A long weekend in Karelia

Three days, one rented car, no particular plan. We drove north early on Friday and were at the first lake by lunch. The road gets quieter with every hour, and after a while the only traffic is timber trucks.

Lakes and rocks

Everything here is granite polished by ice and covered in moss and pine. We walked short trails along the shore, swam once (briefly — the water was cold even in August) and spent a lot of time simply sitting on warm rocks.

The ferry

On Saturday we planned to take a small ferry to an island. We arrived four minutes after departure, and the next one was in the evening. In the end that was the best part of the trip: a long lunch in a village café, smoked fish and a slow walk along the pier.

Practical notes

Take serious mosquito repellent. Mobile signal disappears for long stretches, so download offline maps. Fuel stations are far apart; fill up whenever you see one.

I would go back in September next time — fewer insects, and the birches start turning yellow.