Midsummer is a special time in Finland and the other northern countries. Approaching the solstice the sun barely sets and there are many festivals and parties. In Finland most people gather in summer cottages in the country. I went to two separate summer cottages for midsummer celebrations. At both places we ate dinner, sang songs, drank, went in the sauna and then jumped into the frigid sea. I am a sucker for summertime so I had a blast.
I did not take this picture on the solstice. I took it on the 19th and the sun is still clearly visible at eleven at night. It never gets dark here although the sun does set for a bit. It is a surreal atmosphere for me since I have not experienced it before.
