The midsummer was over, and I returned my date back to the town where she lived. We were home very late in the night, and she had to leave early for work. She allowed me to sleep as long as I needed at her place, though.
That morning I had a late breakfast at a local bakery while trying to figure out my route for the day. I had a long list of locations in the area because of a newspaper article from earlier that spring.
More than a decade earlier I had the chance to work with one of the bravest journalists in Finland. She has since become a freelancer, who tirelessly writes about crimes and corruption in Russia and Russian business activities in Finland. That spring she published an article about Russian run tourist businesses in the area. The point was, that there were numerous hotels, hostels and resorts, which had been operated by Russian owners, who had closed things down and vanished.
This here is a former elementary school opened in 1950. It was located in a very remote area, and the school was closed already way back in 1968. It has been used for tourist purposes ever since.
The place was in a good condition. Some sources say that the hotel closed in 2013, but the company actually ceased operating in 2019. In 2016 the news said that it was for sale.
The main building could have used some paint. A gardener might also be welcome.
There were other buildings in the area, too. They were from the 1970’s or 1980’s, and had been built, while the old school area served as an location for summer camps.
Technically you could still play on that.
Nature is slowly taking over the entrances.
Perfect for a picnic.
The swing is only used by the wind now.
I wonder what this building has been used for. Accommodation possibly?
At the back of the lot was a row house. It has probably also housed tourists.
The sauna. And another swing.
Beach volleyball and basketball were among the activities here. There’s also somebody’s boat stored at the back.
The back of the main building.
The row house was from the same era as the other house seen earlier.
It was very much locked, and I couldn’t get any good photos through the windows. But this looks, like it has last been used around Christmas. The company did cease trading in December 2019.
After finishing this side of the school I will have gone around the entire building. Everything is intact.
The old school was surprisingly long.
So, time to see if they will receive me. The name of the location has been removed.