Moi (Hi), dear traveler.
Tervetuloa takaisin (Welcome back) 😊
It’s mid-August 2022 on a hot summer day, 27°c (80.6°f) to be exact!
We have arrived again in the beautiful lakeside city of Lahti, Finland.
But this time i want you to join me to an authentic restaurant on an old lonely island.
I have read that the scenery on our way will be of epic proportions.
The restaurant (Kommodori) can be found on Myllysaari island.
A compact marina is also connected to the island so boat users can visit and enjoy the good food.

To learn more about this small island, we will have to dig into its (deep) history.
As the name suggests, it is derived from a mill that used to work there, built in the 19th century.
At that time, the mill and the island were owned by the Köll’s family.
During the construction of this mill, an ancient grave has been found containing various relics, such as spears and fragments of swords from the Iron Age (6th century).
It was the resting place of 2 Viking warriors.
The objects are now in the collections of the National Museum and classified as a fixed ancient relic, the first of its kind in the entire Lahti area.

The island became a real recreational spot when Ernst Mattson bought the island in 1905.
Construction of a pavilion began in 1909, dedicated to the Lahti Sailing Club.
Ernst eventually sold his properties to the association in 1910.
It’s in this pavilion that the restaurant is operated.
The story goes that the pavilion is haunted by the ghost of a Viking man, if you leave a full cognac glass in the tower of the pavilion in the evening, it will be empty in the morning.
Legend has it that even extinguished candles can light up on their own 😲
This pavilion is one of Finland’s oldest, if not the oldest surviving lakeside pavilion.
For a long time the island was only used by members of the sailing club, non-members could only come to the island in the company of a club member.

Bridges from the mainland to the island were built in the 1980s.
Before that, people had to board a ferry in the summer.
In winter, the island was accessible by walking across the frozen lake.
There are about 180 different species of trees and plants on the island, some of which are rare and brought from abroad.

Thank you for accompanying me.
Enjoy the rest of your walk and the stunning scenery.
See you in the next scene, a hint: One umbrella to keep you safe ☂️