Showing posts with label Finland. Show all posts

Great Places to Eat in Helsinki

Where to Eat in Helsinki

Dog Sledding in Lapland

Living My Dreams and Going Dog Sledding

The Lux Festival

Lux: A Show of Lights in the Dark City

Finally Going Ice Swimming


Facing My Fears and Going Ice Swimming (And Freezing My Feet Off!)

Hiking in Finland


The Great Outdoors ... With or Without Snow

Celebrating Finland 100

Enjoying All of the Celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of Finnish Independence

Finnish Parks

Why Parks in Finland Are So Amazing

Living in the Snow

Living in the Snow: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Vacationing With A Finnish Family

The Finnish Countryside: The Perfect Getaway Vacation

Alcohol Laws in Finland

Figuring Out the Strict Laws for Buying Alcohol in Finland

Why I Love Finnish Sunsets


Finnish Sunsets: The Brilliantly Bright Side of Early Sunsets

Safety in Finland


Is Finland as Safe as They Say It Is?

One of the main reasons why I moved to Finland is because it is known for being a relatively safe country. There are very few instances of violence, and as a woman, I can walk home at any time and not be harassed. And I love that about Finland. But it is interesting to compare my ideas of safety to the ideas of the Finns. So here is the truth about safety in Finland.


No Harassment

As a woman, there is no major harassment that you would experience in other countries. You can walk around and people won't follow you. Men don't catcall. And women are relatively free. This might just be Finnish nature to not draw attention to yourself or its because people actually respect each other here. No matter what it is, I have really enjoyed this as a woman. Sure there will always be some people that act up, but they are relatively few here compared to other countries where it is the norm.


The Bad Parts of Town

After living in Paris and growing up near San Francisco, I really don't consider to have any bad parts of town. I feel safe wherever I go here. Even in the creepiest places, I still feel 80% safer than I would in Paris or San Francisco. But what is funny is that many Finns avoid certain parts of town because it is known to be the bad part of town. Sure there are some people that drank too much and throw beer bottles at walls. Or there are people on drugs. But generally they stick to themselves and their friends group rather than interact with strangers. So you can easily stay safe without much effort in these parts of town. Even walking through the train station late at night is relatively safe compared to walking through a train station in Paris during the day. So maybe it's just my experiences, but I feel safe in Finland. 


Just the Drunks

The only people that are concerning are the drunks or the drug addicts. But usually they keep to themselves. They are the ones most likely to harass you, but they are usually too drunk to keep it up for long. They are also what make the "bad parts of town" so sketchy. But generally they just hang out with themselves. Sure they might accidentally bump into you, sure some may ask you for money, and sure they are always loud. But in Helsinki, that is as bad as it gets. So I will gladly take the Finnish safety. 


The Truth About Finnish Food


Figuring Out Finnish Food: Is it as Bad as They Say it is?

10 Great Things in Rovaniemi

Rovaniemi: Exploring Lapland on a Budget

The Best Things About Living in Finland


Finland: The Best Nordic Country to Live In

Birthdays in Europe



Happy Women's Day and Happy Birthday to Me!

Suomenlinna

An Island Full of Adventures to be Had

Underrated Cities

Cities That Are Often Overlooked When Planning Travels But Shouldn't Be

10 Great Things to do in Tampere

Tampere: An Industrial Looking City in the Middle of Nature

Summer in Finland

The Helsinki Summer: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year