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  • Scandinavia 2019
    1
    Day 35

    Back to the city

    March 23, 2019 in Finland ⋅ 🌬 3 °C

    It’s funny how you get used to a place so quickly when you are travelling and you develop small routines the longer you stay. We had grown so used to our cabin in Äkäslompolo and it felt a little strange to be back in city hotel room. The short flight was a but rough especially on landing and very cramped. When the person sitting in front of me decided to recline I could not even read a magazine without turning to the side to turn the pages... it’s a first world problem I know.
    Well, anyway... Helsinki. An interesting place, and a very spacious city. Wide tree lined boulevards remind me a little of Paris actually, and the green and yellow trams that are similar to Melbourne. My first and very short impression is that it is lively, full of Finnish culture and art. It has given me a new appreciation for Finnish design. We feel very underdressed as we walk around in our travel clothes. I would like stay an extra day, as we really have not had a chance to explore too much, as we will have only been here for under 48 hours! Unfortunately, Saturday was a grey, rainy day with a mist that blanketed the city from early afternoon. We took the Panorama Bus to view the city from the warmth and dryness of a bus. After a spot of lunch we visited the Finland Museum of Photography and the most awesome Helsinki city library with it’s architecture that it resembles Finland’s fells. Today the sun has greeted us and a quick morning walk took me to the sea baths where locals were enjoying their ‘löyly’ in the sauna followed by a quick dip in the sea pool. A little cold for me.    Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    1
    Day 33

    Cabin fever

    March 21, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ☀️ -1 °C

    After a day staying in as I was not feeling up to it, we set off for a trip to visit a reindeer farm owned and run by a Sami family. It was so good to see that pulling tourists through a forest is not the only business these reindeers do. This really was a reindeer farm where they are bred and well looked after. We learned so much and best of all the place was so peaceful. Even the family expressed how peaceful their lives were, with the work changing season by season. A truly wonderful day.Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    Day 31

    Revontulet (Northern Lights) #5

    March 19, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ⛅ 0 °C

    Another fabulous look light show in Finnish Lapland. This time from our little cabin in Äkäslompolo. The night sky was awash with the lights dancing across the heaven and a much deeper green than previously. Sonia braved the cold to get the photos as I have been unwell and was just as delighted to view them from the cabin window. They never cease to amaze us.Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    Day 30

    Ice fishing and cross country skiing

    March 18, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ❄️ 0 °C

    There’s always something going on in Äkäslompolo! Yesterday it was snowmobiling and ice fishing - neither of which I am giving up my day job for. This morning it was cross country skiing with a very patient instructor. What a workout! The Finns make it look so easy, but of course they are taught from a very early age. It has been snowing here so no more Northern Lights viewing to date. It is great to stop here In Äkäslompolo for the week. It really is a ski resort town with many Germans and Swiss and other Europeans coming here for skiing. The nice part is it is free of bus loads of tourists. Most of the accommodation is cabin style, set up for longer stays, complete with a kitchenette and of course a sauna.Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    1
    Day 29

    Äkäslompo

    March 17, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ☁️ -3 °C

    Day 2 in Äkäslompolo has brought us snow. It is so quiet as it falls. I am still surprised by its stillness. I woke up to find the cars outside completely covered in snow. I am also beginning to perfect the art of bed making Nordic style. Yesterday was a day of rest as we have booked a series of things for the next few days. First up - ice fishing.Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    1
    Day 27

    Finnish forests

    March 15, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ❄️ 2 °C

    From Rovaniemi to the SnowVillage in Lainiotie, for a night in a cabin, and we are so glad that we did not spend a night in the oh so cold Ice Hotel! Instead we opted for the warmth of a cabin but drank and dined in the ice bar and restaurant. It truly is an amazing place. Forget about the Ice Bars in the cities, this is really something else. The theme of the season is Game of Thrones and so each room in the Ice Bar and Hotel features a different aspect from the series. You don’t need to have watched the program to appreciate the scale of work and skill that goes into carving the ice. Our cabin accommodation was superb and are looking forward to our upcoming stay in Äkäslompolo.Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    2
    Day 26

    Rovaneimi - Christmas Kitsch

    March 14, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ❄️ -4 °C

    Greetings from Rovaniemi, where it’s still Christmas or maybe it never stops. Wherever you go in this little city you cannot escape Christmas! It’s the official home of Santa. Just out of the city you can find the Santa Park and also Santa Claus Village (that Sonia has nicknamed ‘A Christmas Nightmare’) featuring a whole hall full of Christmas souvenir shops, Snowman World, visit the big man himself, see the official Post Office and the list goes on. You can also cross the Arctic Circle here too! Today’s activities also included a snowmobile along the frozen waters of the Ounasjoki River, to then take a ride on a sledge led by a poor suffering reindeer whose very existence is to pull sledge loads of loud tourists. Rovaniemi is not a terribly exciting place, even the buildings say so, block after block of what I would consider ‘soviet’ style bland looking structures. Thankfully though no high rises. Wandering the streets to our dinner destination we did however find a couple of little shops that will be visited in the morning before we head out to Kittilä.Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    1
    Day 24

    Getting better and better

    March 12, 2019 in Finland ⋅ 🌙 -12 °C

    The amazing Aurora Borealis once again showed us her lights. This time we were prepared and were able to set up the tripod. Using a Gorillapod in below freezing temperatures is quite difficult. It really is get the camera ready with reasonable settings inside, rug up, go outside, set up the camera on a tripod, point the camera in the right direction and go! I’ve found it best to set the camera on a timer and also set it take 3 shots at a time. Tonight’s light show had different colours including blue and purple. Simply amazing!Read more

  • Scandinavia 2019
    Day 24

    Kakslauttanen - Finnish resort

    March 12, 2019 in Finland ⋅ ☀️ -18 °C

    Today’s snow adventures have already included a husky safari, having frozen nostrils (because it’s so cold at -25c this morning) and sore ear tips. The snow resort is made up of an east and west village. Each village has glass igloos, log cabins and combo cabins (half igloo, half cabin). There is also a restaurant, bar and small shop, with loads of activities to keep everyone busy. The huskies are kept nearby, and they have about 200 dogs. All they do is pull tourists along. When they’re not working they are individually chained up near their kennels. I’m not sure if I actually agree with this. The dogs seem happy enough and eagerly greet visitors and are keen for the run. The guide told us that they are working to build individual enclosures for each dog, but this is an expensive process. Tonight we move to a log cabin which has its own sauna.Read more

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