A Proustian Travel Guide: Eva Kiviranta

Name: Eva Kiviranta     

Profession: PR coordinator

Age: 26

Location: Helsinki

"Years ago, I spent every living moment thinking that I’ll never again want to live in Finland. Today I can’t imagine any other place where I’d rather live than Helsinki. I’m a firm believer that hiking solves everything."

What are three things you wish people knew about you?

I love coffee but I don’t tolerate caffeine, which makes me very sad.

I’m obsessed with Harry Potter books (not movies, only books).

I don’t travel as much as my Instagram account makes it look like, mostly I’m at home.

What is your favorite thing to splurge on?

Flights and hiking gear

When traveling, what do you never leave home without?

Woolen socks and my travel journal

Where is your all-time favorite travel destination?

Lapland

Describe the perfect weekend in Lapland.

The perfect weekend in Lapland is all about outdoors activities. The real deal is staying at a cottage in the middle of nowhere, spending the days outside exploring and evenings in a sauna and swimming (ice swimming if it’s winter). Top if off with a husky safari and Northern Lights. The area has endless opportunities for hiking and skiing, and being Europe’s last wilderness it’s a perfect place to disconnect for a while and still get good shots to post afterwards. 

What is your favorite neighborhood? And why? 

Kilpisjärvi is a tiny place right next to the borders of Sweden and Norway. It doesn’t really get more authentic and rugged than this.

What makes someone a local in this destination?

Knowing where the best cloudberry spots are (and only telling that secret to your potential offspring). 

If you had to give a visitor one keepsake from the destination, what would it be?

Kuksa – a traditional wooden cup made and used by the indigenous Sámi people in Lapland.