St. Petersburg families enjoy winter holiday at Punkaharju

Skiing and shopping key attraction for visitors

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By Leena Härkönen and Esa Mäkinen in St. Petersburg and Punkaharju
     
     Even the local taxi driver is having trouble finding the right location through the labyrinth of buildings in the St. Petersburg suburb.
     “Welcome, welcome”, says Yelena, the mother of the Krusinkin family. Her husband Alexandr is getting the family car from a nearby parking garage. Their new Volvo requires a safe, guarded place for the night.
     Jelena offers her guests a pair of slippers and a glass of tea. Soon Alexandr comes in and grabs four-year-old Timofei, who would like to have some of the Dumle sweets on the living room table.
     The Krusinkins have lived here for a long time. The building dates back to the Brezhnev era, and is located 10 kilometres from the centre of St. Petersburg. Dozens of other concrete apartment buildings went up in the area at the same time, and new, taller and more modern towers have gone up nearby.
     The interior of the home is such that it could well be in Finland. A television set dominates the living room, and on the other edge there is a sofa, and in between, a large pile of toys.
     
The family has been to Finland nearly 30 times either on short visits, or for stays lasting a couple of weeks.
     “It is north from here. There are good services and low prices”, Alexandr explains, listing the reasons why they like to go to Finland.
     A peaceful environment is also important.
     Yelena says that they plan to go shopping on their next trip, and to do cross-country skiing - no downhill, though. Their shopping list includes clothing and food, and possibly electronics.
     The cat meows in the stairway of the apartment building with no elevator. A dish of food was put outside the door, but the arrival of guests is more interesting than eating.
     
A few days later a rented cabin in the south of Savo is buzzing with life.
     Yelena and Svetlana Ivotshkina, the mother of another Russian family, are putting food into the oven, while Svetlana’s husband Alexandr piles wood into the fireplace. Timofei got six-year-old Matvei as a playmate. The two of them watch cartoons on a computer.
     Yelena’s husband Alexandr is asleep. The drive from St. Petersburg to Punkaharju took all night, with the border inspections and all, and the families arrived at their destination at half past seven on the morning of New Year’s Eve.
     The families are in this particular cabin for the first time, and are pleased with their accommodation. The two-storey cabin, with facilities, is located on the shore of a lake, with snow all around.
     
The one-week holiday begins with the celebration of the new year, with gifts, food, and presents, and even some champagne.
     “We are celebrating twice - in Finnish and in Russian time”, Yelena says.
     The boys demand that the adults inflate some balloons so that they can throw them at each other. The young men are as excited as Finnish children waiting for Santa.
     Plans for the coming days include outdoor activities. “Are there cross-country skiing trails? Where? How many kilometres?, Yelena asks.
     The ladies are also planning to go shopping in nearby Savonlinna. Alexandr grimaces slightly, and the women laugh. “The men can look after the children at that time!”
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 2.1.2009


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finland continues to attract Russian tourists, but next year looks bleaker on the incoming front (15.12.2008)
  Record number of Russian tourists this year (12.11.2008)
  Finland again attracts record numbers of Russian tourists (2.1.2008)

LEENA HÄRKÖNEN AND ESA MÄKINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
leena.harkonen@hs.fi, esa.makinen@hs.fi