Take the Plunge!
Saunas are a big deal in Finland. After a bit of research, it seems that the earliest versions date back to 7000 B.C.! After talking to our driver, several locals and the hotel concierge, who all told us going to a sauna was a must do, my friend Lori and I decided that we needed to try the sauna experience.
Taking a sauna usually begins by taking a shower, followed by sitting in the sauna room, where the temperature is between 176 and 230 °F. Water is thrown on the hot stones creating vast amounts of wet steam, known as löyly.
We made a reservation at Löyly Sauna, overlooking the Baltic Sea, in Helsinki. We started the afternoon there with a cozy meal at the restaurant, which featured delicious traditional Finnish food, including elk meatballs and salmon soup. We decided on burgers, which were delicious! Despite the rain and grey skies, the views were great and we had a leisurely lunch watching the waves.
When it was time for our sauna experience, we headed into the changing room to change and shower, and then headed to the smoke sauna. Boy, was it hot! You could feel the air in your lungs, it was so intense. After a few minutes in there, it was time to head out to the stairs that lead directly in the sea.
A quick dunk to the knees was all we needed, before we scurried into the traditional sauna, which was not as hot, and used hot stones instead of wood. We were able to spend more time in this sauna before heading back to the sea.
We got a little braver this second time, we got in, neck deep, but didn’t let go of the ladder. Between the drizzling rain and the 48 °F water, it did not take long to feel “fresh!”
And so we repeated this cycle. Back to the sauna, enjoy some drinks in front of the fire, repeat. We spent a relaxing afternoon out of the inclement weather. Finally I decided that I needed to go all the way in the Baltic Sea and let go of the ladder. When would I have this opportunity again? So I decided it was go big or go home!
I can’t believe I did it! I got in and swam in the Baltic! While probably in the water no more than 1 minute, my whole body felt tingly and incredibly invigorated! The only experience I can compare it to, is cryotherapy but without the excitement of being in an actual sea!
What a great experience! If you ever have the chance to do this, I highly recommend it!
https://www.loylyhelsinki.fi/en/