We had a wonderful day in Vaasa! We rode bikes to city center and had lunch at Sweet Vaasa. It’s a lovely little lunch cafe with fresh salads and sweets. I had the chicken Caesar salad, coffee, and Adam and I shared the hummingbird cake. Everything was of high quality, fresh, and delicious.  Fuel for our museum extravaganza! 

    
    
   We enjoyed SIX Vaasa museums today! It’s a good thing we rode bikes so we could get around quickly. We went to a couple art, a couple science, and a couple history museums. Overall, a cultural success!  

Jill made a wonderful breakfast which she titled, “Salmon threeways”. The salmon was deliciously smoked, grilled, and blended into a cream cheese and dill spread. Served with tomatoes, cucumbers, toast and crackers, and fragrant little strawberries.  Mmmm! 

We had a long, hard day of leisurely strolling, soaking up the warm sun and beautiful views… We deserved a hearty meal. Right?  

To start, I made salads with tomatoes and sautéed zucchini, onion, and mushrooms topped with balsamic vinaigrette. For the entrée, I made creamy Brie, chèvre, and Parmesan mac’n’cheese with crispy bacon on top, crusty baguettes with butter, and a wonderful French red wine Yvonne and Björn left for us. Thanks guys! 😍

    
    
 For dessert cards and a delicious milk chocolate toffee candy bar☺️

Coffee does a body good. Especially when a cute little Finnish lady offers to make it for you while her husband roasts coffee beans and explains the meaning of life☺️ 

We enjoyed another beautiful, sunny day in Vaasa. The weather has been perfect! We bought some beers and headed to the waterfront for some relaxing conversation and grade A people watching.  

It wasn’t good. It wasn’t bad. It just happened. That’s all.  😏  

After such a large lunch, we decided to keep diner light. Additionally, we’re planning a trip to a Thai buffet for brunch tomorrow 😁

We had smoked salmon spread, spicy pickles we bought at the market from the man who made them, Brie, raspberry jam, and crackers. Not too shabby.  

We made delicious Finnish meatballs , mashed potatoes, lingonberry sauce, creamed spinach, and salads reminiscent of all-day Ikea shopping extravaganzas😜 

    
 For dessert we had Huttunen- a Finnish wine made with garden currents and grapes from European vineyards. The box claims that it is “medium sweet”, but we decided it’s “sweet sweet”. Perfect served with gourmet, chewy, delicacies (aka gummy Haribo candies). 😊

Jill made a wonderful Scandinavian spread for breakfast: rye toast, spreadable cheese, dill, smoked and salt cured salmon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and perfectly hard boiled eggs. We also tried a Finnish favorite Vispis- a semolina porrage cooked with lingonberries, chilled, then served with milk and sugar. It was not my favorite 😏  

Amazing fried little fish, “the little cousin to salmon in the fresh water”- according to the Finnish market guys.  They were served with garlic sauce. So crispy, crunchy, and fresh. Delish!!!