hi Gleaner Hall Ltd.
  
  I am glad that You loved my photos presenting Oulu.
  
  Have a nice day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 29, 2013 @ 12:38 | Reply
I particularly like the art of these icons that you are showing us.

Comment by Tammy — December 29, 2013 @ 08:10 | Reply
- Hello Tammy.
  
  Icon art is high quality art, although it has very strict regulations for example what to show, how to present icons. In Finland icon paintings are popular. Here are few examples painted by ordinary people on courses in my post from 2009:
  
  Orhodox icons.
  
  Happy Sunday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 29, 2013 @ 12:48 | Reply
What a lovely town,houses or shops…

Comment by 洋子 — December 29, 2013 @ 16:18 | Reply
- Hi Maatan.
  
  Thank You for Your visit and comment.
  
  Have a great beginning of the week!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 30, 2013 @ 08:07 | Reply
Hello Matti, I enjoyed your new post very much. Interesting these road icons and the style of painting! And every time I see photos of all these colourful wooden houses it leaves the impression of a very cosy and comfortable place. Really lovely and attracting! – I can see you standing beside a sculpture (this man in uniform in Oulu). Who is he or what is he representing, Matti? Do you know?
I’ve spent some days visiting family in the south of Germany so I’m a bit late to send Christmas wishes but I hope you and your family and a nice time together. Best wishes for the coming New Year and sound health!
Michèle

Comment by ladyfromhamburg — December 29, 2013 @ 17:46 | Reply
- Hallo Michèle.
  
  I am glad for You visit and comment. Thank You. Well the statue of is explained auf Deutsch in Wikipedia:
  
  Marktpolizist.
  
  The statue is symbolizing Oulu and is maybe the most photographed in Oulu.
  
  Ich wünsche Ihnen Ein Glückliches Neues Jahr 2014!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 30, 2013 @ 08:22 | Reply
  - Thanks for your explanation, Matti and your kind wishes, too! Same to you!
    
    Comment by ladyfromhamburg — December 31, 2013 @ 01:47 | Reply
    - You are welcome Michèle.
      
      Comment by Sartenada — December 31, 2013 @ 08:28 | Reply
It looks like you are having a marvelous trip! I especially like the statue of the woman who appears to be selling vegetables. One of the really important members of society. I also like the red buildings. I look forward to more of your trip!

Comment by Marilyn Albright — December 30, 2013 @ 05:37 | Reply
- Hi Marilyn.
  
  I am happy that You did find something interesting from my post. In next part we arrive to Muonio which is our base for one week and from where we start to explore near / far places.
  
  Have a great beginning of the week!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 30, 2013 @ 08:45 | Reply
Pictures that reminds us that life is full of adventures! Love the pictures! Wishing you and your family a great New Year!

Comment by Island Traveler — December 30, 2013 @ 10:31 | Reply
- Hi Island Traveler.
  
  Thank You. Your saying: “life is full of adventures”. Awesome, I remember this, it is the best saying, I have heard for a long time!!!
  
  Happy New Year 2014 to You and Yours.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 30, 2013 @ 12:17 | Reply
as always, colorful and interesting! liked the lion w/flowers on the balcony!

Comment by betunada — December 30, 2013 @ 20:53 | Reply
- Hola Betunada.
  
  We loved the lion on the balcony also – that’s why I shot a photo from it. 🙂 Thank You for Your comment.
  
  Happy New Year 2014!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 31, 2013 @ 08:20 | Reply
Beautiful pictures – I really like the architecture as well as the blue sky!

Comment by megtraveling — December 30, 2013 @ 21:39 | Reply
- Hi Meg.
  
  Thank You praising my photos and leaving Your comment.
  
  Happy New Year 2014!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — December 31, 2013 @ 08:21 | Reply
Enjoyed seeing photographs of your country, especially the snow castle. We have an ice castle near Fairbanks, Alaska, but it is not nearly so beautiful as yours.

Comment by Dave — December 31, 2013 @ 20:37 | Reply
- Hi Dave.
  
  Very nice to hear that You have snow castle in Fairbanks I have not visited in Alaska, except once if we do not calculate that in 1971 we made landing in Anchorage on our route from Tokyo to Copenhagen. Anyway I have small idea about Alaska. In next part which I’ll publish we make a short stop at the Arctic Circle before continuing further to the North. Because Finland is long country roads are crossing it in many places.
  
  Have a great start for this year!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 1, 2014 @ 09:57 | Reply
Lovely pictures from Oulu! Happy New Year to you & your family!!

Comment by tiny lessons blog — December 31, 2013 @ 23:28 | Reply
- Hello Tiny lessons blog.
  
  Thank You. I guess that You have visited Oulu which is indeed nice town.
  
  I wish to You and Yours a great start for New Year!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 1, 2014 @ 10:03 | Reply
I love the photo hunts you and your wife take, Sartenada. They’re always so educational. May we see many more of them this New Year!

Comment by Ginnie — January 1, 2014 @ 11:15 | Reply
- Hi Ginnie.
  
  Thank You. It was so nice to read Your kind comment. This photo story continues every second week. Welcome with us to hike and to find new places in Finland thru my photos.
  
  Have a great start of this year!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 1, 2014 @ 12:57 | Reply
j’apprécie les sculptures

Comment by l'Angevine — January 2, 2014 @ 10:23 | Reply
- Bonjour Angevine.
  
  C’est bien ça – chouette. Merci de m’avoir fait un commentaire.
  
  Je te souhaite une agréable journée!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 2, 2014 @ 11:15 | Reply
So schöne Bilder liebe Grüße Gislinde

Comment by giselzitrone — January 2, 2014 @ 15:30 | Reply
- Hallo gislinde.
  
  Ich bin froh, dass Sie meine Fotos geliebt haben. Ich wünsche Ihnen einen schönen Freitag.
  
  Vielen Dank für Ihren Kommentar.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 3, 2014 @ 08:26 | Reply
I really enjoyed your pictures of Oulu, especially of the beautiful flowers, the “Big Bobby” and the bronze statues. I wish you and your family the best of health and a fantastically Happy New Year.

Comment by luchanik — January 3, 2014 @ 04:46 | Reply
- Hi Davinder.
  
  I am so happy that You love my post and photos. Thank You commenting so kindly. I also wish to You and Your family a very Happy New Year.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 3, 2014 @ 08:32 | Reply
hello Matti, again so beautiful pictures, thanks a lot for sharing. i wish a great year 2014 to you and yours 🙂

Comment by gogolinchen — January 5, 2014 @ 17:47 | Reply
- Hello Sonja.
  
  You did find me again, so nice. Thank You leaving Your comment. I wish also a very happy New Year to You and Yours!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 6, 2014 @ 10:40 | Reply
Hello, Thank you for your comment to my article.
I am writing of the trip to Chinese Taipei in my blog now.
I had gone to Helsinki three times.I visited Helsinki the year before last.

http://mogumogumisa.wordpress.com/category/2012-%E3%83%98%E3%83%AB%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AD%E6%97%85%E8%A1%8C%E8%A8%98/

I like a travel. Do you also like a travel?

I am interesting in Road Icons you introduced. They are very unique for me. Sometimes we can watch Road Icons in Japan, but most their design are not quite unique.
I am looking forward to the views in your blog.
So sorry, my English is very poor. I am good at “Body language”.
Kiitos 🙂

Comment by Misa — January 8, 2014 @ 17:56 | Reply
- Hello Misa.
  
  Wow, what a surprise it was to read Your comment – three times in Helsinki! I’ll check Your link to Your post quickly, but I’ll return to see it carefully. Road icons are not generally known in Finland. Many years ago I read about them and on our road trip to the North, I arranged our route to pass near to them. In Finland Icon painting is taught in many adult education centers and they are very popular. I am happy that You commented here and follow our road trip. Tomorrow (Friday) I’ll publish the second part. In it we make a short stop at the Arctic Circle and finally arriving to our base in Muonio from where we start to explore Finnish Lapland.
  
  Arigatou gozaimasu. ありがとうございます。
  
  P.S.
  
  I let Google translate Your Helsinki posts and I am speechless – You really have seen Helsinki. How lovely posts with amazing photos and so well done.
  
  Thank You.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 9, 2014 @ 09:03 | Reply
The ‘bobby’ is great! Also love the ‘rusticness’ of the shuttered windows in Oulu – they’re a novelty in this part of the world. Look forward to the rest of this series. Happy New Year, Matti!

Comment by hayley — January 9, 2014 @ 21:14 | Reply
- Hello Hayley.
  
  Thank You for Your praising comment. It is nice to read that You also did find something interesting from my post. Well, it is Friday morning here in Finland and I just published the second part of our road trip.
  
  Have a wonderful day!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 10, 2014 @ 08:08 | Reply
A wonderful mix of manmade and natural beauty, Sartenada.

Comment by Tricia A. Mitchell — January 11, 2014 @ 21:30 | Reply
- Hi Tricia.
  
  An excellent description different things in this post. Thank You.
  
  Have a wonderful Saturday!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2014 @ 09:21 | Reply
The road icons are so beautiful, and amazing. The style looks like they could have been painted in medieval times, yet they are modern. I am glad you planned your trip to see them, so I could see them too.

Comment by Heart To Harp — January 12, 2014 @ 02:43 | Reply
- Hi Janet.
  
  Road icons are something unreal when seeing them at the first time. Thank You for Comment.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — January 12, 2014 @ 10:37 | Reply
Quand un(e) artiste photo graphe rencontre sur sa route ces merveilleuses icones et cette ville fleurie, cela donne des merveilles que l’ on ne se lasse pas de regarder.

Comment by fauquetmichel — July 7, 2015 @ 17:58 | Reply
- Bonjour Michel.
  
  Bien dit! Eh bien, moi, je suis un. 🙂
  
  Belle journée!
  
  Comment by Sartenada — July 8, 2015 @ 11:21 | Reply
Absolitely sublime post!Wonderful icon posts,we have similar ones too.Thank you for the link 🙂

Comment by DG MARYOGA — April 20, 2018 @ 09:38 | Reply
- Hello Doda.
  
  Thank You commenting and loving my photos.
  
  Happy upcoming weekend.
  
  Comment by Sartenada — April 20, 2018 @ 11:06 | Reply
  - My pleasure and so many thanks for this Holy Journey in the sublime Finnish churches.I treasure it,it will be my Sunday Prayer.Happy & Peaceful weekend.
    
    Comment by DG MARYOGA — April 20, 2018 @ 13:59 | Reply