Mikkeli and Savonlinna are north and east of Helsinki, which is on the south coast of Finland. Mikkeli is about a 5-hour drive from the Helsinki airport and Savonlinna another hour farther. It's possible to get from Helsinki to Mikkeli and Savonlinna by train or plane. On a tour boat out of Mikkeli, you can see prehistoric red ochre paintings on a smooth rock face rising out of the Vuoksi River. In the towns, people ride bicycles and walk around talking on mobile telephones and eating peas instead of ice cream cones.
Crosswalks have sound signals for the blind.
Daily markets in Mikkeli and Savonlinna combine flea markets with flowers and food, including piles of peas in the pod and a delicious breakfast bread called lortsy. Most people speak English and even those who don't are helpful. Savonlinna has attractive hotels within walking distance of Olavinlinna Castle. Two great restaurants are in country houses just outside of town. Rauhalinna, outside Savonlinna, was built in 1900 in Russian style with lace-like wood carvings by a commandant of the czar for his Finnish wife.