Happy Friday! This week we can tell you about a fun veteran tractor event we attended in Ostrobothnia, about a nice blog meeting and about a post that aroused a lot of emotions among the readers, and about everything that happened as a result... Phew!
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Veteran tractor event in Ostrobothnia
A camper van driver we've been in touch with on Instagram (you can check out their Finland adventure at @ficiency_highcoast_travel) tipped us off about a veteran tractor event in Ostrobothnia, with the association Malax veteran tractor. The event would take place at Kråkbacken, just south of Vaasa, and it suited our route, so why not?
We can honestly say that our knowledge and interest in vintage tractors is quite limited, but it is always fun to end up in contexts where you would not normally find on your own. It turned out to be really fun to check out all the beautiful, special and different old tractors.
The blue tractor with the impressive name 'Lucifer' roared into action and showed what it could do.
Others impressed by colour and design alone.
In addition to tractors, a variety of old machines were on display, many of which were powered by tractors. Among other things, we could see how they used to make roofing shingles and how they crushed stone. Very interesting!
The annual event attracted a total of 2234 people and had a great atmosphere.
Blog meeting in Ostrobothnia
Another nice encounter this week was when we met Ostrobothnian travel blogger Maria, whom we have followed for many, many years and who is currently most active on Instagram at @mariasmemoarer. Check out her beautiful photos from her summer trip to Switzerland and France!
Great fun and nice to finally meet, and at the same time get to know a little more about Maria's homeland. Oravais in Ostrobothnia.
A post that stirred up emotions
Another thing that happened this week that was a bit different was that one of our posts stirred up strong feelings among readers. It was Peter's article on beautiful small towns in Sweden which suddenly received many strong reactions.
We were not at all prepared for the 'storm'. We had simply chosen small (and some larger) cities that we like plus a few that we are curious about. It turned out to be a very hot and controversial post...
How can you consider Västerås and Norrköping small towns?
The critics had a point here. Västerås and Norrköping are not small towns. We included these towns in the list because we were thinking of the charming neighbourhoods that exist there, and we have clarified in the introduction to the article that we also included some larger towns. But certainly we could have made a different selection.
However, we are a bit shocked by the level of aggression. Some comments we have not even been able to publish because they contain such offensive and abusive words.
Why are so few cities from northern Sweden included?
The critics also have a point here. We have travelled very little in northern Sweden, and this is reflected in the selection. We have primarily chosen cities that we have visited and like ourselves, and only added a few bucket list destinations. We will be travelling more in northern Sweden later this summer, and then we will probably discover more gems.
Why is city X not on the list?
We understand! There are lots of beautiful, amazing and charming cities in Sweden and apparently we missed out on the your city. This may be because we have not been there. Or because we made a different selection after all. Or because we are only human. Or something like that. But really, someone would have been angry no matter what we had chosen, or ...?
Phew!
Best this week
The best thing about this week is that we get to continue travelling along the beautiful Finnish coast, where we are currently discovering Ostrobothnia, which by the way is largely Swedish-speaking. Among other things, we've managed to get to Närpes, where they speak a unique Swedish dialect (and grow great tomatoes). We have been able to post pictures on Instagram at @freedomtravelnewsbut here at FREEDOMtravel, it will take a little longer.
Another funny thing is that Peter decorated the motorhome with the nice sheepskins that we bought at the market in Kristinestad. Now it's super cosy in the motorhome!
Your turn ... what can you highlight as positive from your week?
The week ahead
In the coming week we will continue travelling north along the Finnish coast. Here at FREEDOMtravel, we will tell you about the places we visit, mixed with some reportage from Sweden earlier this year and maybe something else. We only plan the articles a few days in advance, so even we don't always know what it will be ...
We wish you a nice weekend and conclude with a picture from a lovely free camping in Fagerö folk park outside Närpes.
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Travelling in motorhome country Finland
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Annar Aas says:
The great thing about your blog is that we get to travel with you to different places. I love it. The fact that you have not been everywhere is perfectly ok. Nice to see new places with you. Have a nice continued journey in the north.
21 July 2023 - 8:54
Helena says:
Thank you for your nice comment! With hindsight, we think that we could have written in a slightly different way, but we are a bit shocked by the way people express themselves ... And thank you! 🙂 Have fun!
21 July 2023 - 18:42
Helena from Finland says:
Thank you for all the wonderful and interesting reports! Always so much fun to follow you on your adventures. 😍. With the finger of surprise in the mouth of amazement, we read people's reactions to your Swedish small towns report.
21 July 2023 - 9:57
Helena says:
Glad it's appreciated! 🙂 Yes, sometimes you are surprised. Of course, you can have opinions and it is of course also ok to criticise (sometimes we may need to revise or rethink), but when it becomes too aggressive and you can not have a discussion, you are horrified to say the least.
21 July 2023 - 18:44
Ditte says:
What fun both with this "Veteran meeting" and to meet Maria. I have followed her for a long time and so nice to see you together.
But so sad with "attacks" in your post about cities in Sweden; small or bigger, but with their charm and which you recommend. Really "Pooh". Why should people be so "jumpy"?
I know that you are now travelling in Finland and that you will be travelling further down through Sweden and maybe Norway. So certainly more Swedish cities will be on the list that you so nicely fill with lots of info.
Personally, I probably didn't know that you hadn't travelled much in the north and then it's obviously tricky to include places from there. because you want to write about what you have seen and experienced. Preferably! Of course there are exceptions.
A thought in addition to those I have written: Why are people so easily offended? Or is it perhaps pure jealousy?
Best of the week? Most things. But archipelago trips, visits to the Thielska gallery and new job assignments I put on extra + account.
Have fun!
Have a nice weekend!
PS! Fun and nice with the sheepskin
I think you are doing a fantastic job.
21 July 2023 - 11:18
Helena says:
Yes, both the veteran tractor event and the meeting with Maria were very fun and positive!!! And it could be needed to balance the other ... Many thanks for your comment both here and in the post about the cities, it warms and encourages! Wishing you a nice weekend!
21 July 2023 - 18:45
Frido says:
Read the comments, oops. I do think that "anonymous" who commented several times is the same person, not several different ones as it pretends to be (responded to its own comment with "agree" etc.) so there may not have been so many different suris at the end of the day, but very sad anyway.
21 July 2023 - 15:16
Helena says:
Thank you for your comment! Yes, who knows, maybe it is? I think I could check if it's the same IP address or not, but I don't think I should do that, because it doesn't give any positive energy ... Yes, sad! We have taken the content of the criticism to heart, but the way it is expressed is sad. Have a nice weekend!
21 July 2023 - 18:49
BP says:
The tractors are absolutely superb, completely to my taste. And the trimmed Lucifer is soooo cool. What gems!
The attack is incredible! Of course I reacted to the fact that you "classified" Norrköping as a small town, but so what!!!? I mean compared to Stockholm, all cities except Gothenburg and Malmö are small towns. So heavenly unnecessary with such attacks. But at least you got a comment record. No evil that has no good with it.
21 July 2023 - 19:16
Lena - good for the soul says:
Read the comments about "small towns" that came after I commented. But my goodness. How hard can it be to express yourself in a nice way! Or at least a respectful way. As far as I can see, you have neither emphasised that it is Sweden's "best" or "cosiest" small towns or that it is a complete list, just examples.
So sad that there are even comments you couldn't/wouldn't publish! Really bad!
Hug Lena
24 July 2023 - 6:28