Autumn is a beautiful yet infamous season. The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder. Forget the tops and iced coffee – it’s sweater and tea season. A prelude for winter, autumn is difficult to love. The memories of the warm sun on the bare skin are too vivid to let go. Chilly, foggy, dull. Yes, that’s autumn. Unique, glorious, invigorating. That’s autumn too.
This September, I thought it was time to reconsider my relationship with this complicated season. I dedicated very little time and came up with many fantastic ideas of things to do that I couldn’t wait to act on. One of the ideas was a spontaneous day trip.
On a gray Saturday morning, I dressed up in layers, poured hot tea in my cup, and set out from Helsinki to Porvoo. It takes less than an hour by bus to get to this charming town – the second oldest in Finland. I always thoroughly plan my trips beforehand. But this time it felt right to plan as little as possible and let the town be my guide. There is plenty to do in Porvoo – from attractions to museums and outdoor activities. The town’s official website will tell you all about it, while I’ll just take you along on my journey.
Porvoo is a perfect combination of culture and nature, past and present. The town is beautiful in any season, but autumn colours make it incredible. Although the town has a lot to offer to its visitors, wandering around is genuinely as good an experience as any. So that’s what I did.
I got to Porvoo in the morning, walked the cobbled streets of the Old Town all the way up to the Porvoo Cathedral, climbed the Devil’s Stairs, and took a detour on the quiet streets of old wooden houses. The almost empty roads brought me to the river and a cozy café, where I sat for a while, soaking in the peace of a Saturday morning. I’m not used to the idea of spending time like this. Slowly sipping coffee on a Saturday morning, reading an actual newspaper, indulging in conversations. Like there’s no rush – no time even.
After a coffee break, I crossed the bridge to the other side of the town and followed the trails into the woods. Shortly, I reached the hill with a marvelous view and just sat there for a while. It was the moment to just be. No phone, no company, no noise. Just me, gazing at a small town by the river, with colorful buildings embraced by the trees, touched by the upcoming autumn. The air was chilly, my hands were cold. It was perfect.
Sadly, I came to Porvoo a bit too early to witness the full explosion of autumn colour. I guess now – the beginning of October – is the perfect time to see this little miracle of nature. But it was worthwhile still.
On my walk in the woods, I passed a group of people practicing yoga on the hill and got to the spot with the amazing view of the town. I left my phone in my pocket. Moments like this are best undisturbed. Three hours and eight kilometers later, it was time to go home.
That day I stepped into my apartment and felt light. My mind was calm and clear, free of tasks, errands, and worries. I was full of inspiration – so charming was the little town I’d visited. Porvoo is touristy yet very intimate, beautiful all year round yet perfect in the autumn. It’s days like this that bond you with this special season.