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Secrets of the Sauna as revealed by the Finnish Tourist Board

Who’s to say where in Finland you will find the very best sauna? Often it’s the people who are with you and the uniting sense of kinship that will stay with you as much as the location. But here are three particular favorites:

On the ferry to Finland
Set aside some time if you’re crossing by sea to Finland. The fabulous cruise ferries, which connect Helsinki with the Swedish capital, Stockholm, have male and female saunas located on the top decks. It’s possible to peep out and experience wonderful views of the Baltic skerries and promontories that form one of the most beautiful archipelagos in the world.

At the Russian frontier in northeastern Finland
Take an exhilarating snowmobile safari directly east from the popular winter resort of Ruka and you’ll soon be closer to the Russian border than you imagine! A big smoke sauna is lit for groups of visitors, with a chance afterwards to slip down a ladder and through a hole in the nearby frozen lake… a chilly but unforgettable experience. (www.rukapalvelu.fi)

Under the spill of the Northern Lights
There’s an old Lappish manor house on the banks of a mighty river, just north of the ski resort of Levi – around 150 miles north of the Arctic Circle. Walk around 100 metres along the snowy path from the house to the riverbank and share the traditional warmth of the wood-heated sauna. The sight of the Northern Lights dancing in the clear skies above is hauntingly beautiful. (www.hulluporo.fi)

Sauna etiquette:

Here are a few tips to ensure your next visit to a Finnish sauna is a success:

* Don’t leave the sauna door open too long. The people already inside the sauna will quickly sense an unwelcome drop in temperature.
* Be careful about adding extra ingredients to the water you throw on the sauna stones. A drop or two of beer is acceptable, and results in a wonderful aroma of baking bread. Eucalyptus, tar or birch leaves are also permitted, but you are unlikely to win friends by using any other additive.
* It’s customary to be naked in the sauna. Sit on your towel or use a paper cloth provided.
* If you like it hotter, then occupy a high bench in the sauna.
* Don’t stay in the heat for more than around 10 or 15 minutes, and give yourself time to cool down afterwards. Make sure you drink plenty of water, too.

The Sauna Center gives info on health benefits, different styles and types of sauna, safe use of saunas, how to build a sauna,medical analysis,aesthetics, and the sheer beauty of it all.
http://the-sauna-center.com

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