When you mention traveling, images of exotic places spring immediately to mind. Old Russian cathedrals, white sandy beaches with clean turquoise water and minarets in a fairytale land where the smell of pungent spices permeates the air.
Travel provides an escape from the daily predictable lifestyle that most of us find ourselves in. It offers opportunities to meet new people, learn about new places and find oneself in some interesting situations.
Take Finland for example. If you are from the US or Canada you might not feel as comfortable showing your naked body to the public as the Finns do. Nudity in Finland is considered a part of everyday life. So don’t be surprised that the next time you want to take a swim in a public swimming pool, not only will you see men walking through the women’s dressing room to access the pool area, but the saunas are co-ed.
The last thing you want to be wearing in a hot steamy sauna is a sticky non-breathable lycra swimsuit. Everyone goes into the sauna naked. Most people bring a towel to put on the hot bench and avoid sizzling their rear ends. Women sit on one side of the room and men on the other.
The Finns have a very pragmatic attitude towards nudity. Our birthday suits are a natural fact of life so why hide this fact? Enjoy the sauna and get over it.
The sauna was for centuries the only place where the country folk in Finland could wash. The end of the week sauna was a ritual that all family members participated in. With no running water, this was also the place where laundry was washed and babies were born. So the sauna is still considered a sacred place where one can sweat out all the toxins and emerge squeaky clean.
Another interesting custom to note is drinking vodka in Russia. Russians love their vodka and no matter what the occasion, even a visitor to their home will prompt them to bring out the vodka bottle. Vodka is poured into small shot size glasses and gulped down immediately. No sipping here. The host would be insulted if you chose to drink his vodka in this way. With the table groaning with food, the vodka bottle goes around with story after story in hot pursuit.
Often the vodka is accompanied with a homemade pickle and a piece of black bread with herring. Vodka is basically tasteless but very potent, especially the Russian version that is not exported. It won’t be long before you will find yourself speaking Russian, laughing along with the jokes, and dancing to Russian music.
Travel provides the traveler with a lifetime of memories. Don’t forget to take pictures and videos. No one will believe your experiences until they see a few for themselves. Get off the beaten path and enjoy meeting the locals. Your trip will be unique and your memories priceless.
