Evidence of great community...

So last weekend it was just my host and I so we decided to go and explore a park that is not too far away from where we live. This is a park with about a 2K trail for running, cross-country skiing and sledding on a few of the hills. But that is not why we came to the trail. This trail is known as Edvin's Path or Edvininpolu. Edvin Hevonkoski was a Finnish veteran would as a hobby after he stopped working made sculptures out of wood and then scrap metal. Eventually he started to install them at this park (without any official permission) and now it has become a major part of Vasa. Check out the pictures and the link below. The link will tell you a little bit more about his work and his connection to the veteran community and the Vasa community. His sculptures depict many things from past presidents to Finnish folk tales to military scenes and more. I hope you enjoy, we definitely did.

http://itenet.fi/en/ite-artists/edvin-hevonkoski/

 

 

A Wood Fired Sauna (it was closed for Winter)

Below is the biggest hill I have been on in Finland so far. 

Above: The former president of Finland- Tarja Halonen 

Finland's first female president was president from 2000 to 2012 (very well liked by the people. Finland also had female prime ministers during her time. She is widely known for her interest in human rights issues including but not limited to problems of globalization, LGBT rights organizations, and woman's rights. She is a member of the Council of Woman World Leaders, an international network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers who mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action issues of critical importance to women and equitable development. In 2009, Forbes named her one among the 100 Most Powerful women in the world. 

Below: Tarja Halonen's husband, Pentti Ilkka Olavi Arajärvi. The likeness on his statue is quite impressive.

Inside this structure the bottom was made of slats of wood that creaked like no other when I walked on them. It was slightly disconcerting. 

What I loved most about this park was that it represents a great sense of community. A man shared his gift with others, the city agreed to let it be and maintain it, and people young and old can be found getting out and enjoying the good weather in many different ways. I hope wherever you are in the world you can also find evidence of great communities. 

Hej Hej.