圣诞老人的故乡:魅力芬兰

There's something pure in the Finnish air and spirit that's incredibly vital and exciting. Although socially and economically it is in the vanguard of nations, parts of the country remain gloriously remote; with the trendsetting modern capital of Helsinki counterbalanced by vast forested wildernesses in the north and east, like Lemmenjoki National Park and Oulanka National Park. These wilds are perfect for treks among the pines and lakes in summer. And who'd have thought that so far north you could have such a summer? It's a golden, sunny season when Finland bursts into life with an explosion of festivals, good cheer and optimism. It's a time when the towns are buzzing, but it's also a time to head for the lakelands of Mikkeli & around and Lappeenranta. Sit on the veranda of a waterside wooden cottage and watch the summer sun shining low over the trees, and you'll have experienced one of Finland's ultimate treats; a real Nordic peace that eases the soul.

踏上芬兰的土地，你会很容易感觉这篇天空是如此干净，很自然被这里的气场所感染。虽然芬兰一直上榜前卫国家排行，这片土地仍然保留着宁静而古老的气息。赫尔辛基的摩登与东北部广阔森林的保守相平衡。谁又能想到在遥远的北极仍然可以享受难以名状的夏季？这里依然充满着五彩缤纷的嘉年华和狂欢派对。坐在小木房的游廊，水流嬉戏而过，阳光穿过丛林，此时迎接你的便是芬兰最完美的礼物，真正的北极魅力体验无疑。

Winter, too, has a special charm here, and the best way of banishing those scary subzero temperatures is to get active. Every type of skiing and more goes on for months, but how about chartering a team of dogs or a snowmobile and heading out on a trek across the snowy wastes, lit by a beautiful, pale, winter sun? Catch the aurora borealis after your wood-fired sauna and you'll feel blessed by the universe. The Sami, many of whom still make a living from the reindeer roaming the awesome Lapland expanses, once believed the northern lights to be the snow beaten from the tail of a giant fox spirit.

芬兰冬季的独特魅力更是触动人心。在芬兰的北部，九月就已经开始飘雪，从十一月到来年五月，地上积雪始终不融。当屋顶覆盖着厚厚的积雪，壁炉中跳跃着温暖的火焰；在冬日的阳关暖暖地照耀中，还能带领一队雪橇犬在冰天雪地中漫游。这也是尝试芬兰国粹桑拿浴的最佳时机。来到了这个圣诞老人和驯鹿的故乡，也证明你来到了萨米人的家。以驯鹿为生的萨米人

Finnish towns, too, have much to offer. Whether cosy wooden churches, avant-garde design, quirky museums or passionate Finnish rock music are your thing, you'll find them in abundance, as well as cafes warm with the smell of baking cinnamon, and boisterous nightlife - the latter particularly in chic, cultural Helsinki.

在芬兰无数的小镇，你总能找到适合自己的乐趣：温馨的教堂、前卫的设计、奇特的博物馆、激情澎湃的摇滚乐。不经意间，便呈现眼前，还有充满温暖香气的咖啡屋，更有赫尔辛基文化为代表的时尚夜生活。

Best of all, Finland is full of Finns, who tend to do their own thing and are much the better for it. Independent, loyal, warm and welcoming - they are a memorable people in an inspirational country.

最可爱的莫过于芬兰的居民。他们乐于生活中的忙碌，个性独立、真诚、亲切而热情，叫人永远难以忘记。