We slept in. Finally about 9:30 we shuffled across the street for our complimentary breakfast. By 10:00 we were hunting down an Otto, and then headed toward “the fortress” that overlooks the harbor at Lappeenranta. The old buildings have been restored and many of them host art galleries, shops, and restaurants. It would have been a better time, but it was on-again, off-again rain. We ended up by the harbor and Finland’s biggest sand castle. For the past 5 years, they have been constructing huge castles to draw tourists. It was big, and the details were amazing. They spray it with glue to keep the rain from disintegrating it too soon. About 14:00 Eero picked us up and again we were hosted by the Juntunen’s. We were served another great dinner; this time moose. After dinner we drove up to Imatra to see “the rapids.” During the summer they release water from the old power plant and flood the old rapids. People line up on the bridge to watch, and get an idea of what the river must have looked like before it was tamed for hydroelectric power. Now, the water is diverted even farther away to the new power plant. After a brief tour of Imatra, we ended up at the military cemetery in downtown Lappeenranta, viewing the respectfully maintained graves of Finns that died in the Winter War and World War II. We finished off the day at the harbor, eating a waffle smeared with strawberry jam.
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