Another warm, sunny day so a day at the beach was planned. We took a No.4 tram to its terminus at Munkkiniemi. It’s a very pleasant suburb of Helsinki with an attractive bay, a peaceful spot with a long seafront walkway alongside tall reed beds and wild roses. Nearby you will find a ‘Mattolaituri’ meaning carpet washing pier.
This is where Finns bring their carpets and rugs to be washed in the sea. There is always a scrubbing table and even a mangle to take away the excess water and aid drying. This lovely sight is a Finnish tradition which I’ve seen in many places in southern Finland. There’s a community spirit as people come together and chat whilst doing their spring cleaning. Best of all, the carpets and rugs are safe and no one is worried that they might disappear overnight.
Wandering along we passed an ice cream kiosk doing a steady trade and continued to the sandy beach which is surrounded by trees for those who prefer the shade. The beach has showers and changing rooms and is a lovely spot to relax and soak up the sun for awhile.
We enjoyed a dip in the warm sea then settled down to read our books and eat the picnic we’d brought along. After a blissful couple of hours we strolled back towards the tram, stopping at Cafe Torpanranta for drinks on their attractive terrace which overlooks the bay.
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