The longest day (shortest night) of the northern hemisphere comes up in two weeks. Believe me, in Helsinki we are already experiencing what the Russians call "white nights." At 1 a.m. It is finally dark.
Farther north in Ivalo there will be no complete darkness at this time of year, merely twilight in the darkest hours. People of the far north take advantage of the extra light to be out and about late in the evening. Some 8 years ago we were headed back to our hotel following the ballet in St. Petersburg when we saw Russians strolling and sitting at sidewalk cafes around midnight.
