Europe Cottage Holiday in Finland
Many Finns look forward to visiting their mokki, or summer holiday cottage each year. These cottage holiday are unique in Europe, as they are generally based as far fro m civilization as possible and located beside or in the vicinity of water. A sauna is also an obligatory feature in these cottages, as is a basic outdoor toilet.
The idea of these summer vacations is to get away from the trappings of everyday life and enjoy the Finnish countryside surrounded by the solitude and peace of nature. Yet the mokki vacation tends to bring out the social side of the Finnish people as well, as they often go on these holidays in groups. The sauna in particular is the site for social gatherings which are usually enjoyed in a semi-naked state while chatting over beers and barbeque. The lack of modern appliances in these cottages gives people the chance to practice the rare art of conversation, as well.